Bali is not just an island: it is a state of mind. Here temples cling to cliffs over the ocean, terraced rice paddies defy gravity, and every corner seems designed by some god with good aesthetic taste. But beware, what to see in Bali is not limited to chasing Instagram photos in crowded places. The real magic happens when you stray from the beaten path: when you walk down secret staircases to hidden coves, when a local takes you to his familiar warung, or when the sunrise from a volcano reminds you why traveling changes lives.
This guide is born from updated data, and the harsh reality of the field in 2026. You won't find here the typical «magic top 10» of other blogs. What you will find: excursions in Bali that are worth every rupee, beaches where you can still breathe without swallowing crowds, and tricks for travel to Bali on your own without falling into tourist traps. From what to see south of Bali (epic beaches and temples) to what to see north of Bali (volcanoes and dolphins), this is your map of Bali without filters.
Quick pick: What you can't miss
Before we dive into the details, here are the must-haves for you to design your trip to Bali like a professional:
- 📸 The most instagrammable place: Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida (that T-Rex-shaped cliff you've seen a thousand times).
- 🧘 The most authentic experiencePurify yourself in the sacred waters of Pura Tirta Empul following the local ritual, or eat nasi goreng in a warung in Ubud surrounded by Balinese people.
- 🌊 My secret recommendation: Padang Padang Beach at dawn (before the hordes arrive) or at dawn (before the hordes arrive) or at dawn (before the hordes arrive). Jatiluwih terraces an ordinary Monday with no tourists.
- 🏄 For surfers: Echo Beach in Canggu or the beginner waves south of Kuta Beach.
- 🌋 Epic adventure: Climbing Mount Batur to watch the sunrise (yes, you'll be up at 2 AM, but you'll thank yourself).
🔗 Strategic accommodationDiscover the best areas where to stay in Bali
How to take advantage of this guide
Each place I mention has been selected for three reasons: undisputed natural beauty, cultural or historical significance, and practical value to the traveler. I do not include tourist traps or overrated sites. This guide is organized geographically (map of Bali mental: south for beaches, center for culture, north for epic nature, east for authenticity) so you can group visits and not waste three hours a day in traffic.
I include updated prices in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), actual schedules based on recent experiences, and those insider tips that make the difference between a decent visit and an unforgettable experience. Get ready to meet things to do in Bali beyond the obvious.
1. Temples to see in Bali: Pura Luhur and Pura Tirta
2. The Pura Luhur Experience
Imagine a 11th century Hindu temple clinging to a vertical cliff 70 meters above the Indian Ocean. The salty wind whips your face as the sun descends like an orange fireball over endless waters. In the background, you hear hypnotic chanting: it is the Kecak dance, a hundred shirtless men narrating the Ramayana in a collective trance. Welcome to Pura Luhur Uluwatu, one of the nine directional temples that protect Bali from evil spirits (or so the tradition says).
But beware: the macaques (the monkeys of a lifetime) that inhabit the complex are professional thieves. Glasses, phones, even sandals disappear in seconds if you get lost. Watching them jumping between temples with your iPhone is a surreal experience you'd rather avoid.
Useful Information for your Visit to Pura Lahur
📍 Category: Temple / Culture
🗺️ LocationBukit Peninsula, south end of Bali (Uluwatu)
⏰ Best time: 16:00-18:00 (for Kecak dancing at sunset)
💰 Price~50,000 IDR entrance fee + sarong included (if you don't wear long pants)
🎭 ExtraKecak Dance costs extra, book in advance in high season.
💡 Expert adviceGo Tuesday or Thursday for Kecak with less tourists. Keep everything in a zippered backpack: the monkeys have decades of experience stealing. If one takes something from you, don't chase it: the temple staff has techniques to get it back (basically, bribes with peanuts).
3. The Pura Tirta Experience
Pura Tirta Empul is not a temple to observe: it is to participate. This sacred spring from 962 A.D. is where the Balinese perform purification rituals (melukat) under streams of holy water. You can join the ritual: you wear sarong, enter the rectangular pool, and pass through each of the 13 springs while praying or meditating. The icy water hits your head hard; locals explain that each fountain purifies different aspects (health, love, spiritual protection).
It is intimate, deep, and quite touristy at the same time. But if you go early or on a Monday, you share space mainly with Balinese Hindus in their genuine practice.
