There are some amazing hotels in Bali but in our experience, a villa is by far the best option. Villas in Bali are just as luxurious and comfortable as a hotel, but the biggest point of difference is the privacy – much needed when you’re a family. Having your own home away from home gives you the chance to enjoy your family and be together in a beautiful tropical location.
Better still, you won’t have to worry about whether the kids are being too noisy, or even worse, deal with the noise of someone else’s kids! Not only that, but private villas also come with a fully stocked kitchen, full maid service, housekeepers and often a personal chef.
The other big advantage of a villa is space. Extra living space is always a plus when travelling with kids as squashing into a hotel room can start to wear a little thin by day three of a holiday when you’ve tripped over clothes, suitcases and toys. A Villa in Seminyak is the perfect location to aim for. Slightly away from the hustle and bustle but still close to the beach and plenty of kid-friendly restaurants.
Bali Villa Escapes can not only help you find the right villa to fit your families needs, but also help with all the added extras that make your holiday that bit easier; like a car and driver to pick you up from the airport, or a babysitter when you need some much needed “grown up time”.
There are some important things to consider with a villa booking that Bali Villa Escapes can help and advise you on, something that a few other villa booking companies may not do. We know that having the right things taken care of can make a big difference to your holiday. You need to consider that not every villa suits smaller children, so we are happy to advise you on better choices. Be aware, that often swimming pools are not fenced. However there are companies that hire out fencing, so that’s always an option if you have your heart set on a particular villa.
Having your own kitchen can be invaluable with kids particularly if you have fussy eaters or allergies. The freedom of being able to prepare your own snacks and meals (or having a chef do it for you!), can be easier and you also have more control over what you’re eating and your hygiene. Your Seminyak Villa is your Bali home from where you can explore Bali – priceless!
2. Beach time!
Kids love the beach and so do you! Seminyak has got several beaches and more than a handful of world-famous beach clubs. Double Six Beach is great if you want to be on the beach. Around 4 pm, you can chill out on bean bags, munching on snacks and sipping your cocktail while the kids are free to run around on the beach, playing in the sea, building sandcastles and drop by for a sip of coconut water once in a while. This is family time well-spent! If you want to have a pool AND the beach, take the kids to KU DE TA, Potato Head or W Bali.
” Bali Villa Escapes tip: Make sure you stay for the sunset and have a drink or two at any one of the many beach bars. All you need to do is grab a bean bag and enjoy the vibe. Food is available & all cafes have kiddies menus”.
Enjoy taking the kids to Seminyak beach. Water is warm and great for swimming – Photo Credit: ghazalbee on Instagram
3. High tea at Biku
Biku is a fabulous tea house that does a splendid high tea and they have a special kids-sized high tea for the little ones. The Children’s Tea Time includes fruit tea or juice, cute little cupcakes, scones with jam and cream and finger sandwiches with peanut butter and ham. Kids will never get bored as there is a little playing nook where they can keep themselves entertained. The venue is quite spectacular, tucked in a 150-year-old Javanese Joglo house and it is superbly located on the Petitenget Strip, just a short stroll from the beach and the famous beach clubs mentioned above. View the Biku website here.
” Bali Villa Escapes tip: Biku is also open for lunch and dinner and is a great place to come for an informal bite to eat – afterwards go to Kynd Gelato across the road”
High tea at Biku in Seminyak is so much fun for the kiddies. Photo credit: @bikubali Instagram
4. DMZ – a museum all kids will love
DMZ stands for ‘Dream Museum Zone’ and it is the only museum in Bali that your kids will most certainly adore. DMZ Bali is a Korean 3D trick-art museum with life-size mural paintings and amazing illusion art. The museum has 3 floors and there are 14 zones ranging from Egyptian Pharaohs to dinosaurs, monsters, fairies and temples. It is hard to describe this place, you just have to come and see it with your own eyes. We’ll guarantee a whole lot of family fun (+amazing family photos!).
The kids will love the 3D Museum Trick art in Seminyak. Photo credit: @dmzbali Instagram
5. Waterbom Bali
Waterbom is rated as the best water park in Asia and it is located in Kuta just a 25-minute drive away. Need we say more?
