Canggu vs Seminyak
{The Ultimate Breakdown}
Canggu vs Seminyak
{The Ultimate Breakdown}
Move over Seminyak, there’s a new kid on the block.
Everyone say hi to Canggu, the tourist destination in Bali that is (not so slowly) taking over!
As if trying to choose where to stay in Bali wasn’t already hard enough, now there is yet another destination on the map to consider, so I don’t blame anyone for being confused!
In this blog, I’ve broken down and compared Canggu vs Seminyak seeing as they are very similar and choosing between the two is naturally quite difficult.
Keep reading for the ultimate breakdown between the two biggest Bali destinations… Canggu vs Seminyak.
Canggu vs Seminyak: The Breakdown
Below I’ve listed the various categories that differentiate Canggu vs Seminyak to help you make the decision of where to stay in Bali as simple as possible!
Location
Location wise, Canggu and Seminyak are situated right next to each other on the map.
However, it’s around a 20-minute drive to get to and from Canggu and Seminyak.
In my eyes, they’re so close to each other that even if you choose to stay in Seminyak during your Bali backpacking trip, you’d be able to spend some time in Canggu and vice versa.
Vibes
The vibes are one of the biggest differences between Canggu vs Seminyak.
Canggu is very relaxed and chilled-out whereas Seminyak is more of an upmarket, busier and livelier place.
Seminyak has a plethora of different restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, shopping boutiques, beach clubs, you name it… Seminyak has it.
Canggu is a little quieter, without so much nightlife and shopping boutiques. You can probably find an acai bowl joint on every corner, and it’s also more of a surfer town.
So seeing as this is the category that most differentiates Canggu vs Seminyak, it’s something to heavily consider when deciding whether to stay in Canggu or Seminyak.
If you want to shop, party, explore the beach clubs, and be amongst the bustling streets, perhaps Seminyak is the place for you.
Whereas if you’re down for something more relaxed and quieter, Canggu is your spot.
Activities
So as I mentioned above, Seminyak is the place to be if you want to be shopping, eating out, or partying, and Canggu is the place to be if you enjoy surfing or just being chilled-out.
In saying this, the two destinations are situated that close to each other, it’s not as if you couldn’t go and hang out in Seminyak for the day if your accommodation is in Canggu and vice versa.
One thing you should not expect from Canggu or Seminyak are nature-related activities such as hikes, waterfalls, or rice terraces.
Canggu or Seminyak both do not offer anything like these, and the closest you’ll get to anything nature related is the beach!
Beach Clubs
In terms of Beach Clubs, Seminyak vs Canggu ties equally.
The beach from Canggu all the way through to Seminyak is lined with beach clubs upon beach clubs that are waiting to be explored by you.
No one goes to Bali without spending at least two afternoons at a beach club. It’s just what you do in Bali.
Some of our favorites include Mrs Sippy and Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak, or Finns Beach Club in Canggu.
For all the best beach clubs in Bali, click here.
Cafes & Restaurants
So this is another distinguishable factor between Canggu vs Seminyak.
The restaurant/café vibes in Canggu are very chilled, bohemian, vegan, and just relaxed in general, whereas the restaurant scene in Seminyak is more formal and high-class.
So if you want to be wined and dined on the daily in a beachfront, airconditioned restaurant, Seminyak is your hub.
If getting all dressed up to go out and eat is not really your thing, then you’ll probably like Canggu more.
Canggu is also saturated with those vegan restaurants and café’s that you see all over Instagram, such as KYND Community.
Nightlife
There’s no doubt that Seminyak takes the cake for the nightlife category.
There’s just a strip in Seminyak that offers a plethora of bars and nightclubs no matter which direction you’re facing.
Some of our favourites include La Favela and Motel Mexicola.
Click here for our ultimate guide for the best bars in Seminyak.
Keep in mind, the upmarket nature of Seminyak means you will have to wear something a little dressier than flip-flops and a tank top and be sure to bring a form of ID with you because Seminyak clubs are known to sometimes not let you in without showing ID!
Canggu doesn’t really have too much of a nightlife scene apart from a few bars that you can most definitely get into wearing flip flops and a tank top.
Photo Credit | The Bali Bible
Beaches
Both Canggu and Seminyak have beautiful beaches lined with palm trees as far as the eye can see, and I think the only difference between the two is that Canggu beaches offer more of a surf culture than the Seminyak beaches do.
You can still surf in Seminyak, however, it’s not as big in Seminyak as it is in Canggu.
So if you’re heavily into surfing then Canggu is probably the place you’ll want to be.
One thing to note about the beaches in Canggu and Seminyak is that they’re not your typical white powder-like sand beaches, but instead, the sand is black, which is actually the rocks and minerals that come from Bali’s volcanoes.
Scenery
The scenery is very similar in Canggu and Seminyak.
Seminyak is a bit more of a concrete jungle than Canggu is, but it’s not as if either destination has incredible waterfalls or specific sights you must see, however, they are both centrally located and are considered to be the perfect place to base yourself in Bali so you can take day trips around the island and explore all the incredible sights around Bali that you will want to see.
If you need some inspiration, click here for all the best things to do in Bali.
Canggu vs Seminyak: Which Is Better Overall?
Only you can decide this for yourself.
I can honestly say there’s no “better” destination out of Canggu or Seminyak.
I guess it just all depends on what kind of vibe you’re looking for during your Bali backpacking trip.
If you’re looking for something a little bit upmarket and dare I say boujee, Seminyak is the place for you.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for somewhere with vibes that are more relaxed and chilled-out, Canggu might be the Bali destination for you.
Both Canggu and Seminyak are fantastic destinations and I can confidently say that you’d be happy no matter which destination you choose.
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