Useful Information for your Visit to Pura Tirta
📍 Category: Temple / Spiritual experience
🗺️ Location15 km northeast of Ubud (center of Bali)
⏰ Best time: 07:00-09:00 or Monday (less tourists, more locals)
💰 Price50,000 IDR entrance fee + sarong rental if not carrying
💡 Expert adviceFollow the correct ritual: three laps around the fountain, skipping the two in the center (reserved for funeral ceremonies). Hire a brief local guide (50,000 IDR) to understand the symbolism. Bring change of clothes in a waterproof bag; you will come out soaked. Respect the faithful: it is not a theme park.
👥 Ideal forLandscape photographers, Balinese culture lovers, and anyone who wants to understand why Bali's temples are a World Heritage Site.
4. Tegalalang and Jatiluwih: The two rice fields that to see in Bali
5. The Experience in the rice fields of Bali: Tegalalang
The rice terraces of Tegalalang are pure sacred geometry. Each emerald green level follows the subak cooperative irrigation system (UNESCO Heritage since 2012), a Balinese invention more than a thousand years old. You walk along narrow paths between fields where farmers in conical hats work barefoot in the mud, oblivious to the cameras. The dawn light turns the landscape into a golden watercolor where the only sound is the singing of birds and the dripping of water between terraces.
Yes, there are Instagram swings (for a fee) and giant photo nests. But if you walk 200 meters beyond the main entrance, you find free side trails where you only share space with ducks and dragonflies.
Useful Data for your Visit to Tegalalang
📍 CategoryRice fields / Nature
🗺️ Location: 20 min north of Ubud (center of Bali)
⏰ Best time: 06:00-08:00 (golden light, zero tourists)
💰 Price~15,000 IDR «donation» at the entrance; swings from 100,000 IDR
💡 Expert adviceSide trails are free if you enter through local cafes on the edge of the terraces (buy a 30,000 IDR coffee and get in without paying official entrance fee). Taste authentic Luwak coffee in family farms in the area (the one in tourist stores is usually fake).
👥 Ideal forLandscape photographers, early risers, and travelers seeking to understand traditional Balinese agriculture.
6. The Experience in the rice fields of Bali: Jatiluwih
If Tegalalang is the Instagram version of the rice fields, Jatiluwih is the IMAX version. 600 hectares of endless green terraces declared a World Heritage Site, where the system of subak (9th century cooperative irrigation) still works as it did a thousand years ago. There are no swings or giant nests here: just you, farmers at work, and volcanic mountains as a backdrop.
You can walk or rent a bike on site to ride along trails between fields. On any given Monday you're likely to be alone for miles, listening to wind among rice paddies and the occasional rooster crowing inopportunely. It's involuntary meditation.
Useful Data for your Visit to Jatiluwih
📍 CategoryRice fields / UNESCO Heritage
🗺️ Location: West-central, near Bedugul (1h30 from Ubud)
⏰ Best time: 09:00-15:00 (zenithal light brings out the green); weekdays
💰 PriceIDR ~40,000 entrance fee; bike rental IDR ~50,000
💡 Expert adviceRent a bike at the entrance for a 2-3 hour self-guided tour. Stop at roadside family warungs (homemade nasi campur ~35,000 IDR). Combine with nearby Batukaru temple (quieter than Tanah Lot). Go between April and October when the rice is at its greenest.
👥 Ideal forLandscape photographers, casual cyclists, travelers fleeing from the masses.
🔗 More info: Discover other secret rice fields
7. Beaches of Bali: Padang padang, Echo beach, Amed etc.
8. The Experience in the beaches of Bali: Padang Padang
You go down narrow stairs carved in rock between moss-covered cliffs, and suddenly: bang, 100 meters of perfect white sand embraced by natural walls. The turquoise waters are so clear that you see tropical fish from the shore. When the tide is low, a natural pool forms where you can float looking at the sky like in a luxury spa (but for free).
At noon the hordes and vendors arrive, but from 08:00 to 10:00 it's your zen moment. Surfers catch waves at the reef break on the right side; you just float and breathe.
Useful Data for your Visit to Padang Padang
📍 Category: Beach / Surf
🗺️ LocationBukit Peninsula, what to see south of Bali
⏰ Best time: 08:00-10:00 (post-surfers, pre-tourists)
💰 Price: Free admission; parking ~5,000 IDR
💡 Expert adviceCombine it with Thomas Beach (5 min walk by coastal path), much less crowded. Bring reef-safe sunscreen: there are corals nearby and local authorities are starting to fine harmful chemicals. Stairs are steep; not suitable for disabled.
