16 Best Things to Do in Denpasar

Sakenan Temple, referred to locally as Pura Sakenan, is one of the most important temples in South Bali. The temple is located on Serangan Island and consists of 2 main temple complexes, each featuring old coral stones that were used in place of bricks in the old days.

Before the road that connects the temple to the Bali mainland was built, in the past, pilgrims would walk over the mangrove marshes at low tide or cross over the calm waters on traditional wooden boats during Sakenan’s piodalan temple anniversaries. Nowadays, the celebration is still worth seeing. It coincides with the day of Kuningan, a week after Galungan which is a major religious vacation in Bali.

Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali (Bali Provincial Public Museum) is the oldest museum on the island and houses over 10,000 exhibits. Its main building showcases amazing Balinese architecture. The museum overlooks the square which marks the historical site of the Badung War in 1906 when the Dutch invaded Denpasar.

Inside, you’ll find 3 separate pavilions named after Bali’s largest regencies, each housing collections that range from art and ethnography, ancient inscriptions, agricultural tools and weapons to paintings, wayang kulit (shadow puppets) and more. You can easily find it adjacent to the Denpasar mayor’s office and the Puputan Badung civic square (otherwise locally referred to as Lapangan Puputan Badung I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung).

The Bajra Sandhi Monument is the centerpiece of the vast civic square known as Lapangan Niti Mandala Renon, which is right in front of the Bali governor's office. The monument houses a diorama gallery on its upper floor, where you can glimpse into Balinese history dating back to 3,000 BC and up to the people’s struggle against the Dutch during the fight for Indonesia’s independence.

The monument also features stunning Balinese architecture in its exteriors. Surrounded by tall trees and well-kept gardens, this majestic landmark is a favorite photo location besides being a weekend recreational place among local residents. On clear days, you can enjoy Denpasar’s cityscape from the Utamaning Utama Mandala section on its 3rd floor.

Jagatnatha Temple is part of the complex that forms the focal point of Denpasar, together with the Bali Provincial Museum and the Denpasar Puputan Square. This historical site underwent a series of renovations over time, and now features a towering central Padmasana shrine in bright white.

Inside the temple walls, you can still see remnants of the Jagatnatha’s older days. These include well-preserved carvings and stone motifs that depict various episodes from the Ramayana epic. Major temple prayers are usually held every evening of Purnama or full moon, attended by locals who reside in various areas in Denpasar.

Denpasar’s Taman Werdhi Budaya, simply referred to as Denpasar Arts Center, is the main venue of the annual Bali Arts Festival. During the festival, usually held from July to August every year, the arts center hosts various week-long exhibits and live art performances in several indoor and outdoor auditoriums and amphitheaters.

The main open-air Ardhacandra amphitheater also regularly hosts modern concerts and events on special occasions. On any normal day, the complex is a great layover on tours to the city, with its magnificent sculptures, leafy gardens and stunning Balinese architectural features. Next door is the Denpasar Institute of Arts, where you can take a peek as art students rehearse their traditional and contemporary dance routines.

Desa Budaya Kertalangu (Kertalangu Cultural Village) is a locally run recreational site on the eastern outskirts of Denpasar. It has green paddies looked after by the local village farmers, an outdoor activity center, spas, various restaurants, shops and a freshwater fishing arena. The ‘village’ covers 80 hectares with pathways connecting tenants who occupy their own unique enclosures made from wooden houses and straw huts.

Among the activities on offer here are horse riding, woodcarving, traditional Balinese dancing lessons and painting. A convenience store and souvenir shop is located near the entrance, offering items at attractive prices. At the heart of the village, you can also find a world peace monument in well-manicured gardens alongside sculptures of world figures.

Taman Hutan Raya Ngurah Rai (Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest) is Bali’s largest mangrove forest. It covers most of the southern coastline of Denpasar, in the village of Pemogan. The forest borders the busy tourist resorts of Sanur and Kuta, but is a soothing oasis where you can momentarily escape from the crowds.

The forest covers about 1,375 hectares of land with 200 hectares utilized for recreational facilities, complete with wooden tracks where you can enjoy leisurely walks through lush scenes filled with nature sounds. Deep within the forest are several shelters where you can sit down and enjoy the fresh air. Climb up the 2 25-meter-tall watchtowers for great views over the forest.

I AM Bali 3D Museum is one of the most fun places to spend a half-day out with family and friends in Bali’s provincial capital of Denpasar. This fun and interactive art gallery is located right under the city’s major landmark, the Bajra Sandhi Museum in Puputan Square. It houses dozens of different 3-dimensional trick-art murals to experiment with together.

Themes range from rural Bali and agricultural life to popular culture and children’s themes such as Disney characters and Pokémon. To get inside, you’ll need to locate the gates at the southern side of the monument’s base, where the fun immediately starts – the whole hallway is elaborately painted to resemble the ‘Platform 9 3/4’ from Harry Potter.

Maospahit Gerenceng Temple is a cultural heritage site in Denpasar, founded during the time of the Majapahit Empire. Apart from its significant brick design, the 4 terracotta and 2 dwarapala figures of different deities inside as well as the reliefs take you back in time.

On the left and the right side of the candi bentar (split gate) are the reliefs of the garuda (the Hindu mythic bird) and other characters, while the candi kurung (covered gate) of the temple features decorations resembling the head of a bird and a mask. Mind that the main entrance is only opened during festivals and ceremonies.

Tambangan Badung is a temple of great historical value in the heart of Denpasar. It’s located adjacent to the bustling traditional market of Pemedilan, along Jalan Gunung Batur, and stood in existence long before the Anglurah Pemecutan of the Peceutan dynasty rose to power. The temple had undergone a series of expansions in the past and the current caretaker is the royal family of the Puri Agung Pemecutan.

Covering 2 hectares, Tambangan Badung is divided into 3 mandalas with the most number of shrines being in the utama mandala or the main circle. At the first mandala and facing the morning market, there are 2 cannons named 'gora' and 'gori' adorning the outermost temple gate.

Serangan Beach is a small coastal stretch on the south-eastern shore of Serangan Island in southern Denpasar. Due to its secluded location, this white coral sand beach is often uncrowded as it is slightly off-the-beaten-path for most visitors.

The beach formed as a result of land reclamation following an ambitious, but controversial, island development project that was extensively carried out in the late 90s. Nowadays, it’s a favorite spot for quiet beachgoers who are looking for a relaxing and exotic seascape to escape to. Many locals often bring fishing poles to Serangan Beach, while others enjoy a run, walk, or bike ride along the beachfront pathway.

Sari Wisata Budaya in the village of Suwung Kauh, east of Kuta, features an amphitheater where the Barong and kris dagger dances are shown. Pamphlets are handed out before the show, which explains the episodes of the performances inspired by the legendary Calonarang tale of the struggle between the powers of good and evil, represented by the 2 main characters known as the Barong and Rangda.

The Barong is a mythic lion that has a close resemblance to those of the Chinese dragon dance troupes, but with more elaborate features. A lively gamelan orchestra accompanies the dances and photo sessions with the performers onstage follow after the show. Shows are held in the morning, starting at 9.30am for approximately an hour.