You may have been told that the region from Kuta to Canggu is a must-see for those wanting to kick back on Bali’s beaches. But if you prefer hanging out with locals while drinking a cold Bintang, Dreamland Beach is the better option.
So, before you click “reserve” on that killer Seminyak hotel deal you found, read on to discover what Dreamland and the Uluwatu area offer.
Accessibility Note: Dreamland isn’t ideal for wheelchair users. I’ve included details about it in the “Accessibility” section of this article.
What Is Dreamland Beach Known For?
Dreamland is known for being a beach with surf-ready waves, providing idyllic sunset views, and having more locals than international tourists.
As such, you’ll often hear people call it Pantai Dreamland. Pantai means beach in Indonesian, and the locals will be thrilled if you pronounce this otherwise seemingly English-influenced beach with its Indonesian word.
Some people also refer to Dreamland as New Kuta Beach.
We can only hope Kuta’s party-hearty vibe doesn’t make its way down to Dreamland and the other beaches in Uluwatu. Luckily, given that it takes about one hour to travel from Kuta to Dreamland, it’s likely in the clear for now.
Location of Dreamland Beach
Dreamland Beach sits on the southwest side of the Bukit Peninsula in Unggasan Village, Uluwatu. Bingin and Balangan are the nearest beaches to Dreamland that people commonly visit.
I use “commonly” loosely, though—most tourists don’t make their way to Dreamland Beach, let alone travel around Uluwatu. You can check out my article on how to beach hop in Uluwatu if you’re interested in going against the grain.
Below is a map showing Dreamland’s location.
Note that if you use Google Maps to navigate around Indonesia, it often uses pantai for the word “beach.”
So, go ahead and select Pantai Dreamland if that’s what comes up. It’ll take you to exactly where you need to be.
How to Get to Dreamland Beach
Getting to Dreamland Beach, Uluwatu, is a breeze, thanks to a road that leads to the base of the beach. From there, a staircase of only seven steps stands in your way between the parking area and the sand.
That’s a welcome change from other beaches in the region, where steep limestone cliffs often require visitors to traverse 300 steps or more. I’m looking at you, Green Bowl Beach.
The chart below will give you an idea of how much travel time is involved in getting to Dreamland Beach from other destinations in Bali.
| Route | Driving Time |
|---|---|
| Ubud to Dreamland Beach | 1 hour, 45 minutes |
| Kuta to Dreamland Beach | 1 hour |
| Seminyak to Dreamland Beach | 1 hour, 10 minutes |
| Canggu to Dreamland Beach | 1.5 hours |
Traveling to Dreamland Beach by scooter is the fastest arrival method, and it makes parking easier.
So, if you go by car, be sure to tack on extra time to the estimates above.
Does Gojek/Grab Operate at Dreamland Beach?
Gojek and Grab, which are the Ubers of Southeast Asia, both operate at Dreamland Beach.
If that sounds like no biggie, consider this: The Balinese often ban Gojek and Grab from entering streets and entire sections of touristy towns.
Their reasons are varied, but they mostly come down to wanting the taxi business—and the often unjustly high prices the drivers charge tourists—to themselves.
But at Dreamland Beach, your Gojek or Grab driver can drop you off and pick you up at the foot of the beach without anyone blinking an eye.
Entrance Fees
There aren’t any entrance fees to visit Dreamland Beach. That runs contrary to several beaches on the Bukit Peninsula, such as Melasti and Suluban Beach, which require a small per-person fee.
The downside to there not being an entrance fee at Dreamland is that the beach tends not to be as clean as beaches that charge a fee. More about Dreamland’s trash situation soon.
Parking At Dreamland
Even though Dreamland Beach is free to visit, it has a steep 20,000 IDR fee for parking your car. And when I say “steep,” it’s relatively speaking—20,000 IDR is less than $1.
Scooter parking is more in line with typical Balinese parking fees, at 5,000 IDR per scooter.
Keep in mind that due to the road getting narrower near the beach, you’ll need to park farther away if you drive a car. But if you arrive by scooter, you’ll be able to pull up and park right by the beach entrance.
Dreamland’s Amenities
You’ll have access to the following amenities during your trip to Dreamland Beach:
- Restrooms
- Surfboard rental
- Beachfront restaurants & bars
- Beach chair & umbrella rentals
There are also locals selling items and services on the beach, ranging from cold coconut water to massages.
Luckily, they’re not as plentiful or insistent as the vendors in Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.
5 Things to Do at Dreamland Beach
If you’re on the fence about whether to visit Dreamland Beach, Bali, check out these things to do there to see if they strike your fancy.
1. Go Surfing
Surfing is the number one thing to do at Dreamland Beach. The water is clear, the waves are large, and you can ride the best of them at mid-tide from June to August.
But make no mistake—Dreamland Beach isn’t a good place for beginner and intermediate surfers.
Even then, experienced surfers should always practice a buddy system. You’ll likely meet other people on the water, but you won’t have to push your way into the lineup.
2. Explore Tidal Pools
Low tide is an excellent opportunity for beach-bound Dreamland visitors to see what marine plants and creatures lie beneath the Indian Ocean.
The waves reveal pockets of water trapped in rocky limestone carved holes. Brightly colored fish dash between hiding spaces, massive sea urchins bear their large spines, and crabs pick at the delicacies they find.