👥 Ideal forSwimmers, lovers of hidden coves, and early morning photographers.
9. The Experience in the beaches of Bali: Amed
Amed is the anti-Seminyak: an eastern fishing village with black volcanic sand beaches, zero luxury hotels, and seabeds to rival Raja Ampat. Here life revolves around the ocean: you see colorfully painted jukung (traditional boats) leaving at dawn, fishermen repairing nets under palm trees, and women selling fresh fish on the beach.
But the real gem is underwater. Snorkeling from shore in Jemeluk Bay brings you face to face with green turtles, coral gardens, and schools of tropical fish. No boat, no guides, just you and the ocean.
Useful Data for your Visit to Amed
📍 Category: Beach / Snorkeling
🗺️ Location: East coast, near Mount Agung
⏰ Best time: 08:00-11:00 (clearer water, active turtles)
💰 PriceFree admission; snorkel rental ~50,000 IDR
💡 Expert adviceSnorkeling from Jemeluk Beach (north end of Amed) for better visibility and more turtles. Fisherman's warungs serve freshly caught grilled fish (~60,000 IDR with rice and sambal). Amed is a perfect base for diving the USS Liberty wreck at Tulamben (15 min by motorcycle).
👥 Ideal forSnorkelers, divers, travelers looking for authentic Bali.
10. The Experience in the beaches of Bali: Echo Beach
Echo Beach is Canggu in its purest form: golden sand, consistent waves, and that surfer-hipster vibe that defines western Bali. Here the day revolves around the ocean: you get up early for glassy waves, spend midday at beach clubs with wifi, and stay until sunset watching locals perform impossible maneuvers while the sky turns neon pink. Bamboo beach bars serve fresh fish and ice-cold Bintang beer at prices that have yet to reach Seminyak levels.
It's less refined than Double Six, less massive than Kuta, and more authentic than both. You'll see Balinese with homemade boards sharing waves with Australians on $2,000 equipment. That mix is the magic.
Useful Data for your Visit to Echo beach
📍 Category: Beach / Surf
🗺️ Location: Canggu, west of Seminyak
⏰ Best time: 06:00-08:00 for surfing; 17:00-19:00 for sundowners
💰 Price: Free admission; table rental ~75,000 IDR; classes ~400,000 IDR
💡 Expert adviceWatch informal competitions of locals at sunset (Thursdays and Sundays especially). Beach clubs like Echo Beach Club and La Brisa have free sun loungers if you drink (drinks from IDR 50,000). If you are a beginner, Old Man's Beach next door has gentler waves.
👥 Ideal forSurfers of all levels, digital nomads, sunset lovers.
🔗 Complete surfing guide: Best surf spots in Bali
11. Mount Batur: Epic Sunrise from an Active Volcano
The Mount Batur Experience
You wake up at 02:00 AM cursing your existence. But when you reach the top of Mount Batur (1,717m) and see the rising sun painting Lake Batur orange and Agung volcano in the background, it all makes sense. You're standing on hot volcanic rock from an active crater (last eruption: 2000), eating eggs cooked in natural fumaroles, while clouds literally lie beneath your feet. It's the kind of experience that redefines what «travel» means.
The trek is not technical but demanding: 2 hours of climbing in total darkness with headlamp. You arrive exhausted, sweaty and happy. Many tours include bathing in natural hot springs post-descent (non-negotiable after 4 hours of hiking).
Useful Data for your Visit to the Volcano in Bali
📍 CategoryVolcano / Adventure
🗺️ Location: Kintamani, what to see north of Bali
⏰ Best time: Pickup 02:00-03:00 AM for sunrise at the summit
💰 PriceTours from ~600,000 IDR (including guide, breakfast, hot springs)
🌋 Reserve: Sunrise tour on Mt. Batur
💡 Expert adviceHire certified local guides (mandatory since 2023 for safety reasons). Ask for less traveled routes when booking to avoid queues at the top. Bring your own headlamp, layers (it's cold up there), and extra snacks. Apps like Klook have better prices than hotels.
👥 Ideal forAdventurers, landscape photographers, and anyone who wants an epic story.
