Kuta is Bali’s busiest beach resort district. A broad sweep of golden sand sits in front of a maze of narrow streets that are crammed with hotels, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and shops selling an array of handicrafts and clothes.

The further north you go from central Kuta, the less built-up and more exclusive the area becomes; Kuta Beach seamlessly flows into Legian Beach and Seminyak Beach.

What to do and see
The surf on Kuta is best from March to July. Bring your own board or rent from one of the shops that line the beachside streets. If you need them, lessons are available from the local surf school. Unfortunately, this is not a safe swimming beach as the current here is often too strong, with frequent rips.

Away from the beach, visit the 16th century temple of Tanah Lot, which is built on a lava rock 200m off the coast and is accessible at low tide. Come at sunset for magical views.

Kuta is located on the west coast just 4km from the airport, around 10 minutes by taxi.