10 Best things to do in Amed

Amed is a long strip of seven fishing villages located on the eastern coast of Bali. Home to beautiful black and white sand beaches, and crystal-clear water with great colorful reefs, Amed is the perfect destination for travelers who want to chill away from the crowds.

Don’t expect large resorts, beach clubs with loud music, or fancy restaurants in Amed – the villages have kept their chilled and authentic atmosphere over the years. Take a few days to soak in Amed’s slow and peaceful local life, explore the abundant marine life, and discover the stunning surroundings with the glorious Mount Agung standing in the back.

Things to do in Amed

1. Snorkeling

Amed’s reef shore is probably one of the best snorkeling spots in Bali because it is easily accessible from the beaches directly. Grab your snorkel equipment and explore the rich sea life with colorful corals in the turquoise water.
There are three main spots in Amed to snorkel:

Jemeluk Beach
The most famous snorkeling spot in Amed – just on the right of Amed Beach. This beach has calm water with a colorful coral garden and abundant sea life. Stay on the right part of the bay to spot the best fish and corals.
There is also an underwater temple (2 to 5 meters deep) near the black buoy.

You can rent a mask and tuba from 25,000 IDR ($1.60) on the beach. This is not the cleanest and nicest beach but it’s great for snorkeling. There are some restaurants and cafés providing loungers if you want to relax after snorkeling.

Lipah Beach
Probably the nicest little black sand beach in Amed with many fishermen’s boats and a few loungers. From the sea, you have a great view of the beautiful houses and forests behind the beach.

The water is very clear due to its white-colored sand underwater. This gives great visibility for snorkeling. The reef becomes very deep after 100m – this is where you can spot larger fish. There are some nice restaurants just behind the beach.

Japanese Shipwreck Point
The second most famous shallow shipwreck in Bali. Easily accessible from the beach which is very rare – this Japanese shipwreck was a patrolled boat that sunk during WWII is only 20 meters from the shore and is 2 to 6 meters deep depending on the tide. You’ll see beautiful soft and hard corals among many fish.

The entrance fee is 25,000 IDR ($1.60) including a drink.

2. Lahangan Sweet viewpoint

Lahangan Sweet is one of the best hidden gem viewpoints located on the top of a hill just over 30 30-minute’ drive from Amed. From there, you will have the most incredible 360-degree views of Mount Agung, the coastal bay, and the ocean!

There is a wooden platform built into a tree that you can climb to see the largest volcano in Bali. Come early in the day to capture the sun rising behind the majestic Mount Agung.

Entrance Fee: 30,000 IDR ($2.25). From the entrance you need to walk a steep 800m to reach the viewpoint or take a Jeep to drive you to the top (50,000 IDR – $3.20).

3. Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Tirta Gangga is a former royal palace that is sacred in Balinese Hinduism. Named after the holy Ganges River, this is also one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Bali recognizable with its distinctive architecture, large fishponds, fountains, and statues surrounded by lush gardens.

The waters of Tirta Gangga are believed to have sacred powers that represent the eternal cycle of life, purification, and prosperity. Balinese Hindus come here to do cleansing rituals and seek blessings and spiritual rejuvenation.

You can buy fish food for the large koi fish in the pounds, and you can even bring your swimsuit if you fancy taking a dip in one of the large pools (10,000 IDR – $0.65). Come very early to enjoy the serenity of this sacred place without the crowds.

• Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm everyday
• Entrance Fee: 50,000 IDR ($3.20) per adult
• Parking fee: 2,000 IDR – $0.13

4. Take it easy at the beach

Relaxing at one of the beaches in Amed is one of the top things to do. Amed is known for its black sand beaches that come from the Mount Agung eroded volcanic rocks.

Unlike the main beaches cherished by surfers in Canggu or Uluwatu, Amed’s beaches have turquoise and calm waters. This makes it perfect to swim in peace without having to battle with large waves.

• Our favorite is Lipah Beach because it’s super quiet and beautiful – you can snorkel from the shore and enjoy a lovely lunch in the Warung nearby.
• Otherwise, head to the long black sandy Amed Beach with many fishermen’s boats. Not as great to swim, this is a picturesque beach to capture the black sand beach with Mount Agung behind.
• Ibus Beach is a small quiet beach surrounded by good restaurants!

5. Dive in Tumbalen USAT Liberty Shipwreck

Amed first became on travelers’ radar for its great diving spots near the shore. The most famous one is by far the USAT Liberty Shipwreck – a United States military cargo ship that was struck by a Japanese torpedo in 1942.
The ship was originally on the shore, but the 1963 earthquakes caused by Mount Agung eruption pushed the ship into the sea.

The 120m long wreck is located just 25 meters from shore and has a depth of 5 to 30 meters making it one of the easiest shipwrecks to dive in the world. You can also snorkel or freediving to see the amazing corals and marine life around the shipwreck.

6. Besakih Mother Temple

Besakih Temple (Pura Besakih), also known as Bali’s Mother Temple, is the biggest and the holiest Hindu temple in Bali. The Temple sits at 1000 meters on the foot of sacred Mount Agung and offers dramatic countryside views with rice paddies, hills, and lush forests.

