Canggu is a cool little stretch of Bali for travellers of all styles, budgets and kinds.
Think colourful markets, cafes and restaurants galore, a cool cocktail bar scene, and enough beaches to keep you busy for the foreseeable future!
After finding yourself an epic accommodation, you’ll want to fill your days with all the best things to do in Canggu. This Canggu itinerary will take your through some of the must-do activities, while also giving you some time to rest and unwind.
For a 5-day stint in Canggu, this is what to do!
Day 1 in Canggu
Art galleries, brunch spots, coffee hangouts, beaches and culture – there’s not a lot that Canggu doesn’t have.
Have Brunch at Avocado Factory
Avocado Factory
Kick off your time in Canggu with a delicious Bali brunch.
There’s a literal smorgasbord of cafes in Canggu serving up delicious brunches to give you your avocado on toast fix and start your day in style. One of the top spots for some avo on toast is, no shocker, the Avocado Factory.
If avocados aren’t your thing, The Shady Shack is a rustic-chic spot where you can devour tasty brunches. The cute seating areas in the garden, surrounded by tropical greenery, really makes this place amazing.
Head to Canggu Beach
What’s better to do on your first day in Canggu than head straight to the beach?
Lined with all kinds of beach bars, beach clubs, surf schools and warungs, there is a whole lot to do at the beach. You can grab yourself a coconut and lounge in the sun, try out surfing the waves or do some dog spotting along the shore.
The best beaches in Canggu are Berawa, Echo Beach, Batu Bolong, Nelayan Beach (a bit of a gem) and the less crowded Pererenan Beach.
Make sure you hang around for an outstanding sunset!
Eat Local!
Ease yourself into the amazing Bali cuisine by heading to a local warung in Canggu for dinner.
You can sample all kinds of different dishes, with nasi goreng being the tourist must-try. A rice dish filled with fresh veggies, egg, optional chicken or seafood, and served with crunchy crackers – you are about to discover your new fave dish ever.
Get tucked up in bed for an early night, ready for a day of fun tomorrow!
Day 2 in Canggu
Join a Morning Yoga Class at Desa Seni
Desa Seni
Day 2 starts bright and early at one of Canggu’s yoga studios.
It’s an amazing way to start a day on the island, finding some peace and gratitude, and stretching out all those airplane kinks.
A great spot to do your morning session is Desa Seni. It is like a little oasis with Balinese architecture and gardens – I love it!
Other studios in the area include Serenity Yoga Studio, right on Canggu Beach, and Samadi which is a hub of all-round wellness with an array of classes to choose from.
Canggu can get a little hectic and crazy, having moments of peace will make it much more enjoyable.
Have a Little Shop at Cove Island Essentials
You’ve relaxed and unwound in an amazing yoga sesh, now it’s time to treat yourself a little bit more.
It’s time to go shopping in Canggu! You’ll find a whole load of cute local shops and boutiques selling flowing beach dresses and colourful trinkets to decorate your home.
Cove Island Essentials in Berawa has gorgeous maxi dresses, patterned beach bags and little accessories that’ll make you blend with the Canggu crowd – if that’s what you’re after! A collection of items from local brands, they are carefully curated to perfectly fit the vibe.
Cute Mistake is another spot to check out. It is less beachy and more Insta-worthy streetwear with a tropical twist. You can wear it from the beach to the club without needing to head home.
Explore the Rice Paddies on an Afternoon Stroll
You’ll quickly discover that there aren’t a whole lot of pavements to walk on when getting around Canggu. And where there are pavements, the bikes are hoarding them.
If you are fancying a stroll in the early afternoon breeze, Uma Desa is a beautiful, scenic spot to enjoy the luscious surroundings and get some fresh air.
Located here.
Dance the Night Away at Old Man’s
You’ve had quite a wholesome and healthy day up to this point – let’s end it on a bang!
Old Man’s is a crowd favourite for sunset drinks, beachfront views and rolling in the night with a party.
There’s a big hype around night’s out at Old Man’s, and it lives up to it. You can get involved with beer pong, competitions or just dance the night away to amazing tunes.
At sunset there are a whole load of drink deals to get you in the mood before the night draws in and the music turns up. Don’t miss out on this iconic thing to do in Canggu.
When Old Man’s closes, there’s a whole host of late night bars in Canggu that keep the party going until the early hours!
Day 3 in Canggu
Go for Coffee at BGS
Bali has become one of the best places for cool coffee hangouts, and Canggu is one of the top spots for a cup of joe on the island.
From polished concrete and houseplant-strewn joints, to more rustic hippie hubs, you’ll find cafes pretty much everywhere, ready for you to get your caffeine fix!
One of the best cafes in the Canggu area is BGS, a community coffee shop that’s been going strong since 2012.
If that’s too busy for you, there’s also MIEL. It is a stunning space that’s for real coffee geeks (think single-origin drip). Or check out Ruko Cafe which has brunch and speciality coffee!
Go Surfing at Batu Bolong
It’s time to hit the surf!
Canggu is one of Bali’s many surfing hotspots, and it’s a great place to learn.
No matter if you’re a total newbie or you’ve had a few lessons previously, there’s the appropriate level waves and surf for everyone.
Beginners should head to Batu Bolong. Berawa is also decent if you’ve never surfed before.
