StayAreasThe best things to do in Bali
Bali is bigger than it looks on a map, and traffic in the south is slow. Ubud sits inland among the rice fields and temples; the beach towns of Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu line the west coast; and the Bukit peninsula in the far south has the cliffs and surf of Uluwatu, Jimbaran Bay and the resorts of Nusa Dua. Sanur faces east, towards the islands.
Here are the 18 things we'd put on a first trip, grouped by part of the island, with the area to stay in if that part of Bali matters most to you. Most visitors split their stay between Ubud and one beach area rather than doing long day trips from one base.
Ubud and the centre
1.Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Steep green terraces carved into a valley north of Ubud, watered by the centuries-old subak irrigation system.
Tip: Arrive before 8am, before the tour buses and the midday heat. Farmers ask for small donations at points along the path.
Stay nearby: Ubud · ~$110/night2.Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
A jungle of temples, moss-covered statues and around a thousand long-tailed macaques, at the bottom of Ubud's main street.
Tip: Put away sunglasses, hats and anything loose, and don't carry food. The monkeys grab whatever they can.
Stay nearby: Ubud · ~$110/night3.Ubud Palace and Ubud Art Market
The royal family's palace courtyard in the town centre, with the crafts market across the road.
Tip: Traditional dance performances are held in the palace courtyard most evenings.
Stay nearby: Ubud · ~$110/night4.Campuhan Ridge WalkFree
A paved path along a grassy ridge between two river valleys, starting a short walk from central Ubud.
Tip: Walk it at sunrise or late afternoon; there is no shade at midday.
Stay nearby: Ubud · ~$110/night5.Tirta Empul water temple
A temple built around a sacred spring, where Balinese Hindus queue in the pools to bathe under a row of water spouts.
Tip: Visitors can join the purification ritual. A sarong is required and lent at the entrance; bring a change of clothes.
Stay nearby: Ubud · ~$110/night6.Mount Batur sunrise trek
A climb up an active volcano in the dark to watch the sun rise over Lake Batur and Mount Agung.
Tip: Hotel pick-ups from Ubud leave around 2am. Hikers must go with a local guide, and it's cold at the top.
Stay nearby: Ubud · ~$110/night
Uluwatu, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua
7.Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak dance
A sea temple on the edge of a 70-metre cliff, with a fire-lit Kecak dance in the amphitheatre at sunset.
Tip: Get to the amphitheatre early for a seat facing the sea. Watch your belongings, as the monkeys here are bold.
Stay nearby: Uluwatu · ~$140/night8.Padang Padang Beach
A small cove of white sand reached by steps through a gap in the rock, with good swimming at low tide.
Tip: It fills up by midday. Bingin and Thomas beaches nearby are quieter.
Stay nearby: Uluwatu · ~$140/night9.Seafood dinner on Jimbaran Bay
Tables set out on the sand at sunset, with fish and prawns picked from the ice and grilled over coconut husks.
Tip: Ask for the price by weight before your fish goes on the grill.
Stay nearby: Jimbaran · ~$150/night10.Nusa Dua beach and the Water Blow
Calm, reef-sheltered beaches and a paved promenade, ending at a rock where waves burst high through the limestone.
Tip: The Water Blow is most dramatic with a big swell around high tide.
Stay nearby: Nusa Dua · ~$150/night
Canggu, Seminyak and Kuta
11.Tanah Lot
A temple on a rock in the sea, cut off from the shore at high tide and one of Bali's best-known sunset views.
Tip: At low tide you can walk to the base of the rock and the holy spring beneath it.
Stay nearby: Canggu · ~$100/night12.A surf lesson in Canggu
Batu Bolong and Berawa beaches have soft, rolling waves and dozens of surf schools on the sand.
Tip: Morning sessions have the smallest crowds and lighter winds.
Stay nearby: Canggu · ~$100/night13.Sunset on Seminyak beach
Beanbags and umbrellas on the sand, and beach clubs with pools along the long west-facing beach.
Tip: The sea here has strong currents; swim only between the red and yellow flags.
Stay nearby: Seminyak · ~$120/night14.Kuta BeachFree
Bali's first tourist beach, a long stretch of sand with gentle breaks that suit first-time surfers.
Tip: In the nesting season, a conservation group releases turtle hatchlings on the beach at dusk.
Stay nearby: Kuta & Legian · ~$70/night
Sanur and further out
15.Sanur beach pathFree
A seafront path of several kilometres past fishing boats, cafés and old hotels, on Bali's calm east coast.
Tip: Rent a bicycle and ride it at sunrise, when Sanur faces straight into the sun coming up.
Stay nearby: Sanur · ~$100/night16.A day trip to Nusa Penida
A rugged island off Bali's east coast, with the T-Rex-shaped cliff of Kelingking Beach and manta ray snorkelling.
Tip: Fast boats leave from Sanur beach. Roads on the island are rough, so book a driver rather than a scooter.
Stay nearby: Sanur · ~$100/night17.Lempuyang Temple
A mountain temple in east Bali with a split gate framing Mount Agung, the 'Gates of Heaven' photo.
Tip: The queue for the gate photo can take hours. The famous 'water' reflection is made with a mirror.
18.Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
A temple of tiered shrines that seem to float on Lake Bratan, up in the cool highlands of Bedugul.
Tip: Combine it with the twin lakes viewpoint and the rice terraces of Jatiluwih on a driver day trip.
Written by the StayAreas editorial team · Updated Oct 2026 · How we research our guides