GWK Bali Family Review: Our Honest Day Out with Kids

Family trips to GWK Cultural Park in Bali are one of the things Wira Tour Bali customers ask about most often, so this GWK Bali family review shares our own day at the park with kids. Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) has become a popular attraction, especially for families visiting with children.

Last checked: 2 December 2025 (Bali time / WITA).

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You may be in the same position. You have seen photos of GWK on social media, heard stories from friends, but still want an honest review from a real family before you decide to put it in your Bali itinerary.

On this page, I share our full family day at GWK in Ungasan, Bali, with my wife and kids. You will see how we planned the route, what the atmosphere feels like inside the park, and what it was like to watch the Kecak performance from a family point of view.

For detailed practical information such as transport options, updated opening hours, or current ticket prices, please refer to our separate GWK visitor guide page.

Here, the focus is on the experience itself and what GWK feels like for families on the ground.

Read also: “GWK Cultural Park Bali Visitor Guide: Location, Opening Hours and Facilities” >>>

Quick family review of GWK Cultural Park Bali

• Best for: Families with children who want to see a modern Bali landmark and watch a Kecak dance performance in a large open-air venue.
• Time at the park: Plan to stay from late afternoon until evening, especially if you want to include the Kecak show. This visit works well after a day around Tanjung Benoa or Nusa Dua.
• Crowds and atmosphere: GWK is busy. Expect large school groups, local tour buses, and many families walking around. Be ready for crowds and queues, especially on weekends and school holidays.
• Tickets: It is more comfortable to arrange tickets in advance and arrive with a voucher. At the park, you only need to exchange the voucher instead of joining the longest ticket line.
• Kecak show: Arrive a little earlier than the official start time so you can still choose your seats. If you come late, you may have to sit on the stairs.

Why we chose GWK for a family day out

The idea of a family trip to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park came from my wife.

She wanted to see the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue in person, finally. Construction was completed in 2018, and it was officially inaugurated on 22 September 2018, after years of only seeing it in news reports and social media posts.

Up close, the statue feels enormous and dominates the whole area. At around 121 meters high, it is the first thing you notice as soon as you enter GWK.

When I told our children about the plan to visit, their reactions were mixed. One was excited right away, and another was not very enthusiastic.

After some negotiation and promises of a day out and good food, everyone agreed to go to GWK Ungasan. If you have ever tried to plan a holiday with kids, you know this kind of family discussion very well.

Planning the day: our short itinerary before GWK

We left home at around 10.00 am, but we did not drive straight to GWK.

The reason was simple. We did not want to arrive at GWK when the sun was at its strongest, while the main highlight for us, the Kecak performance, takes place in the late afternoon and evening.

From home, we first drove to Tanjung Benoa, one of Bali’s main areas for water sports, to have lunch.

We chose Rumah Makan Padang Rindu Rasa, a Padang-style restaurant that is one of our family favourites in that area. Once everyone had eaten, the holiday mood really started.

After lunch, I suggested a short stop at Bali Collection mall in the ITDC Nusa Dua resort complex. The atmosphere there is comfortable and not too crowded, good for a relaxed walk, window shopping, or picking up snacks.

By the time we finished at the mall, it was already around 3.30 pm.

For visitors coming from outside Bali who want to combine several places in one day, this pattern works well: daytime around Tanjung Benoa or Nusa Dua, then late afternoon to evening at GWK.

Driving from Nusa Dua to GWK

At about 3.40 pm, we left Bali Collection and headed to Garuda Wisnu Kencana. Driving time from the Nusa Dua area to Ungasan is roughly 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

We knew from experience that if you go via the main road past Udayana University campus in the late afternoon, it is often quite congested. So we chose an alternative route that goes in the direction of Melasti Beach (Pantai Melasti) in Ungasan.

Our guess was correct. On Jalan Raya Uluwatu Ungasan, there was noticeable traffic, especially near other popular attractions.

The traffic still felt manageable as long as we kept the mood inside the car comfortable. We gave the kids snacks, played some music, and sometimes asked them to look out the window so they would not get bored.

For parents from big cities like Jakarta or Surabaya, this kind of “busy but still reasonable” traffic will probably feel familiar.

First impressions: parking area and arrival at GWK

After passing the traffic on Jalan Raya Uluwatu, we reached the main entrance gate of GWK and were directed to the parking area.

The first impression was that the car park is large, but very busy.

We had to circle a few times before finally finding an empty parking space. Most of the vehicles were family cars such as Toyota Avanza and Toyota Innova, plus many big tour buses bringing school groups and organised tours.

We paid the parking fee at the entrance to the parking area. For a large attraction with organised parking facilities like GWK, the amount felt reasonable.

A full parking area is a clear sign that the place is popular with domestic and international visitors, so it was no surprise that the atmosphere felt lively from the very beginning.

Ticket queues and why we recommend booking online

From the parking area, we walked to the ticket counters, which at that time were located near Plaza Bhagawan.

This is where we got our first lesson of the day. The line for entrance tickets was quite long.

Visitor numbers at GWK were very high that day. My wife and I took turns queuing so the kids did not have to stand for too long.

It was a bit tiring, but the mood stayed positive because everyone around us seemed eager to enter and see the GWK statue up close.

From this experience, one conclusion felt clear. It is much more comfortable if your GWK tickets are arranged online before you go.

At the park, you only need to exchange a voucher instead of joining the longest queues at the normal ticket counters.

Now, when customers ask us, we recommend that they book their Garuda Wisnu Kencana tickets in advance through an online booking option.

Besides being more convenient, you may also find special deals that are a better value than buying at the counter on the day.

