22 Best Places To Visit In Bali [Complete 2023 Travel Guide!]

Cazzy Magennis
Written By:
Cazzy Magennis
Last Updated:
December 28, 2022
Looking for a list of all the amazing places to visit in Bali, Indonesia? Then look no further, I give you a full guide on the best things to see and do...
places to visit in bali

Bali is bursting with amazing places to visit and explore, so to help inspire your Bali itinerary and to ensure you don’t miss out on the best things to do and and see, I’ve put together this epic guide of all the best places to visit in Bali.

This guide will explore the best places to visit all over the island alongside some top things to do there, it’ll also showcase the best places to visit in Bali for couples, families and on your honeymoon, so keep reading to find out more!

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1. Kuta

Kuta Beach, Indonesia

Kuta is known as the party capital of Bali and it’s very very westernized.

When I first visited years ago, there was no beach shopping mall with designer stores, a range of fabulous beachfront restaurants, no no, and when I visited in 2019, I was actually shocked by just how “not Bali” that Kuta is! 

But saying that, if you’re craving something more Americanized, or you want to go clubbing, then Kuta is a good place to be. 

Top things to do in Kuta

  • Surfing: beginner surf in Kuta is great! 
  • Party: There are quite a few bars and clubs that stay open late to party 
  • Head to a Spa: Some of the cheapest spas are located in Kuta, I got a full body massage for £4 and my nails done for £2...bliss!

Best place to stay in Kuta 

2. Seminyak

seminyak sunsets

Seminyak is one of the great places to visit in Bali for couples.

Seminkyak for me has a little more class and sophistication to it and it’s home to a strip of the best beach bars and restaurants in Bali.

It’s probably one of my favourite places in Bali to visit. Seminyak has all you need and it caters wonderfully for vegans! 

Top things to do in Seminyak

  • Hit up the spas: Seminyak is bursting with quality spas and brunch locations, combine the two for a wonderful morning. 
  • Head to a beach club: There are a variety of beach clubs and bars on the beach that allow you to enjoy the fantastic sunsets that Seminyak (Double six beach) provides. 
  • Party: Mexicola is one of the hottest new bars in Seminyak to have a few drinks and a great night. Seminyak is home to lots of great bars, but they are much more expensive than say, those in Kuta! 

Read: Romantic Things To Do In Bali

Best places to stay in Seminyak 

3. Uluwatu

famous temple in uluwaru

I love Uluwatu for many reasons and it’s one of the great places to visit in Bali, especially if you want epic sunsets.

I still haven’t found a sunset that beat the one I experienced at Uluwatu Temple. Uluwatu is located south of Bali island, so you’ll either need to hire a driver, or ride a moped to visit. 

Top things to do in Uluwatu

  • Visit Uluwatu temple for sunset: the most epic you will experience and you can watch the sunset dance show [Book your tickets here!]
  • Surf: Uluwatu is home to beautiful beaches and more advanced waves for those more experienced surfers 
  • Visit Sundays Beach Club in Uluwatu: For the ultimate beach club experience! 
  • Visit the epic Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park: holds one of the largest statues in the world, you can see it from Kuta beach! 

Best places to stay in Uluwatu

Take a tour of the best spots in Uluwatu with this all-inclusive tour!

4. Balangan

Balangan Beach, Indoesia

Balangan is a region of Bali located south west and it’s home to some of the bluest waters on Bali island. Because you will notice, Bali doesn’t really have “pretty” waters or beaches, compared to say the Philippines, or even the Gili Islands and other areas of Indonesia, but Balangan beach is beautiful and it offers great surf.

Top things to do in Balangan

  • Surf: another popular spot to surf in Bali 
  • Visit the iconic Balangan viewpoint: an epic sunset spot! 
  • Eat jaffle: this was the first place I discovered jaffles in Indonesia, so I have to include it 

Best places to stay in Balagan

5. Jimbaran

Jimbaran Beach, Indonesia

A beautiful seaside village/fishing town of Bali, Jimbaran offers tranquil beaches which are perfect for sunbathing. There aren't any waves here (at least when I visited) so it was perfect for swimming too. 

Top things to do in Jimbaran

  • Sunbathe on the beach. Jimbaran has 4 km of beautiful golden sands and lots of cute little warungs to grab lunch, so it’s the perfect place to spend a day. 
  • Go on a fishing trip! Try and be like the locals and catch your own lunch. 
  • Discover hidden Pandawa Beach with it’s blue waters and snorkelling opportunities. 

