Bali｜Ultra Niche and Super Trendy Photo Spot (Holiday Park Ruins)
Bali boasts many beautiful sceneries worth admiring—whether the natural beauty of beaches and mountains or the exotic cultural charm, all have become mainstream destinations for numerous visitors. However, beneath the bustling surface, there are other lesser-known 'non-mainstream' destinations in Bali waiting to be explored.
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This time, we introduce an ultra-niche and super trendy photo spot in Bali—the Bali Holiday Park Ruins (Taman Festival Bali), located near Padang Galak Beach on the east coast of Bali.
? Background of the Holiday Park [Taman Festival] ?
Opened in 1997, the Bali Holiday Park was backed by a $100 million investment from the Indonesian government, aiming to turn it into the most magnificent and luxurious entertainment venue in Southeast Asia. Covering nearly nine hectares and built along the coast, it boasted prime location and featured a 3D theater, a roller coaster, a never-stopping artificial volcano, a crocodile pool, laser shows, and various other attractions. However, just two years later, this park that attracted both local and global tourists suddenly closed for reasons unknown. Over a decade later, a massive fire left the already defunct holiday park in ruins, with only overgrown shrubs and winding vines creeping through the cracks of the buildings.
Today, this place has become a favorite photo spot for young Balinese, not only to prove their courage and adventurous spirit but also because its crumbling walls are covered with hundreds of graffiti works by local and world-renowned artists (ROA, SETH, SOFLES, etc.). Moreover, local vintage motorcycle enthusiasts occasionally gather here to showcase their modified bikes. Although the atmosphere can still be spine-chilling, it has clearly become a paradise for graffiti and street art, attracting numerous graffiti artists, photographers, and urban explorers.
?? Starting from the stone pillars at the entrance gate, you'll see various graffiti every few steps. Goldfish swimming on the floor, a realistic Tyrannosaurus rex skull on a wall amid the trees, the giant owl's eyes on the second-floor wall of the hall with only its skeleton remaining, blooming lotus flowers on a screen wall, huge butterflies under a stone corridor, various incomplete and fallen sculptures in the gardens, and the mottled shadows cast by sunlight through dense foliage—the whole atmosphere is both eerie and irresistible, urging you to continue exploring.
?(Pushpin) Practical Tips:
Since the park has been abandoned for years, the ground may have various unknown trash, plants, glass shards, etc. It is recommended to wear sneakers. If you need high heels for photos, you can change into them on site; flip-flops are not advised. There are many mosquitoes, so it's best to wear long pants and bring mosquito repellent.
?(Location) Detailed Address:
Jl. Padang Galak No. 3, Kesiman, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali
As an abandoned place, there is actually no admission fee. However, a security guard of unknown origin often collects an entrance fee from visitors at the gate, typically ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Indonesian rupiah.
?(Time) Opening Hours:
You can go anytime, but it's recommended to visit during good daylight hours, roughly between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, for better photos.
