Is Canggu Safe? Everything You Need To Know About Safety In Canggu, Bali

Yes, Canggu is a very safe place to travel. There are tons of other travelers around, locals are warm and welcoming, and there are tons of services available to tourists.

After spending a week in Canggu as a solo female traveler, I can confidently say that there were no instances where I felt unsafe or in danger.

That’s not to say that Canggu is 100% safe (nowhere in the world is, really).

Canggu is a hot spot for digital nomads and expats in Bali. Because of its popularity among foreigners, it can attract a lot of attention from the wrong types of people.

Pickpocketing and theft is the most common issue people run into in Canggu. More specifically, I heard many reports of people getting their phones snatched off of their motorbike while they drove.

For this reason, I always recommend putting your belongings in your seat if you are driving a motorbike. If you are walking along the street, always keep your bag or purse facing away from the street. People have been known to do drive by snatch and grabs.

Another huge safety concern in Canggu is the traffic and road conditions. Many tourists rent motorbikes while they are visiting Canggu. A lot of them are inexperienced and aren’t able to handle the traffic and road conditions in Canggu and around Bali.

As a result, there are a lot of accidents that occur on the road. Make sure you are ALWAYS wearing your helmet when you are on a motorbike and never rent one if you have not ridden them before.

However, with all of that being said, Canggu is still an incredibly safe place to visit. As someone who has traveled extensively over the years, I can say I feel incredibly safe in Canggu and Bali as a whole.

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Safety In Canggu In 2022

Now that Bali has opened back up to tourism, you’re probably wondering how safe it is to travel to Canggu in 2022. For the most part, it’s just as safe as it was pre-pandemic, but there are a few things that you should consider.

I’ve seen many reports of a rise in petty theft as tourism returns to Canggu. Naturally, as tourism increases, so do incidents involving tourists.

The most common crime reported is phone theft. Thieves will drive up and steal phones from your hand or phone holder while you’re riding a motorbike. Prevent this from occurring by storing your phone and other belongings in your motorbike seat while riding.

Some locals have been without income for over two years, so naturally they are a bit desperate to get their share of tourism dollars now that Bali is open. This has resulted in local vendors and drivers being a bit more pushy about selling their services. In most cases, this is more of an annoyance and is completely harmless behavior but it’s still worth noting.

Canggu in particular has also seen an increase in villa break-ins over the past few years. Burglars will cut locks or enter through open-air bathrooms. If you’re staying in a private villa, be sure that there is ample security. Hotels and hostels have their own security measures so they are typically very safe to stay in.

So is Canggu safe to travel to in 2022? Yes, but you should definitely keep a closer eye on your personal belongings!

Is Canggu Safe For Solo Female Travelers?

Sure, Canggu is safe for regular travelers, but what about solo female travelers?

I spent about a week as a solo female traveler in Canggu in April, 2022 so I definitely feel like I have some insights into this!

Canggu, and Bali in general, is a very safe place to travel for women alone. Violent crime is very rare here and there are always other travelers around to keep you company and help you feel safer.

Watch out for petty theft, keep an eye on your drinks, and be conscious of where you’re walking and you should be totally find. These are all safety precautions that you should be taking no matter where you are traveling!

If you choose to travel to Canggu solo, I highly recommend staying in a hostel so you can meet other travelers. Solo travel is amazing but it can definitely get lonely. Canggu has some amazing hostels that are a great place to meet likeminded travelers! I’ve linked some of my favorites in the next section.

Where To Stay In Canggu

Canggu has plenty of options when it comes to safe places to stay. Here are a few things to look for when booking accommodation in Canggu:

Make sure that your hotel or hostel is located near other businesses and attractions. Secluded accommodations are definitely relaxing, but they can be a target for theft if there aren’t any neighbors around to keep an eye on things.

Your accommodation should have 24/7 reception or security. If there’s no one onsite all day, there should at least be plenty of gates and walls protecting the property.
Look for a hostel with lockers or a hotel with a lock box in the room. It’s rare, but theft can occur in hostels and hotel rooms by staff or other travelers.

Here are some of my recommendations for safe places to stay in Canggu:

The Farm Hostel – This beautiful hostel is located in a really safe and busy part of Canggu. You can easily walk or motorbike to the most popular cafes and restaurants from The Farm. They have 24 hour security onsite.