🔗 Prepare your route: Complete Itinerary Bali 10 days
12.See the waterfalls in Bali: Aling Aling, Sukumpul etc.
The Tegenungan Experience
Tegenungan is the most accessible waterfall near Ubud, which means: popular but beautiful. The water falls 15 meters forming a white curtain over a natural jade-colored pool where you can swim surrounded by tropical vegetation. The roar of the water blocks all external noise; it is forced meditation. If you go up side paths you reach upper viewpoints where you see the waterfall from above with Balinese jungle stretching to the horizon.
Yes, there are vendors and pay swings, but if you focus on the water and greenery, it works. Just avoid midday when tour buses arrive.
Useful Data for your Visit to Tegenungan
📍 Category: Waterfall / Nature
🗺️ Location15 min south of Ubud
⏰ Best time: 07:00-09:00 (soft light, few people)
💰 Price: ~20,000 IDR input
💡 Expert advice: Climb first to the upper viewpoint (steep path on the right before descending to the waterfall) for uncrowded panoramic photos. Wear shoes with grip: the rocks by the water are slippery. Combine with nearby Tibumana or Tukad Cepung for waterfall trilogy in one morning.
👥 Ideal forFamilies, photographers, swimmers looking for refreshment.
🔗 More secret waterfalls: The 10 best waterfalls in Bali
The Git Experience Git
Git Git is that high waterfall (40 meters) hidden in the northern jungle where you still feel like you're discovering something. The 20-minute trail meanders through tropical vegetation, crosses small rivers on wooden bridges, and suddenly: the water curtain thunders down into an emerald pool. You can swim under the spray (the icy water wakes you up like three coffees), climb side rocks, or just sit on mossy rocks soaking up the jungle symphony.
It is less accessible than Tegenungan, what filters tourists of a day. Combine it with nearby Sekumpul (considered the most beautiful of Bali) for a full day of waterfalls.
Useful Facts for your Visit to Git Git
📍 Category: Waterfall / Nature
🗺️ Location: North, near Singaraja (what to see north of Bali)
⏰ Best time: 08:00-11:00 (light filtered by trees, upper pool empty)
💰 Price~20,000 IDR entrance fee; 20 min moderate walk
💡 Expert adviceClimb left side trail (before reaching main waterfall) for less visited upper pool with better photos. Combine with Sekumpul (30 min by motorcycle) for epic trilogy of northern waterfalls. Bring repellent: mosquitoes abound in humid jungle. Not suitable for reduced mobility (uneven stairs).
👥 Ideal forAdventurers, swimmers, nature photographers.
🔗 More waterfalls: The 10 best waterfalls in Bali
14. See Dolphins in Lovina: Sunrise in the Sea of Bali
Dolphin Watching Experience in Bali
Lovina is the quiet northern town where dolphins come to play every early morning. You board a traditional jukung at 06:00 AM, the sky still purple, and sail offshore with dozens of other boats. Suddenly: splash, gray fins slicing the water, dolphins jumping in groups of 5, 10, 20. Some come within meters of the boat, curious. It's wild, genuine, and yes, a bit touristy, but the experience is still magical if you choose the right operator.
Post-dolphin, many tours include snorkeling in nearby reefs with tropical fish. By 10:00 AM you are having breakfast on the beach as if you have lived a parallel life.
Useful Data for your Dolphin Watching in Bali
📍 CategoryMarine experience / Fauna
🗺️ Location: Lovina, north coast (what to see north of Bali)
⏰ Best time: 06:00 AM departure (sunrise at sea)
💰 Price: Tours ~300,000 IDR per boat (max 5-6 persons)
🐬 Reserve: Dolphin watching tour in Bali
💡 Expert adviceChoose small boats (max 5 pax) for less invasive experience. Negotiate directly with fishermen on the beach the evening before for best price (vs. hotels that charge commission). Stay post-tour for reef snorkeling; water is crystal clear in the morning. Have realistic expectations: it's not a guaranteed show, it's wildlife.
👥 Ideal forFamilies, marine animal lovers, early risers.
15. To rent Motorcycle to see Bali: Freedom of Two Wheels
Is it worth seeing Bali by motorcycle?
Renting a motorcycle in Bali is not optional: it is essential. Forget group tours or cabs negotiating prices. With a 125cc scooter ($5-7 per day) you have total freedom: you detour on dirt roads between rice paddies, stop at secret viewpoints, eat at lost warungs where only locals go, and reach beaches that don't appear on maps.
