Lovina is a peaceful coastal area sitting on Bali’s northern coast. It’s often untouched by most tourists who visit Bali due it’s proximity from the crowded, more popular South Bali. In many ways, Lovina is the polar opposite of Kuta and Canggu.
Although there’s only a handful of things to do in Lovina and surrounding areas, I still recommend visiting to experience the vibe for yourself. It’s laidback, calm atmosphere, and offers the tranquility you need sometimes in life. Oh yeah, there’s also dolphins!
1. Watch Dolphins at Sunrise
Regardless of where you’re headed for a holiday, if there’s dolphins there, I urge you to experience them. One of the main attractions of Lovina is the dolphins that visit the Lovina coast on a daily basis and has become quite popular among both locals and tourists.
The Lovina Dolphin Watching Tour is a fantastic way to get the most out of Lovina without having to stay overnight. You’ll have your own private car with a friendly, English-speaking driver for 12 hours from pick-up until return.
2. Try Snorkelling
Lovina’s coral reef, even though it’s less popular than Nusa Penida or Amed, it’s still a wonderful marine ecosystem to explore. This is also an ideal spot if it’s your first time snorkelling.
To make the most out of your short time in Lovina and get the most bang for your buck, my Lovina Dolphin Watching Day Tour also has an optional add-on where you can swim with the dolphins and go for some snorkelling.
3. Relax at the Hot Spring
Just a short drive out of Lovina is Air Panas Banjar, a holy hot spring and one of the best in North Bali. The pastel green sulfur-rich waters are warm and can be quite relaxing.
The water at Air Panas Banjar is believed to have healing properties which is why it’s considered to be a holy site. There are 3 different pools you can take a dip in, each with slightly different temperatures. The entire place is surrounded by trees making it a truly tropical experience.
If you’re visiting Lovina, I highly recommend spending some time at Air Panas Banjar before you leave North Bali. The entrance fee is just 45k IDR per person and you can stay for as long as you want.
4. Visit the Buddhist Temple
Bali’s largest Buddhist Temple is just a short drive away from Lovina, and relatively close to Air Panas Banjar. It’s called Brahmavihara-Arama, or simply Banjar Buddhist Monastery – named after its location on the hills of Banjar.
The entrance fee to Brahmavihara-Arama is just 25k IDR. Even if you aren’t a spiritual person, I still recommend exploring this massive temple during your Lovina trip. Keep in mind the Buddhist population in Bali is less than 1%!
5. Take a Plankton Tour at night
Book a Plankton Tour for sunset and explore the bioluminescent plankton – yes, they glow-in-the dark! It’s an out-of-this-world experience traversing the waters and seeing an entire patch of ocean glowing blue.
The abundance of plankton is also one of the primary reasons you’ll always find dolphins in Lovina. Plankton attracts small fish and other marine creatures, which are food for the dolphins.
6. Chase Waterfalls
Gitgit Waterfall is just about a 30 minute drive from Lovina. It’s a popular waterfall among tourists and is considered one of the best waterfalls in Bali. I highly recommend visiting if you’re in North Bali.
Another one of Bali’s beautiful waterfalls just a short distance away is Aling-Aling Waterfall. I’d recommend making a stop here if you’re planning on exploring with the Lovina Dolphin Watching Tour.
7. Go for a walk on the beach
Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are the most enjoyable. Especially if you’re busy with the daily grind in a busy city, simply walking on the beach can have a positive impact on your well-being and mental health.
8. Take the Kids to the Waterpark
Krisna Waterpark is the one of the only waterparks in North Bali. If you’re with the kids in Bali, they will absolutely love it!
It’s relatively small, with a few slides, water fountains, pools, and a lazy river. The ticket price for kids is 75k IDR. You can also rent out a cabana for 50k IDR to hide from the sun while the kids enjoy the waterpark.
9. Check out Live Music
Not much when it comes to nightlife here if you compare North Bali to the South. Most of the live music venues are located on Jalan Binaria, both are parallel to each other and lead to the beach.
Poco Lounge Bar and Zigiz Bar (a few metres from each other), have live band performances every night. If you can sing and brave enough to get on stage, most of the bands will allow you to join in on the entertainment.
10. Eat Fresh Seafood
There are tons of seafood restaurants sprinkled around Lovina where you can try fresh seafood that are caught that same day. Grab some prawns at Sea Breeze or head to Warung Nemo to get some fresh grilled fish.
11. Try Water sports
If you hadn’t had a chance to try the Bali Water Sports Tour in South Bali, here’s your chance to get a quick adrenaline rush while you’re in Lovina.
Make your way to to Krisna Osea Park by the beach to try parasailing or get a ride on the jet ski. It’s also a great spot to grab a meal. La Costa Beach Lounge serves some decent seafood and offers an amazing view of the ocean at the top level.
12. Explore Singaraja
About a 20 minute drive east from Lovina is Singaraja, it’s the largest city in North Bali and was Bali’s capital city before Denpasar, during the colonial period. The city itself is rich with Balinese and Indonesian history.
Check out Jalan Diponegoro to take a trip back in time. There’s also several traditional markets, night markets, and local food for you to try.
13. Learn Indonesian Cooking
If you’re interested in learning about Indonesian cuisines and cooking methods, take up an Indonesian cooking class at Meja Satu Cooking Class. You’ll have a wide variety of both Balinese and Indonesian foods to choose from, like Rendang, Sate Ayam, Nasi Goreng, and some desserts.
I’ve personally met with Danni, the chef at Meja Satu and I can say that he truly has a passion for cooking and has been in the culinary game for over 40 years.
