Bali is famous for its beaches, temples, and lush rice terraces—but tucked away on the island’s eastern coastline sits one of its most intriguing hidden gems: Taman Festival Park, an abandoned theme park frozen in time.
If you’re curious about visiting this atmospheric spot, here’s everything you need to know before you go. And if you’re on a mission to get the most bang for your buck, check out our post on the best free and low cost things to do in Sanur.
What is Taman Festival Park?
Taman Festival, built in the mid-1990’s is an abandoned theme park in Sanur. It was originally planned to be a huge family attraction complete with a crocodile pit, 3D cinema, swimming pool, rollercoaster, high tech laser show and even a faux erupting volcano.
With a price tag of over USD 100 million, it was set to be one of Bali’s biggest entertainment projects. But just months before opening, the global financial crisis hit, and a lightning strike destroyed the expensive laser‑show equipment — the final blow that caused the project to collapse. By the early 2000s, the gates were locked, the staff were gone and the jungle began it’s slow takeover and has remained abandoned ever since.
What remains today is a surreal, atmospheric landscape that feels like a time capsule from another era. The once‑grand entrance is now cracked and overgrown. Buildings that were meant to host visitors are instead wrapped in vines and moss. Roofs have collapsed, trees grow through concrete floors, and the walls have become canvases for Bali’s street artists, who’ve transformed the ruins into an open‑air gallery of graffiti and murals.
Despite its decay, Taman Festival has found a second life. Curious travellers and photgraphers come here for the atmosphere, the art and the sense of mystery. It’s not a polished attraction, but that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.
Where is Taman Festival Park Located?
Taman Festival Park is tucked away on the northern edge of Sanur, positioned at the end of Jl Padang Galek Beach road. The actual entrance sits just a short walk inland from the beach’s parking area.
The official address is Jl Padang Galak Beach, No 3, Kesiman, Kec.
To give you a sense of distance:
From Denpasar -30 minutes
From Ubud -40–45 minutes
From Canggu -40–50 minutes depending on traffic
From Kuta/Seminyak -35–45 minutes
We paired our visit to Taman Festival with a day in Sanur cycling along the beachfront paths, swimming and canoeing. From the main beach area, it was only about a 15‑minute scooter ride to reach the abandoned park, making it an easy and fun addition to our day.
What to Expect Inside
Exploring Taman Festival felt like stepping into another world. Here are our highlights:
Graffiti covered ruins
The first thing that hits you is the artwork. Every wall, pillar, and half‑collapsed staircase is drenched in layers of graffiti—some vibrant and playful, others dark and surreal. It feels like an open‑air gallery curated by time and weather. As we wandered through the main plaza, we found ourselves stopping every few steps to take in a new mural.
The contrast is striking: bright paint against crumbling concrete, creativity blooming in a place that was once abandoned. It’s a paradise for photographers, but even if you’re not carrying a camera, it’s impossible not to be drawn in.
Jungle reclaimed buildings
Walk a little deeper and the jungle begins to swallow you. Trees burst through roofs, roots snake across the floors and vines drape over doorways like curtains.
We stepped into one building where the entire ceiling had collapsed, leaving a giant tree growing right in the middle of what used to be a hall. Every structure feels like a reminder of how quickly the island reclaims what’s left behind.
Atmospheric photo spots
The old cinema building
This is one of the most atmospheric corners of the park. The ceiling has partially collapsed and the walls are covered in layers of graffiti that tell their own evolving story. You can still make out the shape of the old projection room and the sloping floor where rows of seats once stood. It’s eerie, cinematic, and incredibly photogenic.
The main plaza
Once intended to be the heart of the theme park, the main plaza now feels like a ghostly town square. Broken pillars rise from the ground like ancient ruins and the open space is framed by buildings swallowed by vines. This is where you really feel the scale of the project—how big it was meant to be, and how abruptly it was abandoned. The plaza is also one of the brightest, most open areas, making it a great spot to take photos.
The skeletal remains of the ‘volcano’ attraction
Perhaps the most surreal structure in the park, the volcano attraction is now just a twisted metal frame reaching toward the sky. You can see where the artificial rock façade once clung to the structure, now long gone. Standing beneath it gave us a sense of how dramatic this feature must have been in the original plans.
Long, vine covered cooridors
For us, these cooridors were the most enchanting parts of Taman Festival. They stretch out like tunnels with vines hanging down like curtains. Walking through them feels like entering a secret passageway and if you’re an avid photographer, you will feel at home.
Is it Safe to Visit
Taman Festival is one of those places that feels adventurous but still accessible—as long as you explore with common sense.
It’s not an official attraction and there’s no maintenance or safety oversight, so you’re essentially walking through decades‑old ruins that nature has reclaimed.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Wear closed toe shoes – this is a non-negotiable. The grounds are uneven and we came across broken tiles, glass, rusted metal and slippery moss.
- Avoid entering unstable strucutres – some buildings look stable from the outside but have partially collapsed roofs and flooring. If something looks sketchy, use your instincts and skip it.
- Go during daylight hours – the park gets dark quickly under the thick canopy and the visibility drops dramatically in the late afternoon
- Bring insect repellent – something we wish we had with us, the mosquitos were everywhere!
- Watch your step – the floors are thick with moss especially in the shaded areas and inside the buildings where water collects, some staircases are missing and roots often snake across the pathway
Entrance Fee and When to Visit
Previously, there was no entrance fee or official ticket counter, but things have changed in recent years. You’ll now find a few local village men sitting near the entrance collecting a small fee of IDR 30,000, and they accept both cash and card.
We parked our scooter at the beach entrance and surprisingly, didn’t have to pay the usual IDR 2,000 parking fee.
There are still no official opening hours, but we strongly recommend visiting during daylight only for your safety. The park gets dark quickly under the dense canopy, and visibility drops fast once the sun starts to set.
Is Taman Festival Worth Visiting?
If you love offbeat travel, photography or exploring places with a story, Taman Festival is absolutely worth the trip. It’s atmospheric, unusual, and unlike anything else on the island.
Don’t go expecting a fully intact theme park—its charm lies in the fact that these structures have been sitting untouched for more than 30 years, slowly being swallowed by the jungle. The real drawcard is the incredible graffiti and the way nature has reclaimed every corner, turning the entire site into a hauntingly beautiful open‑air gallery.
As budget travellers, it’s one of the cheapest unoffical ‘attractions’ in Bali and was well worth the IDR 30,000 entrance fee.
Taman Festival might not be Bali’s most polished attraction, but that’s exactly why it leaves such an impression. If you’re craving something a little different from the usual beaches and temples, this abandoned theme park offers a raw, atmospheric adventure that budget travellers will love. And if you’re spending more time in the area, don’t miss our guide to The Best Free & Low‑Cost Activities in Sanur for Budget Travellers—it pairs perfectly with a visit to this hauntingly beautiful spot.
