Canggu may only be a half hour drive from the hustle and bustle of Seminyak, but in reality it feels more like light years.
It’s a relaxed, beachside town that attracts surfers and young (‘hip’) travellers who want something a little different. Think of it as Seminyak’s cool-without-even-trying, shaggy haired older brother. Rather than the high paced days you spend in Seminyak, Canggu reminds me of the sort of place you would come for a week, hire a villa and just live the gloriously laid back Bali life – sunrise yoga, eating delicious food in little cafes and having relaxed sundowners with friends. And then, you wouldn’t leave 🙂
Canggu Travel Guide
Stay
Although for this trip we didn’t stay overnight in the area and instead just did two different day trips, there are so many lovely places to stay. Your best bet if you have enough people is to hire a private villa (Fella Villas looks really nice, and there’s also lots on Airbnb) and really treat it like home, or also The Chillhouse and The Slow look like great options too.
Eat & Drink
Head to Old Man‘s for drinks and dancing on Wednesday and Friday nights.
Have a delicious breakfast and coffee at Crate.
Drop into Canggu’s outpost of Nalu Bowls for smoothie bowls that are way too delicious to be healthy but (apparently) they are.
Check out Deus Ex Machina, bike shop and café by day, cocktail and music spot by night.
Hang out all day at The Lawn – great for sunset but with a beachfront pool and delicious menu, chances are you will want to pull up a stump and stick around.
Have the most delicious meal of your life upstairs at Betelnut Cafe – we opted for vegetable curries and seriously, I’m still dreaming of them.
Head out to the rice fields for coffee at Cloud 9, sit on beanbags and while the day away.
See & Do
Travel north to see the temple at Tanah Lot.
Relax on Echo beach and take in the sunset.
Do as the local (expats) do and have a bit of chill time at your villa.
Visit one of the Sunday markets or the local produce markets in Canggu.
Do some yoga at Desa Seni.
Do some surfing lessons at The Chillhouse.
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Lunching all day at Betelnut Cafe - Lunching all day at Betelnut Cafe
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Streetlife - Streetlife
Natural wood shelfies.
Smoothie life at The Slow, dress by Paddo to Palmy (same with the white dress).
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Take a load off in Canggu. - Take a load off in Canggu.
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The simple sandals take Bali. - The simple sandals take Bali.
Mini pineapples!
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All the colours of the rainbow. - All the colours of the rainbow.
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Umbrella life. - Umbrella life.
Always remembering to look up in Canggu. Plants at The Slow on point!
Open air and those copper cocktail shakers.
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Banana, young coconut, coffee, nectar. - Banana, young coconut, coffee, nectar.
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Want some! - Want some!
View from the streets.
I hope you’re enjoying the guides in our creative escape to Bali series – only a few left (sob!). In case you missed them check out the other posts on Seminyak, Ubud, Ubud Markets and Indigo Dyeing.
Photos by Nicola Lemmon and Geneva Vanderzeil.
