08/01/2024
The Ultimate Guide to Bali
Home to brilliant sunsets, pristine beaches, waterfalls, and ancient temples, there’s a reason Bali is called the “Island of the Gods”.
Whether you want to hang out with monkeys, go surfing, or immerse yourself in the local culture, you’ve come to the right place.
Visiting Bali for the First Time? Here's What To See and Do
Make the most of the Island of the Gods with these Bali sightseeing tips, and enjoy everything from waterfalls to sunsets.
For many first-time visitors to Bali, it’s the beaches (and maybe beach clubs) that initially come to mind. But this lush, tropical island also offers soaring volcanoes, viridian rice terraces, and timeless temples, a tribute to a rich and unique Hindu culture. With so many things to do in Bali, then, it can be hard to work out the right approach—particularly if, like many, you only have a few days free. From delicious local cuisine to silversmithing classes, from waterfalls to sunsets, these Bali activities for first-timers will help you enjoy the so-called “Island of the Gods” the way it’s meant to be.
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1. Get out on the ocean
On the waves or over the coral: It’s your choice.
One of the top Bali travel tips for newcomers is to make the most of those warm, tropical Indian Ocean waters. Bali offers year-round surfing, on the west coast during the April–October dry season and on the east coast during the November–March rainy season: Kuta Beach makes a great place to learn. But Bali also sits within the Coral Triangle, one of the most diverse marine areas in the world. From the manta rays off Penida Island (Nusa Penida) to the USS Liberty wreck near Amed, Bali boasts world-class snorkeling and scuba diving at prices that won’t bust the budget.
2. See a “kecak” and a fire dance
Don’t miss Bali’s signature show.
Bali has its own rich performance tradition, from the delicate legong dance to the lively barong show, featuring a giant shaggy monster. But the island’s signature is the kecak, where a beatboxing, shirtless male voice choir accompanies performers in stories drawn from the Ramayana epic—often followed by a spectacular fire dance. The amphitheater by Uluwatu Temple hosts a spectacular sunset cliff-top kecak; the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) also delivers wonderful performances.
3. Learn silversmithing in Ubud
Designing your own jewelry never gets old.
With museums, galleries, and arts and crafts villages, Ubud’s art scene is a must-include for any Bali travel guide. But craft classes and courses are some of the most rewarding things to do in Ubud. You can try your hand at everything from painting and Balinese dance to making batik or wood carving, but many travelers love the silversmithing classes. Most let you sketch out your own design and create it with help, or choose from a range of sample styles.
4. Tour some temples
Enjoy sacred spaces where nature and culture meet.
There are so many temples on Bali that few even bother counting them, and they’re some of the most mesmerizing Bali attractions. Head to the Ubud Monkey Forest, an Indiana Jones–style adventure amid mossy statues and roving macaques, and be sure to visit a water temple, either the popular Tirta Empul Temple or less-crowded Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple. Elsewhere, cliff-top Uluwatu Temple offers dazzling ocean views, and Besakih Temple is the island’s largest and most important temple. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple seems to float on a crater lake, and don't forget to head to Penida Island for the eerie Giri Putri Cave temple.
5. Chase waterfalls
Bali’s cascades are postcard-perfect.
Tropical rain and volcanic landscapes make Bali’s waterfalls a highlight of any Bali island tour. Instagrammers flock to the falls around Ubud, particularly Tegenungan Waterfall, Tibumana Waterfall, Kanto Lampo Waterfall, and Tukad Cepung Waterfall, where sunlight seems to shine through a cave into the falls in the morning. Or head farther afield into the highlands of Munduk, which has several rewarding waterfall hikes, or Sekumpul Waterfall, a series of seven slim cascades.
6. Catch a sunset
Because nothing beats an Indian Ocean sundown.
Many Bali tours include a sunset stop at Tanah Lot Temple, a sea temple perched on a lava outcrop in the ocean north of Canggu, or Jimbaran Beach, where sundown brings seafood feasts by candlelight on the sand. Opt to sip a sundowner at slick beach clubs like Canggu’s La Brisa, or Seminyak’s KU DE TA or Potatohead, or pick a simpler beachfront eatery, perhaps Warung Pantai on Batu Belig Beach.
7. Take a trip to an island
For the perfect beachfront stroll.
Bali is an island in its own right, but for a slice of small island life it’s worth heading east. A triptych of isles hangs in the water between Bali and neighboring Lombok: Nusa Penida, known for manta rays and cliff-framed beaches; Nusa Lembongan, known for mangroves and laid-back beach clubs; and tiny Nusa Ceningan. Or, jump a fast boat from the port at Sanur to the Gili Islands off Lombok’s northwestern coast.
8. Feast on local fare
Indonesian flavors can be flawless.
With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia offers a whole world of flavors, from Indian- and Arab-influenced curries in Sumatra to sago dishes in Papua. Restaurants like Ubud’s Nusantara and Seminyak’s Kaum offer lightly elevated takes on archipelago favorites; Babi Guling Chandra in Bali’s capital Denpasar majors on the island’s signature dish, spit-roasted babi guling suckling pig. But whether your tastes run to smoky, spicy ayam betutu chicken or the milder flavors of Indonesia’s staple nasi goreng (fried rice), there’s no better Bali travel advice than to take a cooking course—perhaps one with a market tour.
9. Hike through the rice fields
It’s virtually forest bathing.
It was rice terraces and valleys, not beaches, that brought the first intrepid travelers to Bali, and some of the best places to visit in Bali are still rice farming districts. Compact but charming Tegalalang Rice Terrace outside Ubud is a popular stop on Ubud tours; west Bali’s Jatiluwih has well-marked hiking trails through spectacular landscapes where dragonflies flit amid organic rice; meanwhile, Sidemen hikes yield dramatic views of the Mt. Agung volcano.
10. Live like royalty
So many palaces; so little time.
At different times, Bali has been divided into as many as eight kingdoms, and each of these rulers left their own mark on the landscape. Royal Bali landmarks for beginners include the Tirta Gangga Water Garden, a fairy-tale confection of pools and pavilions built for the king of Karangasem—as well as his less-visited Ujung Water Palace. Ubud Palace, where Ubud’s kings once lived, is still at the heart of Ubud, while the limpid pools and lush landscapes of Taman Ayun Temple were designed for the rulers of Mengwi
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