Things To Do In Amed, Bali: 15 Brilliant Activities
Amed – Bali’s Forgotten Gem
Are you wondering what are the best things to do in Amed, Bali? As someone who’s spent 14 months travelling across Asia, including 2 weeks in Amed, I can tell you this coastal paradise is a welcome break from Bali’s tourist-heavy destinations.
While most travellers head to the busy streets of Ubud or the beach parties of Canggu, Amed offers something different – a chance to experience authentic Balinese life surrounded by incredible natural beauty.
From world-class diving spots to traditional salt farms, and from sunrise volcano hikes to beautiful black sand beaches, this fishing village has become one of my favourite spots in all of Bali.
Having explored extensively across the island, including stays in Ubud and the Gili Islands, I can confidently say that Amed provides experiences you won’t find anywhere else in Bali.
In this guide, I’ll share 14 amazing activities that show why Amed deserves your attention – from budget-friendly local experiences to unforgettable cultural encounters.
Whether you’re passionate about diving, eager to discover authentic Balinese culture, or just seeking an escape from crowded tourist spots, I’ll show you why Amed could become your favourite corner of Bali.
You can also read my post on How To Get To Amed, Bali and find out what the 12 BEST Hotels in Amed if you’re planning a trip.
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Let’s get to it.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Amed, Bali Map
1. Complete A Snorkelling Tour
Snorkelling is one of the best things to do in Amed. Read all about my Amed Snorkelling experience.
I loved swimming with some amazing sea life all around me. While we did see a poisonous snake in the water that didn’t deter us from going two more times.
You will see all the narrow boats dotted along Amed Beach and as you walk by each day guides will undoubtedly try and book you in for the next day.
We paid 700,000 Rupees for 2 people for the tour which lasted 2 hours and included three stops.
Sadly, the driver didn’t take us to the Japanese Shipwreck during the tour as had been agreed beforehand, citing strong currents as the reason. We took his word for it and didn’t complain.
Once in the water, you can experience some beautiful fish and even an underwater temple.
The water in Amed was usually crystal clear, which was perfect for snorkelling. It was especially thrilling when we spotted a turtle or two if we were lucky.
We could glide along beside them and watch them feed, which I found fascinating.
The underwater temple area was our favourite spot. It had an abundance of fish and plenty of other tourists swimming around, creating a fun and lively atmosphere.
Our driver for the day just warned us not to get close to the red jellyfish as they can hurt the most – so watch out for those little guys!
Book your snorkelling tour in Amed now.
2. Climb Mount Agung
Hikers and people who love views visiting Amed will want to make the long trek to the summit of Mount Agung.
Depending on where you start from it can take 12 hours to reach the top and get back to the starting point.
If I learned anything from 14 months of travel and trekking in Asia good footwear is a must especially when taking on Mount Agung.
Don’t be fooled this is not easy.
There will be many people around Amed who want to take you in a taxi so you can talk with them and arrange transport easily.
When we visited in August the weather was perfect for a challenging trek.
While we didn’t get to tackle the journey this time it’s on a list of things to do once we return to Bali.
3. Experience A Scuba Diving Day
Scuba diving is among the top things to do in Amed.
There are numerous excellent diving spots near Amed. The Japanese Shipwreck, USAT Liberty Wreck and underwater temple to name but a few.
Guada is passionate about diving. The water is clear with excellent visibility, though the dark volcanic sand makes the underwater environment less bright than other diving spots.
You’ll find amazing coral reefs packed with fish and turtles swimming around. Unlike other dive spots, you can just walk right into the water from the beach to start your dive – no boat is needed!
Guada used Oxygen Dive Centre and they were excellent in her opinion.
The liberty wreck is the big thing to see in Amed for divers.
The USAT Liberty was a 120-meter-long United States Army cargo ship built in 1918. During World War II, while transporting rubber and railway parts from Australia to the Philippines in January 1942, she was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-166 near the Lombok Strait.
The damaged vessel was intentionally beached at Tulamben to save her cargo.
The ship remained on the beach until 1963 when Mount Agung’s violent eruption caused the vessel to slip off the beach and submerge underwater.
During this volcanic event, tremors pushed the ship into deeper waters about 30 meters from the shore, where it now rests at depths ranging from 5 to 30 meters.
Today, the Liberty Wreck has transformed into a thriving artificial reef, completely covered in soft and hard corals, sea fans, and sponges.
The wreck attracts an incredible variety of marine life, including butterfly fish, angelfish, parrotfish, and even occasional visits from larger species like barracudas and reef sharks.
Its relatively shallow depth makes it an excellent site for both beginner and experienced divers.
