Amed Bali Tips: What To Do On The Coast

Amed, Bali has long been considered a hidden gem where you can get away from the tourist crowds of south Bali and kick your feet up on a remote beach or go scuba diving.

And even if you’re not going to Amed for the diving (which is phenomenal), it’s still one of the most quiet and peaceful corners of Bali, with some of the best sunsets and volcano views on the island.

We finally spent some time here and loved it! This page will explain how to get to Amed, where to stay, and what are the best things you can see and do in the area.

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How To Get To Amed Bali

Amed is located on the northeast corner of Bali island.

It’s a 2 to 2.5 hour drive from touristy places in south Bali like Ubud, Sanur, Canggu and Kuta.

At the moment there’s no public transport to Amed, so the best way to get there is with a private driver or by scooter.

Sunset by Mount Agung in Amed, Bali

How To Get Around Amed

Amed, Bali covers a stretch of coastline about 14 kilometers (9 miles) long, so you may need transport if you plan to go exploring.

The most popular way to get around is by scooter, and you can book these online or rent one from a hotel or street shop in Amed.

Most hotels will also be happy to provide a day driver + car if you need one, and Amed dive centers typically include some transport in their packages.

Best Things To Do & See In Amed Bali

• Amed Beach

The main beach at Amed has a mix of fine black sand (from the volcano) and smooth rocks.

It’s a quiet beach lined with fishing boats and small hotels, and the sunsets over the volcano every night are awe inspiring. This is the main ‘tourist’ area and I think it’s the best place to stay.

Some parts of the beach are messy while others are clean. The biggest source of trash seems to be the ongoing hotel construction projects near the beach.

• Jemeluk Bay

This scenic bay is the main snorkeling site in Amed, with good corals on both sides of the bay.

There’s also a popular viewpoint near the road where you can watch the sunset over the bay.

Jemeluk has lots of good restaurant and hotel options, and you can walk here from Amed Beach in about 10 minutes.

• Fishing

The locals go fishing on their boats every morning before sunrise, and guests are welcome to tag along!

We paid 250k IDR (~$17) to join a boat at 5:30 AM, and caught red snapper and a few other fish before the waves started getting too choppy.

You can organize this through your hotel in Amed, or just chat with one of the fishermen on the beach.

• Sailing

Sunset and sunrise cruises on the bangka boats are another fun activity that’s easy to set up.

Amed is the perfect place to do this because it’s positioned where you can see either the sunrise or sunset.

Sunrise at Jemeluk Bay in Amed, Bali

• Diving

The Amed area is great for scuba diving. It has some of the coolest dive sites in Bali, with rainbow coral gardens, underwater temples, and World War II shipwrecks.

There are loads of good PADI and SSI dive shops in Amed, so you’re sure to find something that’s to your liking! I plan to cover diving in a later article.

Amed diving is some of the best (© Shutterstock)

• Snorkeling

If scuba diving isn’t in your budget, you can still go snorkeling at Amed and see lots of colorful fish and coral.

The best spots for this are on both sides of Jemeluk Bay, along with the more distant Lipah Bay, where you can expect to see plenty of interesting underwater wildlife.

• Trekking

You can go inland to trek some hills and rice terraces near Amed.

If you’re really up for a challenge, hire a guide and spend a full day trekking Mount Agung, the biggest volcano and highest point in Bali.

Read More: Mount Agung Hike

Drone view of Amed rice fields in Bali

More Things To See Near Amed

• Lempuyang Temple

The ‘gates of heaven’ at Lempuyang have become one of the most popular Instagram spots in Bali, and you may have to queue for hours to take a pic here.

I like how it looks like a picture frame for the sky. This temple is a 30 minute drive from Amed.

• Besakih Temple

This is one of the biggest and most significant temples in Bali.

Besakih sits on the slopes of the Mount Agung volcano, and some parts of the temple may be thousands of years old.

It’s a 60-90 minute drive from Amed.

• Marigold Fields

Temukus village near the Besakih temple has lots of marigold fields where they grow flowers for the Hindu ceremonies.

You won’t see any of the usual palm trees and green rice paddies here, but instead you’re surrounded by foggy mountains and bright orange marigold flowers.

• Bukit Cinta

Bukit Cinta means ‘Love Hill’ in Indonesian.

This is a sunrise viewpoint 30 minutes from Amed where you can get amazing sights of the Agung volcano, with rice terraces for miles.

• Tirta Gangga Water Palace

This water palace with a koi fish pond is another popular spot for the Instagrammers, and it’s just 30 minutes from Amed.

• Sidemen Village

Sidemen (sih-duh-men) is a rural village 1 hour from Amed.

The whole valley is a panorama of rice terraces, farm lands, and spectacular viewpoints of the Agung volcano.

• Gili Islands

There are daily fast boats from Jemeluk Bay going to the Gili islands, a trio of mini islands just off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia.

In about 1 hour, you can be in Gili Trawangan or Gili Air, soaking up sun on the beaches or chilling on the famous sunset swing.

Best Restaurants In Amed Bali

Amed has lots of great places to eat, but here are a few top picks:

Warung Osin: Low prices & big servings! We ate here every day. They have some of the best chicken satay I’ve had in Bali.
Warung Amed: Another small & simple warung with great food and exceptional prices.
Rimba Cafe: Best fruit smoothie bowls, veggies, pancakes & dessert.
Warung Enak: Good Indonesian & western food. A little more pricey than the other warungs, but they give free water & welcome bread.
Blue Earth Village: Big variety on the menu. Bonus points for free water, WiFi, & power sockets, with a scenic view of Jemeluk Bay.

Sunrise at Jemeluk Bay in Amed, Bali

Other Tips For Amed

Credit Cards: Not accepted at most restaurants, hotels, & other things in Amed. Cash is king.
ATM: The area has several working ATMs now with big withdrawal limits.
WiFi: Hotels in the area generally have WiFi good enough for surfing & some streaming.
Cell Service: We had decent reception in Amed with Telkomsel, although on some parts of the coast it’s more spotty.

Best Time To Visit Amed

The weather in Amed is generally nice any time of year.

If you plan to do diving, the best months are May to November, when there’s less rain and the underwater visibility is better.

How Long To Stay

You can see the best sights of Amed in just a few days, but you’ll probably want to stay longer because the place is so laid back and relaxing.

Happy travels!

More Bali Beaches

Looking for more information on the best beaches in Bali, Indonesia?

Check out my Bali Beach Guide for a complete list with photos, maps, and more!

Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental

If you want to explore Bali in the comfort and safety of a private car with an English speaking driver, my top recommendation would be GetYourGuide.

Their price is 650k Rupiah ($45 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing in Bali (up to 10 hours) for 1-5 passengers. That's the total price for the whole car + driver + petrol! It's a great deal. They also offer affordable hotel transfers from the airport.

If you'd rather travel by motorbike, they have that too. Their scooter rentals start at 140k Rupiah (~$9) and include a helmet, rain coat, and free delivery in the south Bali area.

We've used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.

Book Now: Bali Private Driver / Scooter Rental

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Valomia Beachfront hotel on Amed Beach for 265k Rupiah (~$18 USD) per night and loved it. We got a clean double room with cold A/C, good WiFi, and a very comfy bed.

Best of all, the hotel is located directly on the beach near the good restaurants, massage places, etc. When you walk out the door, you're literally standing on the beach staring at a volcano!

Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.

Our Amed hotel