Best places to stay in Jimbaran: 

6. Buleleng

Buleleng is the area in north Bali that is home to some of the best waterfalls in Bali (which you can read all about here). The capital of the area Singaraja is a great base for some unique airbnbs (I can suggest sunset sala for the most epic accommodation among rice paddies).

Top things to do in Buleleng

Best places to stay in Buleleng

Book your all-inclusive Bali Waterfalls tour here!

7. Sidemen

Sidemen is one of those rare, almost undiscovered places to visit in Bali. It holds the most beautiful rice paddies in all of Bali, and I think it’s way better than Ubud. The accommodation options are filled with beautiful hotels that are settled among the paddies and it’s just a dream. 

Top things to do in Sidemen 

  • Take a walking tour among the Rice Paddies 
  • Go on the Sidemen swing 
  • Stay at Villa Karma Loka 

Best places to stay in Sidemen 

8. Gianyar

Gianyar is a great place to visit in Bali that’s close to Ubud, so it doesn’t take much effort to get there.

It’s also got some great waterfalls and Bali zoo. 

You can take a mud bath with the elephants & this tour is a pretty good option.

Top things to do in Gianyar

Best places to stay in Gianyar 

9. Amlapura

The Amlapura region is one of the less discovered areas of Bali and therefore one of the best places to visit in Bali if you’re looking for something different!

It’s also super easy to get too from Ubud and Canggu. 

Top things to do in Amlapura

Best places to stay in Amlapura

10. Sanur

Sanur Beach, Indonesia

Sanur is located on the east coast of Bali and it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Bali for families. This is thanks to the family friendly resorts, the great beaches and the popular water sports activities. 

Top things to do in Sanur

  • Go Wakeboarding, you’re close to Bali Wakeboarding park which Brad says is a lot of fun! [Book your adventure here]
  • Do some watersports: jet skiing and banana boating are popular activities here 
  • Check out nearby “upside down world” 

Best places to stay in Sanur 

11. Lempuyang

bali gates of heaven

Lempuyang is a region which has grown in popularity over recent years due to the beautiful “Bali Gates of Heaven '', an iconic photo spot that when taken at the right time of day, gives you a backdrop of Mount Agung. When I first visited Bali, this wasn’t even on the radar of things to do, now it’s too popular! 

Top Things to do in Lempuyang 

Best places to stay in Lempuyang:

12. Amed

Amed is an area located on the north east coast of Bali and it’s actually a brilliant area for diving. It’s a great place to learn how to dive thanks to the coral and it’s also got some beautiful beaches. Another great place to visit in Bali for families. 

Top things to do in Amed: 

  1. Learn how to dive (or just dive!) 
  2. Relax on the beach 
  3. Snorkel with the fishes [Check out this full day snorkelling tour here]

Best places to stay in Amed: 

13. Mount Batur

mount batur

So I’ve listed Mount Batur as one of the best places to visit in Bali, because you can visit and not hike it! Most people do a sunrise hike, which is honestly one of the best things to do in Bali, it’s amazing! 

Top things to do in Mount Batur

  • Sunrise hike to the top of Batur with breakfast afterwards 
  • Relax in the hot springs located to the Batur volcano 
  • Camp under the stars next to Batur (no light pollution makes for epic views) 

Best places to stay in Mount Batur: 

Book your all-inclusive Mount Batur Tour with hot springs right here.

14. Jatiluwih

Jatiluwih Rice terraces on Bali during sunrise, Indonesia

Jatiluwih is one of the places in Bali that’s up and coming. As more and more people flock to the rice terraces of Ubud, others are seeking some solace in new ones. Well Jatiluwih has that for you. It’s actually a UNESCO heritage site too and it looks pretty beautiful. 

Top Things To Do in Jatiluwih 

  • Check out the rice terraces 
  • Explore many undiscovered waterfalls

Best places to stay in Jatiluwih 

15. Munduk

Munduk is one of my favourite places to visit in Bali if you’re looking for a cooler climate. Bali can get scorching hot, but if you head to Munduk, it’s a little colder, and in the evenings, you may even find you need a jacket. 

Top things to do in Munduk: 

  • Visit The Munduk Coffee Plantation (famous for it’s beautiful infinity pool with views!) 
  • Visit Munduk waterfall 
  • Check out the golf course and Hanaram gate for its beauty (have lunch up there too, it’s super cheap and tasty!)

