Canggu 101: First-Time Guide to Bali’s Trendiest Beach Town (on a Budget)

Canggu is where Bali’s surf culture, café scene and budget-traveller nightlife collide. It’s one of the easiest places on the island to meet people, surf regularly and keep daily costs under control.

This guide covers everything a first-time budget traveller needs to know: where to stay, how much to budget, cheap eats, social hostels and getting around safely.

1. Why Canggu works so well for budget travellers

Canggu sits just north of Seminyak on Bali’s southwest coast and has evolved from a quiet surf village into a busy, trendy hub packed with hostels, smoothie bowls and black-sand beaches. It’s more polished (and slightly pricier) than Kuta, but it offers a better balance of surf, sunsets and social hostels without the same level of chaos.

Budget travellers love Canggu because:

  • It’s incredibly easy to meet other travellers in hostels, beach bars and gyms
  • You can live cheaply by mixing warungs and dorms with the occasional “treat” café
  • It’s a great base for day trips to Ubud, Tanah Lot and Uluwatu

Aim to stay at least 3–4 nights so you can surf, enjoy a couple of nights out and still fit in a day trip.

2. Best areas to stay (budget + social vibes)

Canggu isn’t one compact town; it’s a collection of neighbourhoods, each with a slightly different feel.

  • Batu Bolong – The classic budget-traveller base. Close to the beach, bars and cheap eats. Ideal if you want to walk more and ride less.
  • Berawa – Slightly more expat-heavy but full of hostels and cafés tucked down quiet lanes.
  • Pererenan – Calmer and more local, with cheaper guesthouses and a relaxed vibe, while still just a short scooter ride from the action.

Social hostels and budget stays

Popular social hostels include:

  • Lay Day Surf Hostel – Party-focused, surfy hostel with a pool and events; great for solo travellers
  • Lushy Hostel Canggu – Known party hostel with bar crawls and nightly activities
  • What The Duck – Social hostel with a bar, scooter rentals and a lively common area
  • Sepeda Hostel – Social but balanced, with a gym, co-working space and free breakfast
  • Tribal Bali – Digital-nomad-meets-social vibe, with a huge co-working space and pool

Use Hostelworld or Hostelz and filter for “social” or “party” hostels in Canggu.

Private rooms in guesthouses or small homestays can also be great value if you want downtime. Look around Pererenan or quieter side streets off Batu Bolong and Berawa for better rates.

3. How much should a budget traveller budget? (AUD)

Typical budget traveller costs in Canggu:

  • Dorm bed in a social hostel: about $15–$30 AUD per night
  • Simple private room: roughly $24–$43 AUD per night
  • Local warung meal: around $2–$4 AUD
  • Café brunch (with coffee): approximately $7–$11 AUD
  • Bintang beer in a cheap bar or warung: about $4–$6 AUD
  • Scooter rental: around $6–$9 AUD per day, plus fuel
  • Gojek or GrabBike ride: typically $1–$2.50 AUD per trip

Realistic daily budgets

  • Shoestring budget traveller (dorms, warungs, minimal alcohol):
    $38–$53 AUD per day
  • Comfortable budget traveller (cafés, surf hire, nights out):
    $60–$83 AUD per day

4. Getting to Canggu and around on the cheap

Airport to Canggu (DPS)

From Ngurah Rai International Airport, allow 1–1.5 hours depending on traffic.

Options:

  • Official airport taxi: about $19–$29 AUD
  • Pre-booked hostel pickup: often similar or cheaper if shared
  • Grab or Gojek: sometimes cheaper, but airport pick-up rules change regularly

Getting around Canggu

  • Scooter rental: The cheapest and most flexible option if you already ride confidently
  • Gojek and Grab: Ideal if you don’t want to ride; cheap and reliable
  • Walking: Works within Batu Bolong or Berawa, but distances between areas can be deceptive

Police checks are common. You’re technically required to have an international licence with a motorbike endorsement, and fines are possible if you don’t.

5. Things to do in Canggu on a budget

Surfing and the beach

  • Batu Bolong (Old Man’s area): Ideal for beginners and longboarders
  • Echo Beach: Better for intermediate surfers and slightly less crowded
  • Berawa Beach: Relaxed spot for sunset beers and people-watching

Board rentals and lessons are available directly on the beach, and prices are negotiable.

Cheap eats and café culture

Canggu is famous for brunch, but you can easily keep food costs low by alternating cafés with warungs.

Budget-friendly favourites:

  • Hungry Bird Coffee Roaster – Good coffee and simple breakfasts at reasonable prices
  • Varuna Warung – Affordable local dishes just off Batu Bolong
  • Samadi Sunday Market – Great vibe for brunch, snacks and browsing

Plenty of solid meals around Canggu cost under $10 AUD if you stick to local spots.

Free and low-cost activities

  • Rice-field walks around Pererenan and Padang Linjong
  • Browsing local markets like La Brisa or Samadi
  • Sunset beers on the beach — one of Canggu’s best free activities

6. Nightlife for budget travellers (without blowing your budget)

Canggu nightlife ranges from plastic-chair beach bars to DJ-driven venues. You choose how much you spend.

Budget-friendly options:

  • Sand Bar (Batu Bolong Beach): Free entry, casual beach vibes
  • Old Man’s: Iconic beachside bar with happy hours and themed nights
  • Black Cat Mini Mart Speakeasy: Hidden cocktail bar behind a “freezer door”

Hostel pub crawls and family dinners are often the cheapest and easiest way to meet people.

7. Example 3-day budget traveller itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive and socialise
Check into a social hostel, grab a warung lunch, watch sunset at Batu Bolong, then join a hostel dinner or pub crawl.

Day 2 – Surf and explore
Morning surf or board hire, cheap café breakfast, afternoon trip to Pererenan rice fields, sunset drinks in Berawa.

Day 3 – Day trip
Visit Tanah Lot, Ubud or nearby waterfalls by sharing a driver or booking a cheap group tour, then finish with a relaxed night at Sand Bar or Old Man’s.

8. Practical budget traveller tips

  • Cash: Use ATMs attached to major banks and carry smaller notes
  • SIM cards: Telkomsel or XL offer cheap data for maps and ride-hailing
  • Scooter safety: If you’re not confident, don’t ride — use Grab or Gojek instead
  • Respect: Dress appropriately at temples, don’t litter, and keep noise down in residential lanes

Final note on prices

** All prices are in AUD and are approximate. Costs can vary by season, exchange rates and demand.