Why go to Bali
Bali works because it packs a lot into a small island. In a single week you can watch sunrise from a volcano, eat suckling pig at a roadside warung, swim under a waterfall and end the day at a clifftop temple with surf breaking below. Most of it is a short drive apart, and food and accommodation cost far less than in Europe, Australia or North America.
It also has real drawbacks. Traffic in the south is awful, the most photographed spots fill up by mid-morning, and the Canggu and Seminyak strip can feel like any beach town with a good coffee scene. Pick your bases carefully and Bali rewards you. Try to see everything from one hotel and you will spend half your holiday in a car.
What to see: the places worth your time
- Ubud. The cultural centre, with temples, galleries, dance performances and good restaurants. Walk the Campuhan Ridge path early, before the heat, when the light is soft and you mostly meet joggers.
- Tegallalang rice terraces. Famous and crowded, but still striking. Arrive around 8am, and skip the swings and photo props if they irritate you.
- Tirta Empul. A Hindu water temple near Tampaksiring where locals and visitors take part in a purification ritual. Wear a sarong, dress modestly and treat it as a place of worship, not a backdrop.
- Uluwatu Temple. A sea temple on a limestone cliff at the southern tip. Go late afternoon for the sunset and the Kecak fire dance. Keep your sunglasses in a bag, because the macaques steal them.
- Mount Batur. A pre-dawn hike up an active volcano in the northeast. It takes about two hours up and is manageable for most reasonably fit people. Sunrise above the clouds is the payoff.
- Sekumpul and the north. Around Munduk and Sekumpul you find waterfalls, lakes and cooler air. It is far quieter than the south, and worth a night if you have the time.
- Nusa Penida. A boat ride from Sanur, with dramatic cliffs at Kelingking and Angel's Billabong. The roads are rough and it is better as an overnight stay than a rushed day trip.
- Lempuyang and the east. The "Gates of Heaven" photo is the draw, but the temple complex is large and the east coast is calmer than the south. Expect a long queue for the shot.
- Sidemen valley. Terraced fields, weaving villages and Mount Agung on the horizon. This is the Bali many people think they are getting in Ubud.
- Tanah Lot. A temple on a rock just off the coast west of Canggu. Busy at sunset, but the setting really is remarkable.
Things to do
Surf is the obvious one. Kuta and Canggu suit beginners, and Uluwatu, Padang Padang and Bingin are for people who already know what they are doing. Book a lesson rather than rent a board and hope.
Cooking classes are worth a morning, especially in Ubud, where many start with a market visit. Add a yoga class, a Balinese massage (cheap, so book one more than you think you need), a Kecak or Legong dance performance, or a day of snorkelling off Nusa Lembongan or Amed. If you want something quieter, rent a bicycle in the Ubud countryside and stay off the main road.
How many days, and a suggested route
Five days is the bare minimum. Seven to ten is comfortable, and two weeks lets you add the north or a Gili island. Do not split your time among five bases.
- Days 1-2: Uluwatu or Sanur. Recover from the flight, see the temple at sunset, eat grilled fish at Jimbaran.
- Days 3-5: Ubud. Terraces, Tirta Empul, a cooking class and a day of wandering the surrounding villages.
- Day 6: Mount Batur sunrise, then back to rest or continue north.
- Day 7: Sidemen or the east coast, then back toward the airport.
When to go
The dry season runs from roughly April to October, with sunny days and lower humidity. July and August are the busiest and priciest months, and December to early January is also packed. May, June and September are the sweet spot: good weather, fewer crowds.
The wet season (November to March) brings hot, humid days with heavy afternoon downpours, though mornings are often fine and prices drop. Sea conditions and visibility for snorkelling are worse. One thing to check: Nyepi, the Day of Silence, usually falls in March. The whole island shuts down for 24 hours, including the airport, so do not plan arrivals or departures around it.
Where to stay
- Ubud: best for culture, food and a slower pace. Guesthouses and homestays are cheap, and pool villas in the surrounding rice fields are good value.
- Canggu: surf, cafes, coworking and nightlife. Fun, but congested. Better for younger travellers and remote workers.
- Seminyak: polished, with upmarket restaurants and boutiques. Expensive by Bali standards.
- Uluwatu: cliffs, surf and clifftop resorts. Quieter at night, but you will want transport.
- Sanur: calm, older, good for families and for boats to Nusa Penida. Easy cycling along the seafront.
- Sidemen or Munduk: for peace and scenery, if you do not mind being far from nightlife.
As a rough guide, a hostel bed or basic homestay costs a few tens of dollars a night at most, a good mid-range hotel or private villa runs roughly $50-120, and the top end starts well above that.
What to eat and where
Start with babi guling, spit-roasted suckling pig with crackling and spiced rice. Ibu Oka in Ubud is the famous name, though plenty of local warungs do it well. Nasi campur, rice with small portions of meat, vegetables and sambal, is the everyday lunch and usually the best value on the island.
Also look for bebek betutu (slow-cooked spiced duck, often ordered in advance), sate lilit (minced fish or meat on lemongrass sticks), lawar (a chopped vegetable and coconut mix) and plain, good nasi goreng or mie goreng. In Jimbaran, pick a grilled seafood table on the sand at dusk. It is touristy and the prices have crept up, but it is still a good evening.
Local warungs are cheaper and often better than the restaurants aimed at visitors. Drink bottled or filtered water and avoid ice from unknown sources. Kopi Bali, strong and a little gritty, is worth trying once.
Getting from the airport and getting around
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is in the south, near Kuta. Prepaid airport taxis and hotel transfers are straightforward. Grab and Gojek work in many areas, though some local taxi groups restrict pickups near the terminal and certain towns, so you may have to walk to a designated spot. Allow 30-60 minutes to Seminyak or Uluwatu, and about 1.5 hours or more to Ubud, depending on traffic.
There is no useful public transport for visitors. Your choices are a private driver (the most relaxed option, usually around $40-60 for a full day), ride-hailing apps for short hops, or a scooter. Scooters are cheap and convenient, but traffic is chaotic, roads are uneven and accidents involving visitors are common. You need a licence valid for motorcycles, and insurance may be void without one. If you have not ridden before, Bali is a poor place to start.
Check current rules before you fly. Most visitors need a visa on arrival or an e-visa, and a small tourist levy per person applies to international arrivals.
Rough daily budget
- Budget ($30-50): hostel or homestay, warung meals, scooter or short rides.
- Mid-range ($70-130): private pool villa or good hotel, a mix of cafes and local food, a driver for a day or two.
- Comfortable ($200 and up): boutique resort, nicer restaurants, private tours.
These are broad figures. Activities such as volcano treks, boat trips and surf lessons add up, and prices rise in peak season.
FAQs
How many days do I need in Bali?
Seven is a good number. It lets you see Ubud and the south without constant moving. With ten days, add the north or the east coast.
What is the best month to visit?
May, June or September offer dry weather and smaller crowds than July and August.
Is Bali safe?
Generally yes. The main risks are road accidents, petty theft, drink spiking in busy nightlife areas and rip currents on some beaches. Take sensible precautions.
Do I need to rent a scooter?
No. Many visitors hire a driver for day trips and use apps for short rides. If you do ride, get the right licence and wear a helmet.
Can I drink the tap water?
No. Use bottled or filtered water, including for brushing your teeth if you have a sensitive stomach.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Guide updated 21 Oct 2026