Kuta

The wide expanse of Kuta Beach (17 June, 2004)


Kuta is the area on the northern part of the isthmus that joins the main part of Bali to the Bukit Peninsula. Part of south Bali, Kuta has developed to become the main tourist area in Bali, and arguably, in the whole of Indonesia.

The Kuta area is known for its long expanse of sandy beach, with waves suitable for surfing - drawing many surfers especially from Australia. Visitors to the area will find all types of accommodation, from budget guesthouses for the backpackers to chalet, boutique hotels, and a few sizable hotels. On the whole, Kuta is laid back, with many restaurants and bars. Here and there a Balinese shrine crops up in between the commercial development, reminding us that this is Bali.

Kuta's transformation into a world-famous beach destination began only in the 1970's, when it was discovered by backpackers and surfers. Before that, it has played other, less glamorous roles, as a leper colony and a slave station. Its poor soil does not make it a choice location for agriculture. It doesn't matter to the hordes of tourists descending on the Kuta strip to enjoy the sand, sea, sun and other single-syllable s-words that Kuta has to offer.

The Kuta Strip has spread northwards and southwards from the original Kuta Beach, which faces the Indian Ocean, on the west coast of the isthmus. Going north from Kuta, you continue into Legian, and then to Seminyak. Going south, you pass through Tuban - where the beach is interrupted by the Ngurah Rai International Airport, and continue to Jimbaran.

Kuta suffered from terrorist bombings twice, on 12 Octgober, 2002, killing 202 people, and on 1 October, 2005, killing 26. Tourism in Bali took a nosedive in the wake of each attack, but the area has since bounced back.

Surfboards at Legian Beach, Kuta (17 June, 2004)

Places of interest in Kuta

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

Destination Indonesia

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.