On this page
- In Brief
- Where to Stay in Amed at a Glance
- Which Village Suits Which Traveller
- How the Coast Is Laid Out
- The Villages, One by One
- Where to Stay in Amed for Divers
- Where to Stay in Amed for Couples
- Where to Stay in Amed with Kids
- Where to Stay in Amed on a Budget
- Amed and Lovina in One Trip
- Practical Notes
- FAQ
- Sources
In Brief
Where to stay in Amed decides which bay you swim in each morning and how far you walk to dinner. For the classic snorkelling bay and the shortest drive in, stay in Amed village or Jemeluk, where the freediving school is.
Bunutan, in the middle of the coast, is the quieter garden stay. Lipah has a sandy beach with a reef in front of it and suits families. Selang and Aas, at the far end of the road, give you quiet and sunrise over Lombok.
To dive the USAT Liberty wreck every day, sleep in Tulamben, a short drive up the main road. Rates are not printed here: every entry links to the place itself, and it sets its own prices.
Where to Stay in Amed at a Glance
- Most convenient: Amed village and Jemeluk, at the start of the coast road
- Quiet gardens, mid-coast: Bunutan
- Families and a sandy beach: Lipah
- Far end, sunrise side: Selang, Banyuning and Aas
- Wreck divers: Tulamben, a separate village up the main road, and Kubu beside it
- How long: two or three nights for the bays and a Tulamben dive, longer for a dive course
- From Lovina: about three hours along the north coast road
- Rates: on each place's own site. They change, so they are not printed here.
Which Village Suits Which Traveller
| If you want... | Stay in | Places named below |
|---|---|---|
| To dive the Liberty more than once | Tulamben or Kubu, and walk to the wreck | Tulamben Wreck Divers, Liberty Dive Resort, Mimpi Resort Tulamben |
| Snorkelling and cafes | Amed village or Jemeluk | Hotel Uyah |
| Freediving | Jemeluk, near the school | Apneista (a school, so book a room nearby) |
| Children, sand and a reef in front | Lipah (north Bali with kids) | Vienna Beach Resort |
| A honeymoon or quiet | Selang or Aas, or Kubu for a resort (north Bali honeymoon) | Siddhartha Oceanfront Resort & Spa, at Kubu |
| A bamboo bungalow on a budget | Aas | Meditasi Bungalows |
| Quiet gardens mid-coast | Bunutan |
No scooter? Stay in the village where you want to spend your evenings. The villages are strung out along several kilometres of road.
How the Coast Is Laid Out
"Amed" on a booking site can mean any of the villages along one road. It leaves the main Amlapura to Singaraja road at Culik and runs east around the headlands. On the way to Aas it passes Amed, Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Lean, Selang and Banyuning.
The further east you stay, the quieter it gets and the longer the ride back to the busier end. Map of the coast road
Tulamben is a different village. It sits on the main road north-west of Culik, on the way towards the north coast. Its best-known dive site is the wreck of the USAT Liberty, off the beach.
Many people stay in Amed and drive up for a morning on the wreck. Divers who want it every day stay in Tulamben itself.
For what to do once you are here, see the complete guide to Amed: the reefs, the Japanese wreck, the salt-making and the viewpoint.
The Villages, One by One
Amed village and Jemeluk
Amed village and Jemeluk are the first villages on the road from Culik. Jemeluk Bay is the classic snorkelling bay, and Apneista, the freediving and yoga school, gives its address as Jalan I Ketut Natih in Amed Jemeluk.
Amed village is where salt is still made the old way. Stay here to be close to the best-known bay and the start of the road.
Bunutan
Bunutan is the middle of the coast, with houses on the hillside above its bay. One Amed family of hoteliers describes it as "the quiet lush gardens of Bunutan village."
The fishing village of Bunutan, its bay lined with jukung. Photo: Schweigeblick / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lipah and Lean
Lipah has what the rest of the coast mostly lacks: a beach of finer sand. The family behind Vienna Beach Resort calls Lipah beach "the unique fine sandy beach of Amed," with a coral garden directly in front of it. This is the easiest base for children and for swimmers who want to walk straight in.
Selang, Banyuning and Aas
Selang, Banyuning and Aas are the far end of the road, and the quietest. The coast here faces east across the strait towards Lombok, so the sun comes up over the water.
