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In Brief
The main things to do in Lovina are the dawn dolphin trip, the inland waterfalls and the Banjar hot springs. The waterfalls are Sekumpul, Aling-Aling, Gitgit and Banyumala. Above the springs stands Brahmavihara-Arama, by its own account the largest Buddhist monastery in Bali.
In town, browse the Sunday makers' market at Kaliasem. Further out, Singaraja's old harbour, the lake temple at Bedugul and the reefs of Menjangan all make easy day trips. Two to three days covers the highlights, and Lovina makes a natural base for the highlands and the west-coast reefs.
Lovina at a Glance
- Where: north coast of Bali, Buleleng regency, a string of villages starting a few kilometres west of Singaraja
- Known for: sunrise dolphins, black volcanic sand, waterfalls, hot springs
- Setting: quiet, local and unhurried
- How long to stay: 2 to 3 days for the town and its immediate sights
- Best time: the dry season, roughly April to October, for calm morning seas
- Good base for: the waterfalls, the Munduk highlands, the Bedugul lakes, and the Pemuteran and Menjangan reefs to the west
- Prices and hours: not printed here. Each entry links to the place or operator that keeps them current.
On the Water: Dolphins, Reef, Glowing Plankton and Sunset
1. Watch the Sunrise Dolphins, with Eyes Open
Lovina's signature trip leaves at dawn in a traditional jukung outrigger, to find the wild pods that feed in the bay. It is beautiful, and on busy mornings a large fleet of boats can chase the dolphins hard.
Choose a boatman who keeps his distance and cuts the engine, and go on a quieter day if you can. Then the morning becomes something quietly moving instead of a scramble. The full picture, and what to ask of any boat, is in the complete guide to the Lovina dolphins.
2. Snorkel the Calm Reef
Lovina's sheltered water is easy, warm and forgiving, good for beginners and families. You can snorkel straight off the boat after the dolphins, or arrange a dedicated trip.
The reef here is also being rebuilt. Lovina is one of the Bali sites in the Indonesian Coral Reef Garden restoration project (Wikipedia). Local workers sank concrete and metal "bio-rock" structures here for new coral to grow on. For where the clearest water is, see snorkelling in north Bali.
3. See the Bioluminescent Plankton after Dark
On the right nights, the sea off Lovina glows blue-green wherever it is disturbed, with the light of marine micro-organisms.
VIVA Bali describes guided night trips along the coast by kayak, and puts the brightness down to the bay's calm, sheltered water. Nobody can promise it on a given night, so treat it as a magical maybe and ask locally that day whether the plankton are showing.
4. Walk the Black Sand at Sunset, Then Find a Drink
The beach faces north over the Bali Sea. The Buleleng tourism office lists the walk along it at sunrise or sunset as one of Lovina's main pleasures (Visit North Bali). Start at the dolphin statue in Kalibukbuk and walk either way, at no cost.
For a drink as the light goes, Spice Beach Club at Kaliasem calls itself the "best sunset spot and hangout place" in Lovina. It has live music and a pool by the beach. The other bars and terraces along the coast are in sunset drinks in Lovina, and the beach itself in the Lovina beach guide.
Dusk at Lovina, with a jukung pulled into the shallows. Photo: Arian Zwegers / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
The Waterfalls Inland: Four Falls Within an Hour's Drive
The hills behind Lovina hold some of Bali's best-known waterfalls, most within a 30 to 60 minute drive. Routes, and how to combine them in a day, are in the north Bali waterfalls guide.
5. Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul is often called the most beautiful waterfall in Bali. It is a fan of tall cascades in a jungle valley, reached by a real trek down and back up. Go early, take the local guide and give it half a day. See the full Sekumpul guide.
Sekumpul's main falls from the canyon floor. Photo: Putu Andika Panendra / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
6. Aling-Aling Waterfall
Aling-Aling is famous for its natural slides and cliff jumps, run with local guides who show you the safe entry points. The adventure package is the draw, and the view is what you notice while you catch your breath. See the Aling-Aling guide.
7. Gitgit Waterfall
Gitgit is the easiest of the group to reach, right off the main road toward the highlands. It is a good stop if you are short on time or legs. See the Gitgit guide.
Gitgit Waterfall, in the hills above Singaraja. Photo: Juan Antonio F. Segal / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
8. Banyumala Twin Falls
Banyumala is a quieter, greener double cascade with a swimmable pool. It is less busy than the famous names, and worth the slightly longer drive toward the lakes. It sits below the ridge road at Wanagiri, reached on foot down forest paths.
The Buleleng tourism office describes the clear pool under the falls as a place people swim (Visit North Bali). The walk back up is the real effort. See the Banyumala guide.
Banyumala Twin Falls and the pool beneath them. Photo: Made agus devayana / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Hot Springs, Temples and Slow Days
9. Soak at Banjar Hot Springs
Warm, sulphur-rich water pours from carved naga spouts into tiered pools in a jungle garden, about 20 minutes west of town. It makes a good slow morning, or a soak after the waterfalls.
