Bali is a small island with a long list of reasons to visit, which makes planning harder than it should be, and a good list of things to do in Bali has to be sorted by area.
The best things to do in Bali are spread across several regions, each with its own pace: temples and rice terraces in the center, surf and sunsets in the south, volcano hikes and waterfalls in the north and east, and small islands off the coast.
This guide groups twelve things to do in Bali by region, adds distances and timing from travel guides, and flags what the sources do not cover. Prices, opening hours and entry rules change, so confirm them before you book.
Key Takeaways
- Rough Guides and other travel guides point to April or May through September or October as the dry season, the usual best time for most activities.
- Uluwatu Temple, Tanah Lot and Tirta Empul are three of the temples most often recommended, and each has its own access rules.
- The Mount Batur sunrise hike starts in the dark around 2 to 3 am and usually needs a local guide booked in advance.
- Monkey sites such as the Ubud Monkey Forest and Uluwatu need extra care with food, phones and loose items.
- The guides reviewed do not agree on every detail, and none covers current entry fees, so check official sources before you travel.
How to Plan Your Things to Do in Bali
The best way to approach things to do in Bali is by region, not by wish list.
Most visitors base themselves in one or two areas when choosing things to do in Bali, because traffic on the island can make long transfers slow. A sensible plan is to pick a base in the south (Seminyak, Canggu or Uluwatu) and one in Ubud, then take day trips.
Rough Guides, in its list of things to do in Bali, gives travel times from Ubud or Seminyak for most of its picks, which is helpful when you are deciding what fits in a day.
On timing, Expedia’s Bali tourism guide says temperatures stay around 30 degrees Celsius all year and puts the dry season from April to September, with heavy rain and storms from October to March. Rough Guides gives roughly April to October, and another guide says May to October.
The ranges overlap in the middle of the year, so the safest summary is that the dry months run from about May to September. The gu
Central Bali: Culture, Terraces and Temples
1. Tegalalang Rice Terraces
The terraced fields near Ubud are among the most photographed places on the island. Rough Guides says they sit 15 to 20 minutes from central Ubud and recommends going early in the morning for fewer crowds and softer light. Allow one to two hours, according to Surf Indonesia’s regional guide.
2. Ubud Monkey Forest
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is home to long-tailed macaques and old temple ruins, within walking distance of central Ubud. Rough Guides advises not bringing food, securing loose items and visiting between 9 and 11 am, when the monkeys are calmer. Follow the posted guidelines at the entrance.
3. Tirta Empul
This holy spring temple near Tampaksiring is where visitors can join a purification ritual, bathing under fountains in a set order. Rough Guides says to bring a sarong and a change of clothes, and to go early. It is 30 to 45 minutes from Ubud.
4. Campuhan Ridge Walk and Ubud Itself
Surf Indonesia lists the free Campuhan Ridge Walk, about 30 minutes one way, with early morning and sunset as the best times. Ubud is also the island’s cultural center, with an art market, yoga studios and cooking classes. Rough Guides notes that cooking classes often start with a market visit and cover dishes such as satay, sambal and gado-gado.
South Bali: Cliffs, Beaches and Sunsets
5. Uluwatu Temple
Pura Luhur Uluwatu is a sea temple on a cliff about 70 meters above the ocean. Rough Guides says it is known for sunsets and a nightly Kecak fire dance, and suggests arriving around 4 to 6 pm.
Expedia gives a similar performance time of about 6 to 7 pm and warns that public transport does not serve the temple, so arrange a taxi. Watch for monkeys that grab snacks and phones.
6. Tanah Lot
This sea temple sits on a rocky outcrop off the coast and seems to float at high tide. Rough Guides says only worshippers may enter the temple itself, but the grounds are open to all, and sunset is crowded. It is about 45 minutes from Seminyak.
7. Uluwatu Beach Hopping
Rough Guides names Melasti Beach for its cliffs, Padang Padang as a surf spot and Bingin Beach for a bohemian feel, 45 minutes to an hour from Seminyak. Start early to find parking. For beginners, Surf Indonesia describes Kuta Beach as well suited to learning to surf, with steady waves and a sand bottom.
8. Seminyak and Canggu
Seminyak Beach is a long stretch of golden sand with beach clubs and restaurants, 20 to 30 minutes from the airport. Canggu, according to Rough Guides, is known for yoga studios, though it has no public transport, so you will need a scooter or a private transfer.
