Bingin Beach

Bingin is built into the cliff: a warren of warungs, cheap rooms and cafes stacked down to a short beach that gives way to reef at low tide. It has kept the rough, hand-built feel that much of Bali's coast has lost.

Surfers first, swimmers second, since the reef is shallow at low water. People settle in for the afternoon, eat at a warung, and stay for the sunset. It is a walk down and, harder, a walk back up.

Wear proper shoes for the stairs, check the tide before you plan to swim, and carry cash for the warungs. It gets busy at sunset year-round.

Padang Padang and Impossibles are within walking or a short drive, and Uluwatu Temple is a few minutes south.