Entry is a cash fee at the gate, and cabanas can be rented on the day. Full details are in the Banjar Hot Springs guide.
The naga-spout pools at Banjar. Photo: Eric Bajart / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
10. Visit Brahmavihara-Arama
By its own account the largest Buddhist monastery in Bali, Brahmavihara-Arama sits on a hillside above Banjar. It has a golden Buddha, a miniature Borobudur and long views to the sea.
Its story starts down at the springs. In 1958 a small circle began meditating beside the Banjar hot springs, and the monastery opened on the hill in 1971. The miniature Borobudur was added at the top of the grounds in 1999 (Brahmavihara Arama).
The monastery asks visitors to cover shoulders and knees, lends sarongs at the entrance, and asks for silence in the meditation areas. Its site also lists the visiting hours. See the Brahmavihara-Arama guide.
The Borobudur replica at Brahma Vihara Arama. Photo: Enrico Strocchi / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
11. Join a Yoga Class or Sit in Meditation
Brahmavihara-Arama holds half-day meditation gatherings on set dates, open to visitors of all faiths. A handful of retreats on the coast teach yoga and meditation in their own way, from garden shalas in Lovina to the resort at Pemaron.
Each is listed with its own site in yoga retreats in north Bali and meditation retreats in north Bali.
12. Book a Balinese Massage
Lovina has a few proper spas and a long tail of small salons. A massage after a waterfall day is one of the simple pleasures of the coast.
The spas worth booking, each with its own site and Instagram, are in the best spas in north Bali. The technique itself is in Balinese massage explained.
13. See the Carved Temples of the North
North Bali's temples have a flowery style of carving all their own.
Pura Meduwe Karang at Kubutambahan, about 12 km east of Singaraja, has a parade of Ramayana figures at its entrance. On the side of the main shrine, a relief is held to show the Dutch artist W. O. J. Nieuwenkamp, who explored Bali by bicycle in 1904 (Wikipedia).
West of Lovina, the sea temple Pura Pulaki stands against a black cliff on the road to Pemuteran. The full set is in the best temples in north Bali. Bring a sarong.
Food, Markets and Evenings
14. Eat Fresh Seafood on the Black Sand
Lovina's simple beachfront warungs grill the day's catch at sunset, one of the north's easy pleasures. Ask for ikan bakar, charcoal-grilled fish, with rice, sambal and greens.
For named grills from Lovina to Pemuteran, see the best seafood in north Bali. For every kind of table, see where to eat in Lovina.
15. Eat Vegetarian, or the Balinese Way without Meat
Lovina has a fully vegetarian and vegan kitchen on Jalan Binaria, and a coffee shop nearby that cooks vegan food. The Balinese table has plenty without meat, from tipat cantok to urab.
The places, and the dishes that hide shrimp paste, are in vegetarian and vegan food in north Bali.
16. Wander Jalan Binaria after Dark
Lovina's nightlife is gentle: a short strip of local bars with live bands, centred on the main beach road near the dolphin statue. It suits a relaxed drink more than a big night out.
17. Browse the Sunday Market at Kaliasem
In July 2025, the Buleleng government opened a Sunday market for the regency's small makers (Buleleng Culture and Tourism Office, in Indonesian). It was set up on the beach at Spice Beach Club. On the tables are woven cloth, paintings, coconut oil, laklak cooked to order and wine from north Bali grapes.
Check it is on before you plan a Sunday around it. The Lovina Sunday Market guide says how.
Woven cloth and handmade bags at one of the craft stalls. Photo: Palm Living.
18. Time a Visit for the Lovina Festival
Each year, usually in late July, the beach at Kalibukbuk fills for a few days of gamelan, dance, a food bazaar and fireworks over the bay. The Buleleng government announces the dates each year, and the Lovina Festival guide has the pattern and where to check.
Beyond the Town: Day Trips an Hour or So Away
19. Spend a Morning in Singaraja
Singaraja lies just east of Lovina. It was the colonial capital for Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands from 1849 until 1960 (Wikipedia). It was also the port where most visitors arrived before the south was developed.
The old harbour, the Chinese temple beside it and the Gedong Kirtya library of palm-leaf manuscripts are all close together. See Singaraja old town and Gedong Kirtya.
20. Take a Day Trip to Menjangan and Pemuteran
About an hour and a half west lie the north's best-known reefs, in the protected waters of West Bali National Park. It is an easy long day from Lovina, with the dive centres and lodges in Pemuteran running the boats.
See diving and snorkelling in Pemuteran and the Menjangan Island guide.
21. Head Up to the Munduk Highlands and the Twin Lakes
Cooler air, coffee country, mountain lakes and more waterfalls are just inland. The ridge road above Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan is one of the great views of the north. Make it a scenic day out, or a second base.