4. Enjoy The Views At Lahangan Sweet
Lahangan Sweet offers a wonderful 360 panoramic view of not just Amed but the entire coast of Bali.
You can see a wonderful view of Mount Agung from here.
The good news is that you don’t have to walk up the entire mountain. We drove up the windy and dizzying road and only had a short trek of about twenty minutes one we paid our tickets at the entrance.
The entry fee is 100,000 rupees per person here and again, you can get one of those Instagram photos if that’s what you are after.
I have to admit the views are colossal.
Cloud was underneath Mount Agung and you will feel small compared to the mountain in the distance almost 15 kilometres away.
You can climb into a wooden ship perched above the ground, sit at one of the many viewing points, and gaze down at Amed Beach while enjoying the natural landscape that surrounds you.
There are plenty of viewpoints and seating areas available.
Sip a coffee or eat a meal at the restaurant on top if you’re feeling hungry—and you’ll be treated to one of the most spectacular views you’ve had in ages.
If you want to have a go in one of those big swings you can do it here for another 100,000 rupees. When we were there (August) there were only about 20 people inside at any one time which was surprising.
Keep in mind that there may be queues for photos at the popular swing and wooden platform viewpoints at Lahangan Sweet.
Read my full detailed guide Lahangan Sweet: Bali’s Best Viewpoint
5. Explore Tirta Gangga Water Palace
If you’re looking for stunning architecture, you must visit the beautifully designed Tirta Gangga Water Palace.
The palace is named after the Ganges River in India. Walking around it is honestly a great experience.
The palace was built in 1946. Interestingly, it was commissioned by I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, the last king of Karangasem.
As a passionate architect and visionary ruler, he also oversaw the construction of the equally impressive Ujung Water Palace.
Tirta Gangga was designed as an elegant recreational retreat for the royal family. It features ornate fountains, lush gardens, and traditional Balinese water features that perfectly blend natural beauty with architectural brilliance.
It was destroyed almost entirely by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963.
The green areas are meticulously maintained. You can walk across the ponds via stepping stones to capture some beautiful photos.
There are a couple of other sections in the corners of the temple with statues that capture the attention so don’t miss out on those.
The ponds have plenty of large fish that you can feed and there are beautiful bridges to walk across which all add to a royal experience.
During our visit, the palace was quite crowded. Navigating across the stepping stones was tricky, as we had to be mindful of visitors both ahead and behind us.
Still, you cannot visit Amed and skip Tirta Gangga Water Palace in my opinion.
It’s one of the best things to do near Amed for sure!
6. Visit Amed Sea Salt Farm
Something cool and unexpected was our visit to Amed Sea Salt Farm.
While exploring the area, we passed by the office and were curious about the site. A staff member noticed us and kindly offered a free tour of the salt farm—an offer we happily accepted.
It was fascinating to see how it works. We were shown all the steps of salt production and we even saw farmers working the soil.
They all greeted us with smiles and there were children around their farm too laughing and playing outside.
The tour lasted about 15 minutes and, although it was free, we happily left a small donation in the box by the farm gate.
Inside the office, there are photos on the wall and a small shop. You can purchase some salt and other items.
You could see how Amed progressed over time and how salt farming played such an important role for Amed.
If there were no tourism in Amed, most locals would likely be farming salt or seafood. Or so a taxi driver informed me.
We bought a packet of salt for 20,000 rupees but there were larger and smaller sachets of salt.
I recommend visiting this Salt Farm if you make it to Amed.
7. Do A Day Trip To Mount Batur
Again, one of the best things to do when in Amed is to make a day trip to Mount Batur.
Amed is two hours drive from the bottom of the mountain so you will need to arrange transport.
Alternatively, you can book a Mount Batur Tour with everything all prearranged for you.
The hike is about 3-5 kilometres (2-3 miles) round trip – an easy distance for most people who enjoy walking. The highest point is 1,717 meters high. But don’t worry – you only need to climb up 500 meters from where you start.
It’s a medium-difficulty walk that gets a bit harder when it rains.
The whole trip takes 2-4 hours, which includes time at the top for enjoying the views and taking pictures.
8. Watch The Sun Go Down at Sunset Point Amed Bali
One of my favourite moments in Amed was watching the sunset with a cocktail at Sunset Point Amed Bali.
You do have to book in to ensure you get a seat for the sunset.
Thankfully we did because it was honestly a beautiful evening watching the sun disappear behind Mount Agung.
When we arrived at about 04.00 PM to ensure we got a good seat. We got a great place above the pool with amazing views all around.
