The peaceful fishing village of Sanur, has
recently seen a massive modernization and
facelift with millions of dollars poured into
hotel renovations together with a spectacular
conservation and landscaping project that
replenished the beach and safeguarded the
coral. As a result, the calm and shallow
lagoon is increasingly conducive to an
entire range of marine sports and beachside
activities. On any given day you can see people
fishing, snorkelling, sailing, surfing, or simply wading towards the reef searching for colourful shells and playful tropical fish. Colourful jukung outriggers dot the horizon and the scene is perfectly idyllic all year round.

Famed for its legendary sorcery and magic and home to Bali’s oldest archaeological monument - the AD 911 Belanjong Pillar - Sanur still retains a decidedly village atmosphere, in spite of tourist development. The community, focussed around important priestly Brahmin homes, is constantly busy with ceremonies and celebrations featuring unique performing art-forms and processions found nowhere else on the island which highlight the calendar all year round.

Villagers and tourists nonchalantly intermingle, exuding an easy familiarity bred from generations of symbiosis and mutual curiosity. Sanur, where local banjar meeting halls and ancient coral-walled temples sit side-by-side with exclusive hotel properties, offers a harmonious cluster of world-class restaurants, shops, nightspots, water-sport centres and traditional markets - a melange sure to provide days of serendipitous discovery for those who venture out into the many shady lanes and byways.

Hotels & Resorts in this area:
	Bali Hyatt
	Mercure Resort Sanur
	Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel

Other destinations:
	Nusa Dua
	Tanjung Benoa
	Jimbaran & The Bukit
	Kuta
	Ubud
	Sunset Coast
	Lombok

Characterized by its unique charm and unhurried pace, Sanur has long been a popular destination for guests seeking a stylish, laid-back beachside getaway. Visitors and meeting participants delight in the romantic beachfront - a picturesque, unbroken seaside promenade that stretches the length of ocean-front hotels, luxury villas and exuberant gardens, affording a pleasant stroll in the cool early mornings and late afternoons.

In the 1930s, Sanur attracted a collage of colourful expatriate characters - bohemian artists and entrepreneurs who chose to set up house with the families of local landowners claiming a piece of the nearest beach as their very own slice of paradise. Belgian impressionist Le Mayeur, Dutch artist Arie Smit, Australian artist Donald Friend and the flamboyant tourism pioneer Jimmy Pande all set up residence in Sanur during the 20th century. Over time, guest rooms gave way to guesthouses that made way for chic B&Bs the precursors of Bali’s first collection of international-standard hotels that eventually sprang up along Sanur’s reef-protected shore.