” Bali Villa Escapes tip: Make sure you give Waterbom Bali lots of time as there are so many things to do here. Come early and spend the whole day here. There are cafes and food for the whole family as well”
6 . Family surf lesson
Bali is a surfers’ paradise and Seminyak is one of the best places to try surfing for the first time. There are many local surf schools and most surf instructors are great with kids! Go for a family surf lesson! Rates are about Rp 300 000 or $30 for a 2-hour lesson. How good is that?
” Bali Villa Escapes tip: The surf at Seminyak can get quite dangerous so make sure you only go in if the water is calm. Plus only go in the patrolled areas between the flags”.
Take the kids for a surf lesson in Seminyak. Photo credit: @familysurfingbali Instagram
7. Frankenstein’s Laboratory
This Halloween-themed restaurant and cabaret bar promises an exciting evening out with kids. Just after dark, Frankenstein’s Laboratory opens its doors. You will meet zombies, mummies, and vampires and there will be monster bites, face-painting sessions and meet & greets with all kinds of creatures from the underworld. Quite a unique dining experience!
8 . Family spa
One of the best things about a Bali Holiday is the affordable spas! Who doesn’t love to relax with a full body massage, traditional hair treatments, manicures, pedicures and more heavenly spa time? Don’t be afraid you have to miss out on this bliss when travelling with kids, you can just bring them along for some family spa time or a very special mom and daughter moment. The award-winning spa Jari Menari offers a 45-minute kids’ massage and Anantara Spa offers special family spa journeys.
” Bali Villa Escapes tip: There are lots of other day spas in Seminyak where you can take the kids for a wonderful Balinese massage – all you need to do is walk around Jalan Kayo Aya or Jalan Legian”.
Jari Menari, a family friendly day spa in Seminyak. Photo credit: @jari_menari on Instagram
9. See a traditional Balinese dance and feast on Indonesian food at Made’s Warung
Made’s Warung is located on Jalan Basangkasa and it is the perfect family restaurant. Not only can you get your taste of traditional Indonesian cuisine, but there will also be live performances of Balinese dance and music – magically enchanting!
” Bali Villa Escapes tip: Go for a treat next door at Made Manis Gelato after dinner”
Mades Warung is a fabulous place to take the kids for an authentic Indonesian meal. Photo credit: @madeswarung Instagram
Tamora Gallery is a lifestyle shopping arcade sitting on Jalan Pantai Berawa and it is the place where you can combine food, shopping and playing. Go have a lovely lunch at Miss Ibu or one of the other cafes and then, take the kids to the outdoor playground and skateboard ramp in the heart of Tamora Gallery. While they have fun, you can check out the boutique shops and fashion stores or perhaps have a massage at the Life spa.
2. Take them horse riding at Bali Equestrian Centre
Who knew you could go horse riding in Bali? In Canggu, there are horse stables where the kids can go pony riding and grooming and aren’t pony’s always a hit with kids? Bali Equestrian Centre offers lessons and plenty of children’s activities. On top of that, there’s also a cafe with a swimming pool and playground. View the Bali Equestrian Centre website here.
Take the kids to the Bali Equestrian Centre in Canggu for a fun day out. Photo credit: @baliequestriancentre – Instagram
3. Fun day at Finn’s Recreation Club
Not a secret anymore but Finn’s Recreation Club is the ultimate family playground. Not only the water park Splash is great fun for kids of all ages, but Finn’s Recreation Club also boasts an in-door trampoline centre, bowling alley, gym, spa, tennis court and kids club. Have a look at the Finns Recreation Club website here.
4, Lunch at Milk & Madu
It’s often a challenge to enjoy food and drinks at your own pace when travelling with kids. Usually, your yummy latte easily turns into cold sludge while you are running after the kids, trying to keep them happy. At Milk & Madu, you don’t need to worry about all this. Let the kids have fun at the playground and you can sit back and watch them from afar, enjoying your meal and your latte. At the weekends, Milk & Madu also had crafts and activities going on – even better 🙂
“Bali Villa Escapes Tip: explore the Berawa area, especially Jalan Pantai Berawa as there are loads of amazing cafes around the area for the kids”.
