Seminyak is a beach town in South Bali

Seminyak is a beach town in South Bali

The next town north of Legian, Seminyak is more upmarket with mostly luxury accommodation and fashionable high-end restaurants and bars. The atmosphere is much more sophisticated and laid-back than Kuta, and the beach in particular is quieter during the day.

It is hard to imagine that only ten years ago this was a distinctly separate village, and something of a backwater. Development has occurred at an astonishing pace, and as well as absorbing all green space which formerly separated Seminyak from Legian, it is now almost impossible to determine where Seminyak ends and the nearby villages of Petitenget,Umalas and Kerobokan begin. This certainly has its downside, and the whole district has become very congested.

Update for 2013 New roadworks have been completed and traffic has been reduced by as much as 50% from south to north. 3pm to 6pm is still a time you need to avoid traveling.

The streets of Seminyak are increasingly jammed, with Jalan Laksmana being a particular black-spot. Your best options here are to walk or rent a motorcycle/bicycle.

Roads in Bali are usually named for what is at the end end of the road. So as you leave Legian, Jalan Legian changes it's name to Jalan Seminyak. A number of roads in Seminyak have alternative names. The change often reflects a change in what is on the street. Whilst this issue is not exclusive to Seminyak, it does seem to happen here more than anywhere else in Bali.

Seminyak Beach and Petitenget Beach is a continuous expanse of grey sand stretching in both directions as far as the eye can see. To the south it becomes Legian Beach and then Kuta Beach, but is noticeably quieter than both. The sunsets here are famous.

Petitenget Beach, Jalan Petitenget,Krobokan,kuta utara. There is a temple at this beach and called 'Pura Petitenget' that's why this beach is called Petitenget. With grey sand, the Petitenget Beach looks very mysterious, tourists rarely come to this beach only the local people come for swimming or playing. But, you still can see a beautiful sunset at this beach.

Seminyak is the high-end spa capital of Bali. Your spa experience here will be one of great luxury in a sophisticated setting. You pay up for all of that of course, but the prices are still 50% or more cheaper than you would pay in a western country.