Bali packs temples, rice terraces, art towns and beaches into one island. A first visit works best with a short list and two or three bases. Thirteen places and activities are covered here, with hours and prices where they are known.
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The picks lean on Ubud for culture, the south for coast and sunsets, and a few day trips for scenery. Each section names real places and gives practical details. Hours and fees can change, so confirm them before you go.
Quick List: Bali Picks at a Glance
- Ubud Palace and art museums: Ubud is the main tourist town in the heart of Bali, and the palace is free to enter.
- Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi: two Hindu temples, each with a sarong included in the fee.
- Pura Besakih: Bali’s most important temple, set against Mount Agung.
- Jatiluwih rice terraces: best as a day trip.
- Nusa Penida: reached by a 30 minute public ferry from Sanur Harbour.
- Sanur and Le Mayeur Museum: a relaxing beach base with an artist’s house museum.
- Water purification ceremony: a Balinese ritual in the water.
- Tirta Gangga: a former royal palace built in 1948 in the northeast.
- White-water rafting: on the Telaga Waja or Ayung River.
- Canggu beach clubs and surf: FINNS, La Brisa and Luna Beach Club.
- Museums and gardens: from Bali Museum to Bali Botanic Garden.
1. Explore Ubud Town and Ubud Palace
Ubud is the main tourist town in the heart of Bali. Rice terraces and dense jungle surround it. For a first visit, it is called a must.
Start at Ubud Palace. Entry is free, and the hours are listed as 09:00–18:00 and 09:00–19:00. Puri Saren, Puri Saraswati, the Ubud art market and Rio Helmi Gallery & Cafe are all nearby.
Art fans have three museums to choose from. Puri Lukisan Museum sits on Jl Raya Ubud. Pura Gunung Lebah and Saraswati Temple are close by.
Neka Art Museum is on Jl Raya Campuhan, Kedewatan. It opens 09:00–17:00. Under-sixes enter free. A partial viewpoint on Mount Agung is listed nearby, with a nice view on clear skies.
Agung Rai Museum of Art is on Jl Pengosekan. It costs Rp150,000 and opens 09:00–18:00 daily.
The Ubud list also includes Campuhan Ridge Walk, Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace and Ubud Art Market. Things to do in town include yoga classes, traditional dance performances, art gallery tours, cycling through rice terraces and cooking classes.
2. Walk Through Ubud Monkey Forest
The sanctuary is a large forested area with walking paths and a Hindu temple at the center. Its wild macaques roam freely. The walk is quite peaceful, with many stone carvings and statues to find along the way.
Several named spots sit close together. Manley forest, the Monkey Feeding Place and Agung Rai Museum of Art are all listed nearby. That makes a simple pairing for one Ubud morning or afternoon.
A second forest lies outside Ubud. Sangeh Monkey Forest is named as a stop to combine with a Jatiluwih day trip.
3. Visit Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi
Candi ruins, Purbakala Archaeological Museum and Ubad Ubud Bali Cooking Class are listed close by. That gives you a food stop and a museum stop near the temple.
Gunung Kawi is in Tampaksiring. It is open daily 07:00–17:00.
Nearby are Tirta Empul, Patung Dewa Indra and a skull stone. Tirta Empul makes a natural second stop on the same trip. Plan each visit around the opening hours above, since no visit length is given for either temple.
4. See Pura Besakih
Pura Besakih is one of Bali’s most important temples. Its extraordinary size and its position with Mount Agung in the background stand out.
It is also a place of cultural significance. A visit is a good chance to learn about Balinese Hinduism. Read a little about the faith before you go, and dress for a temple.
Hours, fees and transport are not given here, so check them locally. Neka Art Museum in Kedewatan has a partial viewpoint on Mount Agung if you want another look at the same mountain.
5. Take a Day Trip to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Jatiluwih is quite far from all major tourist towns. A day trip is the best way to see it. Combine the terraces with Leke-Leke Waterfall, Sangeh Monkey Forest or Junglegold Chocolate Factory.