Aas is the end of the line for most visitors. Meditasi Bungalows there describes watching the fishing boats return from your balcony, with a coral garden a few steps from the bungalows. Stay out here for rest, and plan transport for evenings in the other villages.
Early light on the slopes above the sea at Amed. Photo: Marklchaves / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tulamben and Kubu
Tulamben is a dive village on a beach of black volcanic stones, with the wreck of the USAT Liberty lying off the shore. The resorts below are built around diving, each with its own dive centre.
Kubu is the neighbouring village on the same road. Stay here if diving is the reason for your trip.
The stone beach at Tulamben. Photo: Jean-François Capdet / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Where to Stay in Amed for Divers
Tulamben Wreck Divers
Setting: Tulamben, "a stones throw from the Liberty Wreck," in their words.
Best for: Divers doing a course or a week of wreck dives.
In their words: rooms "hidden behind the dive shop in a gloriously cool, shady tree lined garden area". There are two pools, one "purpose built for dive training with a deep end you can really train in."
There is an espresso cafe and restaurant on site, and massage in your room or by the pool. The dive centre runs courses from first dives to rescue and nitrox, plus trips to other dive areas around Bali.
Contact: tulambenwreckdivers.com · Map
Liberty Dive Resort
Setting: Tulamben, "just steps from the legendary USAT Liberty Shipwreck."
Best for: Underwater photographers, and diving families who need a room for four.
In their words: a dive resort that pairs "expert dive guiding" with "lush garden surroundings" and a Balinese team. It points to Tulamben's coral gardens, volcanic drop-offs and black-sand macro diving, with these among the creatures:
- ghost pipefish
- pygmy seahorses
- harlequin shrimp
- mimic octopus
Rooms come as resort rooms, cottage rooms and family rooms, including a standalone family cottage for four.
Contact: libertydiveresort.com · Family rooms · Map
Mimpi Resort Tulamben
Setting: On the shore at Tulamben, with its own beach of "black vulcanic pebbles."
Best for: Divers who want a resort, with a choice of simple rooms or a villa.
In their words: "The original boutique dive resort in East Bali," part of a family-owned group that has welcomed divers since the 1990s. Rooms run from a standard patio room to courtyard villas with garden or ocean views, each with an outdoor bathroom. Its PADI dive centre dives the Liberty, Tulamben's other sites and Amed.
Contact: mimpi.com/tulamben · Map
Freedivers usually base themselves in Jemeluk. Apneista, the freediving and yoga school there, offers courses "from basic to instructor level" in what it calls "a friendly and non-competitive training atmosphere". It is a school, so book a room nearby. Map
Where to Stay in Amed for Couples
Siddhartha Oceanfront Resort & Spa
Setting: On the main Amlapura to Singaraja road at Kubu, near Tulamben, on the sea at the base of Mount Agung.
Best for: Couples who want a spa and the sea in front of the room, with the wreck close by.
In their words: a boutique resort named after Siddhartha Gautama, the birth name of the Buddha. It takes Tri Hita Karana, the Balinese philosophy of harmony with nature, people and the spiritual, as its own.
Rooms are freestanding bungalows, some right on the ocean, and a two-bedroom oceanfront pool villa. The resort has an oceanfront pool and bar, The Six Elements Spa, yoga, and its own dive centre with diving and snorkelling from the beach.
Contact: siddhartha-bali.com · Contact · Map
Where to Stay in Amed with Kids
Vienna Beach Resort
Setting: On Lipah beach, "absolute beach front."
Best for: Families with young swimmers, and first-time snorkellers.
In their words: ten rooms "of authentic Balinese style" and a swimming pool. In front of the door is a house reef with coral, fish and turtles. The resort calls it "the best place in Amed to spot turtles with just a mask and snorkel".
The owners say that, with the pool, it is "the perfect accomodation for families with children". A beachside restaurant serves Indonesian food and gluten-free Western dishes. The same Balinese family runs the Amed White Sand Divers dive centre.
Contact: viennabeachresort.com · The family's hotels · Map
Hotel Uyah Amed & Spa Resort
Setting: On Jalan I Ketut Natih in Amed village, "built around the traditonal saltpanning in Amed."
Best for: Families who want a family villa at the convenient end of the coast, with the salt-makers next door.
