Sanur.
Sanur is a small, relaxed seaside resort village south east of the capital Denpasar. It was the first place in Bali to experience significant tourist development in the 1950s and 1960s. Today it is home to a number of 5-star hotels, luxurious villa complexes, International schools and exclusive shops and restaurants.

Homes and villas in Sanur are highly sought-after because of the high-level of infrastructure in the area, and because the beach is so clean and safe for swimming.

Kuta.
Made popular by an influx of hippies, surfers and backpackers in the late 1960s and 1970s, situated on the south west coast at the southern end of a sweep of white sand beach that runs from the airport, to the famous temple at Tanah Lot, Kuta is still the young, brash, noisy and vibrant centre of tourism on the island.

The density of existing hotel, losmen and retail development in Kuta means that there are few quality residential opportunities in Kuta itself.

Legian.
Just up the beach to the north, these days Legian is virtually indistinguishable from Kuta. This was one of the first places that visitors began to build villas.

Seminyak.
This area used to be distinct from Kuta and Legian, its noisy and uncouth neighbors to the south, and was the place where long time residents lived and played. This is the birthplace of Bali cool.
Today you’ll still find lots of Bali’s best restaurants, shops and nightlife here, but many residents have fled further up the coast to escape the inexorable march north of the tourists from Kuta and Legian.

Canggu.
The new Seminyak, a few kilometers up the coast, and now the site of large scale villa developments... Land close to the coast is highly prized, and highly priced.

Jimbaran.
Home to such famous establishments as The Ritz Carlton and The Four Seasons, its white sand beach is beautiful and its fresh fish restaurants legendary. There are some beautiful private villas and residences tucked away rather in Jimbran’s side streets.

Nusa Dua.
A peculiar response by central government to the burgeoning tourist boom of the 1980s. A large tract of largely uninhabited land on the southern-most tip of the island was developed as a sanitized, self-contained and separate enclave of 4-star and 5-star hotels. Some visitors never set foot outside its confines.

The Bukit.
Meaning The Hill in the Indonesian language, this area refers to the hilly peninsular to the south of the international airport. Sparsely populated, and having little intensive agriculture, it’s an area that is a natural for residential development. Many parts of The Bukit have sweeping ocean or mountain views, and some of Bali’s world famous surf breaks fringe the south-western coast, making it a highly sought-after location.

South-east coast.
This area stretches from Sanur to Candi Dasa. On clear days there are wonderful view to Nusa Lembongan, Lombok, Gunung Agung and Nusa Penida. The recently completely By-Pass from Sanur to Kusambe has opened this area up to development and some substantial high-end developments are underway along the coast, especially at Ketewel.

Ubud.
Famous as an artists colony since the 1930s, Ubud has an atmosphere all its own. The Sukawati royal family still has enormous influence in the town’s development and has done much to keep out the ugly commercialism mushrooming further south. Ubud attracts visitors and residents who want to immerse themselves a little deeper in Balinese art and culture. It’s home to many exclusive hotels, spas, restaurants, museums, art studios and boutiques. Villages on its outskirts tend to specialize in different artistic and creative art forms – some are known for masks, or carving, painting, or silver-forging; others for dance or gamelan music.

The North-East Coast.
This pleasant and largely unspoiled coastal region has become far more accessible with the new Sanur/Kusamba By Pass which cuts a couple of hours from the journey from the south. Padang Bai the terminal for ferries to Lombok. It has a considerable grubby charm and many people enjoy a fresh seafood lunch or dinner at the shacks that line the bay. Further north is Goa Lawah, an interesting temple inside a large cavern. Candi Dasa, once touted as the new Kuta, is a short drive away. There are some nice beachfront properties here, but due to the reef being destroyed to provide lime for a building boom in the 1990s, the beach has been swept away and the once pristine lagoon is not in great shape. The most popular destination in the north east is Amed, a series of communities along a beautiful 10km stretch of coast. There is great accommodation here, some fine beachfront properties for sale, and good diving and snorkelling. A little further north is Tulamben, site of the famous USAT Liberty shipwreck, Bali’s most famous dive site.

The North Coast.
Lovina is a charming, sleepy little beach community a few kilometres west of Singaraja, North Bali’s capital. There’s good swimming, dolphin tours, good accommodation and eating. A few kilometres away is a great thermal spa. The hills that hug the coast offer fine views on clear days and are home to Bali’s fledgling wine industry. Affordable building sites, either beachfront, or with awesome views, is easy to find.

West Bali.
With the exception of Menjangan Marine Park which offers very good diving, West Bali is largely ignored by visitors. This is unfortunate because the region has much to offer. There is a large National Park which features some stunning jungle trekking and the opportunity to see rare bird species. In the extreme west, the ferry port of Gilimanuk has a frantic energy. The road back to Denpasar goes through Jembrana regency, Bali’s most ethnically diverse region. In the small town of Negara, there are buffalo races here each August, September and November. Some of Bali’s best beach break surf spots are around the village of Medewi. The road follows the coast for about 40km, and there are some stunning possibilities for building right on the beach.