The trail is easy to follow. Even so, locals may charge an “entrance fee” to walk without a guide. Some push you to hire one on the spot at an inflated price. Booking a guide in advance avoids that.
Near Ubud, the Tegalalang terraces draw big crowds. Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the more popular choice, and some travelers skip it for quieter spots. Jatiluwih is one such option for those who want more room.
Cycling through rice terraces is another way to see them. It is listed among the things to do around Ubud.
6. Watch the Sunset at Uluwatu and Visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana
Uluwatu is a clifftop area on the south coast. It is described as “Clifftop Drama & Sunset Views”. It is also called the best place in Bali for beaches and upscale clifftop resorts. The area also has beach clubs.
An evening show fits well here. The Uluwatu Kecak and Fire Dance Show ticket is listed at 1 hour.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a private cultural park on the Bukit Peninsula, in Ungasan, Badung Regency. Plaza Garuda, Plaza Bhagawan GWK and a View Point Garuda Statue are listed nearby.
The late closing time makes the park easy to pair with an afternoon on the peninsula.
7. Make a Day of Nusa Penida
The Nusa Islands are three islands off the east coast of Bali. A 30 minute public ferry runs from Sanur Harbour. The islands are known for natural beauty, crystal-clear water and vibrant underwater life.
On Nusa Penida, Kelingking Beach has a T-Rex-shaped limestone cliff. It is one of the most popular photo spots in Bali. You can hike along the ridge and look down on the turquoise water of the Indian Ocean.
For a short stay, organized tours by speedboat make sense. They also reach Smoky Beach and Angel’s Billabong in one day. This suits people with limited time.
Crowds matter here. Nusa Penida gets very busy from 10 am to 4 pm because of day tours. After 4 pm the island is nearly crowd-free, so a few nights there pay off. Nusa Penida is now one of the most popular places to visit in Bali.
8. Relax in Sanur and Visit Le Mayeur Museum
Sanur suits a calm start. It is called the best place to stay in Bali for a relaxing beach getaway. It is also the harbour for the Nusa Islands ferry in section 7.
Le Mayeur Museum is an artist’s house museum on Jl Hangtuah. Hours are Sunday to Thursday 08:00–15:00 and Friday 08:00–13:00.
Local students pay Rp 5,000–20,000.
9. Join a Balinese Water Purification Ceremony
A melukat ceremony is a Balinese water purification ritual. It involves making offerings to the gods. You then wear a special sarong to enter the water and perform small rituals. Each venue runs the ceremony a little differently.
Taman Beji Griya Waterfall is one option. The ceremony there visits a series of temples and caves to make offerings. You then release negative energy by screaming into the huge waterfall.
A timed entry system limits the number of visitors. Booking ahead is the advice, since a wait of 45 minutes for a spot was reported.
Northern Bali has waterfalls to explore as well. Northern Bali’s waterfalls have their own section.
10. Stop at Tirta Gangga
Tirta Gangga is a water temple on the northeastern side of the island. It is a former royal palace built in 1948 by the last king of Karangasem. Its style is a fusion of Balinese and Chinese architecture.
The palace itself is not very big. A tourist can often only reach the first courtyard.
An evening visit adds something. Around 7:30 PM you can buy a ticket and watch Legong dance shows. They are known for fast-paced movements and elaborate costumes.
11. Go White-Water Rafting
White water rafting is described as the best way to experience the Bali countryside.
Telaga Waja has the longest course. It lies in the east of Bali, so it feels more off the beaten path than the Ayung. The Ayung is the closer choice if you are based in Ubud.
Toekad Rafting is also listed near Neka Art Museum. Sidemen itself is named as an excellent base for a few days.
12. Enjoy Canggu Beach Clubs and Surf
Bali’s beach clubs have huge infinity pools, sweeping ocean views and lively atmospheres. Some suit all-day lounging. Others are party spots with DJs.
Canggu has three named clubs. FINNS is famous for all-day parties, DJs and swim-up bars. La Brisa is a more relaxed spot with a bohemian vibe. Luna Beach Club is family-friendly and feels like a festival, with big sculptures.