You’ll find surfboards to rent all along the coast – there’s even surf camps where you can get one-on-one tutorials from experts!
Book yourself a 2-hour surf lesson to get to grips with the basics, then rent a board and try it out for yourself!
If you want something a bit more challenging, the rips at Echo Beach are for the pros.
Indulge in a Spa Treatment at Spring Spa
Spring Spa Canggu
Bali is famed for its wellness credentials, from yoga to beauty treatments and massages, you’d be a fool not to treat yourself to a spa day on the island.
After days of a packed Canggu itinerary, let yourself relax and unwind and work out those muscle cramps from surfing like a pro.
Spring Spa is one of the most beautiful spas in Canggu. Offering head to toe pampering, go all in on a full afternoon of treatments, or stop by for a traditional Balinese massage. Either way you won’t be disappointed.
Hit up La Brisa
La Brisa
A good time in Canggu wouldn’t be complete without a trip to one of the town’s amazing beach clubs.
Canggu is all about the beach, but if you aren’t up for sitting in the sand, you can take your pick from the incredible beachfront clubs.
Echo Beach’s La Brisa is constructed from old fishing boats and is a great spot to sip cocktails around the refreshing pool, overlooking the ocean.
There’s also Finns Beach Club, The Lawn and Cafe Del Mar to consider!
Day 4 in Canggu
Explore Samadi Sunday Market
On the 4th morning of your Canggu trip its time to enjoy some more shopping at Bali’s famous markets.
If it’s a Sunday, you’ll be lucky enough to be able to head to Samadi Sunday Market. Kicking off at 8am, you’ll find organic produce, artisan crafts and places to grab a snack. It’s a colourful, friendly, welcoming spot and an ideal place to pick up a souvenir or two.
For something open all week long, check out Love Anchor Bazaar.
This Bali market is tourist-oriented selling all kinds of handcrafted products like candles, jewellery, clothes, woven baskets, and more!
Browse Art at Museum of Space Available
Museum of Space Available (MoSA)
Canggu has a growing art scene, with several art galleries showcasing diverse local art.
The Slow is part-hotel, part-restaurant, part-art gallery, and is a beautiful spot to browse some local artists’ work.
Elsewhere, Russ Gallery showcases an amazing collection of local art in a whole lot of different styles.
My favourite spot is the super cool Museum of Space Available, where everything is made from recycled materials. All eco-conscious, sustainable travellers need to have this place on their Canggu itinerary.
Sip a Cocktail at Club Soda
Canggu isn’t all about brunching, surfing and nightclubs. The area actually has a pretty cool cocktail scene, where you can find a more chilled way to let your hair down after a day of exploring.
Club Soda has an awesome menu of cocktails (the negronis are particularly good). It is a small, almost secret spot, but has some of the best cocktails in Canggu.
Just in case Club Soda happens to be too busy, you could also head to The Shady Pig. It is pretty popular with speakeasy vibes. Make sure you have the password before heading over!
Day 5 in Canggu
Eat Flaky Pastries at Baked
I don’t know about you, but I love to start to start the day with a tasty pastry.
Sometimes you don’t want a heavy breakfast or wait around for brunch. Canggu has some amazing artisanal bakeries where you can devour buttery pastries, fresh bread and sweet treats early in the morning.
One of the best in Bali is Baked. The Canggu location regularly sells out of loaves and melt-in-the-mouth croissants, so arrive early! Honestly, those croissants are everythinggg.
If you for some reason you can’t arrive early (i.e. too many cocktails at Club Soda), then you might miss your chance and have to go elsewhere.
You could try Starter Lab, which has been serving up creative bakes since 2017. Their cinnamon-flavoured morning bun is where it’s at.
Or you could try Oka’s Bakery, which sells a menu of vegan and gluten-free alongside regular bakery goods.
Catch Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple
Let’s get out of central Canggu for a few hours to Pura Tanah Lot. An iconic shoreline temple, it is stunningly located on a rock out to sea, and makes up one of Bali’s protective sea temples, said to form a defensive chain around southwest coast.
Book yourself onto a guided tour and get to know all the inside info and lore around the beautiful temple.
It’s a busy place, but catching the views of the sun setting behind the magical temple is a must-see sight!
Devour a Decadent Dinner
To finish up your Canggu itinerary, make the most of the amazing dining scene! Canggu has some incredible restaurants that cover nearly every inch of the world’s cuisine.
Milk & Madu is always packed with hungry customers, who come for great food and a chilled vibe.
Luma has a menu of Mediterranean food made with locally grown produce. For Japanese food and sake-based cocktails, don’t miss out on booking a table at Uni.
Then there’s the stylish SKOOL Kitchen. With a special setting overlooking the sea and sophisticated dishes, paired with wine and cocktails, foodies will be in absolute heaven. Make sure to make a reservation if you want to be here for sunset – it’s popular!
Where to Stay in Canggu
The Palms
COMO Uma Canggu
Final Thoughts
There’s a whole lot of cool stuff waiting for you in Canggu. Whether you’re into surfing and beach vibes, or if you’re heading here to check out chic dining spots, there’s something for all tastes in this corner of Bali.
This Canggu itinerary is a guide for 5 days of fun that you can use as inspo for your trip.
Mix and match the brunch spots and market visits, swap activities out to suit your time, or take your pick from everything listed above.
You are in for a HECK of a good time!
Featured image: La Brisa