Read also: “Latest GWK Bali Ticket Prices for Visitors” >>>

Entering GWK and visiting Plaza Wisnu

After quite a long wait, it was finally our turn to pay the entrance fee. At that time, GWK entrance tickets were in the form of paper wristbands that staff attached to our wrists.

Once everyone had their wristband, we walked to Plaza Kencana and the entrance gate of Kura Kura Plaza.

At the gate, we just needed to show the wristbands to the staff and were then allowed to enter.

From Kura Kura Plaza, we continued to Plaza Wisnu. To reach Plaza Wisnu, you need to climb several flights of stairs, so young children may need more time.

When we arrived, the statue of Lord Vishnu dominated the whole view.

During our visit, the area was very crowded, mostly with school groups.

Getting a family photo with the statue in the background without other people in the frame was almost impossible.

In return, the place felt very alive: crowded, full of laughter, and clearly already one of the favourite family attractions in Bali.

Plaza Garuda, Lotus Pond, and Festival Park

After taking photos at Plaza Wisnu, we continued to Plaza Garuda. The scene there was similar, full of visitors, many of them wearing school uniforms or matching group T-shirts.

From Plaza Garuda, we went down the stairs to the Lotus Pond area of GWK.

This area is very large and is often used for big events.

Standing in the middle of Lotus Pond, surrounded by high limestone walls with the giant statue visible in the distance, leaves a strong impression that feels different from other cultural parks in Bali.

Our walk then continued to Festival Park. From here, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue is clearly visible and great for photos, especially on a clear day.

We paused here for quite a while to take family photos. For parents who are used to capturing moments for social media, this is a comfortable spot for family pictures: the background is impressive, the space is wide, and children still have room to move around.

At one point, our youngest child became tired, started to cry, and asked to go home.

We decided to walk back through Lotus Pond and slowly make our way towards the exit area we had passed earlier.

This is a typical part of family travel. The ideal route you plan in your head often needs to adapt to your children’s energy levels on the day.

Break time, food, and getting ready for the Kecak show

On the way back, we passed the food court area near the Amphitheater. Here, our youngest, who had been upset, suddenly became cheerful again after spotting the ice cream stall.

The reason for the earlier tears turned out to be simple: hunger and the wish for a snack.

We took a short break for drinks and light food. This area offers several choices of meals and drinks in a semi-outdoor setting.

Stopping here before the performance felt like the right decision. The children regained their energy, and we, as parents, had a few minutes to sit down before the next activity.

We did not have time to visit Indraloka Garden on this visit. The Kecak show at the Amphitheater was about to start, and we did not want to risk losing good seats.

Watching the Kecak Dance at GWK

Seeing the number of people still arriving, it was clear that if we did not find seats at the Amphitheater soon, we would likely not get any chairs.

From the food court, we walked quickly to the Amphitheater.

When we arrived, about half of the seats were already taken. We were still lucky enough to get seats fairly close to the stage, even though they were slightly to the side.

In the minutes before the show began, more and more people entered the Amphitheater. Soon, every seat was occupied.

Some visitors were happy to sit on the steps just to be able to watch the Kecak performance.

During our family visit, the Kecak show at the GWK Amphitheater started at around 6.15 pm.

As the sky darkened and the stage lights came on, the atmosphere became more dramatic.

For our family, watching the Kecak Dance at GWK was one of the highlights of the day.

We decided not to stay until the very end and left a little early. With children, we wanted to avoid the heaviest crowd at the exit when the show finished.

When we stepped out of the Amphitheater, it was already dark. We walked back to the parking area and drove home.

A short note. When I first wrote this review, GWK hosted the Kecak show at the Amphitheater. When I updated this article, GWK had already moved the Kecak performance to the Lotus Pond area.

For the latest schedule, policies, and event information, please check the official GWK Cultural Park website.

Final thoughts: our family review of Garuda Wisnu Kencana

From our visit, a family trip to GWK Ungasan Bali feels like:

• Seeing one of Bali’s newest and largest landmarks up close.
• Spending time in a cultural park that is full of local families and school groups.
• Ending the day with a traditional performance, such as the Kecak Dance.

Based on this GWK Bali family review, the park suits families who:

• Do not mind walking and stairs as part of the day.
• Enjoy busy, lively places rather than quiet corners.
• Want a mix of photo spots, light exploring, and one main evening show.

You should be prepared for a few things:

• Crowds, especially during school holidays and weekends.
• The need to arrive earlier if you plan to watch the Kecak show and want proper seats.
• Quite a bit of walking in a large area, which can be tiring for younger children.
• Ticket queues are at peak times if you arrive without an online voucher.

This family review of GWK Bali helps you picture the atmosphere before you decide whether to add Garuda Wisnu Kencana to your own Bali itinerary.

For technical details such as ticket prices, updated opening hours, and step-by-step directions, it is better to read our dedicated GWK guide page. For the latest official information, always cross-check with the GWK Cultural Park guide page and the attraction’s own channels.

Read also: “GWK Cultural Park Bali Visitor Guide: Location, Opening Hours and Facilities” >>>

Suppose you plan to combine GWK with Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, or a seafood dinner in Jimbaran. In that case, you can discuss your itinerary with the Wira Tour Bali team via WhatsApp during our operational hours, 8.00 am to 9.00 pm WITA.

About this experience

This article is based on the direct experience of one of the Wira Tour Bali families. Since 2008, our team has been helping domestic travelers plan their Bali itineraries, and we now adapt these insights for international visitors as well.

FAQ: Family Visit to GWK Cultural Park, Bali