The Absolute Best Place To Watch The Sunset In Bali

Bali is thought by many to be the Island of the Gods, Rough Guides writes. It's stunningly picturesque at all times of the day and night, but perhaps no more so than at sunset. A quick Google will reveal a multitude of spots to watch the sunset in Bali, but they're not all made equal. In some places, you will need to be seven feet tall or arrive in the early afternoon to actually have a view of the sun setting over the crowds. Others involve a long, rather sweaty climb up to an admittedly beautiful viewpoint. You just won't be in any state to head off for a delicious dinner immediately after the sun drops below the horizon. So where to choose for the perfect sunset views?

The Blonde Abroad picks the splendidly located Uluwatu Temple — or Pura Luhur Uluwatu — as the best place to watch a Balinese sunset. Rough Guides concurs, citing the temple here as one of the best to visit on the island.

Wonderful Indonesia writes about the temple's location in glowing terms. It sits on a steep cliff that tumbles straight into the ocean giving you panoramic views. And, as it's on the southwest coast of the island, it faces the setting sun. Wonderful Indonesia also writes about another thing that makes watching the sunset here so special: the Kecak dance performance held in an amphitheater nearby the temple. This is a wonderful visual and auditory experience, during which you can watch people chanting and dancing in the firelight, telling the story of Rama and Sita. Hotels.com also points to the dance performance as a highlight at the temple, writing that watching the dance with a sunset backdrop is a truly special experience.

The temple is surrounded by lush vegetation, The Ungasan writes, which is home to a troupe of rather cheeky (and light-fingered!) local monkeys. They also recommend taking a walk on the cliffside pathway before watching the Kecak performance and the sunset.

If you're looking for almost identical views as those you get from the temple but away from the crowds, No Postcode recommends heading just along the coast to Batu Jaran Hill. You can have the same dramatic views of the limestone cliffs dropping precipitously into the ocean, and you'll have Uluwatu Temple silhouetted in the background as you gaze out over the aquamarine waters. No Postcode also recommends this as a great place to watch some of Bali's best surfers riding the waves during the daytime.

A word of warning about this spot from The World Travel Guy, though. The cliffs are eroding and there are no safety barriers, so don't get too close to the edge. If you're traveling with kids, it might be better to avoid this area altogether. Whether you choose Uluwatu Temple for a cultural experience or the wilder Batu Jaran Hill, you'll get to watch one of the best sunsets of your life.