Area Guide
Canggu is Bali's best-known remote work hub: surf beaches, rice fields squeezed between cafés, and more coworking spaces than anywhere else on the island. I spent my second workweek in Bali here, after a week in Ubud, and it was one of the most memorable weeks of work I have ever had.
Best for
Social remote workers, surfers, people who like a lively scene
Best months
April to October (dry season)
Time difference with CET
+7 hours in winter, +6 hours in summer
Cost per day
Roughly €60–€110 including a good private room
Internet
Fast in most coworking spaces and remote-work-focused stays
After a week of working in Ubud, I travelled to Canggu over the weekend. I was looking forward to working close to the beach and was already counting down to my next cold coconut during breakfast while catching up on emails.
I checked into Tribal Bali Coworking Hostel, and still today I cannot name a hostel or hotel that topped my experience there. It is designed for people who combine travel and work: a coworking space with a lively open area and quieter private areas, an infinity pool, a restaurant, private rooms as well as dorms, fast internet across the property and community events. It is a few hundred metres from the beach.
Read the full story in my Bali trip report.
Internet in Indonesia is on average slower than in Thailand or Malaysia, but Canggu is one of the best-connected areas of Bali. Newer villas, coworking spaces and remote-work-focused stays often have fast internet. Ask your stay for a recent speed test before you book.
Mobile data works well in Canggu and is useful as a backup during power or WiFi hiccups. An eSIM means you are online as soon as you land at Denpasar airport. Read my guide to eSIMs for workations.
Tribal Bali Coworking Hostel
Where I stayed and worked. The coworking space is part of the property, so you can go from breakfast to your desk to the pool without leaving.
BWork Bali (Berawa)
A large coworking space in Berawa with a café and pool. Day passes from about IDR 250,000 (about €12).
Outpost Canggu
Part of a Bali coworking and coliving brand with spaces in Canggu and Ubud. Day passes around $15, or about IDR 240,000 (about €13).
Tropical Nomad
A long-running Canggu coworking space. Passes from about IDR 180,000 (about €9) for seven hours, or IDR 230,000 (about €11) for a full day.
Kinship Studio
A smaller, design-led space. Day pass around IDR 250,000 (about €12).
Note: Dojo Bali, once Canggu's most famous coworking space, has closed. Some older guides still list it.
Batu Bolong and Echo Beach
The busy heart of Canggu, with beach clubs, cafés and surf. Great for social life, noisy at times.
Berawa
A bit more polished, with gyms, cafés and BWork nearby. A good middle ground.
Pererenan
Just west of Canggu and calmer, with rice fields and newer villas. Good if you want quieter evenings.
If you want to stay in Canggu for a workation, Tribal Bali Coworking Hostel is my clear recommendation. Whether you are a corporate employee or an entrepreneur, it has all the ingredients for a stress-free workation.
Other stays I list in Canggu:
A rough week for one person, excluding flights:
Stay
€250–€600
For a private room or small villa with a desk
Food
€80–€160
From warungs to trendy brunch spots
Coworking
€35–€60
For five day passes, unless coworking is included in your stay
Transport
€20–€50
On Grab and Gojek, or around €5–€8 a day for a scooter
Also budget for
Bali is seven hours ahead of CET in winter and six in summer. A 9:00 CET meeting happens at 16:00 in Bali in winter. That gives you long, free mornings, but late finishes if you have afternoon meetings in Europe.
Read how I handle time zones on workations for how to protect your evenings.
Apr–Oct
Dry season, the best time to go, busiest in July and August
Nov–Mar
Rainy season with heavy tropical showers, often in the afternoon; quieter and cheaper
Nyepi (Balinese Day of Silence), usually in March
The whole island shuts down for 24 hours, including the airport and internet in many places
Bali's airport is Ngurah Rai in Denpasar. From the airport, Canggu is 45–90 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
Traffic in Canggu can be heavy. Grab and Gojek are the easiest way around, but some areas have restrictions on app pick-ups. Many remote workers rent a scooter. Only do that with a motorcycle licence and an international driving permit with the motorcycle (A) category, because police checks are common.
EU citizens can get a 30-day visa on arrival or e-VOA (IDR 500,000, extendable once for another 30 days). Bali also charges a tourism levy of IDR 150,000 per visit, and every traveller must submit the free All Indonesia arrival card within three days before arrival.
A tourist visa does not allow local employment. Remote work for a foreign employer is a grey area on a visitor visa; for longer stays, look into Indonesia's remote worker visa (E33G).
Take a surf lesson at Batu Bolong
Watch the sunset at Echo Beach or a beach club
Visit Tanah Lot temple, about 30 minutes away
Join a community event at your coworking space or coliving
Spend a weekend in Ubud or on the Nusa islands
Yes. It has the highest concentration of coworking spaces and remote-work-focused stays in Bali.
Canggu for beach, surf and social life, Ubud for calm, nature and culture. I worked a week in each and loved both. Read my full comparison.
In coworking spaces and good stays, yes. Always ask for a recent speed test and keep mobile data as a backup.
Seven hours ahead in European winter, six hours in European summer.
No, Dojo Bali has closed. BWork, Outpost, Tropical Nomad and Kinship Studio are popular alternatives.
Canggu is part of my Bali guide. Compare it with Ubud in Canggu or Ubud for a workation, read my Bali trip report, or see how Bali compares with Thailand. For more options, explore my Southeast Asia guide.
