Sanur

Share

Traditional fishing boats on Sanur beach.

Sanur (Indonesian:Pantai Sanur Pronounced Sah-Noor) is a coastal stretch of beach of Denpasar city of south east Bali, about  20 minutes taxi ride from the Ngurah Rai International Airport, and a pre-paid coupon costs Rp 90,000. There are plenty of metered taxis all over the island who will be keen to take you to Sanur.
There are many well signposted exit points from this main road into the heart of Sanur. Allow about 20 minutes driving time from Kuta or Legian, about 30 minutes from Seminyak or Ubud, about 40 minutes from Canggu and 10 to 15 minutes from Denpasar.


The northern part of Sanur beach was used as the landing site for the Dutch invasion troops during the Dutch intervention in Bali (1906).

Dutch troops landing at Sanur 1906

During World War II, Sanur was again the entry point through which the Japanese forces landed to occupy the island of Bali.
Today Sanur contains a number of resorts such as the Medina and Bali Hyatt (not to be confused with the Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua) and is a popular tourist destination.







Sanur is a town with a wealth of cultural, natural and historical attractions, as well as the obvious shopping and beach-related sights.

The annual kite festival at Padang Galak, Sanur

International Kite Festival
Padang Galak beach (just north of Sanur, east off the main Jalan Ngurah Rai bypass). The annual international kite festival takes place here every July. Traditional Balinese giant kites up to 10 metres in length are made and flown competitively by teams from different villages around Bali. The origins of this event are as a festival intended to send a message to the Hindu Gods to create abundant crops and harvests. Aside from the actual organised festival, from June through to August each year, visitors will see many giant kites being flown in this area


Le Mayeur Museum
(Proceed along the paved footpath through the souvenir stalls and look for the entrance to the museum on your right). This is the former home of noted Belgian impressionist Adrian Jean Le Mayeur, which is now a museum dedicated to his works. Le Mayeur arrived in Bali in 1932 and soon immersed himself in the culture of the island, and married a noted Balinese Legong dancer. Much of the house stands just as it did when he died in 1958, and apart from viewing his works, visitors will gain an insight into what it must have been like to be one of Bali's very first expats. The whole place is in need of some maintenance, but this remains one of Bali's true hidden treasures.
Mangrove Information Centre (MIC)
Visit the well appointed Mangrove Information Centre set in the huge 600 hectare mangrove forest which fringes the east coast south of Sanur. There are two different boardwalks through the mangrove forest. This centre is doing great work in educating local schoolchildren as well as visitors, about the importance of mangrove forests. A good place to spend half a day for adults and children.
Pura Blanjong (Blanjong Temple)
Jl Danau Poso, Blanjong (just south of Sanur). The most notable temple in Sanur which contains a major, important inscription on a stone pillar called the Prasati Blanjong. The inscription tells of a Javanese king who visited Bali in the 10th century and installed what was probably Bali's first formal government. This is Bali's oldest known artifact 
Serangan Island Turtle Conservation Centre (Turtle Island)
(about 3 km south of Sanur, reached by turning east off the main Jl Ngurah Rai bypass). Visit the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre here and learn about current conservation initiatives. This island used to be the centre of the Balinese trade in turtle meat until the practice was banned. 

As well as shopping and eating, there are plenty of photo opportunities while walking along the splendid 5km beachside paved path. The local night markets are a sensory delight, with plenty of food options.
Spas
A day at any of the spas in Sanur is exactly what you would expect during your stay in Bali: full service treatment steeped in Balinese tradition. Take advantage of any opportunity to enjoy a spa during your stay, the cost here is at least half what you would pay in North America or Europe. All major hotels have in-house spa facilities and there are also several well established independents in Sanur.  
Watersports
The more active could try one or more of the many watersports on offer at Sanur Beach. Try kitesurfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, surfing or paragliding. For those less active, hire a banana boat and hit the calm waters.
The surfing here is not great by Bali standards but there are reasonable breaks about 1km offshore during the northwest wind season (about October to March). In that period you will have no problem locating the breaks — just follow the locals. Boards can be rented on the beach for Rp 100,000.