14. Go on a Sunset Cruise
Many local fisherman on Lovina Beach are available to take you out on the calm ocean waters during sunset. You’ll be out in a small fishing boat (exactly like the one used for the Dolphin Watching Tour) and experience Bali’s sunset from a different side of the island
15. Catch some Fish
Fishing advocates will love fishing in Lovina because of the calm coastal waters. Before tourism, it was a traditional fishing village, and remains a common means of income to this day.
The best way to enjoying some fishing is to book a Lovina Fishing Trip, which still take you to on the sea with a local fisherman and includes your fishing gear. Catch some fresh tuna, mackerel, and snapper for dinner!
16. Lovina Beach Festival
If you’re visiting Bali towards the end of August, I recommend checking out the Lovina Beach Festival. It’s an annual 3-day festival dedicated to highlighting and celebrating the characteristics of the region.
It’s a fun cultural experience and you’ll experience a range of art performances, traditional music, local food, exhibitions, and activities for the kids. The main event is the parade itself that showcases the local Balinese traditions.
Where can I visit outside of Lovina?
If you can only dedicate a day for exploring North Bali and want to make the most out of your day tour, here are a few of my recommendations to cover as much destinations as possible:
- Singaraja, Buleleng – As I mentioned above.
- Pura Ulun Danu Beratan – Bali’s famous floating temple in Bedugul
- Handarah Golf Course Gates – a unique photo opportunity!
- Jatiluwih Rice Terraces – a massive UNESCO landscape.
How to get to Lovina?
Since you’re heading to North Bali, it takes a little over 3 hours to get to Lovina from Seminyak, and a little less than that to get there Ubud. And even though it’s a long drive, it’s quite a scenic journey on the way there.
If you’re renting a scooter in Bali, it will be a beautiful ride. However, the journey will take almost as long as the car ride and the roads may not be friendly to beginner riders with tons of sharp turns and uphills.
But if you do decide to make your way there by scooter, please take your time and don’t forget to always wear a helmet.
Here are some average times it takes to get to Lovina from some major areas in Bali:
- Bali Airport: 3 hours 30 mins
- Seminyak: 3 hours
- Canggu: 2 hours 30 mins
- Ubud: 2 hours 40 mins
- Uluwatu: 4 hours
If you’ll be arriving at Bali Airport and transferring straight to Lovina, book a Bali Airport Transfer to Lovina with a private car and driver to remove some of the stress of arriving at Bali Airport and finding transportation or airport shuttle service.
Where to eat in Lovina?
I must admit, Lovina is a bit underwhelming when it comes to food. Not because of the options, but mainly the lack of flavour. A significant amount of the food I tried seemed to have been adapted for Westerners. This has also been confirmed by many restaurant owners and staff I’ve personally spoken to in Lovina.
That being said, if you have a sensitive stomach or can’t handle too much spices, then you’ll enjoy the restaurants in Lovina. Here are a few restaurants I’ personally tried I’ve personally eaten at:
- Warung Apple – by far my favorite meal I’ve had in Lovina. Wonderful Indonesian food!
- La Costa Beach Lounge – they take a while to bring your food but it’s worth the wait.
- Sea Breeze – Not the most impressive food but great ambience and view.
Best Beach Clubs in Lovina
There aren’t many beach clubs in Lovina and around North Bali. Many of these are quiet and don’t have much going on – which is a good thing if you’re looking to enjoy a sunset meal or drink with a loved one or your family.
- La Costa Beach Lounge
- Sea Sky Beach Club Lovina
- Lovina Beach Club & Resort
- Spice Beach Club
Where to go for a drink in Lovina?
You shouldn’t have a hard time finding a Bintang or a cocktail to sip on. All most all restaurants and bars will have beers on their menus and a few speciality cocktails. Here are some of my recommendations if you fancy a drink after sunset:
- Lumbung Bar & Restaurant – great cocktails. Highly recommend the “BMW.”
- Poco Lounge Bar – Great for live music and open mics.
- FunkyPlace Beach Bar – DJs, fire dancers, and other performances. Cool decor!
- Zigiz Bar – Live bands and good vibes.
Most of these spots are simply restaurants that also serves alcohol and sees a bigger drinking crowd after 7:00 or 8:00 pm. Even if you’re not a drinker, it’s still a good opportunity to socialize with some of the locals and expats. The best part – you won’t be out late!
Is Lovina suitable for Kids?
Lovina is perfect for families with kids. As a matter of fact, I’d say it’s even more suitable for kids than South Bali. It’s quiet, less busy, and doesn’t see that much traffic. A few of the activities I listed above are wonderful for the kids – especially the dolphins!
ATMs in Lovina
If you didn’t bring extra cash with you, you won’t have to stress too much about finding legitimate ATMs in Lovina. In the main area you’ll find a handful of official bank-owned ATMs like BNI and Bank BPD. There is also a collection of ATMS in the parking lot of Krisna Waterpark. Read my guide on using Bali ATMs.
When is the best time to visit Lovina?
I reckon a regardless of the time of year you plan to visit Bali. As always, when it comes to dry season, you’ll have the best weather where you can get the most out of the sun without the interruption of rain.
Peak season, which coincides with summer holidays during July and August, you’ll have a slightly larger crowd but you shouldn’t have to worry too much about bumping elbows with other tourists in Lovina.
Rainy season is anywhere between November to March and you’ll come across less tourists. If you’re headed to Lovina for dolphin watching, you can still enjoy the experience during the morning hours which are more likely to be clear skies.
Explore North Bali with a Private Car and Driver
You can book a private car and driver and explore Lovina, Buleleng, Singaraja, Bedugul, and other areas in North Bali from the comfort of your own private, air-conditioned SUV driven by a knowledgable, English-speaking driver handpicked by myself.
With any of my day tour bookings, including the Lovina Dolphin Watching Day Tour, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to destinations of your choice, and dropped off at the end of the day – fuel and taxes all included.