Yes, the traffic in Seminyak is chaotic. But once you get out of the tourist areas, Bali by motorcycle is pure Zen adrenaline: winding roads through mountains, traditional villages where children greet you, and that feeling of living the destination instead of visiting it.
Useful Data to rent a motorcycle in Bali
📍 Category: Adventure experience / Transportation
🗺️ Location: Any warung, hotel or rental shop in Bali
⏰ Best time: Leave early (07:00-09:00) to avoid urban traffic.
💰 Price70,000-100,000 IDR/day + gasoline (15,000 IDR/liter)
💡 Expert adviceYou need international driving license (not negotiable; fines are real). Epic route: Ubud → Bukit via inland (via Jatiluwih and Bedugul) instead of coast, you avoid traffic and see authentic rural Bali. Offline apps like Maps.me or downloaded Google Maps work better than GPS. Always helmet, always insurance (extra ~30,000 IDR/day but worth every rupiah). Negotiate price if you rent +7 days.
👥 Ideal forIndependent travelers, photographers looking for hidden spots, licensed adventurers.
🔗 Plan your route: Itinerary Bali on your own
16. Warungs: Authentic Food at a Local Price
The Eating Experience at Warungs
The warungs are not restaurants: they are the soul of Bali in edible form. Imagine a family-run stall with a tin roof, plastic tables, and a grandmother cooking nasi goreng (fried rice with egg and chicken) in a giant wok over a wood fire. The menu is simple: chicken satay with peanut sauce, babi guling (spicy roast pork), soto ayam (chicken soup with turmeric), and always, always, sambal that makes you cry with happiness and pain.
Eating in warungs is where tourists become travelers. You sit next to locals who ask you where you are from, share a table with motorcycles parked inches away, and discover that the best food in Bali never cost more than $3.
Useful facts for eating in the Warungs
📍 CategoryCultural experience / Food
🗺️ Location: All Bali (Ubud, Canggu, Sidemen, rural villages)
⏰ Best time: 12:00-14:00 (local rush hour, cooler food)
💰 Price~30,000-50,000 IDR per full course (without reserve)
💡 Expert adviceLook for «Warung Makan» posters with Indonesians eating (they never fail). Ask for «pedas» (spicy) if you want authentic Balinese sambal; the tourist version is bland. Try: babi guling at Warung Ibu Oka (Ubud), nasi campur at any warung in Sidemen, and bebek betutu (spiced duck) at Gianyar. Bring cash (most do not accept cards).
👥 Ideal forAdventurous foodies, limited budgets, culturally curious.
17. Horseback Riding in Bali Beaches: Gallop at Sunset
The Horseback Riding Experience in Bali
Galloping across the black volcanic sand as the sun melts into the Indian Ocean is one of those experiences that seems like something out of a perfume ad. But it's real, and it's available on several beaches in southern Bali. You ride Balinese horses (smaller than Western breeds, but strong), you ride along the shore with water up to the horse's ankles, and you feel that animal-nature-sea connection that only happens in moments like this.
The best tours include jogging through pre-beach rice paddies, which adds context: you go from emerald green to golden sand in 30 minutes. You don't need previous experience; guides adapt the pace to your level.
Useful Facts for Horseback Riding in Bali
📍 Category: Beach experience / Adventure
🗺️ Location: Jimbaran, Sanur, Canggu (what to see south of Bali)
⏰ Best time: 17:00-18:30 (golden sunset)
💰 PriceTours from ~500,000 IDR/hour (including guide, equipment)
💡 Expert adviceChoose certified operators in Bukit Peninsula (best for animal welfare; avoid suspiciously cheap offers). Post-ride, many tours include seafood dinner at Jimbaran Bay with tables on the sand (perfect combo). Book online in advance in high season (July-August). If you have equestrian experience, ask for canter instead of slow tourist trot.
🐴 Reserve: Horseback riding tour of the beaches of Bali
👥 Ideal forRomantics, families with children (from 8 years old), sunset photographers.
18. Excursions to the Nusa Islands: Paradises 45 Minutes Away
Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan form a trio of islands southeast of Bali that look like Bali 20 years ago: less developed, wilder, with physics-defying cliffs and beaches where you are still in the minority.