Pura Besakih is a complex of 23 temples the largest being Pura Penataran that is built over six terraces. The Temple’s origins are not very clear but some stones date from prehistoric times. It has become a central and holy temple for Hinduism in Bali since the 15th century.

In 1963, severe Mount Agung eruptions caused the death of about 1,700 people in the region, but the temple was somehow spared by the lava. Balinese believe that this was a miracle and a true sign of God! Located close to Besakih village in the east of Bali, the journey takes 1h30 from Amed.

The best itinerary would be to stop there on your way to Amed and visit nearby attractions too. Exploring the whole site can take half a day but spend at least 2H to admire this very special Mother Temple.

• Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm everyday
• Entrance Fee: 60,000 IDR ($3.85) per adults (including a sarong and a guide for one hour) – don’t forget to tip!

7. Mount Agung

Mount Agung is the highest active volcano in Bali. With its summit at 3,301 meters, Mt Agung dominates the whole northeast region of Bali and has a strong influence on the climate such as the rainfall patterns.

From Amed, the majestic volcano stands in the background of every viewpoint making it the most photogenic volcano in Bali. Over thousands of years, several large eruptions have sharpened and damaged the surrounding region – the last one being in 2019.

If you love hiking and adventures, the best way to explore Mt Agung is to do a challenging sunrise trek. Most tours start the previous night and include pick-up at your accommodation.

There are two main paths to climb to the top.

• Starting from Besakih Mother Temple, this is the longest trail which will take between 6H to 8H.
• Starting from Pura Pasar Agung, this is the most famous and shorter trail to reach the summit. The trail is steep and can be dangerous, but you should reach within 4h to 5h max.

Once you have reached the summit, you’ll be rewarded by the spectacular sunrise over valleys, mountains, and ocean. Your guide will provide a hot beverage and a quick breakfast to warm you up.
You will be dropped at your hotel around 1 pm after an unforgettable adventure.

8. Fishing Trip with local fishermen

If you want an authentic and unique experience in Amed, embark on a Balinese traditional boat, called Jukung, with a local fisherman to catch some big exotic fish such as MahiMahi, Barracuda, Mackerels, or Tuna.

Immerse yourself in the local fishing culture, learn their traditional fishing methods, and share the local life while enjoying the beauty of Amed’s coast.

There are usually two tours (morning or afternoon) – be an early bird and take the morning tour at 4:30 am to do like the locals! AMED BALI BOAT TRIP & TOUR | snorkeling fishing & cooking

9. Taman Ujung Temple

Taman Ujung, also known as Taman Ujung Sukasada, is a historic water palace in Karangasem, Bali. Built-in the early 20th century, it boasts Balinese-European architecture, beautiful gardens, ponds, and pavilions. It’s a popular tourist site known for its cultural significance and offers a serene and visually stunning experience.

10. Bukit Cinta

Bukit Cinta means “Hill of Love” is a picturesque viewpoint located 30 minutes from Amed. It offers sweeping vistas of the coastal landscapes, beaches, and the blue ocean.
It’s a popular spot for capturing stunning sunrise and sunset photos of rice paddies with Mt Agung in the background.

Best restaurants & bars

Amed is home to many great local restaurants. Ten years ago, there was mainly Warung (family-owned)

• Warung Asri
• Galanga
• See You Again Café:
• Ibus Sea View Warung
• Warung Lebah Sea View
• Rimba Café
• Trattoria Amed
• Warung Saba
• Warung Celagi

Where to stay in Amed

Amed is spread out over the coastline from Amed Beach to Ibus beach – it can take time to travel between the two beaches. Don’t expect to see many resorts and fancy hotels in Amed, you will only find great little hotels, hostels or bungalows along the coast.

We recommend staying central between Jemeluk Beach and Lipah Beach. We stayed 2 nights at Bayu Cottages Hotel & Restaurant just behind the beautiful Lipah Beach. The rooms are big and have large balconies with a great sea view.

In a previous trip, we stayed at Bali Amed BlueStar – Seafront Bungalow in Pantai Jemeluk that we loved equally. There are many restaurants and bars around these two beaches.

How to travel to Amed

Amed is located on the east coast of Bali. From the airport, it takes around 3 hours to get there including traffic. There is no bus or public transport to reach Amed so you can either rent a scooter or a driver that will pick you up at the airport. The cost is around 600K IDR ($40) depending on the transport company and pick-up time.

Getting around

Amed is a long stretched area formed by multiple little villages. The best way to get around is to rent a scooter to visit the different beaches and the surrounding countryside.

You can also do organized tours or hire a driver to visit all the best sites. People are very friendly in the area so they will be happy to drive you around for cheap rates.

Best time to visit Amed

The best time to visit Amed is during the dry season from April to October. Between these months, you’ll have great conditions for snorkeling, diving, hiking, and exploring the beautiful coastal beaches. In general, the sea will be calm and clear with great visibility making it great for diving and snorkeling!

How many days do you need

Many people would say that there is not too much to do in Amed but we disgaree. From hiking Mount Agung to diving in the best spots or chilling at the beach, you could easily spend 3 full days in Amed.