So, you heard Amed Bali is great for scuba diving and snorkeling… but did you know there are tons more things to do in Amed besides those two?! That’s right, this smaller East Bali village is actually home to lots of activities, amazing food, and things to do both below and above water.
Like many people, we came to Amed for diving. We got our advanced certification here, but with ten days to spend, we had time to explore all over East Bali from Amed. We drove all around on the coastal roads, took a few adventures, tried as many Amed restaurants as we could, and even experienced a couple of different places to stay in Amed.
Things to Do in Amed Bali
Amed Scuba Diving
Amed is one of the best places in Bali to go Scuba Diving. There are tons of dive shops between PADI and SSI (which are considered equal to each other) and is an awesome place to do a scuba course or some fun dives. We did courses with Dive Concepts and loved it – they were very professional, helpful, and affordable too!
There are 4 or 5 dive sites in Amed and about the same amount in neighboring Tulamben, giving you plenty of options for amazing diving and a great opportunity to do open water, advanced, or rescue dive course or some fun dives. The most popular are a Japanese shipwreck, a calm Lipah Bay, and more.
USS Liberty Wreck in Tulamben
One of the most poplar dives in all of Bali is the US Liberty wreck in Tulamben. The wreck goes from about 5 to more than 30 meters in depth, and can be experienced as both an exciting day and a night dive.
Freediving
Amed is also one of the best places in Bali to try freediving, and freediving is one of the most popular things to do in Amed after scuba diving. You can do a half-day to a two-day introductory course to freediving there, and learn how to dive down 20 meters on just one breath. I have heard great things about Apnea Freediving in both Amed and Tulamben.
Snorkeling
For those who want a bit of less-extreme fun in the water, Amed is amazing for snorkeling, too! Some of the reefs in Amed are shallow enough that you don’t need to dive – especially in low tide.
The best places for snorkeling in Amed are Lipah Bay and Jemeluk Bay, and you can rent masks and snorkels from many different places on the beach.
Relax on the Beach
Amed has a slowed-down vibe that will make you want to turn your pace down a few notches and RELAX! A lot of the beaches and bays arr great for relaxing, although most are quite rocky. Bring a chair if you can, arrange the rocks in a decent sitting position, or maybe find a place on the beach where you can relax!
We loved going to Amed Beach itself (as it says on google maps) and floating around in just a few feet of calm water with a drink. The view is amazing and this beach wasn’t as jam-packed with boats.
Yoga Classes at Blue Earth
Blue Earth is a beautiful bamboo restaurant (see below) with ocean views, and their yoga studio might have the best views of them all. Catch a yoga class here for some extra zen!
Watch the Sunset
Amed is one of the places in Bali that has an amazing sunrise AND sunset view – it’s pretty spectacular! Facing perfectly towards Mt Agung, my personal favorite of the things to do in Amed is to catch an amazing suset each evening. My favorite spots are as follows:
Waeni Sunset View
This is my personal favorite place to watch the sunset in Amed. This restaurant has tons of food options, happy hour cocktails, and is perched on the sunset-side of the road not only overlooking the water but with an infinity pool too.
Get there during sunset time for cocktail deals, and stay longer to enjoy food with the waves crashing below. It’s quite affordable, too!
Sunset Point
Sunset Point is an aptly named bar a few coves up from Waeni sunset view. They have open-air tables on multiple levels across an open dirt area on a cliff. It’s basic, but the view is great.
You can order basic Indonesian food options here as well as beer, wine, and cocktails made from arak or imported liquor.
Blue Heaven
Blue Heaven is one of my favorite restaurants in Amed, and also has an awesome sunset view (not quite as good as the ones above, but still worth it). It has a really boho vibe and faces out onto the cliff with a sliver of Mt Agung visible for sunset.
Enjoy an Authentic Sunrise from a Fishing Boat
Hands down one of the BEST things to do in Amed is to find a fisherman to take you out to sea on a sunrise fishing trip. It might sound strange, but as a village that makes most of its living from fish and tourism, the fisherman are completely used to having a side-gig bringing travelers along for the ride.
It will be easy to make friends with a fisherman, if one doesn’t make friends with you first! Many fisherman offer their services to tourists walking along the beach (any of the beaches will do, as long as there are a lot of boats on it… of which there are tons). If not, strike up a conversation with some locals on the beach and chances are 100% of them will know someone or BE someone who can take you out on a morning trip.
How does it work? Well, you meet the fisherrman when it’s completely DARK at 5am, get on the boat, and sail out a few miles into the ocean. Make sure to check out the stars as you cut through the water, and watch them slowly disappear. The sun will pop up over a distant Lombok, slowly illuminate Mt Agung in the most incredible of colors, and brighten a beautiful island. If you’re lucky, you might see the tip of Mt. Rinjani, and if you are even luckier you will catch some fish to BBQ in the afternoon!
The average price for this is 150k per person or 300k per boat, and most fisherman will take out a maximum of two people in windy season, MAYBE three if the water is calm. You can always try and haggle a bit.
Getting to Amed
You can get to Amed from all over Bali via scooter or arrive via boat from the Gili Islands, Nusa Islands or Lombok. The best way is renting a scooter or booking a transfer/ferry in advance.
Amed Road Trips
There are also some beautiful drives around Amed, both along the water and also up into the tall mountains over the town.
Amed Mountains Road Trip
The mountains towering over Amed are not only a pretty sight from the beach – they are lovely all around! If you drive up Jalan Bunutan-Bangle and head up into the mountains, you will pass rice fields galore. As you slowly drive up a road surrounded by jungle, you’ll be presented with views of the ocean and the beautiful rippling mountains of the area.