Have breakfast, lunch or dinner with the kids at Milk & Madu in Canggu. Photo Credit: @milkandmadu – Instagram
5. Surf lessons
Canggu is the perfect place to go surfing. Needless to say, there are many local surf schools around offering kids or family lessons. Head over to Echo Beach, Old Man’s or Pantai Batu Bolong for the best surfing waves and a wide range of local surf schools.
6. Get some culture at Tanah Lot Temple
Tanah Lot Temple, one of the iconic temples of Bali Island is located surprisingly close to Canggu. All the more reason to hop in the car and go check this place out. The area around this sea temple has a magical ambience though it can get crowded at times. Stroll along the coastline, hear about the myths and stick around for sunset for the full-blown experience.
Hire a car and see Tanah Lot Temple, 60 min from Canggu. Photo credit: @ jakesescapes – Instagram
7. Dining and Balinese dance performances at Hotel Tugu
Hotel Tugu is one of the chicest restaurants in Canggu and every Thursday evening, you can come in for dinner and watch a traditional Balinese dance and music performance at the majestic Bale Agung Hall and it is free of charge. The dining setting is quite extraordinary tucked in an ancient pavilion with antique interiors. The food is authentic Indonesian and the live Gamelan orchestra and the enchanting Balinese dancers, promise an unforgettable evening out with the family.
8. Bali Climbing – bouldering
Active kids will love the boulder gym in Canggu. Located just minutes away from the beach, this open-air gym has got special bouldering kids classes going on every day from 4 pm to 5 pm. The teachers are professionals with a great passion for what they do. Once you got the hang of this exciting sport, you can book a real family adventure, canyoning and rock climbing out in nature. Have a look at the Bali Climbing bouldering website here.
Keep fit and have fun with the kids at Bali Climbing bouldering, Canggu. Photo Credit: bali climbing bouldering website
9. Parklife
Parklife is a family restaurant, playground and park all in one and it happens to be located in Canggu. It is one of the latest family hotspots in town that only opened its doors recently in 2019. What you’ll get? Breathtaking rice paddy views, the tranquillity of a park, beanbags & parasols and indoor and outdoor play areas with inflatables to bounce on, toys to ride on and climbing installations. Have a look at the Parklife website here.
10. Beach clubs
Canggu has got a fair share of fabulous beach clubs including the famous Finn’s Beach Club with 4 swimming pools, the boho-chic La Brisa and many more. Great places to swim, chill out, watch the sunset and have some good old beach fun with the kids.
“Bali Villa Escapes Tip: also take the kids to Cafe Del Mar & Tropicola in Batu Belig”.
The kids will enjoy the pool & the beachfront location of Finns Beach Club. Photo Credit: @ finnsbeachclub – Instagram
5 things to do with kids in Ubud
1. Learn all about the cacao bean and make your own chocolate
All kids love chocolate and in Bali, they can learn where their favourite sweet treat comes from. Who would’ve thought it grows on trees? Well, not exactly but sort of. At POD Origin, a chocolate farm and factory near Ubud, you can see the cocoa trees, taste the fruit, see how it is processed and turned into chocolate bars or even better, chocolate elephant. The kids even get to make their own chocolate elephant! Why an elephant? Well, Bali Elephant Camp is just next door and there are other wildlife creatures to meet on-site as well, including a friendly honey bear (a real one!)
The kids will have so much fun making their own chocolate at POD. Photo credit: @ lynzibram Instagram
2. Monkey Forest
The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud is one of the main attractions for families travelling to Ubud. It’s a beautiful forest walk in the heart of the city and there are hundreds of macaques to meet. You can observe them from a distance or even feed them but be wary for if there is food around, they could climb on your back or head or be quick and grab it out of your hands in the blink of an eye. Luckily there are local guides around to assist where needed. Do keep an eye on things like sunglasses and hats if you don’t want to risk losing it to some cheeky monkey who thinks the glasses look more fashionable on him than they do on you.