North and East Bali: Volcanoes, Waterfalls and Diving
9. Mount Batur Sunrise Hike
The hike is described as moderately challenging and takes roughly two hours up, starting around 2 to 3 am. Rough Guides says guided hikes often include flashlights and breakfast, and that the base is 1.5 to 2 hours from Ubud.
Surf Indonesia recommends booking ahead. Mount Batur is an active volcano, so go with a local guide.
10. North Bali Waterfalls
Sekumpul is the highlight in the north, with cascades up to 80 meters, reached by a moderate hike with steps and river crossings, according to Rough Guides. Gitgit and Aling-Aling are nearby.
Go in the morning during the dry months, because paths get slippery after rain. It is 2.5 to 3 hours from Ubud by private driver.
11. Diving and Snorkeling
The USAT Liberty shipwreck at Tulamben, a World War II cargo ship sunk just offshore, suits all skill levels, and Rough Guides expects turtles and barracudas. Surf Indonesia puts Amed as another diving base. For snorkeling, Rough Guides recommends Menjangan Island in West Bali National Park, a 4 to 5 hour drive from Ubud or Denpasar.
Island Escapes
12. Nusa Penida and the Nusa Islands
Surf Indonesia describes Nusa Penida’s cliffs, Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong and manta ray snorkeling, and advises at least a full day and an early start. Rough Guides says the Kelingking trail down is steep and challenging, and that May to September is the best time. Fast boat transfers should be booked in advance.
Sample Itineraries for Your Things to Do in Bali
These are suggestions drawn from the travel times in the guides, not tested schedules.
- Three days: Day one in Ubud (Monkey Forest, Campuhan Ridge Walk, a cooking class), day two Tegalalang and Tirta Empul, day three Uluwatu Temple for sunset.
- Five days: Add the Mount Batur sunrise hike and a beach day in Seminyak or Uluwatu.
- Seven days: Add a day trip to Nusa Penida and a waterfall day in the north.
Keep a rest day between early starts such as the Batur hike, and remember that most of the things to do in Bali involve early mornings, since the guides repeatedly recommend arriving before the crowds and the heat. Distances look short on the map, but the guides suggest allowing generous transfer times.
Practical Tips and Cautions for Things to Do in Bali
Several tips repeat across the guides. Carry cash for entrance fees and small purchases. Respect temple rules, which the guides describe only briefly, so check current etiquette at each site.
At monkey sites, keep food out of sight and secure phones, sunglasses and bags. Expedia advises using metered taxis, with Bluebird named as a well-documented option, and being wary of unmetered drivers and people who approach you on the street. Haggling is expected at Ubud’s markets, according to Surf Indonesia.
Because the guides do not cover health, insurance or entry requirements, check your government’s travel advice and Indonesia’s official entry rules before booking. For ideas on a similar Southeast Asian city trip, see BitComfy’s guide to things to do in Bangkok, and for a longer regional view, its guide to places to visit in Dubai.
What These Sources Do Not Tell You
The guides reviewed are commercial travel sites, not Indonesia’s tourism authority. Their distances are estimates, their dry season dates differ, and one of them has an inconsistent title and introduction.
None gives current ticket prices or opening hours. Treat this list of things to do in Bali as a planning outline, then confirm details with the venue or your accommodation.
FAQs
What are the best things to do in Bali for first-time visitors?
Most guides suggest a mix: temples such as Uluwatu or Tirta Empul, the Tegalalang rice terraces, a beach day and one active outing such as the Mount Batur sunrise hike.
When is the best time to go?
The guides reviewed point to the dry season, from roughly April or May to September or October. Rain and storms are heavier from October to March.
How many days do I need?
Three days covers the highlights around Ubud and Uluwatu, and a week allows day trips to the north and to Nusa Penida.
Do I need a guide for Mount Batur?
Surf Indonesia and Rough Guides both describe a guided, pre-booked sunrise hike that starts in the dark.
Is it safe to feed the monkeys?
The guides advise against bringing food to monkey sites, and Rough Guides advises securing loose items.
Conclusion
The best things to do in Bali are easy to sort once you group them by region: culture and rice terraces around Ubud, cliffs and sunsets in the south, volcano and waterfalls in the north and east, and island escapes by boat.
Plan around the dry months, start early at popular sites, protect your belongings around monkeys, and book hikes and boat transfers in advance.
Travel guides disagree on details, so check current fees, rules and weather before you go. Your next step is to choose a base for each part of your stay and pick two or three things to do in Bali for each day.
