Uluwatu (Bali): the vibe
Videos from people who went, played right here, with what viewers said underneath. Not part of the score.
The verdict
Mixed · 58Mixed verdict: expats praise the chill vibe, cafés, beaches and surf, but locals and long-time visitors warn of rapid development, traffic and cultural strain.
- chill vibe
- cafés
- beaches and surf
- cliffside scenery
- cheap food
- overtourism
- traffic and long drives
- cliff destruction for development
- cultural disrespect by visitors
- high prices versus local wages
- Feels more relaxed than Canggu, though it is changing quickly.
- Traffic and distances make getting around slow and tiring.
- Locals feel expats and tourists overshadow their culture and way of life.
- Good cafés and beaches make it appealing for a longer stay.
- Development is eroding the natural landscape that drew people there.
Read from 8 videos, 40 comments and 0 posts on 2026-11-07; the summary is written by a language model and can misread sarcasm.
What it's REALLY like living in Uluwatu Bali (bye Canggu?)
Lost LeBlanc · 587K views · 2022
What viewers said
“I love how you mentioned "living with locals" while staying at a boutique villa owned by an Italian and French 😂 I can't help but feel the effects of modern colonization. I really can't help but doubt this is how a majority of local Baline”
♥ 522 likes
“people like you is the reason i left bali after living there 20 years”
♥ 49 likes
“None of this screams local. It's the Instagram, tiktok life that's all me, me and more me.”
♥ 4 likes
“This guy has run thru so many relationships”
♥ 8 likes
“My daughter moved to Bali for work to realized her dream..; Work and pleasure. Sometlmes she visits beach for sunset before her duty at an emergency unit in hospital. What a gorgeous life....”
♥ 32 likes
“The expats of Uluwatu do not want it to become another Canggu. That is one of the reasons so many are moving to Uluwatu, but I've definitely noticed that travellers prefer the beauty, chillaxed nature compared to Canggu. I feel that Canggu ”
♥ 18 likes
“funny watching your perspective; Ulu has completely modernized from my lens, when I took over 30 trips in late 90's and early 2000's - when there was truly no hotels, a few warungs to eat and relax, and best uncrowded surf on planet ... wav”
♥ 13 likes
“I'm Indonesian, you know, not all Indonesian natives like and want to live in Bali, even now many have left Indonesia but many of them are still helping people in Indonesia.”
♥ 6 likes
“Just one thing for tourist that want to visit Bali, please respect our culture. Many ignorant and disrespectful tourist out there. We welcome you but it is our home not urs.”
♥ 41 likes
“The irony of this guy complaining about Canggu changing and becoming too crowded when he has been a big driving force behind that change...”
♥ 13 likes
Found with a YouTube search for the city and “digital nomad”, fetched 2026-11-07; titles, descriptions and comments belong to their authors and link to the originals.