Administratively, Sanur is included in the city of Denpasar. But with white sand, coconut trees, and some of the best international hotels on the whole island just a few metres away, Sanur was Bali's first beach resort. Only a few hundred meters inland, it is a village traditionally run by the brahmins the priestly caste of Bali.

The Sanur area, the beach front of Denpasar now extending from Sanur westwards to the Suwung marshes and Serangan island, is steeped in history. The Blanjong, written in Sanskrit in 913, is the oldest inscription of its kind in Bali. It tells of the founding of a Buddhist monastery. Other traces of contact with the outside world persists to this day. The villages of Renon, on the road to Denpasar, and Semawang, near Sanur Beach hotel, still host a Baris Cina dance, with warriors wearing Portuguese-like 16th century helmets, perhaps the sign of early European contact.

Tourism in Sanur began in the 30's. Expatriates, writers and other luminaries had beach bungalows there. After independence, the Dutch painter Le Mayeur lived there and gained fame for his affair with and marriage to Ni Pollock, one of the best dancers of his day. Le Mayeur's impressionistic work, while heavily damaged, can be seen at Le Mayeur Museum near Grand Bali Beach Hotel. Donald Friend, one of Australia's great artists, also lived in Sanur until the 60's. Sanur was where the Indonesian government made its first attempt at mass tourism: the construction of the Bali Beach bunker, built using Japanese war reparations. The hotel burned down in 1993, but has now been restored even grander than before with the addition of a Bali-style roof. The Hyatt, built in the 70's is famous for its garden and lobby, built like a huge traditional Balinese wantilan.

The charm of Sanur lies in the relative tranquility of its social scene. It is a resort for families of visitors wanting the right mix of beach and Balinese life. It also has the immense advantage of being much nearer inland tourist spots - just half an hour from Ubud. Another advantage of Sanur compared with Kuta is its quieter beach, making it a favorite walking place.

The main road passes inland, not along the beach front itself. The beach varies from black sand in Padang Galak to white sand in the stretch from Grand Bali Beach to Semawang island. This island is currently developing into a popular resort area. It has several attractions for tourists, most famous being the Pura Sakenan temple, built in the coral-stone architecture of the coast. The temple comes to life on Kuningan day, when thousands of worshippers cross the narrow strait to pay their respects to Empu Kuturan, 10th century reformer of Balinese Hinduism.