Living in Umalas, Bali: a practical guide to the quiet side of Canggu
Umalas is the residential pocket between Canggu, Berawa, Kerobokan and Seminyak. People who rent there for months tend to give the same reason: they want the restaurants, beach clubs and schools of the Canggu area within reach, without living on the busiest streets.
Where Umalas is
Umalas sits inland, north of Seminyak and east of Berawa, in the Kerobokan area of Badung regency. Its main roads, Jalan Umalas I and Jalan Umalas II, run through a mix of villas, rice fields that are slowly giving way to houses, small warungs and cafés.
From Umalas you reach:
- Berawa and Berawa Beach to the west, a short drive away;
- Canggu and Pererenan further west along the coast;
- Seminyak and Kerobokan to the south.
Travel times in Bali depend almost entirely on traffic and the time of day. A scooter is faster than a car on the small roads; a car with a driver is more comfortable for families and school runs.
Umalas or Berawa?
The two areas are next to each other, and many people use “Umalas–Berawa” as a single address.
| Umalas | Berawa | |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Residential, quieter at night | Busier, beach clubs, nightlife |
| Main draw | Space, villas with gardens | The beach and everything around it |
| Best for | Families, long stays, remote work | Short stays, people who want to walk out to cafés |
Living in Umalas and going to Berawa for the beach is a common choice: you sleep in a calm street and drive a few minutes to the busy one.
Daily life
Food and cafés. Umalas has its own restaurants and coffee shops, and the full choice of the Canggu area is a few minutes away. Supermarkets with imported products are spread across Kerobokan, Berawa and Canggu.
Sport. Berawa concentrates large gyms and sports clubs. Tennis, padel, yoga studios and surf schools are spread across Umalas, Berawa and Canggu.
Schools. The Canggu area has several international schools and kindergartens, including Canggu Community School in Berawa. Families who rent for a school year usually choose the school first, then the villa, to keep the daily drive short.
Health. Clinics operate in Canggu, Kerobokan and Seminyak, and the main international hospitals are in Denpasar and Kuta, south of the area.
What a villa in Umalas usually offers
Because land is less scarce than in central Canggu, villas in Umalas often come with larger gardens and pools. Villa Awana is a good example: 300 m² of living space on 600 m² of land, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a 60 m² pool, in Dharma Residence.
Renting in Umalas for a month or a year
Most long-stay villas in Umalas are rented either monthly or yearly. Yearly leases are usually paid upfront and cost less per month; monthly leases cost more but leave you free. We compare both, with real numbers, in Monthly or yearly villa rental in Bali.
To see the area and the villa in person, send your dates on WhatsApp. Visits of Villa Awana take place until 4 pm.