Best places to stay in Munduk:

16. Nusa Penida

Again, when I first visited Bali years ago, trips to local island Nusa Penida, weren’t really a thing.

But in recent years tourism to Penida has soared, which has thankfully resulted in them fixing the roads (they are beyond dangerous!).

You get a short boat ride from Bali (usually Sanur port) and you can spend the day or even a couple of days on Nusa Penida.

There’s so much to see and do on these beautiful islands. It’s totally different from Bali. 

Top things to do in Nusa Penida: 

  • Check out the iconic beaches: T-rex beach, broken beach, and many more 
  • Swim with Manta rays and go to the Manta Ray viewpoint for amazing views 
  • Check out hidden waterfalls with epic views 
Ps, you can do an Instagram tour of Penida in a day that will take you to ALL the best spots! Book it here. 

Best places to stay on Nusa Penida: 

17. Nusa Lembongan

Another one of the “nusa” islands is Lembongan, and it’s even closer by boat.

Lembongan is the perfect place if you want to do snorkelling on beautiful blue, clear waters (The type of waters that Bali doesn’t really have!) Nusa Lembongan is up and coming too, but it’s worth a day trip! 

Top things to do in Nusa Lembongan: 

Best places to stay on Nusa Lembongan 

Book your Nusa Lembogan Instagram Tour to get al the best photos spots right here.

18. Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua Beach

Nusa Dua is located in the south east of Bali, but it's’ the home of watersports in Bali. The beaches are beautifully sandy with blue waters and it’s the cheapest place to get your jet skis and have fun in the water. There are a line of great restaurants in the area too, although they’re a little pricey, as it’s targeted towards couples and families. But still one of the great places to visit in Bali! 

Top things to do in Nusa Dua

  • Try jet skiing and parasailing 
  • Swim in the blue waters 
  • Have a romantic dinner on the beach 

Best places to stay in Nusa Dua: 

19. Ubud

ubud

Ubud is certainly one of the more touristy areas in Bali, and it’s no surprise why, it’s home to some great sights!

As well as many of the most stunning Airbnbs available anywhere on the island.

You can easily spend a few days relaxing here. Ubud is really famous for it’s yoga retreats and natural beauty. Think of the movie “Eat, Pray, Love”. 

Top Things To Do In Ubud: 

  • Check out the Tegalalang Rice Paddies 
  • Shop at Ubud market 
  • Swing on a Bali swing 
  • Visit monkey forest
  • Spend a few days at one of Ubud's yoga retreats
Make the most of your time in Ubud with a tour.

Best Places to stay in Ubud: 

20. Canggu 

Canggu is like the western corner of Bali. All the locals call it white city, or something similar, I can’t remember what she told me. But basically it’s very well developed, there are lots of amazing cafes (it’s a vegans dream), great spas and it’s got a good beach for surfing. 

Top things to do in Canggu: 

  • Have a drink at the iconic Old Man’s bar on the Canggu beach front 
  • Eat a bali bowl and drink delicious coffee at one of the great cafes 
  • Shop in vintage stores 

Best places to stay in Canggu 

Other places to visit in Bali 

21. West Bali National Park 

Menjangan peninsula, a national park on the west side of Bali, Indonesia

The West Bali National Park is famous for it’s deer! Yup, no one knows how or why they are there, but it’s been said that they crossed over from nearby Java island. (Which you can see from this area of Bali- epic views). We never visited, as we kind of ran out of time, but it’s another spot when we can visit Bali when we return (which I have no doubts we will one day!). 

22. Nusa Ceningan

Nusa Ceningan, Indonesia

So there are 3 areas that aren’t on Bali's main island, but are actually part of Bali and that’s Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. You can only access Nusa Ceningan via a yellow bridge on Lembongan. We didn’t visit as we were on the island for a day trip, but it’s quite quiet, with beautiful beaches and a few great beach clubs, so worth staying if you’ve got the time. 

So there you go, 22 awesome places to visit in Bali! None of these places should be missed and it’s super easy to get around Bali, so you’ll have no trouble finding them. Actually, you can read my guide on getting around Bali for some inspiration! 

I hope you’ve found this post useful and hopefully it’s inspired you to visit some lesser known areas of Bali too. 

If you want to venture a little further afield from Bali, then you can take a tour to the EPIC Mount Bromo on the island of Java and the equally epic Mount Ijen (Which can be seen from Bali on a clear day).

This tour takes you on a 3 days adventure of these two spots, and is a perfect alternative if you don't want to organize a trip to Java island yourself.

Happy travels!

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