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Things to do in Bali

Tirta Empul has had springs bubbling in its central courtyard since 960. Balinese families still come to bathe there, and visitors in a sarong can join the purification ritual. That one temple says a lot about Bali. Faith here is not kept in a museum. It is part of the day.

The island rewards a mix of moods. You can watch monkeys at a clifftop temple, walk a bird park, or stand in a hot spring in a garden. You can also read palm-leaf manuscripts, look at Balinese paintings, or surf and swim from a long beach. Most places are small, so two or three fit into a day.

This page groups the island's places by kind: beaches, family outings, history, museums, parks and nature, and other sights. Each entry says what you will find there. Temple sites ask for a sarong, and some hand them out at the gate. Opening hours vary a lot, so plan around the hours given in the entries.

Beaches

Bali's beaches are very different from one another. Kuta and Sanur sit on the south and east of the island, while Padang Padang, Melasti and Pandawa tuck into the limestone cliffs of the Bukit Peninsula. Lovina on the north coast and Medewi in the west feel quieter. Pick by mood: surf, a calm swim, or a dramatic view.

  • Sanur Beach — Sanur is a beach strip in Denpasar with a relaxed, easy feel. It is a good pick for a gentle walk by the sea.
  • Lovina Beach — Lovina is a village on the north coast, far from the busy south. Come for its quiet beach and slower pace.
  • Medewi — Medewi is a village in Jembrana Regency on Bali's west side. It is far from the main crowds.
  • Pandawa Beach — Pandawa is a beach in Bali set under tall limestone cliffs. It is a good choice for a swim and a view.
  • Pantai Kuta — Kuta is Bali's best-known beach. Come for the surf and sunsets, with the lively streets just behind.
  • Padang Padang Beach — Padang Padang is a famous beach on the Bukit. Pair it with Uluwatu Temple for a day on the cliffs.
  • Melasti Beach — Melasti is a beach in Bali, backed by cliffs. It is a good place to swim and rest.
  • Kelingking Beach — Kelingking is a beach on Bali's island coast, known for its dramatic cliff. Come for the view above all.

Family

Bali has a few places built for children and for adults who like animals. You can walk among free-flying birds, see a zoo or safari park, and let the kids run. These are easy days out, with food on site and little planning. They work well after a few temple mornings.

  • Taman Safari Bali (Bali Safari) — Bali's safari-style zoo, aimed at families. Plan for a half day of animals.
  • Bali Zoo — Bali Zoo is a tourist attraction open daily from 09:00 to 18:00. It is an easy day out for children.
  • Bali Bird Park — This is a 2-hectare aviary with more than 250 species of birds. You walk through open aviaries, and the cafe is notably good.

History & ruins

Bali's past shows in stone, water and palace walls. Hindu shrines are cut into rock faces and set among rice fields. Old royal courts still stand in Ubud and Klungkung, and a water palace sits in the east. Together they show how kings, priests and farmers shaped the island.

  • Goa Gajah — Goa Gajah is a Hindu temple and a good start for a day around Bedulu. It is open daily from 08:00 to 16:00.
  • Gunung Kawi — Gunung Kawi is a Hindu temple with an ancient, carved setting. It is open daily from 07:00 to 17:00.
  • Ubud Palace — Ubud Palace is a royal compound right in the middle of town. Walk through its courtyards and see traditional Balinese building.
  • Klungkung Palace — Klungkung Palace is a former royal seat in Semarapura. It is a good stop for anyone curious about Bali's kingdoms.
  • Yeh Pulu — Yeh Pulu has rock carvings from the fourteenth or fifteenth century, set in rice fields. A priest at the holy well may bless you with its water, and a sarong can be rented at the ticket counter. It is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00.
  • Taman Pujaan Bangsa Margarana — This is a heroes cemetery in Bali. It is open from 09:00 to 17:00, and it is a quiet place to learn about the independence struggle.

Museums

Bali's museums are mostly about art, craft and local life. Many hold paintings from the classical schools through to modern work, and some are set in gardens. Others cover palm-leaf manuscripts, rice irrigation, masks and puppets, or the story of the island itself. Ubud has the biggest cluster, and Denpasar and Klungkung have more.

  • Bali Museum — This is the place for an overview of Balinese culture in Denpasar. It opens Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 16:30, and Friday from 08:00 to 13:30.
  • Puri Lukisan Museum — This Ubud museum shows Balinese painting. It is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00.
  • Bajra Sandhi Monument — This Denpasar monument also holds a museum. It is a quick way to follow Bali's story in one building.
  • Neka Art Museum — An art museum in Bali with a strong painting collection. It is open from 09:00 to 17:00.
  • Agung Rai Museum of Art — This Ubud-area museum shows Balinese and other art. It is open every day from 09:00 to 18:00.
  • Le Mayeur Museum — This is an artist's house museum in Sanur. Visit it with a beach walk, Sunday to Thursday from 08:00 to 15:00.
  • Gedong Kirtya — Gedong Kirtya is a museum of palm-leaf manuscripts in Bali. It is a quiet place for anyone curious about old writing.
  • Museum Pasifika — An art museum in Bali with work from across the region. It is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
  • Blanco Renaissance Museum — This museum is a showcase of one artist's world in Bali. It is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00.
  • Museum Rudana — Museum Rudana is a large art museum. It opens Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00.
  • Semarajaya Museum — A museum in Klungkung Regency. It is an easy add-on to a visit to the old royal town.
  • Batur Geopark Museum — This geological museum explains the volcanic land around Batur. It is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00.
  • Subak Museum — This museum explains subak, the traditional Balinese rice field irrigation system. It suits anyone who has just looked at the terraces and wondered how they work. It opens Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 15:30.
  • The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma — A museum of masks and puppets in Indonesia. The collection is bright, odd and easy to enjoy.
  • Purbakala Archaeological Museum — This museum in Bedulu shows Bali's earliest history. It fits well with Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu nearby.
  • Ngurah Gede Pemecutan's Fingerprint Painting Museum — A small museum of fingerprint paintings. It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
  • Pustaka Lontar Museum — A museum of palm-leaf manuscripts. It shows how Bali kept its stories before paper.
  • Museum Agung Bung Karno — A museum in Indonesia about the first president, Sukarno. It is a good stop for readers of modern history.
  • Puputan Monument — This monument in Semarapura marks a dramatic chapter in Bali's past. It sits close to Klungkung Palace.
  • Taman Wedhi Budaya Cultural Centre — A museum covering Balinese art, from classical painting and sculpture to contemporary work. Gamelan performances are also held there.
  • Mahadeva Art Gallery — A gallery with a collection of interesting paintings. You can also order custom-made paintings.

