The best of Bali — tap the ones you fancy and your plan builds around them.
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A sea temple perched on a sheer cliff a hundred metres above the crashing surf at Bali's southern tip — spectacular at any time, but magical at sunset, when a fire-lit Kecak dance (a hypnotic chanting-and-drama performance) plays out on the clifftop as the sun sinks. Watch for the cheeky, thieving monkeys; go for sunset.
The postcard of Bali — emerald rice paddies stepping down a lush valley in graceful curves, worked by the ancient 'subak' irrigation system, just north of Ubud. Walk the terraces (small donations at the paths), swing over the valley, and go early to beat the crowds and the heat; impossibly green and photogenic.
Hike an active volcano in the dark to reach the 1,717m summit for dawn — a spectacular sunrise over the caldera, the lake and Mount Agung beyond, with steam vents to cook eggs on at the top. A pre-dawn start and a couple of hours' climb with a guide; tough but hugely rewarding, and a real Bali highlight.
A rugged island off the southeast coast, a fast boat from Sanur — home to the astonishing Kelingking cliff (the 'T-Rex' viewpoint over a turquoise cove), crystal snorkelling with manta rays, and wild, dramatic coastline. A long but unforgettable day; the roads are rough, so a driver or organised tour helps.
A lush jungle sanctuary in the heart of Ubud — mossy temples and banyan roots amid the trees, home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques who scamper along the paths and walls. Atmospheric and fun (keep a firm hold of glasses, hats and phones — they steal); a cool, green wander through the spiritual heart of Ubud.
The most iconic of Bali's sea temples — a small, ancient shrine perched on a rock just offshore, cut off by the tide, silhouetted against the sunset. Touristy and busy at dusk, but genuinely beautiful; go for the golden hour, wander the clifftop paths, and watch the waves crash around the temple on its rock.
A long stretch of golden surf beach backed by Bali's most famous beach clubs — day-beds, cocktails, DJs and pools spilling towards the sand, unbeatable for a sundowner as the sky turns pink over the Indian Ocean. Lively and stylish; sink into a beanbag at a spot like Potato Head or La Plancha for the classic Seminyak sunset.
Bali's coolest surf scene — the black-sand breaks of Batu Bolong and Echo Beach, dotted with surf schools, sunset beach clubs and boho cafés, in the hip nomad town of Canggu. Take a beginner surf lesson on the gentle waves, then flop at a beach bar for the sunset; the laid-back, creative heart of the south.
A sacred spring temple near Ubud where Balinese Hindus have come to purify themselves for over a thousand years — bathe in the holy pools beneath a line of carved water spouts in a ritual cleansing (melukat), joining the pilgrims. Beautiful, moving and participatory; go early, dress respectfully, and rent a sarong.
The southern Bukit peninsula hides Bali's most beautiful beaches beneath its cliffs — Padang Padang, Bingin, Nyang Nyang and Suluban, white sand and turquoise water reached down steep steps and through caves, and famous for their surf. Pick a cove, brave the climb down, and you've found paradise; go at low tide.
Eat the real Bali — nasi campur (rice with a spread of little dishes), babi guling (suckling pig), satay lilit, and fiery sambals, at a humble local warung for a euro or two. Beyond the beach-club brunches, the island's food is fragrant and delicious; find a busy warung, or splurge on a rice-paddy fine-dining table.
Ubud is the wellness capital of Asia — a cheap, blissful Balinese massage or a flower-bath spa, a sunrise yoga class overlooking the rice fields, or a jungle retreat. Indulge in an hour of pampering for the price of a coffee back home, or join a class at a famous studio; the island's soul is in its serenity.
The heart of Ubud town — the ornate royal palace with its carved gateways (free to wander, and host to evening Balinese dance shows), and the sprawling art market opposite, piled with carvings, textiles, baskets and paintings. Watch a mesmerising Legong dance by night, and haggle for crafts by day.
As the sun sets over Jimbaran Bay, tables and grills are set out right on the sand and the day's catch — prawns, snapper, squid, lobster — is barbecued over coconut husks and served with sambal and cold Bintangs. A gorgeous, only-in-Bali dinner with your feet in the sand; go for sunset, and pick your fish fresh.
The calm, reef-sheltered east-coast lagoon — gentle, shallow water good for families and swimming, a long paved seafront path for a morning cycle, and the island's best sunrise over the sea. A mellow, old-school Bali beach far from the surf and the crowds; come for a peaceful swim and an early-morning walk.
