Things to do in Bali: top sights and where to go
Bali is an island, not a city: temples, rice terraces and waterfalls are in the hills around Ubud, beaches and clifftop sunsets are in the south — Kuta, Seminyak and the Bukit peninsula by Uluwatu Temple — Mount Batur and the lakes are in the centre, and the Kelingking cliffs and manta snorkeling are on neighbouring Nusa Penida. Roads are slow: allow 2–3 days for Ubud and around, one or two for the south, and a day each for the east and Nusa Penida.
Sights
Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven)
Bali, Indonesia
2 h 30 min≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttlechurchesviewshistory
Bali itineraries
Bali travel guide
Before you go: where to stay, temples and rice terraces, Nusa Penida, the airport, visa, tourist tax and the rainy season.
Bali on your own: the essentials
- How long
- 10–14 days: Ubud, the south, the east and Nusa Penida
- When to go
- April–October — dry season
- Visa
- Many nationalities: visa on arrival or e-VoA, IDR 500,000, 30 days
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Tourist tax
- IDR 150,000 per visitor — online or at the airport
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Arrival card
- All Indonesia e-card — within 3 days before landing
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Money
- Rupiah (IDR); cards widely accepted, cash for warungs
- Airport
- Ngurah Rai (DPS) — Kuta ≈ 20 min, Ubud 1–1.5 h
- Getting around
- Grab, Gojek or a car with driver
- Temples
- Sarong and sash, shoulders covered
- Time
- UTC+8 (WITA)
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 1194Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Mount Agung”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Nyepi”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Bali”Top things to do in Bali
The best things to do in Bali: sunset at the clifftop temples of Tanah Lot and Uluwatu, the Tegallalang and Jatiluwih rice terraces, Ulun Danu Bratan on its lake, a sunrise hike up Mount Batur, Ubud's Monkey Forest, waterfalls, and the Kelingking cliffs on Nusa Penida. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Ubud | Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Campuhan Ridge | 1–2 days |
|---|---|---|
| Around Ubud | Tegallalang, Tirta Empul, Goa Gajah | 1 day |
| Central highlands | Mount Batur, Ulun Danu Bratan, Jatiluwih | 1–2 days |
| West | Tanah Lot, Taman Ayun | ½ day |
| Bukit | Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Melasti | 1 day |
| East | Lempuyang, Tirta Gangga, Besakih | 1 day |
| Nusa Penida | Kelingking, Broken Beach, Diamond Beach | 1–2 days |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready-made itineraries with the places in a sensible order.
Where to stay in Bali
Where to stay in Bali depends on your trip: Ubud for culture, jungle and rice fields (but no beach); Seminyak for cafés, beach clubs and shopping; Canggu for surf and a young crowd; Uluwatu for cliffs, surf and sunsets; Nusa Dua for calm water and big resorts; Sanur for a quiet beach and boats to Nusa Penida.
| Ubud | Temples, terraces, yoga | No beach, ≈ 1 h to the sea |
|---|---|---|
| Kuta, Legian | First trip, budget | Busy, big waves |
| Seminyak | Cafés, bars, shopping | Traffic |
| Canggu | Surf, cafés, nomads | Black sand |
| Uluwatu | Surf, sunsets, cliffs | Steps down to beaches |
| Nusa Dua | Families, resorts | Far from Ubud |
| Sanur | Quiet, Nusa Penida boats | Shallow at low tide |
Bali airport transfers
Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) is in the south, between Kuta and Jimbaran: Kuta is ≈ 20 minutes away, Seminyak 30–60 minutes, Nusa Dua ≈ 30 minutes and Ubud 1–1.5 hours. Take a pre-booked transfer, a taxi, or Grab or Gojek from the app pick-up zone.