3. Rafting on the Ayung River
If your kids are old enough (5+), take them on a river adventure in Ubud. Whitewater rafting on the Ayung River is great fun, nothing too challenging and the views all around you are stunningly beautiful! There are some rapids and there are areas where you can take a dip into the cool river water or bathe beneath a waterfall. Lunch is usually served at the end of the trip that takes around 2 hours and you can take a warm shower, as well. Bring some spare clothes – you are bound to get soaked in your rafting boat! The guides are usually great with kids and everyone gets to wear a life vest so there is nothing to worry about.
White water rafting is a great adventure for the kids. Photo Credit: @ teilzeitweltreisende – Instagram
4. Family cooking class
How about a family cooking class, learning something of great value to take home with you? Ubud is great for activities like this (there are many more workshops you could do with local painters, silversmiths and woodworkers). A family cooking class takes you to the local market to buy fresh produce and spices for the class. Following ancient recipes, you will learn secrets from the Balinese cuisine that have been passed on from generation to generation. Once you are back home and you are craving Indonesian food, you can just gather up in the kitchen and prepare a traditional Indonesian family meal. At Paon Bali Cooking Class you will learn about traditional cooking methods and the setting is just wonderful, away from crowds and noises in a traditional Balinese village. Pick-ups and drop-offs to and from your private villa in Ubud are included in the rate.
The kids will learn new cooking skills at Paon. Photo credit: @ christinekangso – Instagram
Explore the rice paddies at Campuhan Ridge Walk
Ubud is famous for the gorgeous rolling rice terraces to be explored around the city. From the centre of town, you don’t have to walk far to surround yourself completely with lush emerald rice fields. You can go do the Campuhan Ridge Walk with kids in the early morning when the air is still fresh and the temperature is moderate. The walk is approximately 2 km and there are cafes where you can stop for drinks and food. You can also go on a lovely downhill cycling tour through rice fields and Balinese villages, or, why not – do both!
Beaches are the best in Uluwatu! From family-friendly Padang Padang Beach to laid-back Balangan and challenging waves at Dreamland, in Uluwatu, you can go beach hopping! All the beaches have perfectly white sands and the clearest, bluest waters. Swimming, snorkelling, surfing, playing in the sand – you can even spot monkeys 🙂
2. Explore lovely family cafes
There are many! The most famous one is located in Nusa Dua: Pirate’s Bay. This pirate-themed cafe and restaurant sits right on the beach and while parents can enjoy a meal or share a bottle of wine, the kids can go on a guided treasure hunt or simply entertain themselves, playing on the life-size pirate ship. Another lovely family hub is The Cashew Tree, complete with an outdoor playground and yoga studio.
After a day at Bingin beachhead to The Cashew Tree for amazing food. Photo Credit: @ thecashewtree.collective – Instagram
3. Fun at Sunday’s Beach Club
Spend the day lounging around & sipping cocktails while the kids play – how perfect! Photo Credit: @ katarina.lidya – Instagram
Sunday’s Beach Club sits at the bottom of a steep limestone cliff and it’s the perfect spot to spend an entire day by the seaside. Buy a day pass and you can make use of the watersports facilities, sunbathe on the beach chairs with umbrellas, sit by the bonfire, enjoy live music and more. Nothing but good vibes!
“Bali Villa Escapes tip: there are loads of other beach clubs in Bali such as Omnia, Ku De Ta, Cafe Del Mar & Potato Head – have fun exploring all of these”.
The Balinese Kecak dance is a spectacular music and dance performance taking place at the clifftop Uluwatu Temple in the southern end of Bali Island. Theatrical, colourful, exciting and funny, the show kicks off at the stroke of sunset, mesmerizing the audience for the entire show. At the end of the performance, you can take photos with the artists in their Balinese costumes.
The kids will really enjoy this traditional Balinese dance. Photo Credit: @ travelingbali – Instagram
5. The Devdan Show
For a magical Cirque du Soleil-like performance, head over to Nusa Dua Theatre and go see the spectacular Devdan Show. World-class acrobats, modern and traditional dance, music, visual effects, it’s a night to remember forever. The show takes approximately 3 hours.