For this road trip, try not to do it when it’s too cloudy – oftentimes clouds cling to the tops of the mountains and you might get stuck in a cloud and not be able to see the view properly.
Lempuyang Temple
Many choose to visit Lempuyang Temple from Amed. This is quite possibly the most famous/photographed temple in all of Bali. It’s the one where you can see Mt Agung directly through the frame of a temple – and many hold p a mirror so it looks like a lake reflection.
East Bali Loop Road Trip
If you have a half-day and good scooter skills, you can drive in a loop all the way around the easternmost tip of Bali. This main road goes from Amed to Amlapura to Seraya Timur, and presents amazing views throughout.
Some parts are filled with rice fields and terraces, some parts go up into the jungle, and some weave above unnamed coves. It’s an adventure for sure!
Where to Eat in Amed
Oh yes, it’s true that one of the BEST things to do in Amed is EAT delicious food! Even with a lot of things closed during our trip, we were so impressed with the food options in Amed.
We had to physically restrain ourselves from simply eating fish in banana leaf (pepes ikan) for every meal of every day – it’s a specialty here and the seafood is SO fresh and out-of-this-world here. But we did make it to lots of other cafes to check out both Indonesian and Western fusion options. Here are the goods:
By the way, as any true blogger would, I took tons of photos of my food at these places… until I lost my phone and with it 4 months of Bali pics. Sorry about the no-photos here (besides a few grabbed from old stories) but trust me that they’re good!
Rimba
Rimba was the cafe we frequented the most. This cafe is the most similar to your classic Bali cafe with a huge variety of food options, juices, coffees, and more in a well-presented fashion.
What stood out the most to us here were the savory waffles – you can chose pumpkin or a mozzarella waffle, with toppings like sundried tomato and pesto. They had wraps, smoothie bowls, and more.
Gusto
Gusto has an ocean view and might have some of the best food in Amed. Honestly, everything here is incredible – from their home-made gnocchi to their pumpkin salad to their dip platters. You can’t go wrong with a chef this good!
Life in Amed
Life in Amed is a beachfront hotel-restaurant with a menu reminiscent of something out of Ubud. They have AMAZING cakes and desserts, creative juices, and hearty meal options.
Warung Enak
Warung Enak is one of the best rated Indonesian/warung options in Amed. They have all the classic Indonesian fare, and also fresh fish options as well at an affordable price.
Galanga
Galanga is right up there with Gusto in the race for the most amazing quality of food in Amed. The restaurant is easily-missed on the land side of the road, with tables tucked into a lush garden.
They have creative and flavorful Indonesian options with a twist – soups, tasting platters, curries, and amazing desserts.
Sama Sama
Sama Sama is one of the many little warungs on the water in Jemeluk Bay. We tried it randomly, but I will NEVER forget the AMAZING Sate lilit ikan we had there. These sate sticks are made of fish and coconut and other spices mushed together and cooked, and it was divine.
The Grill
The Grill would also be easily missed, on the left turn from the main area of Amed towards Waeni Sunset View and Gusto, if not for its bright blue and yellow interior. We loved our meal here, which was maybe the best pepes ikan we tried in Amed, an eggplant tomato salad, and a dips trio. Everything else looked great, but we can recommend these dishes specifically!
Blue Earth
Blue Earth is a MUST in Amed – it’s basically an Amed institution. It’s a beautiful multi-story bamboo structure surrounded by gardens, fairy-lit tables, and colorful pillows, and also faces the sunset really nicely, too.
The food at Blue Earth is fantastic, with both vegan and non-vegan options and everything from salads to fish burgers to noodles and amazing cakes. They also have yoga classes in a sweeping studio.
Meeting Point
This is a cute and tiny little sandwich shop near the entrance to Amed from Tulamben. It’s a great quick lunch stop.
Any Little Beachside Warungs
No, that’s not the name of an actual place, but I wanted to place one final reminder that the seafood in Amed is FRESH and delicious, and most tiny warungs will be able to serve something caught that morning.
Where to Stay in Amed – Best Accommodation
Katana Villa – For a Larger Group (or if at all possible!)
Katana Villa is honestly my favorite and most unique place I stayed in Bali. This animal-themed hillside villa is the brainchild of its creator, Leslie, who now lives in another incredibly creative villa next door. Katana has three completely unique bedrooms and the capacity for anywhere from 3 to maybe 8 people if needed. Each room has colorful touches, animal accents, and a great view.
Katana has an incredible pool with a waterslide and a little cave/grotto underneath, a spacious living room, and an ocean view. There’s a huge TV, a family-sized room, and so much space to chill and relax. The staff is incredible and kind, and the included breakfast is also delicious!! It’s the kind of place you really don’t want to leave!
Life in Amed – Boutique + Beachside
As I mentioned above in the ‘food’ section, Life in Amed is a hotel-restaurant right on the sand. It’s very boutique, with only a few normal/hotel rooms and a massive villa you can rent that opens up directly onto the beach.
If you love boutique hotels that can also serve you delicious food, this might be your option!
Sahera Dive Resort – Cheaper + Central
Sahera Dive Resort consists of cheaper rooms about halfway between Jemeluk Bay and Lipah Beach. This is a great option if you are on mroe of a budget but still want a comfortable room, nice pool, and be next to the beach.
Well, that’s it for things to do in Amed! We loved our ten days there and wished we had spent a whole month in the slower-paced fishing village. It’s an awesome place to visit in Bali – give it a try!
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.