Places to Visit in Bali: The Island of the Gods, Region by Region

Ubud is Bali’s artistic and spiritual core, set in the green highlands about an hour north of the airport. It’s the ideal first base: cooler than the coast, walkable, and surrounded by temples, terraces and waterfalls. Give it two or three nights and you’ll barely scratch the surface.

• Tegalalang Rice Terrace — the postcard valley of stepped, palm-fringed paddies just north of Ubud; go early to beat the crowds and the heat.
• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary — a mossy temple complex in the middle of town with hundreds of long-tailed macaques (mind your sunglasses and snacks).
• Campuhan Ridge Walk — an easy, free morning walk along a grassy ridgeline; lovely at sunrise before the day warms up.
• Tegenungan and Tibumana waterfalls — Tegenungan is the big, accessible one; Tibumana is quieter and more serene, with a single graceful curtain of water.
• Bali Swing and jungle swings — the famous photo-op swings over the Ayung river gorge, plus nest and platform shots.
• Ubud Art Market and Saraswati Temple — handicrafts, batik and woodcarving in the market, and a lotus-pond temple right in the centre.

The southern peninsula is Bali at its most buzzy: long surf beaches, designer beach clubs, sunset cocktails and a serious food scene. Each neighbourhood has its own personality, so pick the one that matches your travel style for a second base.

• Seminyak — chic boutiques, spas and the island’s polished beach clubs; the classic spot for a glamorous sunset.
• Canggu — the laid-back surf-and-café hub, full of brunch spots, co-working and a younger, bohemian crowd.
• Kuta and Legian — the original tourist strip with beginner-friendly surf, budget shopping and lively nightlife.
• Jimbaran Bay — famous for barefoot seafood grills on the sand; pick your fresh catch and dine with your toes in the water at sunset.
• Beach clubs — day-beds, infinity pools and DJs along the south coast make for an easy, indulgent afternoon.

Bali’s Hindu temples are the soul of the island, and the most dramatic are built on cliffs, in lakes and over the sea. Several stage traditional dance performances at dusk, which makes for an unforgettable evening.

• Uluwatu Temple — a clifftop sea temple on the south-western tip, best at sunset and famous for its nightly Kecak fire dance, chanted by a circle of men in the fading light.
• Tanah Lot — an iconic temple perched on a rock offshore, photographed at sunset when the tide and sky align; one of Bali’s defining images.
• Ulun Danu Beratan — a serene lakeside temple in the cool highlands of Bedugul, seeming to float on the water of Lake Beratan.
• Besakih — the “Mother Temple”, the largest and holiest complex on Bali, set high on the slopes of Mount Agung.

Just off Bali’s south-east coast lie three islands reached by fast boat from Sanur in around 30–45 minutes. They deliver some of the region’s most jaw-dropping coastline and snorkelling, and are well worth at least a day-trip — or better, an overnight stay to enjoy them without the day-crowds.

• Nusa Penida — home to the legendary Kelingking Beach, whose headland resembles a T-Rex; plus Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay.
• Nusa Lembongan — smaller and more relaxed, with mangroves, the Devil’s Tear blowhole and easy snorkelling straight off the boats.
• Snorkelling and diving with manta rays — the channel around Penida and Lembongan is one of the best places in Bali to swim with manta rays, and to spot the seasonal mola mola (sunfish).

Beyond the beaches and temples, Bali’s volcanic interior is a playground for early risers and active travellers. These are the experiences people remember most from a trip.

• Mount Batur sunrise trek — a pre-dawn climb up an active volcano to watch the sun rise over the caldera and Lake Batur, often with a summit breakfast; the most popular adventure on the island.
• Sekumpul waterfall — frequently called Bali’s most beautiful falls, a cluster of towering cascades in the northern jungle reached by a steep, rewarding hike.
• Sidemen valley — the unspoilt rice-terrace countryside east of Ubud, with Mount Agung as a backdrop; a peaceful antidote to the busy south.
• White-water rafting — gentle but fun rapids on the Ayung or Telaga Waja rivers, threading through jungle and past waterfalls.

The dry season from April to October is the best time to visit Bali, with sunnier skies, calmer seas and ideal conditions for trekking, diving and the Nusa islands. The wet season (November to March) brings warm afternoon downpours and lush, green landscapes, plus lower prices — perfectly travellable if you plan around midday rain.

For a first trip, 6–8 days lets you settle into two or three bases without rushing — for example, Ubud for culture and waterfalls, the south for beaches and sunsets, and an overnight on a Nusa island. Add a few days if you want a slow honeymoon pace or a Mount Batur trek.

• Private driver — the easiest way to sightsee; hire one for full-day temple or Ubud loops and let someone else handle the traffic.
• Scooters — cheap and fun for short hops in Canggu or Ubud, but only if you’re a confident rider and carry the right licence and insurance.
• Fast boats — the standard way to reach the Nusa islands and the Gilis, departing mainly from Sanur and Padangbai.
• Ride-hailing apps — handy in the south, though some areas restrict pickups; agree fares for longer trips.

• South Kuta

  Uluwatu Temple

  A clifftop sea temple on Bali’s south-western tip, famous for sunset views and its nightly Kecak fire dance.

• Tabanan

  Tanah Lot

  An iconic Balinese temple set on a rock formation in the sea, one of the island’s most photographed sunset spots.

• Ubud

  Tegalalang Rice Terrace

  The classic stepped, palm-fringed rice paddies north of Ubud, a highlight of central Bali’s green highlands.