Singaraja
Singaraja—by locals also known as Buleleng, the same name as the district—has more than 125,000 people and is Bali's second-largest city. It’s located along the northern coast, about a 2-hour drive from Ubud or 2.5-hour drive from Kuta. Its name combines tow Bahasa Indonesia words: “Singa” (lion) and “Raja” (king), but it has nothing to do with Disney and Simba.
The history of this place dates back a few thousand years, to a time when it was occasionally visited by sailors and merchants, mainly from the Middle East, India, and China. The earliest settlements of this region date back to 400 BC, according to excavations in the Singaraja’s neighboring villages.
The first settlers survived by fishing, hunting, and cultivating rice. A few centuries later, Buddhist merchants from China and India established trade posts here. You can find see their influences in a Chinese temple with a lotus pond and some of the local shrines.
The actual city of Singaraja was founded in 1604 when a king built the Royal Palace (the Puri Agung Buleleng). When the Dutch took over Bali in 1848, Singaraja became the administrative center of Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands. A decade later Indonesia proclaimed its independence, which is when Bali’s administrative center was moved to Denpasar. Today, Singaraja is an important cultural and educational center with two university campuses.
With its Dutch colonial buildings and relaxed waterfront, it's worth visiting for a couple of hours. As for staying overnight, most people book accommodation in the neighboring Lovina, which is only a 20-minute drive away. Nearby you can visit the Banjar Hot Springs or absolutely stunning waterfalls including Gitgit, Banyumala, Lemukih, and Sekumpul. You can also book a jungle trek in this area or a dolphin-watching cruise.
Experiences in Singaraja
Explore hand-picked Singaraja tours and experiences led by local insiders, from wildlife encounters to cultural deep-dives.
Singaraja
DELETE
Tour
Where to stay in Singaraja
From boutique lodges to luxury resorts, every Singaraja accommodation is hand-picked by our local insiders for location, comfort, and character.
Taman Sari Bali Resort
Year-round swimming anchors the grounds at Taman Sari Bali Resort, where a primary outdoor pool sits beside a shallow area built specifically for children. The hotel houses 90 rooms in Singaraja, Indonesia. Airport shuttle transfers handle guest arrivals and departures with direct pickup and drop-off services.
Lovina Bali Resort
Lovina Bali Resort is on the coast of northern Bali. It sits right on the water, offering beautiful views and a chance to get off the beaten path in rural Indonesia. Besides the ocean view, the resort also supplies guests with lovely gardens to wander through.
Menjangan Dynasty Resort
Menjangan Dynasty Resort holds just four rooms within a national park in Pejarakan, Indonesia, where the grounds look across gardens toward the surrounding mountains and the sea. A ten-minute drive reaches both Pemuteran Bay and the mineral waters of Banyuwedang Hot Spring, both located 4.1 kilometers from the property.
The Menjangan Resort
The Menjangan Resort pairs a private beach on the Pejarakan coast with just 17 guest rooms in northern Indonesia. This beach resort focuses on eco-friendly operations, running on LED lighting and water-efficient systems. Daily activities range from coastal water sports to wellness treatments and local cultural tours.
Insider-led Indonesia Design & Concierge
Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.
