Day trip · from Ubud
Sanur in a day from Ubud: Serangan, the beach path and the Le Mayeur museum
A day by the sea from Ubud, with no boat and no cliff: Serangan island and its turtles in the morning, the Sanur beach path by bike, the house of the painter Le Mayeur during the hot hours, and a swim in the calm water of the lagoon. The times given here are indicative.
- Updated on
- 4 min read
- By Kylian Dev
In short
Facts as of · sourced figures
You leave Ubud early to reach Serangan before the heat: the turtle centre, Sakenan temple, the water’s edge. In the late morning, you rent a bike for the Sanur beach path. The Le Mayeur museum fills the hot hours, then comes the swim, ideally at high tide, before heading back.
Contents
Key points
- Indicative times: they depend on traffic heading south and on the day’s tide.
- Swimming in Sanur is easy at high tide; at low tide, the sea goes out a long way.
- The Le Mayeur museum is small and damaged in places: a short visit, not a major museum.
- Serangan is reached by road and a bridge, without a boat.
Sanur is a quiet seaside resort on the south-east coast, sheltered by a coral reef. Serangan, an island linked to Bali by a bridge, lies just to the south.
On the programme: Serangan, the Sanur beach path and the Le Mayeur museum. For the road, see Sanur to Ubud.
The day, indicative times
- 7 amLeave Ubud with the driver, road south.
- 8:30 amSerangan: turtle centre, Sakenan temple, the water’s edge.
- 10:30 amArrival in Sanur, bike rental.
- 11 amSanur beach path: the seafront by bike, heading north.
- 12:30 pmLunch facing the lagoon.
- 1:30 pmLe Mayeur museum: the painter’s house, out of the heat.
- 2:30 pmA swim in the lagoon, ideally at high tide.
- 4:30 pmBack towards Ubud, arriving in the early evening.
How the day runs
You leave Ubud early to reach Serangan before the heat: the turtle centre, Sakenan temple, the water’s edge. In the late morning, you rent a bike for the Sanur beach path. The Le Mayeur museum fills the hot hours, then comes the swim, ideally at high tide, before heading back.
It is the most restful day on the site from Ubud, and one of the best suited to children: calm water, cycling on a car-free path, short distances.
Who it suits
- Families with young children: calm swimming and a car-free path.
- Travellers tired of mountain roads who want a quiet day.
Who it does not suit
- Those looking for waves, surf or cliffs.
- Fans of big museums: Le Mayeur is an artist’s house, not a collection.
- Anyone who wants sunrise on the beach: you need to sleep in Sanur.
Getting there: from Ubud to the coast
Sanur to Ubud is published at roughly 1 h to 1 h 30, as an estimate. The hard part is crossing the outskirts of Denpasar, busier in the late afternoon. In Sanur, the beach path is closed to vehicles: you cover it on foot or by bike. Serangan is a few minutes’ drive to the south.
- Car with a driver: the easiest with children and beach gear.
- Bike: rented along the Sanur beach path.
- Taxi or scooter to Serangan, over the bridge from the south of Sanur.
What you see
On Serangan, Sakenan temple and a turtle conservation centre open to visitors. In Sanur, about 5 km of path along a calm lagoon, and the house of the painter Le Mayeur and Ni Pollok, with its canvases and carved doors. The Nusa islands, offshore, are for another day.
Serangan
The island south of Sanur, Sakenan temple and the turtle centre.
Sanur beach path
About 5 km by the sea, on foot or by bike, easy swimming at high tide.
Le Mayeur museum
A painter’s house on the beach, small and often almost empty.
Le Mayeur, a Belgian painter, settled in Sanur in the 1930s and married the dancer Ni Pollok, his model, there. Their house, which he bequeathed to the state, is what you visit today: a piece of Sanur from before the hotels.
What you pay for, and what you do not
The driver for the day is the first item. On site, the Le Mayeur museum has a price displayed at the entrance, the Serangan turtle centre asks for a fee or donation shown on site, and bikes are rented along the path. The beach, swimming and the path itself are free.
| Item | Paid? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Ubud ↔ Sanur | Yes | By the day, Serangan included |
| Serangan turtle centre | Yes | Fee or donation shown on site |
| Le Mayeur museum | Yes | Price and opening hours displayed at the entrance |
| Bike rental | Yes | Along the beach path |
| Beach path and swimming | No | Free access |
Mistakes to avoid
The most frequent trap is the tide: you arrive to swim at low tide, the sea is far out and the bottom reveals seaweed and coral. Others: visiting Serangan at midday in the heat, driving back to Ubud at Denpasar rush hour, and walking barefoot on dead coral.
- Check the tide table the day before and plan the swim at high tide.
- Water shoes for children: the bottom is covered with dead coral in places.
- Head back before late afternoon, or after the worst of the traffic.
- Covered clothing if you enter the grounds of Sakenan temple.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sanur worth a day from Ubud?
Yes, for a calm day by the water, especially with children. For waves and cliffs, choose the Bukit.
How long is the drive?
Roughly 1 h to 1 h 30 between Ubud and Sanur, as an estimate, depending on Denpasar traffic.
Can you swim in Sanur with children?
Yes: the coral reef calms the water. Come at high tide; at low tide, the sea goes out a long way.
Do you need a boat for Serangan?
No: a bridge links the island to Bali, south of Sanur. You get there by car, taxi or scooter.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 27, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
