Important: The license upgrade to CC by-sa 3.0 has been approved.
Please consider all contributions from this point forward to be made under that license.

Padang Bai

From Wikitravel

(Redirected from Padangbai)
Jump to: navigation, search

Padang Bai (also Padangbai and Padang Bay) is a small port town in East Bali.

The main beach at Padang Bai
The main beach at Padang Bai

[edit] Understand

Most visitors to Padang Bai are there to catch a boat to Lombok. It is though a charming little place in its own right and spending a night or two here will certainly not be time wasted. Accommodation tends to be quite basic.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Padang Bai is 54km east from Denpasar and takes about 1 hour to drive from the southern tourist areas of Kuta and Legian.

[edit] By bus

The national tour bus company Perama,[1] has Padang Bai in its network. They will pick you up from your accommodation in many areas of Bali and take you to your destination. Perama shuttle buses to Padang Bai leave from Kuta, Sanur, Ubud, Candidasa and Lovina. Reserve one day in advance. The Perama office in Padang Bai is at Dona Restaurant, Jl Pelabuhan, near the jetty (tel: +62 363 41419).

[edit] By bemo

Regular bemos ply the main east coast route between Klungkung, Padang Bai and Candidasa. Bemos routed through Padang Bai leave from Batubulan terminal in Denpasar.

[edit] By boat

There are slow public ferries from Lembar (Lombok) every hour, 24 hours a day. The trip normally takes four hours (but it can be considerably longer in poor weather) and costs Rp 35,000. Ferry staff often offer their private room to tourists for an extra Rp 50,000. The room is clean and comfortable with 2 or 3 beds. It should be understood that this ferry has a poor safety record.

Perama [2] runs daily cruises from Lombok (Rp 200,000) and the Gili Islands (Rp 300,000) to Padang Bai one way.

There are fast boat services from the Gili Islands via Teluk Kode (Lombok) to Padang Bai. Operators have been coming and going, but one constant has been the Gili Cat service [3] for Rp 660,000 one way. Travel time is 2 hours. Gili Cat leaves Padang Bai daily at 9AM and arrives at Teluk Kode (Lombok) at 10AM and at Gili Trawangan Harbour at 10:30AM. In high season there's also a departure at 2PM. Perama Express leaves Padang Bai daily at 1:30PM.

There is another boat service from Sampalan at Nusa Penida to Padang Bai. Travel time is about one hour.

[edit] Get around

You do not really need any transport within Padang Bai as everything is within walking distance. If you want to explore the surroundings of Padang Bai, plenty motorbikes are available for rent.

[edit][add listing] See

Blue Lagoon beach at Padang Bai
Blue Lagoon beach at Padang Bai

[edit] Beaches

The main beach is generally awash with colorful double outrigger fishing boats in the shape of a marlin. The front of the boat is shaped with the point of its mouth open wide and large eyes looking to the heavens. Either side of the main beach are two other coves with nice, quiet white sand beaches:

  • To reach the secluded Bias Tegul Beach, also called Pantai Kecil (Little Beach), back out of the the main beach cross the ferry carpark and turn west up the road next to the police station. Keep going up the hill until you see the sign to the beach on the right. Be careful on this hillside track. Before you head down into the cove turn around. Weather permitting you should be able to see the largest mountain on Bali, Mount Agung - a powerful sight.
  • To reach Blue Lagoon beach, head east on foot over the prominent headland at the eastern end of the main bay. Follow the signs that say Blue Lagoon. There is good snorkeling here just off the beach.

[edit] Temples

If you need a break from the beaches, there are some temples to discover. These are not especially notable temples, but still worth a visit. Padang Bai has five major temples: Pura Dalem, located downtown, Pura Segara, located next to the beach in between town and the main beach, Pura Telagamas, Pura Silayukti and Pura Tanjungsari in the eastern end of Padang Bai. Just walk along the beach road to the end and up around the headland. Don't forget to bring a sarong and a sash.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Snorkeling

There is good snorkeling in the bay, though the snorkeling at the Blue Lagoon is much better. Many of the local dive operators organise trips to this spot. If the waves are large, don't bother snorkeling as the current is extremely strong and visibility will be 1 to 3 metres at best. On a calm day expect lots of fish and great visibility. Buoys mark the furthest point snorkelers should go. For even better snorkeling you can charter a boat.

Several places in Padang Bai rent snorkeling equipment.

[edit] Diving

Padangbai is noted for its diving and the friendly dive centres are right on the beach with their own bars for after-diving refreshments.

  • Absolute Scuba Bali (Bali Dive), Jl Pantai Silayulkti, Padang Bai (northern end of the bay), ☎ +62 363 42088 (, fax: +62 363 41417), [4]. Located at Padang Bai Beach Bungalow Resort. SSI teaching centre.  edit
  • Blue Lagoon Divers, Jl Silayukti, Padang Bai (on the beach just in front of the pier), ☎ +62 363 42077/812 3619139 (), [5]. A PADI diving school.  edit
  • Bluebubble-Bali (OK Divers), Jl Silayukti, Padang Bai, ☎ +62 811 3858827 (), [6]. Day trips and diving safaris around Bali. German and English speaking.  edit
  • Geko Dive, Jl Pantai Silayulkti, Padang Bai (northern end of the bay), ☎ +62 363 41516 (), [7]. PADI dive centre which has been awarded GoEco operator status by Project Aware. Offer full range of courses and fun dives. English and Dutch speaking instructors.  edit
  • Q-Dive Bali, Jl Silayukti 7, Padang Bai (in the front of the Puri Rai Hotel), ☎ +62 363 41387 (, fax: +62 363 41386), [8]. A new PADI diving school.  edit
  • Water Worx Dive Center Bali, Jl Pantai Silayulkti, Padang Bai (northern end of the bay), ☎ +62 363 41220 (), [9]. SSI dive centre. German, English and French speaking instructors.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

There is only one ATM in Padang Bai (at a BRI bank), but it doesn't always function. The ATM gives a maximum of Rp 500,000 and does not accept VISA cards. If you get stuck and need cash, there are plenty of ATMs nearby in Klungkung.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Padang Bai restaurants feature good-priced seafood and the usual travellers' fare.