The best part was alternating between floating in the pool and returning to our seats. We could order cocktails from the pool bar and sip them in the water while watching the sunset behind us.
Like, who won’t love this? We paid 125,000 Rupees and got two drinks included in the entry ticket.
The food was good here too but make sure to book in if you are desperate to get a seat.
Many people ended up standing around. So if you want a relaxing time then get on the phone and make a reservation.
But for me, the highlight was the affinity pool. It was packed with couples, families and children. Anybody could experience one of the best things to do in Amed.
You can book tickets online or call them directly as we did.
9. Grab a Coffee With a View at MD Amed
My favourite coffee shop in Amed with the most brilliant view.
MD Amed was a great place to get some work done on the laptop. But it was also a really nice place to have a coffee and watch the sunset over Mount Agung.
The staff were extremely nice.
Apart from the fact that the coffee shop is totally made of glass, it feels like you’re outdoors but with aircon. Perfect for those hot summer days in Amed!
It was strange for us to see that so few people came in during the day. Especially with the rooftop with beany bags just waiting to be sat on.
I am aware there are plenty of other great coffee shops in Amed like St. Bernard Coffee, Meeting Point and Oneway Espresso but I have to say MD Amed was the best!
We came back to MD Amed to watch the sunset and it was just us with another couple of girls having a juice.
I recommend visiting during the evening when you’re tired of the beach and have explored all the nearby attractions in Amed.
10. Enjoy Amed’s Amazing Seafood
If you don’t get excited about fish then I’m sorry but Amed has some of the best fresh fish I have tried.
When I spoke to our hotel owner, he said he goes out on the boat in the mornings to catch fresh fish for the restaurant that day. Anything left over will be used the next day.
If you’re like me and LOVE fish, you’ll see buckets of fresh catch lined up on the streets next to barbecues, waiting to be cooked for hungry tourists.
Mahi Mahi, Wahoo and Tuna were the best I have ever eaten and they were big portions too so going to bed feeling hungry.
There is nothing better than knowing and seeing, that locals catch fish which will be eaten that same day. While it takes longer to cook I believe the time is well spent.
Your taste buds will thank you for it later!
11. Relax With A Beach Day
Amed is on the northeast coast of Bali.
Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Amed is laze around on the black-sanded beach.
You can read my article about Amed’s Best 8 Beaches.
Just grab a spot on the beach, lay out your towel and jump in the water to cool off. The black rocky sand looks amazing next to the bright blue ocean – it’s pretty unique!
Especially compared to the golden sands in the south it’s fascinating to walk along the black sand and pebbly coast.
The water was extremely calm when we visited with barely any waves crashing on the coast.
We rented a snorkel and splashed our way out 20 metres or so in search of some colourful marine life.
You can pick these up along many places on the coast. Even though we own a snorkel you don’t have to worry about bringing these with you.
Even though we visited Amed in August during the high season, it felt far less crowded compared to Ubud or Jimbaran.
Amed felt wonderful after coming from the cramped and packed streets of Ubud. There it was hard to find space on the street to pass other people.
While Amed may not have as many things to do as Ubud, it’s a place for relaxing more than exploring.
What better way to do that than to spend a day on the beach?
Read more about how best to travel from Ubud to Amed.
12. Experience A Ceremony On The Street
Balinese people are very proud of their traditions.
You may notice the Canang sari on the streets in Bali. These are the little offerings that local Hindus leave in the streets. They want to thank the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa.
I mean it when I say you will find these everywhere.
While in Amed, we were fortunate to witness a traditional ceremony where locals dressed in ceremonial attire. They marched proudly through the streets.
The procession was so significant that traffic came to a complete halt to let it pass.
I had to run over and get my camera out because it felt real. Like something that the locals do in their day-to-day lives.
13. Watch Live Music On The Beach
Amed Beach or Pantai Amed as it is known locally is a great place to kick back and relax.
This is something me and Guada took advantage of in our two-week stay.
We sat back on the beach watching the sun set over Mount Agung and Mount Batur to our left. Here we enjoyed live music from the many restaurants and bars dotting the coast of Pantai Amed.
Of course, I recommend having dinner with some fresh mahi-mahi while you’re there. You can finish off the evening with a song and a cocktail for a truly relaxing and memorable stay.
Be aware that local children may approach you to practice English and ask for money.
While this might seem harmless, we’ve heard that giving money can actually discourage them from attending school, as they find it more profitable to seek donations from tourists.
I don’t know if it’s a good or bad idea to give money but the kids are cute and they were doing it every night we stayed there.
14. Visit Japanese Ship Wreck
Another awesome thing to do in Amed is to make a visit to the Japanese Shipwreck.
