Banjar Hot Spring
Air Panas Banjar
4.3 · 4121 reviews · via Google
Banjar Hot Spring
sulfur · Bali
Hotter than 0% of Indonesia springs (n=11).
More acidic than 45% of Indonesia springs (n=11).
Mineral profile
Bar width reflects listing order, not measured concentration.
Suitability
At a glance
Getting there
Remote — over 5km from the nearest station
Cost
Moderate
Crowd level
Moderate
About this spring
Banjar is North Bali's best known hot spring, where warm sulfur water flows from intricately carved stone naga spouts into a series of tiered tropical pools. The water carries a distinctive yellowish-green hue from its sulfur content, and lush jungle and blooming hibiscus surround the bathing terraces. The upper pool's carved mouths pour a steady warm cascade onto bathers' shoulders, a short drive from Lovina's beaches.
Highlights
History
Banjar has been a sacred bathing site in Balinese Hindu culture for centuries, with origins traced back toward the Majapahit era, when water already held deep ritual meaning on the island.
During the Dutch colonial period the springs gained wider recognition for their therapeutic qualities and a public bathhouse was built to formalise access. The intricately carved naga serpent spouts and tiered stonework that define the pools today reflect local Hindu craftsmanship, and the site sits close to the historic Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist monastery, giving the whole valley a quietly spiritual atmosphere.
Local guide
Banjar is the signature hot spring of North Bali, an easy twenty-minute drive inland from Lovina but a full three hours over the central mountains from the southern beach resorts, so most southern visitors come as part of a longer North Bali day. Arrive early, around the 8:30 opening on a weekday, to have the tiered jungle pools quiet before the tour buses roll in. The one piece of advice everyone wishes they had heard first is about the water: it carries a heavy sulfur content that turns it a murky yellow-green and will permanently stain light fabrics, so wear a dark swimsuit and bring a dark towel. The entrance fee is budget-friendly, with a wristband-key locker system to rent by the changing rooms, and access is simple, a short flat walk past souvenir stalls to the pools. Proper swimwear is required, and you must not use soap or shampoo in the shared pools, which are fed from carved naga serpent spouts. The classic move is to stand under the eight dragon-mouth spouts in the upper pool, where the water pours down in a strong, warm shoulder massage. With the Brahmavihara-Arama monastery nearby, it pairs naturally into a calm half-day in the hills above Lovina.
Mineral chemistry
Sulfuric hot springs are among the most studied in balneology worldwide. The sulfur compounds, primarily hydrogen sulfide and thiosulfate, have documented antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Regular bathing is associated with relief from chronic skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis, as well as joint inflammation and muscle soreness. Sulfuric waters have been used therapeutically across Asia and Europe for centuries.
The distinctive rotten-egg smell dissipates quickly after leaving the bath. Avoid if you have a sulfur allergy, very sensitive skin, or respiratory conditions. Remove silver jewellery before entering — sulfur will blacken it permanently.
Simple thermal springs have lower dissolved mineral content but are valued for the pure therapeutic effect of heat immersion itself — easing muscle tension and improving circulation. Considered the gentlest introduction to hot spring bathing.
Standard precautions apply: avoid bathing within 30 minutes of eating, keep soaks to 10–15 minutes for first-timers, and hydrate before and after.
Similar springs
On the chilly northern slopes of Mount Slamet, Central Java's highest volcano, Guci is a sprawling highland resort where clear, completely odorless mineral water cascades down public stone tiers like warm waterfalls. The most famous spot, Pancuran 13, channels the spring through thirteen spouts where visitors stand for a warm mineral shower, while private resort pools sit nearby. Crisp mountain air, frequently wrapped in cool mist, contrasts with the steaming currents.
Maribaya lies in the cool highlands of Lembang above Bandung, where mild low-sulfur hot springs meet a forested river gorge and waterfalls. The modernized resort combines deep communal pools and premium private cabanas with garden walkways, sky bridges, and viewing decks over the Cikapundung valley. The mountain air stays crisp year round, making the warm water especially welcome.
Tucked within the Tahura Raden Soerjo forest park on the slopes of Mount Welirang above Batu, Cangar offers open-air pools of milky-green, sulfur-rich thermal water surrounded by dense montane jungle. Wild lutung monkeys are regularly seen in the tropical canopy overhanging the steaming baths, and the misty pine-forest mountain road in is part of the appeal. The contrast of hot mineral water and cool highland air is the main draw.
Set on the misty, high-altitude Dieng Plateau, this geothermal water park is the highest in Central Java, using local volcanic hot water. The open-air pools combine recreational features like water slides and bucket drops with wide family soaking areas, all surrounded by crisp mountain air. The water carries a light sulfur-mineral quality, and the plateau around it is famous for steaming craters, colored lakes, and the oldest Hindu temples in Java.
Amenities
Getting there
From Ubud
Gateway: Singaraja (150 min)
local bemo or taxi to Banjar village
Total journey: 180 min
From Denpasar
Gateway: Singaraja (180 min)
local bemo or taxi to Banjar village
Total journey: 210 min
From Lovina in North Bali, drive about twenty minutes inland toward Banjar village. From South Bali, the trip over the central mountains takes around three hours by car or scooter.
Location & nearby
Banjar, Buleleng Regency, North Bali
Make a day of it
Pair your soak with these nearby spots.
Attraction
Batu Gundul
0.8km away
Attraction
Brahma Arama Vihara
0.8km away
Attraction
Griya Ageng Banjar
1.2km away
Attraction
Setra Gandamayu Banjar
1.8km away
More springs in Bali
Angseri is a quieter, more natural hot spring in the central Bali highlands near Bedugul, tucked amid terraced emerald rice fields and reached by a short walk down into a green canyon. The main open-air pool faces a natural waterfall plunging down a mossy rock cliff, and small private bamboo cabins can be rented by the hour. It offers a rustic, uncommercialized alternative to busier sites.
On the volcanic shoreline of Lake Batur inside a massive caldera, Toya Bungkah's clear, odorless geothermal pools look directly across the calm blue lake toward the towering crater rim of Mount Abang. The water is warmed by the volcano itself, and several lakeside complexes offer infinity-edge pools with open caldera views. It is a popular recovery stop for hikers who have just finished the early-morning sunrise trek up Mount Batur.
Common questions
What is the water temperature at Banjar Hot Spring?▾
The water temperature at Banjar Hot Spring ranges up to 40°C (minimum around 37°C).
Is Banjar Hot Spring free to visit?▾
Banjar Hot Spring charges an entrance fee in IDR.
Is Banjar Hot Spring a public or private bath?▾
Banjar Hot Spring is a public bathing spring.
Are tattoos allowed at Banjar Hot Spring?▾
Yes, Banjar Hot Spring welcomes visitors with tattoos.
What is the nearest station to Banjar Hot Spring?▾
The nearest station to Banjar Hot Spring is Lovina / Singaraja town center, about 12km away.