Enjoy this cultural experience with the kids. Adventure & colour at the Devdan Show. Photo Credit: Get Your Guide
6 things to do with kids in Sanur
1. Bali Safari and Marine Park
Bali Safari and Marine Park is located just 30 minutes from Sanur, further east on the coastline. Hop in a jeep and spot amazing wildlife or go see a unique cultural animal show. You can even go on a night safari or have breakfast with lions. How cool is that?
The kids will love the wildlife, especially the lions & elephants at the Bali Safari & Marine Park. Photo Credit: @ balisafari – Instagram
Sunday Mornings are best spent on the beach at Genius Cafe. Why? It’s not just the relaxed vibe, the calm sea and the delicious food and drinks but there are special kids activities and crafts. A great place for kids to make friends while parents can relax. Every last Sunday of the month, things get even better when the Mertasari beach market kicks off. Food stalls, live music and stands where you can buy local handicrafts and souvenirs – it’s a lovely place to eat, shop and chill out with the family.
Enjoy the relaxed beach vibe at Genius Cafe. Photo Credit: @ hello.obriens – Instagram
” Bali Villa Escapes Tip: there are lots of local vendors selling souvenirs and clothing along Mertasari Beach so make sure you leave some time for this”.
This beach club is the ultimate family hang-out! A large outdoor playground, a lagoon kids pool, a pool bar for mom and dad and friendly, attentive staff ready to serve delicious food and drinks. Come in for breakfast and stick around for the whole day. You’ll love it.
Who doesn’t love a beach club? ABC Artotel Beach Club in Sanur is super family-friendly! Photo Credit: @ abcsanur – Instagram
4. Beach fun and water sports
Sanur is the ultimate beach destination for families. The ocean is relatively calm, there is plenty of shade on the beach and there are lots of water sports. Stand up paddleboarding, surfing, kite surfing, paragliding, banana boat rides and more, everything for entertainment on the beach is there without being overly crowded and loud.
Take the kids for a fun Banana Boat Ride: Photo Credit: Lonely Planet
5. Kids yoga class at The Power of Now Oasis
The Power of Now Oasis is a yoga studio on the beach tucked in a stunning bamboo structure. This yoga hub has its own ‘holy cow’ grazing in the front and a large, lofty yoga space. They’ve got yoga classes going on daily and there are special classes for kids, too.
Take the kids for their first yoga lesson at The Power of Now Oasis. Photo Credit: @ powerofnowoasis – Instagram
Mak Beng would have to be one of the oldest warungs ( warung = local Indonesian restaurant ) in Sanur and is probably the most popular. If you are up to it and have the spirit of adventure take the kids here for their famous fish head soup. Most kids will probably turn their noses up at the idea of eating a fish head but it is really tasty. They do ask if you want it spicy or not so if you are here with children opt for non-spicy. This is not for everyone but if you can get there the experience is well worth it! The video below will give you a better idea of what it’s like they’re inside.
This travel guide was written by Steven one of the founders of Bali Villa Escapes. With an intimate knowledge of Bali, he’s always on the lookout for fun things to do for the family that reflect the great value and also give the parents an opportunity to chill out and have a bit of a holiday themselves. Steve has been going between Bali and his hometown Sydney for well over 20 years and has a passion for all things Bali!
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Steven is a die-hard Bali island addict and committed surfie. When he's not writing or taking videos of the latest restaurants or cool places, he's at Echo Beach surfing or riding his scooter around Seminyak, Berawa or Canggu. Steve is part of the Bali Villa Escapes marketing team and has been living in and out of Bali for the last 15 years.
Steven is a die-hard Bali island addict and committed surfie. When he's not writing or taking videos of the latest restaurants or cool places, he's at Echo Beach surfing or riding his scooter around Seminyak, Berawa or Canggu. Steve is part of the Bali Villa Escapes marketing team and has been living in and out of Bali for the last 15 years.