Parks & nature

Green space in Bali is often tied to something sacred or royal. Forests shelter monkeys and temples, gardens climb the hills, and hot springs run in landscaped pools. Even the big cultural park on the Bukit is built around statues and open lawns. These places slow you down after a busy day.

  • Garuda Wisnu Kencana — This private cultural park on the Bukit Peninsula is built around huge statues. It stays open late, from 08:00 to 22:00 every day.
  • Ubud Monkey Forest — A forest in Ubud where monkeys roam freely among the trees. It is open daily from 08:30 to 18:00.
  • Bali Botanic Garden — This is the largest botanical garden in Indonesia. Some gardens, such as the cactus and orchid ones, open only from 09:00 to 16:00.
  • Ujung Water Palace — Ujung is a former royal palace in Karangasem, built around water. It is open from 08:00 to 17:00.
  • Sangeh — Sangeh is a natural forest in Bali. It is a green stop with a shady, quiet feel.
  • Banjar Hot Springs — Stone-carved mouths pour naturally warm, sulphur-rich water into a lush garden. It is hard to reach, so it is often less crowded than you would expect.

Sights

This group holds the island's best-known temples and a few good-value indulgences. Two lake and clifftop temples are among the most photographed places in Bali. You will also find a water park, a butterfly park, and massage and spa options. They suit a day when you want something different from beaches and museums.

  • Bali Mandara Toll Road — This road is a modern landmark, built over the water. It is an easy sight to take in while crossing the south.
  • Bali Butterfly Park — A small, well-kept centre for butterfly research and education, with some spectacular species. Go in the early and mid morning when the butterflies are most active.
  • Waterbom — One of the biggest water theme parks in Asia. It is a short walk from Kuta beach and open daily from 09:00 to 18:00.
  • Tirta Empul — One of the holiest temples in Bali, built around hot springs. Visitors in a sarong can join the melukat purification ritual in the pools.
  • Uluwatu Temple — Uluwatu is one of Bali's nine key directional temples, on a steep clifftop over the ocean. Sunsets are superb, but keep a tight grip on your belongings because the monkeys snatch them.
  • Lake Beratan Temple — Built in 1633 for the goddess of the lake, this temple can seem to float on the water. It is open daily from 07:00 to 19:00.
  • Kimberly Spa — A good-quality massage and day spa near the club and bar scene on Jalan Legian. It is open from 09:00 to 23:00.
  • Paradiso Bowling Centre — An 18-lane bowling centre with many pool and snooker tables. It is open from 18:00 to 23:00 daily.
  • Alam Jimbaran Spa — A day spa with traditional Balinese massage, ayurvedic treatments, hot stone therapy and hammam herbal therapy. It is open daily from 09:00 to 21:00.
  • Bamboo Spa, By L'Occitane — A spa with 5 single treatment rooms and 9 double suites for couples. It also has a private steam room and a reflexology area.
  • Bliss Massage — A traditional massage parlour rather than a spa. Its Balinese-style therapeutic treatments are excellent, and it is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
  • Agung's Spa — The nicest spa facility in Lovina, with body scrubs, facials and massages. It is small and basic, but a good end to a beach day.

Activities on and under the water, and on the course

Some of the best days in Bali are spent with a local operator rather than at a single sight. These pages compare the dive centres, golf courses and boat operators listed for Bali.

Planning your days

Group places that sit near each other. In Ubud, join Ubud Palace, Puri Lukisan Museum, Neka Art Museum and Ubud Monkey Forest in one easy day. Another day can cover Goa Gajah, Yeh Pulu and the Purbakala Archaeological Museum around Bedulu. Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi make a natural pair for temple lovers.

On the Bukit, go to Padang Padang Beach, then Uluwatu Temple for sunset. In the south, Kuta and Waterbom share one stretch, while Sanur Beach goes well with Le Mayeur Museum. In Denpasar, put Bali Museum, Bajra Sandhi Monument and Taman Wedhi Budaya Cultural Centre together. In Klungkung, Klungkung Palace, Puputan Monument and Semarajaya Museum are close, and in Lovina, Banjar Hot Springs and Agung's Spa suit a slow day. Keep the museums with shorter hours for mornings.