There’s a Bali for everyone.
Although the island is only 153 km in breadth and 112 km in length, if offers so much variety in terms of what you can do here. There’s a Bali for those who love to party hard, the beach bums or the sunset lovers. Then you have the one for the thrill seekers who can surf, snorkel, trek, white water raft or paraglide. There’s one for the hipsters or the nomads who can take yoga classes, work out of a co-working space or zip around on scooters. There’s one for the nature lovers who can visit waterfalls, active volcanoes, beautiful lakes or rice paddies. There’s one for the culture enthusiasts who can sample warung food, shop for local crafts, visit temples, palaces, museums or enjoy song and dance performances. And there’s one for the luxe traveller who can savour the luxury of resorts, private villas and beach clubs perched on high cliffs.
Which one are you and what appeals to you the most? Perhaps someone with multiple interests?
To help you get started, here’s an overview of the different areas in Bali and the things to do in each one:
Kuta / Seminyak and around
Kuta and Seminyak are beach areas next to each other in the south of the island, located approximately 8 km from the Denpasar airport. These areas are best known for their party-centric atmosphere, nightlife and surfing in the Indian ocean and as such are busy, crowded areas. Kuta offers many restaurants, beach bars, clubs and beach activities. Seminyak is similar but what sets it apart are the high-end boutiques for shopping and the sleek bars and clubs.
If you’re planning to visit some of famous temples, then getting to the Uluwatu temple is easier from here. From Kuta to Uluwatu, it’s a distance of about 24 km by road. Uluwatu is a Hindu temple and whilst the temple structure itself is small and unassuming, it’s renowned for it’s scenic cliff location and is also a good spot for catching a sunset. A Kecak dance is also performed daily here at 6:00pm on the cliff side. Beware of the monkeys here who can make a go for any food / drinks that you may have on you and sometimes even for your phone or wallet.
Canggu and around
As you move a bit further up north from Seminyak, you’ll arrive at Canggu located at a distance of around 20 km from Denpasar airport. Canggu is a ‘village’ but a lot of development has taken place more recently making it a great spot if you love the beach but want to avoid maddening crowds. Canggu is known for beaches like Canggu and Echo with a strong surf making it popular amongst the surfers. There are also a lot of amazing restaurants (including beach clubs / bars) that have mushroomed here and it’s become a foodies delight. There are also high-end boutique shops mainly for clothes but some also for household items and organic produce. Canggu also has several co-working spaces with high speed internet making it ideal for digital nomads. As a result many allied activities have opened up such as gyms, martial arts / boxing / yoga studios etc. and coffee culture is quite evident.
Getting to the Tanah Lot temple is easier from Canggu which is at a distance of approx. 11 km by road. It’s an ancient Hindu temple which is uniquely situated on a rocky formation at the Tanah Lot beach. Here as well you can enjoy a beautiful sunset while sipping on a drink at one of the many local bars located on the cliff, overlooking the temple and the ocean.
Nusa Dua
About 13 km from Denpasar airport in the southeast of the island is Nusa Dua. This can be called the luxe upscale area of Bali where several luxury resorts are located – and many of these provide access to their private / dedicated beach area. If you’re looking for a relaxed beach holiday where you spend your days sunbathing, swimming, enjoying water sports, sunset drinks and dinners and getting spa treatments then this is the place for you.
There is also a popular cultural performance that takes place at the Nusa Dua theatre called the Devdan show. It’s a 90 min show which features a fusion of traditional and contemporary dance styles, and acrobatics embellished with stunning costumes and music. For timings and availability, check out their website here.
For the adventurer in you, if paragliding over astounding views of the Indian ocean is something you’d want to try, then the Timbis paragliding site is located about 10 km from Nusa Dua. You can fly tandem with an experienced pilot or even take paragliding lessons. There are many tour operators who offer an activity package that includes pickup and drop off from your hotel, like this one on klook.
Ubud and around
If you go up north, towards the center of the island, you arrive in Ubud – the laid back cultural hub of Bali located about 40 km from Denpasar airport. Highlights in Ubud are the lovely Water Palace and Ubud palace and the Barong and Legong Balinese dance performance that takes places in the evenings at Ubud palace. A visit to the ARMA museum will bring you up close to many paintings and other artworks by local and foreign artists. Ubud also offers beautiful handicraft and souvenirs to take back home with you. The food scene in Ubud is pretty good as well and here you’ll find many Vegetarian and Vegan restaurants or cafes. See some of our suggested ones here.
Around Ubud, there are many things to do, some of which we’re listing down below. For most you can easily book a tour from one of the many tour operators. Our advice however is, that you check user ratings and reviews before booking.
- Take photos and enjoy the jungle swings at Tegallalang Rice terraces, just 10 km from Ubud center.
- For the thrill seekers, do the sunrise trek to the top of an active volcano, Mount Batur. The tour person will pick you up at around 2:00 am so you trek in the dark to get to the top by sunrise. It’s not an easy hike but the views from the top are rewarding.
- Visit the Ulun Danu Bratan temple which is a magnificent Hindu temple located on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul, about 44 km from Ubud center. The temple complex is really pretty especially early in the morning when it’s cool, the air is crisp and there are no crowds.
- Jatiluwih Rice terraces is a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers breathtaking landscape views of the rice terraces and offers wonderful photo opportunities. Walk amongst the fields or enjoy the sweeping views perched in one of the many restaurants that overlook the terraced rice fields. This is also about 40 km Ubud center and you may combine visiting Ulun Danu temple and Jatiluwih on the same day in a tour package, which will help you make most of your time.
- Visit tea or coffee plantations and sample different teas and coffee including the Luwak coffee.
- For more adventure activities, there’s White Water rafting at Ayung river and ATV Quad bike tour where you get to explore forests, local villages, rivers and rice fields.
- Last but not least, explore the many breathtaking waterfalls near Ubud. More info. here.
We’re going to stop here to let it sink in. Especially if it’s your first time, then the above should be a good overview of things to do in Bali.
Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list and there’s much more to do in Bali e.g. Dolphin Watching at Lovina all the way in the north or a day tour to the nearby Nusa Penida island. So, we’ll let you explore and add to this list 🙂
Before we go, here are some additional notes that should be helpful with your travel planning:
Accommodations in Bali: In most areas you can find stay options in all budget ranges – from humble hotels, to luxury resorts or villas. In Canggu and Ubud we prefer staying in a private villa that we usually book through Airbnb. As Canggu is not a touristy hotspot, the villas here are more affordable in comparison. In Ubud too, several affordable options are available and we love the ones which are in the middle of rice fields surrounded by greenery and blue skies. See our Ubud Villa tour here.
Massages in Bali: The same goes for the spas which are available in all budget ranges. A balinese massage is a must. Whether you get it at one of the many road side massage parlours or in a luxury hotel is a matter of choice.
Getting around in Bali: Local taxis are affordable and a good option for Airport transfers. For short commutes, booking cabs via the Go-jek app is quite convenient. For tours, private taxi hires through someone known or through your hotel / resort / villa manager is a good option. They’re convenient and not too pricey either. Lastly, renting a scooter is a great option that works out cheaper and gives you the flexibility to plan your days. You can easily rent one by submitting copies of your passport and driving license at a sccoter rental. Many Airbnb hosts or villa managers can also arrange scooters upon request.
So that’s it for now folks. We hope this helps. If your have any questions, please drop them in the comments and we’ll try our best to answer them.
Cheers and safe travels!
