Is Uluwatu safe?
Safe with normal care. Surf hazards, scooter crashes on hilly roads and monkeys at the temple are the real risks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-07-06.
- Homicide rate in Indonesia: 0.3 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Indonesia: 11.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Uluwatu at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Bag theft from scooters and beaches, and monkeys stealing phones and glasses at Uluwatu Temple. |
| At night | Quiet after clubs close; roads are dark and winding. Book Gojek or a driver in advance, as night rides can be scarce. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women, with a large surfing and yoga crowd. Use app rides or a driver at night, as roads are unlit. |
| Other risks | Reef cuts and strong currents at surf breaks; Scooter crashes on steep roads; Heat and sun in dry season |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Parking attendants at beaches demanding inflated fees
- Scooter rental damage claims; photograph the bike first
- Money changers short-counting notes
Take care
- Surf breaks: shallow reef, strong currents; match your level
- Steep beach staircases and cliff paths: slippery when wet
- Jl. Uluwatu at night: dark, potholed and fast traffic
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- From 2026, sex outside marriage and unmarried cohabitation are crimes, prosecuted only on a spouse's, parent's or child's complaint
- Drug trafficking can bring the death penalty; even small amounts mean prison
- Disrespecting temples or sacred sites in Bali can lead to deportation
How Uluwatu compares in Indonesia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Nusa Dua | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bali | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ubud | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Canggu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seminyak | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluwatu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yogyakarta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gili Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Penida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Labuan Bajo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sanur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Raja Ampat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mount Bromo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bandung | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Lembongan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lake Toba | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kuta Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amed | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Batam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bintan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Malang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bukit Lawang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Surabaya | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manado | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tana Toraja | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jimbaran | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jakarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Kuta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Medan | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Uluwatu safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women, with a large surfing and yoga crowd. Use app rides or a driver at night, as roads are unlit.
Is Uluwatu safe at night?
Quiet after clubs close; roads are dark and winding. Book Gojek or a driver in advance, as night rides can be scarce.
What is the crime rate in Uluwatu?
Bag theft from scooters and beaches, and monkeys stealing phones and glasses at Uluwatu Temple. Nationally, Indonesia records 0.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Uluwatu?
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
More about Uluwatu
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- Ngurah Rai Airport
- BIMC Hospital
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.