Pelabuhan Gilimanuk or Gilimanuk Harbor is a ferry port that is located in the west of Bali. It is an entrance for ferries that come from Java Island. Bali Strait connects Bali and Java. On Java’s side, there is the Ketapang Harbor. Gilimanuk is a busy port with hundreds of ferries going in and out, carrying tourists and goods from the neighboring island.
Read Too:Enjoy the Beauty of Sunset in Tuban Beach Bali
What to do there
Visitors from Java who take the bus to go to Bali will have to get off the bus and take a ferry from this port. It will cost less than 10 dollars to cross from Ketapang to Gilimanuk. To save yourself from the hassle, take a bus ticket that includes a ferry ride. Most of the travel agencies sell a whole-package. You can just sit tight inside the bus, the bus will go on the ferry and you can choose whether to stay or go outside and enjoy the breeze. It is nice to take a break from sitting down the entire trip, isn’t it?
On the ferry, you can enjoy the view. Transporting activities can be an interesting sight, but the stars of the show are the mountains. If you look to the direction where Java is, you can see Mount Raung and Mount Ijen. You will pass by the Gate of Bali or Arco de Gilimanuk on your way out of the port which in which you can take photos for a memento. Since it is not a cruise port, there isn’t much to do there; however, there are some attractions nearby that you can visit.
Near Pelabuhan Gilimanuk, there is the Shiva statue. It is one of the Gods that the Hindus worship. Take some photos and appreciate the culture you are witnessing. If you want to see more of a historical place, you can go to Manusia Purba museum which is a kilometer southeast of Gilimanuk port. It is not a big museum, but there are artifacts and other archaeological treasures that are worth visiting.
Getting around
There is a bus station nearby. The buses will carry you to centers and bigger cities like Denpasar. It is advisable to take a bus since the city is 3 hours away from the port. If you want to stroll around Gilimanuk village, it’s better to take the local transports like taxicabs and motorcycle taxis (ojek). If they can tell that you are a foreigner, they will probably charge you more but it will still be relatively affordable. Hailing an online transportation is out of the question. At places like ports or stations, online transportations are prohibited to operate.
Where to stay
There are some budget motel options within one or two kilometers range. Walking around while looking for a place to stay can be nice. You can interact with the locals and visit some interesting spots and take photos on the way. You can even meet people from around the world to hang out with before you actually check in to the motel. But if you want more hotels or apartments to choose from, you need to go further to Denpasar or Ubud where the facilities are much more developed than those of Pelabuhan Gilimanuk area.
