Denpasar

Denpasar is Bali's capital and biggest city, with about 670,000 people, and it suits a half-day of history and markets, or an evening of padel under a roof. It's about 10 km from the airport, 30 to 45 minutes by taxi or Grab. You won't find tourist crowds here. It's a working city, and the traffic shows it.

The city has four districts: North, South, East and West Denpasar. South Denpasar includes Sanur, so Sanur is technically part of the capital. Renon, the government quarter, is where you'll find the Bajra Sandhi monument outside the Governor's Office. Jalan Teuku Umar, the long strip of restaurants and shopping centres in the west of the city, is where modern Denpasar shows most.

The old centre

The historic core is around Puputan Badung square. The name refers to the puputan of 1906, when up to a thousand Balinese, including the king and his court, chose death over surrender to the Dutch. The Bali Museum, built in 1931 on the east side of the square, stands beside the site of the palace the Dutch destroyed. The state temple, Pura Agung Jagatnatha, is next door.

Getting around is the hard part. Hardly anyone uses public transport (about 3% of residents), the bemo routes are famously complicated, and the roads are full. Use Grab or Gojek.

A half-day in the old centre

Start at the Bali Museum, walk next door to Pura Agung Jagatnatha, then cross Puputan square. Pasar Badung and Kumbasari are a short walk away on Jalan Gajah Mada. After dark both turn into night markets with cheap noodle and rice dishes.

Arts festival in June and July

Every year from about mid-June to mid-July, the Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre in east Denpasar hosts Indonesia's longest-running arts festival, with dance, music and parades. In 2026 it ran from 13 June to 11 July.

Play padel indoors

The Padel Hub in north Denpasar and City Padel Bali in the west each have five indoor courts. Big Padel Club Bali in Kesiman Kertalangu, northeast Denpasar, has four.