In their words: "Uyah" is the Balinese word for salt, and the hotel sells the local salt in its Café Garam. Rooms are ocean-view bungalows, poolside bungalows and ocean-view family villas.
The hotel works with Amed Dive Center for courses and fun dives. It says it runs an environmental management system with solar water heating, waste separation and composting.
Contact: hoteluyah.com · Map
Where to Stay in Amed on a Budget
Meditasi Bungalows
Setting: Aas beach, at the far end of the coast road, "away from traffic noise."
Best for: Solo travellers and couples who want a bamboo bungalow and a reef at the door.
In their words: eight "eco friendly beach bungalows", built of bamboo. Their open-air bathrooms are "surrounded by the floral scent of bougainvillea and frangipanis". You can snorkel the coral garden from the door, or take a boat to Gili Selang and the Japanese shipwreck.
The Smiling Buddha restaurant serves local and international food with organic produce, and there is yoga each afternoon. Full moon and new moon nights are marked with Balinese music and dance. The owners call their prices "very affordable" and list them on the page.
Contact: meditasibungalows.blogspot.com · Map
For more ways to keep costs down along the coast, see north Bali on a budget.
Amed and Lovina in One Trip
Amed sits at the eastern end of the coast that runs west through Tejakula to Lovina. The drive between them takes two and a half to three hours along the north coast road. Many people split a trip: a few nights on the reefs at Amed, then the dolphins, waterfalls and hot springs around Lovina.
Palm Living's villas are around Lovina, a base for the Lovina half of that trip. The villas in Lovina guide and where to stay in north Bali cover that side. A private driver is the simplest way to make the move with luggage.
Practical Notes
- Getting there: from the south, the road runs up the east side to Culik. From the north coast, it follows the sea through Tejakula and Tulamben. See getting to north Bali.
- Book direct where you can. Every place above has its own site or contact page, and many list a WhatsApp number there.
- Dive packages: several stays have their own dive centre or a partner shop. Ask when you book whether a package includes dives or equipment.
- Transport between villages: scooter, driver or the hotel's own transfer.
- Snorkelling and diving further afield: compare with snorkelling in north Bali and diving at Pemuteran and Menjangan.
FAQ
What is the best area to stay in Amed? It depends on the trip. Amed village and Jemeluk are the most convenient, with snorkelling and cafes close by. Lipah has the sandy beach and suits families. Selang and Aas are the quietest. Divers who want the USAT Liberty wreck every day stay in Tulamben.
Is it better to stay in Amed or Tulamben? Stay in Tulamben if diving is the main reason for the trip, because the Liberty wreck lies off its beach. Stay in Amed for a wider choice of bays, restaurants and places to stay, and drive up to Tulamben for a morning dive.
Where should families stay in Amed? Lipah is the easiest base, for its finer sand and the reef in front of the beach. Vienna Beach Resort describes itself as perfect for families with children, and Hotel Uyah in Amed village has ocean-view family villas. In Tulamben, Liberty Dive Resort has family rooms for four.
How many nights do you need in Amed? Two or three nights covers the bays, a Tulamben dive or snorkel and a slow day in the villages. A dive course or a freediving course needs longer, so ask the school how many days its course runs.
How far is Amed from Lovina? About three hours by road along the north coast, through Tulamben and Tejakula. Many visitors combine the two, with a few nights in each.
Are there budget places to stay in Amed? Yes. Meditasi Bungalows at Aas, for one, calls its prices "very affordable" and lists them on its own page.
Sources
- Tulamben Wreck Divers, home page, read September 2026
- Liberty Dive Resort, home page and family rooms, September 2026
- Mimpi Resorts, Mimpi Resort Tulamben and group home page, September 2026
- Apneista Freediving and Yoga School, home page, address from the site footer, September 2026
- Siddhartha Oceanfront Resort & Spa, home page and contact (address at Desa Kubu), September 2026
- Vienna Beach Resort, home page, and the owning family's hotels page at Amed White Sand Divers (Lipah beach, Bunutan gardens), September 2026
- Hotel Uyah Amed & Spa Resort, about the hotel, September 2026
- Meditasi Bungalows, own page, September 2026
- Photographs: Wikimedia Commons, files by Lalalalabpi, Schweigeblick and Marklchaves (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Jean-François Capdet (CC BY 3.0), linked in each caption
Read next: the complete Amed guide, Tejakula village, where to stay in north Bali.