Nusa Penida is the Instagram star (Kelingking we already covered), but it also has Crystal Bay for snorkeling with manta rays, and Angel's Billabong (natural cliff-edge pool where the ocean comes in with the waves). A full day in Nusa Penida requires: fast boat from Sanur (300,000 IDR round trip), local driver (600,000 IDR full day because distances are deceiving), and tolerance to unpaved roads.
Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are more relaxed. You can rent a bike or scooter and tour them in half a day. Dream Beach has perfect white sand with chill beach clubs, the Devil's Tear shows the ocean crashing against rocks with hypnotic violence, and the yellow bridge connects both islands for postcard photos.
Expert adviceIf you only have one day, choose Penida for epic landscapes. If you have two, combine: day 1 Penida (get up early), day 2 Lembongan (relax and snorkeling). Fast boats leave from Sanur Beach every hour from 07:00; book online (Eka Jaya, Marlin Fast Boat) for better price than in port. Bring cash: many places on the islands do not accept cards.
🔗 Organize your excursion: Itinerary Bali 10 days
Kelingking Beach (Nusa Penida): The Dinosaur of Cliffs
The Nusa Penida Experience
Kelingking is that T-Rex-shaped cliff overlooking the ocean that you've seen a thousand times online. The reality surpasses the photo: you're on a lookout over a 200-meter vertical abyss, with impossible turquoise waters below and that rocky promontory that looks like a Jurassic creature. The wind pushes you backwards while you try not to think about the instability of the railings.
Going down to the beach is optional and brutally steep although I personally recommend the experience: 30-40 minutes of almost vertical improvised stairs. Only do it if you are fit and not afraid of heights. Below awaits you deserted white sand and the feeling of being at the end of the world with some pretty powerful waves.
Useful Data for your Visit
📍 Category: Beach / Viewpoint
🗺️ Location: West coast of Nusa Penida (excursion from south Bali)
⏰ Best time: 08:00-10:00 (side light, less people)
💰 Price: Fast boat Sanur-Nusa Penida ~300,000 IDR round trip (online booking); entrance to viewpoint ~10,000 IDR
💡 Expert advice: The 90% of people just see the viewpoint and leave. If you go down, bring minimum 1.5L water per person, grippy sneakers, and accept that you will come up smashed. Combine with Angel's Billabong (natural cliff pool) and Broken Beach on the same day. Hire local driver in Nusa Penida (~600,000 IDR full day) because distances are deceiving.
👥 Ideal forEpic landscape photographers, adventurers with knees of steel.
Updating to January 2026: Work on the Kelingking Beach elevator is currently at a standstill.
🔗 Plan your day in Nusa: Itinerary Bali 10 days
19. Bali's viewpoints: Twin Lake View, Karang Boma and more
The viewpoints of Bali turn geography into poetry. Twin Lake View in Kintamani has panoramic views of the Batur and Abang lakes with volcanoes as a backdrop; you arrive at dawn (06:00-07:00) and see mist rising over mirrored waters while the sun paints everything orange. It is free and accessible by motorcycle (parking 5,000 IDR).
Other essential viewpoints:
- Campuhan Ridge Walk (Ubud): 2 km trail between green hills, ideal early in the morning.
- Wanagiri Hidden Hills: instagram swings and nests overlooking Buyan Lake (~50,000 IDR entrance fee).
- Puncak Sari Viewpoint (Amed): sunsets over Mount Agung from the east.
- Karang Boma (Uluwatu): My favorite with spectacular sunsets over the sea on the cliffs of Ulu.
Expert adviceAccess viewpoints by motorcycle to reach secondary spots post-main viewpoint (the Balinese always have secret trails). Bring snacks and water; many do not have restrooms. Apps like Maps.me show non-tourist viewpoints.
20. Shopping and Outlets to see in Bali
Official Outlets are mainly concentrated in the Kuta area, next to the airport. And the traditional markets offer local handicrafts at negotiable prices:
- Ubud Market (Pasar Seni Ubud): three floors of sarongs, wood carvings, silver jewelry, Balinese paintings. Always bargain (start offering 50% of the initial price).
- Seminyak Villagemall with local brands such as Biasa, Magali Pascal (Balinese design clothes with international prices).
- Gianyar night marketless touristy, street food + cheap handicrafts (Wednesdays and Sundays).