Canggu is also a base. It is a charming coastal town home to Echo Beach. You find Balinese-style villas with private pools, rice paddies, yoga and surfing there.
Surfing is a draw across the island. Bali has more than 60 surf breaks and is one of the few destinations that is great for surfing year-round.
13. Add Museums and Gardens Around the Island
A few more named stops fill spare hours, especially on wet days. Each has stated hours or prices.
- Lapangan Puputan Margarana and Museum Agung Bung Karno are nearby.
- Nusa Dua Beach is close.
- Bali Botanic Garden: the largest botanical garden in Indonesia. It is open 8:00–18:00 daily, with some gardens such as the cactus and orchid gardens open 09:00–16:00.
- Pandawa Beach: a beach with canoe rental and a paragliding launch site close by.
Traditional villages offer another angle. Penglipuran Village is known for well-preserved traditional architecture. Tenganan Village is home to the indigenous Bali Aga community.
Tips Before You Go
International visitors pay a Tourist Levy of IDR 150,000 per person. It is a one-time payment per visit. You can pay in advance on the official Bali Provincial Government website, and a digital confirmation is issued.
Carry some cash. Lots of places, mainly markets, do not accept credit cards. Some upscale restaurants and boutiques charge a 3% fee on cards. ATMs are on almost every street and in most 24-hour supermarkets. The currency is the Indonesian rupiah.
Traffic can be heavy. The most affordable way to get around is on the back of a scooter. Go-Jek and Grab both offer scooter rides. The driver gives you a helmet, and rides normally cost around $1.
Choose your bases with care. The best areas to stay are Ubud, Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu and Kuta. Splitting your nights between the top two or three areas shows you more of the island.
Budgets vary widely. Daily costs range from USD 35 for budget travelers to USD 300 or more for luxury. Accommodation, dining and activities drive the difference.
Quieter bases exist too. Sidemen is called an excellent base for a remote stay. Balangan is described as perfect for a relaxing beach getaway, far from the beach clubs of Seminyak. With over 5 million foreign arrivals in the past year, Bali is on the brink of over-tourism. Mixing in a quieter base can help.
How many days should you spend in Bali?
Five to seven days is ideal for first-time visitors. That covers Ubud, beaches, temples and cultural attractions. Returning travelers may prefer ten days or more to find lesser-known areas and keep a slower pace.
What are some unique and fun things to do in Bali?
Try a water purification ceremony at a waterfall. Catch the Legong dance show at Tirta Gangga around 7:30 PM. Visit Penglipuran or Tenganan village to see the island’s living heritage.
Swing fans have two options. One is at Zen Hideaway, an Airbnb property, where you must message the hosts first. The other is Bali Swing, which charges $2 entry plus $20 to try 3 swings. For a ride through the countryside, try white-water rafting.
Where is the best place to stay in Bali for first timers?
It depends on your style. Seminyak is best for sunset bars, luxury restaurants and shopping. Uluwatu is best for beaches and upscale clifftop resorts. Kuta suits friends and surfers, and Sanur suits a relaxing beach getaway.
Canggu suits laid-back beach lovers. Ubud is the culture base and sits at the center of the plan above.
When should one visit Bali?
The best time to visit is the dry season, April to October. Weather is generally sunny with lower humidity.
Note Nyepi, the Day of Silence. For 24 hours there are no flights, no traffic and no outdoor activities.
For a first trip, anchor yourself in Ubud. Add the temples of Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi, then take a day trip to Jatiluwih. Finish on the coast with Uluwatu, Sanur or the Nusa Islands.
Plan five to seven days. Pick two or three bases and leave room for slow mornings. Check hours and fees before each stop, since prices change.
Mix big names with quieter stops. Pura Besakih and Nusa Penida draw the crowds, while Sidemen, Tirta Gangga and rafting on the Telaga Waja River give more space. A blend of the two makes a balanced first visit.
Opening hours, prices and visiting details: Ubud Monkey Forest, Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Bali Museum, Bajra Sandhi Monument.