Lay Day Surf Hostel – This is where I stayed in Canggu and I felt incredibly safe. There are lockers in every room, 24 hour security onsite, and they have a great relationship with the surrounding community.

The Kemilau Hotel & Villa – This luxurious hotel is located just 8 minutes from the beach, in a really nice and safe part of Canggu. There is 24 hour reception, safety deposit boxes in the room, and all-day security onsite.

Top Safety Tips For Traveling In Canggu, Bali

Now that you know how safe Canggu is, here are some safety tips for traveling in Canggu, Bali:

Wear your bag away from the street. If you’re walking down the street, you should make sure to put your bag or purse on the shoulder that faces away from the street. This will help prevent drive-by bag snatching.
Don’t rent a motorbike unless you’re 100% confident. Too many tourists get into serious crashes when they visit Bali. Most of the time it’s because they weren’t properly prepared for the traffic and road conditions before renting a motorbike. Make sure you’re 100% confident on a bike before renting one.

Keep your belongings in the seat if you rent a motorbike. Stealing phones from motorbike phone mounts is incredibly common in Canggu. Prevent this from happening to you by always keeping your phone in the motorbike seat while you’re driving.
Don’t pet the dogs. I know the street dogs are so adorable, but you should always be careful when it comes to stray dogs in foreign countries. No one wants to have to go to the hospital for a rabies shot when they’re on vacation!
Use common sense. Like anywhere in the world, there’s always a risk of bad things happening. Keep an eye on your drinks, don’t walk alone at night, and make sure you lock away your valuable goods in a safety box or locker when you leave your room.

Is The Rest Of Bali Safe?

Bali, in general, is an incredibly safe place to visit for tourists.

The island thrives off of tourism, so it’s in their best interest to keep travelers as happy as possible. There are also TONS of people traveling to Bali at all times, so you’ll always be surrounded by other tourists.

The most common issues in Bali are petty theft and bag snatching. Keep an eye on your belongings when you are riding a motorbike, walking down the street, or sitting at a restaurant.

Another safety issue to be aware of is volcanic eruptions. If there is volcanic activity, flights in and out of Bali can be cancelled without much warning. If you are planning to travel to Bali, make sure to check for any volcano advisories.

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety In Canggu

Can You Walk Around Canggu At Night?

I do not recommend walking around Canggu at night by yourself.

The main reason for this is crazy motorbike drivers. Unfortunately, a lot of tourists and expats will drink and drive at night on their motorbikes. If you’re walking along a poorly lit street, they may not see you and crash into you.

Another reason not to walk around alone at night is the street dogs. The dogs in Bali are generally pretty friendly but you should always be careful with street dogs.

Rather than walking at night, you should use a Grab or GoJek to get where you need to go. It’s cheap, easy to use, and much safer than walking.

Can You Drink The Tap Water In Canggu?

Absolutely not! You should never drink the tap water in Canggu or anywhere else in Bali. Drinking tap water can make you incredibly sick in Bali.

Many hotels and hostels will have filtered water that you can use to fill up your reusable water bottle. If you don’t have access to free filtered water, you can buy water bottles at the supermarket or mini mart.

Is It Safe To Rent An Airbnb In Canggu?

It is generally safe to rent an Airbnb in Canggu, but you should take a few things into consideration before booking.

First, you should always make sure that you’re in a somewhat busy part of town. Secluded Airbnbs surrounded by rice terraces may seem like a good idea, but you really want to make sure there are other people nearby in case something happens.

You should also check to see what kind of security the Airbnb has. Villa break-ins are becoming increasingly more common in Canggu, so a good security system is a necessity.

The safest Airbnbs will be the ones that are a part of a bigger property. For example, a collection of villas located on the same property would be safer than a single villa in the middle of nowhere.

Is Public Transportation Safe In Canggu?

Unfortunately, there is no public transportation in Canggu. The main way to get around Canggu is by renting a motorbike.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving a motorbike, you should rely on taking Grab or GoJek rides. These apps are basically the Indonesian equivalent of Uber in Western countries. They’re super cheap and convenient so you shouldn’t have any issues getting around.

This post was all about answering the question, “is Canggu safe?”. Hopefully this post gave you some good insights about how to stay safe when visiting Canggu, Bali.