| Transfer, taxi | Kuta, Legian | ≈ 20 min |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer, Grab | Seminyak, Canggu | ≈ 30–60 min |
| Transfer, taxi | Nusa Dua, Jimbaran | ≈ 20–30 min |
| Transfer | Ubud | ≈ 1–1.5 h |
| Transfer | Uluwatu | ≈ 40–60 min |
Best time to visit Bali
The best time to visit Bali is the dry season, April to October: sunny days around 29–31 °C and the clearest water for snorkelling. November to March is the rainy season — short, heavy downpours, usually in the afternoon, and higher humidity, but still warm. July and August are the busiest months.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 31° | 32° | 31° |
| Night | 25° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 25° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 29° |
| Rain | 19 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 16 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–October
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 19 days
Wettest month. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 17 days
Rainy and humid. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 13 days
Less rain; Nyepi often falls now. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 9 days
Dry season begins. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 7 days
Dry — a great month. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 5 days
Dry, cooler nights. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 3 days
Dry — peak season. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 26°
- rain 2 days
Driest month, busy. Warm for swimming, water — about 26°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 3 days
Dry, fewer crowds. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 5 days
Dry and hot. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 10 days
Rains begin. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 16 days
Rainy, holiday crowds. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
Nyepi, the Day of Silence (usually in March), shuts the whole island for 24 hours, airport included — check the date before booking.
Nusa Penida day trip
Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan lie southeast of Bali, 30–60 minutes by fast boat from Sanur. Nusa Penida has the Kelingking, Broken Beach and Diamond Beach viewpoints and manta snorkelling; Lembongan has Devil's Tear and the bridge to Ceningan. On a day trip, stick to one side of Nusa Penida — the roads are slow.
- West Nusa Penida — Kelingking, Broken Beach, Crystal Bay.
- East — Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach.
- By boat — Manta Point for snorkelling with mantas.
- Lembongan — Devil's Tear and Nusa Ceningan.
Bali temple etiquette
Wear a sarong and sash in Bali's temples — they're often lent at the entrance for free or a small fee — and cover your shoulders. Signs at many temples ask women not to enter during menstruation. Don't stand higher than priests, and don't step over the small offerings on the ground.
- Sarong and sash — required, often provided at the gate.
- Offerings — don't step on the canang baskets on the ground.
- Ceremonies — watch from the side and don't block processions.
- Monkeys — at Uluwatu and Ubud, put away glasses and phones.
How much do Bali attractions cost?
Most beaches, markets, the Campuhan Ridge Walk and Ubud Palace by day are free. You pay to enter temples (usually IDR 50,000–75,000), rice terraces, waterfalls and wildlife parks, plus the fast boat to Nusa Penida.
| Saraswati Temple | 45 | 30 min | free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blanco Renaissance Museum | 38 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| Ubud Monkey Forest | 36 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 130,000 |
| Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) | 35 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| Luwak coffee plantations | 34 | 45 min | Free; luwak ≈ IDR 50,000–100,000 |
| Bali Swing | 32 | 2 h | ≈ IDR 300,000–650,000 |
| Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park | 32 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 125,000–150,000 |
| Batuan Temple | 29 | 45 min | donation or ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 |
| Ayung River Rafting | 29 | 3 h | ≈ IDR 400,000–500,000 |
| Tegenungan Waterfall | 29 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 20,000–30,000 |
| Kanto Lampo Waterfall | 29 | 45 min | ≈ IDR 25,000 |
| Tegallalang Rice Terraces | 27 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 15,000–50,000 |
| Tanah Lot Temple | 26 | 1 h 30 min | IDR 75,000 |
| Taman Ayun Temple | 26 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 |
| Gunung Kawi | 25 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| Handara Gate | 25 | 30 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 photo fee |
| Tirta Empul Temple | 24 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 |