Start with the Munduk waterfalls hiking guide, the twin lakes and Munduk's coffee plantations.
22. Visit the Lake Temple, Ulun Danu Beratan
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan stands on the shore of Lake Beratan at about 1,200 metres, about an hour up the mountain from Lovina. According to the Babad Mengwi palm-leaf chronicle, it was built in 1634 by the King of Mengwi, I Gusti Agung Putu (DTW Ulun Danu Beratan).
Go early, before the mist and the tour buses. See the Ulun Danu Beratan guide.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan beside Lake Beratan. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
23. Walk the Bali Botanic Garden
On the hill above Lake Beratan, the national botanic garden at Candikuning conserves the mountain plants of eastern Indonesia. It has conifers, orchids and a forest edge running into a nature reserve, and it pairs naturally with the lake temple.
Tickets and hours are on the official garden site. The rest is in the Bali Botanic Garden guide.
The Bali Botanic Garden at Bedugul from the air. Photo: Bali Botanic Garden / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
24. Stop at the Handara Gate
The tall split gateway at the entrance to Handara Golf & Resort (resort page, archived copy) stands on the mountain road at Pancasari. It frames a straight drive and forested hills. The photograph taken in the gap made it famous.
Photos are a paid, queued affair, so go early. See the Handara Gate guide.
25. Cool Off at Krisna Waterpark, with Kids
Toward Temukus, Krisna Waterpark is a family waterpark with slides and a lazy river, an easy win on a hot afternoon with children. Check its own site for current hours and tickets. More ideas for children are in north Bali with kids.
How Long to Stay in Lovina: Two to Three Days
Two to three days is right for most people. Spend one day on the dolphins, the hot springs and the monastery, and a second on the waterfalls. Add a third for a highlands, Bedugul or Menjangan day trip.
If Lovina is one stop on a wider north loop, see how many days to spend in north Bali and the full north Bali travel guide.
Whatever the length, leave room to slow down: a dawn on the water, a soak in the springs, a grilled-fish sunset. If you want a house of your own for the stay, Palm Living's villas are around Lovina.
FAQ
Is Lovina worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a calm, local side of Bali. Lovina has black-sand quiet, dawn dolphins, waterfalls and hot springs, with few beach clubs and little nightlife. It is not the place for turquoise water or a party scene, and it is one of the best bases for north Bali's nature and culture.
What is there to do in Lovina, Bali?
The essentials are sunrise dolphin watching, snorkelling the calm reef, the inland waterfalls (Sekumpul, Aling-Aling, Gitgit and Banyumala), Banjar Hot Springs and the Brahmavihara-Arama monastery. Lovina is also the natural base for day trips to the Munduk highlands, the Bedugul lakes, Singaraja, and the Menjangan and Pemuteran reefs.
What is there to do in Lovina at night?
Watch the sunset from the beach or a beach bar, eat grilled fish at a beachfront warung, and finish with live music on Jalan Binaria. On the right nights, a guided trip out on the water to see the bioluminescent plankton is the most unusual evening on the coast.
How many days do you need in Lovina?
Two to three days covers the town and its main sights comfortably, with the first day for the dolphins, springs and monastery, and the second for the waterfalls. Add a day if you want a highlands or Menjangan day trip.
Can you swim at Lovina beach?
Yes. The bay is sheltered and the sea is usually calm, so swimming and snorkelling off the black sand are easy for most people. Swim where local families swim, and keep clear of the boat lanes where the jukung come and go.
Is Lovina good for families?
Yes. The calm water is easy for children to snorkel, the hot springs and monastery are gentle outings, and Krisna Waterpark nearby is built for kids. The unhurried pace suits families travelling with young children.
What is Lovina best known for?
Its wild dolphins at sunrise and its black volcanic-sand beaches, along with the waterfalls and hot springs in the hills behind town.
Sources
- Buleleng Tourism Office, Visit North Bali: Lovina Beach and Banyumala Waterfall, read September 2026
- Buleleng Culture and Tourism Office, Sunday Market officially opened in Lovina, 6 July 2025, read September 2026 (in Indonesian)
- Brahmavihara Arama, About the Monastery (history, visitor rules, hours), read September 2026
- DTW Ulun Danu Beratan, official site (altitude, the Babad Mengwi date), read September 2026
- VIVA Bali, Abdur Rochman, Night kayaking bioluminescent, rombongan terpimpin di Lovina, 31 July 2025 (the blue-green bioluminescence off Lovina, guided night kayak trips, the calm sheltered water), read September 2026 (in Indonesian)
- Spice Beach Club, home page, read September 2026
- Wikipedia, Lovina Beach (the coral restoration project), Singaraja (colonial capital dates) and Pura Meduwe Karang (the carvings and bicycle relief), read September 2026
Read next: the Lovina area guide, things to do across north Bali, the 3-day north Bali itinerary.
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