Just be careful to monitor the tide. The waves are rough and unpredictable at Dreamland Beach; a wave that rushes higher than expected onto the shore could knock you down at best and pull you out to sea at worst.
3. Dine on Seafood
Many restaurants line the back of Dreamland Beach. Most of these restaurants are in local warung style, with families serving traditional Balinese dishes.
Admittedly, the restaurant scene isn’t as nice as what you’d experience at Bingin Beach and Pandawa Beach. That’s because the restaurants at Dreamland sit at the back of the wide beach, and most are on a boardwalk that hovers above the sand.
So, most of these restaurants don’t give you a toes-in-the-sand kind of experience as you eat. However, the food is delicious, and it’s a great area to try the local seafood.
4. Walk the Beach
Exploring Dreamland’s shore involves more adventure than your average beach walk.
For starters, the waves are massive. You must take care to stay clear of where the water crashes onto the shore, for there’s a sharp drop off into the ocean if an extra-large wave comes up and makes you unsteady on your feet.
Furthermore, the sand at Dreamland is deep, giving you a good workout. It also contains small rocks and broken pieces of coral, so you might find it more comfortable to walk in swim shoes.
But I don’t want to discourage you from wandering around Dreamland’s shoreline. It’s well worth the effort for different beach views as long as you’re careful.
5. Watch the Sunset
Dreamland Beach is one of the best places in the Bukit Peninsula to watch the sunset because its shore directly faces the west.
As such, it’s common to see relatively more people arriving in the late afternoon in preparation for the sunset.
Many large rocks are scattered around Dreamland Beach, including its border edges where limestone cliffs jut into the ocean. These rocks and the cliff make for breathtaking sunset photos.
Trash at Dreamland Beach
You can expect to see some trash on the shores and in the water at Dreamland Beach, especially if you travel during the monsoon season.
Sadly, this isn’t a localized problem; trash commonly piles up on shores across Bali.
Much of this has to do with Bali’s poor waste management infrastructure and the strain that tourism places on it.
But Indonesia as a whole has a trash problem to contend with. And to top it off, its beaches receive as much as 60 tons of trash per day contributed, in part, by the rise in global plastic pollution.
The locals often try to keep Dreamland’s garbage issue in check. But since they don’t charge an entrance fee, Dreamland usually isn’t as clean as some of the other beaches in Uluwatu.
What to Bring to Dreamland Beach
If you’re ready to beach it, below is a packing list for your visit to Dreamland:
- Water
- Snacks
- Small change
- Sunglasses/hat/sunscreen
- Umbrella (it rains during the dry season too)
That said, Dreamland Beach isn’t as remote as some of the other beaches on the Bukit Peninsula. So, you’ll be able to buy almost any small item you need on the spot.
A Note on Wheelchair Accessibility
Unlike Melasti Beach, Dreamland isn’t an ideal fit for wheelchair users.
Nevertheless, wheelchair users can technically arrive by car, park, and head down to the base of the beach, where the 7-step staircase sits.
There’s also an accessible lookout area there. But the catch is that because of how wide Dreamland Beach is, you won’t be able to see a lot. So, a visit to Dreamland Beach requires many moving parts for less-than-ideal scenery.
For tips on better accessible beaches and other things to do in Bali, check out our guide on wheelchair travel in Bali.
FAQs About Dreamland Beach
If you still have questions about visiting Dreamland, read on to see if I answer them below.
Is Dreamland Beach safe?
As a solo female traveler, I felt very safe at Dreamland Beach, Bali. There were enough people around to make me feel comfortable, and I had no concerns walking the length of the beach on my own (staying well away from the crashing waves, of course).
Psst! Check out my guide on safety in Bali for statistics and insights from my experience as a solo female traveler.
Can you swim at Dreamland Beach?
It’s not safe to swim at Dreamland Beach if you’re not an experienced swimmer. Even then, the rough waves make it more suitable for advanced surfers than for people wanting to swim.
Aside from the waves, Dreamland Beach has many large rocks that the current can thrust you into. It also has a sharp coral bottom, creating serious injuries if you’re not careful.
Can you see monkeys at Dreamland Beach?
I didn’t see any monkeys at Dreamland Beach. However, I imagine it’s possible to see them, particularly in the parking lot area and the forested section behind the restaurants.
Uluwatu is famous for its wild and inquisitive monkeys. But if you want to guarantee monkey sightings, I recommend visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest.
When is the best time to visit Dreamland Beach?
The best time to visit Dreamland Beach is from April to October, which falls during the dry season. If you’re a surfer, you’ll experience the best surf from June to August.
That said, I visited Dreamland during the monsoon season and had a lovely—albeit cloudy—stay.
A Dreamy Visit to Dreamland Beach
Dreamland Beach, Bali is a piece of paradise that so few tourists get to experience. White sand beaches, crystal clear blue water, and amazing seafood await those who make the trip there.
Do you have questions about Dreamland? Leave it in the comments section and I’ll get back to you.
I’d also love to hear about your experience after you visit Dreamland Beach and any other recommendations you have for beaches in the area. Don’t forget to head over to my guide on the best beaches in Uluwatu to get you started.
P.S.—Have you heard of Bali belly? If your stomach is feeling off from eating one too many plates of nasi goreng, you might have a bout of it. Read my article on Bali belly for details.