| Ulun Danu Batur Temple | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 35,000 |
| Goa Lawah Temple | 24 | 45 min | ≈ IDR 30,000 |
| Bajra Sandhi Monument | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 30,000 |
| Tukad Cepung Waterfall | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 25,000 |
| Tanjung Benoa | 24 | 3 h | beach free; banana ≈ IDR 80,000 |
| Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong | 24 | 1 h | Small fee |
| Tirta Gangga Water Palace | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| Penglipuran Village | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| Karang Boma Cliff | 24 | 45 min | ≈ IDR 10,000–20,000 |
| Uluwatu Temple | 23 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000 |
| Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | 23 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 100,000 |
| Mount Agung | 23 | 10 h | tour ≈ IDR 1,250,000–2,800,000 |
| Taman Ujung Water Palace | 23 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| Besakih Temple | 22 | 2 h | IDR 150,000 |
| Mount Batur | 22 | 5 h | tour ≈ IDR 600,000–1,500,000 |
| Lake Batur | 22 | 1 h 30 min | free; hot springs ≈ IDR 200,000 |
| Kelingking Beach | 22 | 1 h 30 min | Small fee |
| Diamond Beach | 22 | 1 h 30 min | Small fee |
| Atuh Beach | 22 | 1 h 30 min | Small fee |
| Bali Zoo | 22 | 3 h | ≈ IDR 350,000–400,000 |
| Bali Bird Park | 22 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 385,000 |
| Jatiluwih Rice Terraces | 21 | 2 h | ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 |
| Padang Padang Beach | 21 | 2 h | ≈ IDR 15,000 |
| Crystal Bay | 21 | 2 h | Small fee |
| Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven) | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle |
| Sekumpul Waterfall | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 20,000–250,000 |
| Melasti Beach | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 10,000 |
| Pandawa Beach | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 25,000 |
| Geger Beach | 20 | 2 h 30 min | free or ≈ IDR 5,000–10,000 |
| Manta Point | 19 | 3 h | Tour only |
| Tulamben | 19 | 3 h | Small fee |
| West Bali National Park | 16 | 4 h | ≈ IDR 200,000 + guide |
| Menjangan Island | 15 | 5 h | trip ≈ IDR 500,000 |
| Bali Safari Park | 15 | 5 h | From ≈ IDR 650,000 |
Free — 17 places: Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung), Ubud Art Market, Campuhan Ridge Walk, Devil's Tear, Jimbaran Fish Market, Legian Beach, Echo Beach, Nusa Dua Beach and more.
Tips
- Split your stay: a few nights in Ubud and a few on the coast in the south.
- Double the travel time the map suggests — traffic and narrow roads are slow.
- Only ride a scooter with a motorbike licence and a helmet, or your insurance won't cover you.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for Bali?
Most visitors get a visa on arrival or an e-VoA online: IDR 500,000 for 30 days, extendable once for another 30. Some ASEAN nationals enter visa-free. Whether you need one depends on your passport, so check the rules before you travel.
What is the Bali tourist tax?
A one-off levy of IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor, paid online before your trip or at the airport. It's separate from the visa fee.
What are the best things to do in Bali?
Tanah Lot and Uluwatu temples, the Tegallalang rice terraces, Ubud's Monkey Forest, Ulun Danu Bratan, a Mount Batur sunrise and the Kelingking cliffs on Nusa Penida.
When is the best time to visit Bali?
April to October, the dry season. July and August are the busiest; April, May and September are quieter and still dry.
When is the rainy season in Bali?
November to March: short, heavy showers, usually in the afternoon, with mornings often sunny.
Where should I stay in Bali?
Ubud for culture and nature, Seminyak or Canggu for cafés and beaches, Uluwatu for surf and sunsets, Nusa Dua or Sanur with kids.
How do I get from Bali airport to Ubud?
By transfer, taxi, Grab or Gojek — about 35 km and 1–1.5 hours with traffic.
How do I get to Nusa Penida?
By fast boat from Sanur, 30–60 minutes, then by car with driver or on a tour.
What is Nyepi?
The Balinese New Year, a day of silence: nobody may go out, and the airport closes for 24 hours. It usually falls in March.
How many days do you need in Bali?
10–14 days: three in Ubud, three or four in the south, and a day each for the east, the highlands and Nusa Penida.
Is Bali expensive?
Food in local warungs and drivers are cheap; beach clubs, resorts and tours cost closer to European prices.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 1194 — Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System
- Wikipedia, “Bali”; “Mount Agung”; “Nyepi”; Denpasar climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Indonesian immigration — visa on arrival and e-VoA; Bali provincial government — tourist levy
- Ngurah Rai International Airport — official website