Although it’s 20 minutes drive from Amed Beach to the shipwreck it is something that people often do when in Amed.
From Amed Beach, we paid 300,000 Rupees to a driver to bring us both to the site.
Our driver told us there were not many taxis there so he would wait three hours for us and bring us back so we took his word for it. Though we did see a couple of taxis afterwards.
We rented a snorkel and fin for 75,000 Rupees at the counter once inside the carpark. There is a small bar and office set up with toilets and showers.
There is also a 25,000 Rupee entry fee which includes a drink at the bar.
We spent about an hour in the water. The beach is quite rocky and challenging to walk on, but the incredible snorkelling experience makes it well worth the effort.
Once you swim out a few meters you can see a plastic bottle gloating which marks the Japanese Shipwreck.
You will also see many people floating around in that area whether snorkelling or scuba diving.
Our GoPro was broken at the time so while I have no images myself all I can say is it was spectacular to dive down as far as you can go and see the wreck covered in coral and plenty of fish swimming around too.
Simply brilliant in my view.
15. Lempuyang Temple
Lempuyang Temple is an interesting place and it’s true it’s worth a visit when in Amed. But…
What really got me was the fact that you will have to wait three hours, yes three hours, to get a photo which almost everyone wants. And it is staged. So for me, it’s like, what’s the point?
There are two guys sitting on chairs. One has a microphone and the other takes the picture.
There are two temple areas on both sides filled with people sitting and waiting to take a photo.
Once a group had their photo taken, he would call another person or group and they would stand in between the gates of heaven.
He holds a mirror up to the camera and voila, you have a fake image to show your family, friends and Instagram followers.
If this makes you happy then fire away, but for me, it felt like a waste of time.
Apart from that, the stairs behind are very nice with detailed design and historical dates back to 1072.
Pura Lempuyang Luhur is the main temple in the Lempuyang area and is considered one of Bali’s six most important temples. These six temples are believed to help keep the island spiritually balanced and are very sacred to the Balinese people.
Once you’re done exploring, I recommend getting a fresh coconut at Warung Makan, which offers great views and is just a few meters from the temple entrance.
Final Thoughts/Conclusion
Amed is a great place to escape the chaos which we found during our time in Ubud and that we heard about elsewhere in Canggu and Denpasar.
Gili Trawangan fell victim to crazy crowds too in July and August so we found Amed to be a breath of fresh air.
Check out my post about getting from Amed Bali to Gili T.
I have to admit while two weeks was probably a little too much time to spend in Amed (we were working some days) one week of all-out adventure would have been perfect.
I have to admit that Amed has some of the best fresh fish I’ve ever tried.
The temples are beautiful and historically significant, and my personal favourite attraction near Amed is Lahangan Sweet, which offers incredible views.
While Lempuyang temple is a cool place to visit, we were disappointed to learn there was a three-hour wait for the famous “reflection” photo—which we ultimately skipped since we weren’t willing to queue that long for a staged photo.
The black sands really caught my attention.
Unlike Southern Bali’s beaches like Melasti Beach or Padang Padang Beach (all beautiful by the way), it was fascinating to walk across the black sand—a striking reminder of Mount Agung’s volcanic eruption that dramatically transformed Bali’s landscape.
If you enjoy snorkelling or diving you will love Amed.
Guada really enjoyed her diving experience at the USAT Liberty Wreck and I fell in love with underwater life along the coast of Amed.
Swimming with gigantic turtles was something I’d only seen in movies, but I was thrilled to experience it firsthand.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
Is Amed Bali Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. In my opinion, Amed has some great things to do and is almost like a hidden part of Bali that many people skip. If you want to escape the crowds of Ubud and Canngu then Amed will give you peace and some really fun activities to experience and places to go. Great seafood, snorkelling and diving are just a few of the fun things to do in Amed.
How Many Days Do You Need In Amed Bali?
We stayed 2 weeks in Amed but to be honest, one week would have been enough. If you enjoy black-sanded beaches and good seafood then by all means stay longer. But for the best things to do in Amed, like visiting Lempuyang Temple, Lahangan Sweet and Tirta Gangga Water Palace you could see most of them within a shorter time frame.
How Big Is Amed Bali?
Amed is not a single town/village but instead, a stretch of coast in East Bali that spans approximately 14 kilometres. It basically consists of several small fishing villages including Amed, Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Selang, Banyuning, and Aas. Each village has its own character and attractions, but they’re all connected by a single coastal road that winds along the black sand beaches and offers stunning views of Mount Agung. It’s a really cool place to explore.
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