  • Bamboo Cafe (Pandang Bai), (from the police station keep walking up the hill in the direction of Bias Tugal beach and after 100 metres find this cafe on the left hand side of the road). Bamboo Cafe is a lovely place to eat great and healthy food - they use bottled Aqua water for shakes etc. The cafe has been newly built mostly from bamboo and you can enjoy surprisingly good live rock and local music played by the very friendly and fun staff. It has also 3 nice aircon rooms.  edit
  • Omang Omang Cafe, Jl Silayukti, Padang Bai (up on the hill), [10]. Open from 10AM till late. Western and Indonesian cuisine. A regular venue for live music.  edit
  • Puri Rai Restaurant, Jl Silayukti, Padang Bai (next to the Puri Rai Hotel, but not part of it). A decent restaurant serving Indonesian food.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

There are plenty of bars and small cafes to choose from along the beach in the village. On entering Padang Bai, head over to the left of the Bay, keeping the ferry jetty to your right. The road here runs along the beach and is full of activity, dive shops, bars and small home stays (nice and cheap).

In the evening there are a few bars actually on the beach - notably the "Kinky Reggae Bar" which livens up at about 10PM. They have great music and flame wielding bar staff. After a while you forget the plastic chairs that wobble in the sand as the setting is just unique.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget Under Rp 250,000
Mid-range Rp 250,000-1,000,000
Splurge Over Rp 1,000,000

A wide choice of accommodation is available in the village and along the road behind the beach. Upstairs rooms in the village places, especially up on the hill, catch the breeze and have fine views.

[edit] Budget

  • Dharma Homestay, Jl Silayukti, Gang Tongkol 6, Padang Bai, ☎ +62 363 41394 (), [11]. Cheap accommodation with roof top beach view. There are eleven rooms with a choice of single or double bed, fan or air-con and hot or cold shower. Aimed at backpackers. With restaurant.  edit
  • Marco Inn & Polo Bar, Jl Silayukti, Padang Bai, ☎ +62 81 337710821 (). Once a very run down establishment it has now been renovated and is run by an Aussie expat couple. Has a roof top garden overlooking the bay. All eight rooms have their own bathroom. Friendly staff. Double room Rp 95,000 and single room Rp 85,000 (Rp 10.000 extra for hot water).  edit
  • Serangan Inn II, Jl Silayukti, Padang Bai (at the top of the hill; follow the road alongside the market), ☎ +62 363 41425. A budget hotel on top of the hill which catches good breezes. Choice of fan-cooled and air-con rooms. From Rp 150,000.  edit
  • Topi Inn, Jl Silayukti 99, Padang Bai (northern end of the bay), ☎ +62 363 41424 (), [12]. Five very basic rooms suited for backpackers. With a good restaurant. Double room € 10.  edit
  • Zen Inn, Gang Segara 3, Padang Bai (just behind the port), ☎ +62 81 933092012 (), [13]. A small boutique hotel situated near the ferry port and the beach. Each room is furnished in a funky, eclectic style with double bed, western bathroom and a private courtyard garden with additional outside shower. Free WiFi in all rooms and the restaurant. The restaurant serves western and asian food using local ingredients. Fish is fresh from the local fish market. There is also a bar where the beer is cold and where expats and backpackers hang out. Single room Rp 130,000 and double room Rp 150,000, including breakfast.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

  • Mustika Sari Beach Hotel, Jl Raya Silayukti, Padang Bai (northern end of the bay), ☎ +62 361 8528521 (), [14]. checkout: 1PM. Offering nice sea views this hotel has a decent sized swimming pool and a passable restaurant. Traditional paintings, wall hangings and Balinese handicrafts in the rooms are nice touches. From Rp 300,000.  edit
  • Padang Bai Beach Bungalow Resort, Jl Panti Silayukti, Padang Bai (northern end of the bay), (), [15]. Pleasant enough rooms with a sea view and garden bungalows. All rooms and bungalows are supplied with air-conditioning, bathroom with hot shower, TV, safe and a balcony or terrace. The resort has a dive-instruction pool and a decent restaurant and bar attached. Downstairs terrace room US$ 35, upstairs terrace room US$ 38, garden bungalow US$ 38 and family room US$ 55, breakfast included.  edit
  • Puri Rai Hotel, Jl Silayukti, Padang Bai, ☎ +62 361 8528521 (), [16]. A 1 star hotel with three swimming pools. This is probably the nicest hotel in town and prices follow suit. All rooms are supplied with a bathroom with hot & cold shower, TV and a terrace and balcony. The air-con rooms have a refrigerator. Standard fan room US$ 38, standard air-con room US$ 50 and family fan room US$ 55 (a small continental or Indonesian breakfast included).  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Bloo Lagoon Village Hotel, Padang Bai (northern end of the bay, on top of the hill), ☎ +62 363 41211 (, fax: +62 363 41099), [17]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: noon. Bloo Lagoon, an environmentally friendly 3-star resort, offers 25 fan-cooled one, two and three bedroom villas with kitchen. The resort has a restaurant, a 18m lap pool and a spa. From US$ 120.  edit

[edit] Get out

This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions, arrival and departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star!

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Padang_Bai"