Prices are relative to Indonesia, a budget country.
Culture, jungle & rice terraces
The centreThe lush cultural heart in the hills — rice terraces, jungle valleys, temples, art markets, yoga retreats and superb food, cooler and greener than the coast. The base for spirit, wellness and Balinese culture over beaches; central for the island's inland sights, though an hour from the sea and increasingly busy in its centre.
What’s here
Upscale beach & nightlife
60 min · 35 kmThe chic south-coast beach town — boutiques, spas, the island's best restaurants and famous sunset beach clubs, along a long stretch of surf sand. Stylish, lively and pricey by Bali standards; the base for a polished beach-and-party holiday, if beset by the south's notorious traffic.
What’s here
Hip surf town
50 min · 30 kmThe hip, laid-back surf town north of Seminyak — black-sand surf breaks, beach clubs, cafés and a big digital-nomad and yoga crowd, among the last rice fields. Younger and more casual than Seminyak, buzzing and creative; the base for surf, brunch, co-working and sunset beach bars.
What’s here
Clifftop luxury & surf
75 min · 45 kmThe dramatic clifftop peninsula at the island's southern tip — world-class surf, hidden white-sand coves beneath the cliffs, a famous cliff temple, and glamorous cliff-edge resorts and beach clubs. Stunning and upscale, the base for the best beaches and surf and a luxe stay; spread out, so you'll drive between spots.
What’s here
Laid-back beach
60 min · 35 kmA relaxed, older-established beach town on the east coast — a calm, reef-protected lagoon, a long seafront path, sunrise over the water, and a gentle, family-friendly pace. Quieter and better value than the west-coast hotspots, and the departure point for Nusa Penida; the base for a mellow beach holiday.
What’s here
Worth knowing: Bali is an island, and where you stay shapes the whole trip — jungle-and-culture Ubud in the hills, beach-and-party in the south (Seminyak, Canggu), clifftop luxury and surf on the Bukit (Uluwatu), quiet family beaches at Sanur. The south is beautiful but choked with traffic; a scooter or a hired driver is how you get around, and journeys take longer than the map suggests.
1.5–2.5 hr away
Three tiny, car-free islands off Lombok, reached by fast boat — powder-white sand, turquoise water, turtles and superb snorkelling and diving, with horse carts the only transport. Gili Trawangan parties, Gili Meno is a honeymoon idyll, Gili Air a mellow middle; a blissful island escape, best over a couple of nights.
Fast boat
30 min away
A small, laid-back island a short boat from Sanur — clear water, seaweed farms, mangroves, surf and snorkelling, linked by a rickety yellow bridge to even quieter Nusa Ceningan. Far mellower than the Bali mainland; a lovely day trip or a chilled overnight of beaches and sunsets.
Fast boat
2.5 hr away
The cool, misty highlands of central-north Bali — twin crater lakes, the picture-perfect Ulun Danu Beratan lake temple, coffee plantations, and jungle waterfalls (Sekumpul, the island's finest). A refreshing, scenic change from the hot coast; best with a driver for the winding mountain roads.
Car
1.5 hr away
Bali's holiest and largest temple complex, a sprawl of shrines climbing the slopes of the sacred volcano Mount Agung — the spiritual heart of the island, with sweeping views on a clear day. Impressive and atmospheric; go with a guide and a sarong, and beware the aggressive local 'guides' at the gate.
Car or tour
Best time to go
April to October — the dry season, sunny and less humid, with the best surf and beach conditions (July–August the peak).
Cheapest: The wet season (November–March) is cheaper and greener — hot and humid with heavy afternoon downpours, but the mornings are often fine.
Pick your dates above and we’ll tell you exactly what the weather does then.
August
28° / 22°C
Dry
Good time to goBali is the fabled 'Island of the Gods' — a lush, volcanic Hindu island in the Indonesian archipelago where emerald rice terraces climb the hills, thousands of temples perch on cliffs and lakes, and a deeply spiritual, artistic culture infuses daily life with offerings and ceremony. Its south is a string of surf beaches and beach clubs, its heart the yoga-and-jungle town of Ubud, its coasts fringed with coral and dotted with island escapes. Cheap, beautiful and soulful — and, in the famous south, so beloved it can feel loved to death, so choose your base with care.
First things first
Tap the day you arrive.
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Last updated 9 August 2026. Cities are refreshed, not written once.