Expert adviceFor outlet shopping, go to Original Surf Outlet (Kuta) with sales on surf brands like Billabong, Rip Curl (~30-50% off). Undoubtedly an obligatory stop every time I go to renew the closet.
Map of Bali: How to Organize your Route
Map of Bali to maximize time:
South (Days 1-3): Airport → Seminyak → Uluwatu → Bukit Beaches → Nusa Penida (day trip).
Center (Days 4-5): Ubud → Tegalalang → Tirta Empul → Waterfalls → Jatiluwih Terraces (day trip).
North (Day 6): Mount Batur sunrise → Lovina dolphins → Git Git waterfall (circular route from Ubud).
East (Day 7): Amed → Snorkel → Eastern temples → Return to the south.
Actual distances (by motorcycle):
- Seminyak-Ubud: 1h (traffic +30min)
- Ubud-Monte Batur: 1h30
- Ubud-Amed: 2h
- South-Nusa Penida: fast boat 45min
Expert advice: Base your accommodation on 2-3 hubs (south + Ubud + north or east option) to avoid changing hotel every day. Apps like Maps.me with offline maps are a life saver in rural areas with no signal.
🔗 Strategic accommodation: Where to stay in Bali
Logistics and Travel Tips
Transportation
- Motorcycle$5-7/day, total freedom. International license required (fines 500,000-1M IDR).
- Grab/GojekTaxi-bike apps, cheap in cities (south, Ubud). They do not work in rural areas.
- Private driver~600,000 IDR/full day (up to 10h). Ideal for day trip to Nusa Penida or long routes.
Money
- CashMany warungs and temples do not accept cards. Take out rupees at bank ATMs (BCA, Mandiri) for better rates. Foreign cards: contact your bank beforehand.
- TipsNot mandatory but appreciated in guides (50,000-100,000 IDR), drivers (100,000 IDR full day).
Best time
- April-OctoberDry season, ideal for beaches and trekking.
- July-AugustTourist peak (book accommodation in advance).
- November-MarchRains (but less tourists and greener landscapes).
Security
- WaterDo not drink from the tap (use refillable bottles with filter to avoid plastic).
- StingsRepellent with DEET in jungle areas; dengue exists but risk is low.
- ScamsAirport cabs without taximeter (use Grab), «policemen» asking for fines (ask to go to real police station), money changers in the street (use official ATMs).
🔗 Prepare your trip: Complete Itinerary Bali 10 days
Respect and Etiquette: Responsible Tourism
The island of Bali is Hindu and traditional under the tourist surface. Respect and you will be respected:
In temples
- Mandatory Sarong (rent in tickets ~20,000 IDR or buy one).
- Do not climb sacred structures, do not point feet to altars.
- MenstruationSome temples prohibit entry (ask beforehand).
- Silence in ceremoniesIf there is a ritual, observe without interrupting.
Sustainability
- PlasticReusable bottle, rejects straws.
- CoralsReef-safe sunscreen on snorkeling beaches (Amed, Nusa).
- Voluntourism: Avoid «orphanages» that exploit children for donations.
Local interaction
- Dribblingexpected in markets (but don't be aggressive).
- PhotosAsk before photographing ceremonies or farmers at work.
- Tipping childrenDon't give money (creates begging); donate to legitimate schools.
Expert advice: Learn three phrases: terima kasih (thank you), permit (permission), sama-sama (you're welcome). The locals smile twice as much.
Conclusion: What to See in Bali is Just the Beginning
What to see in Bali is not a list of 15 items that you cross off as homework: it's an invitation to lose control of the itinerary. Yes, go to Uluwatu for that temple on the cliff. Yes, climb Mount Batur even if your alarm clock screams 02:00. But also detour down that dirt road you saw from the motorcycle, try that nameless warung full of locals, and stay an hour longer at that waterfall listening to nothing.
Bali works when you stop chasing perfect photos and start living imperfect moments. When you share a table with a farmer who tells you about the rice blessing ritual. A monkey steals your glasses in Uluwatu and you end up laughing instead of getting pissed off. The sunrise from a volcano reminds you that some places cannot be photographed: only experienced.
Traveling to Bali on your own in 2026 is still possible, affordable, and profoundly transformative if you do it with respect, curiosity, and that balance between planning and spontaneity. So rent that bike, get off the beaten tourist track, and discover things to do in Bali beyond the surface.
The rest awaits you in nameless temples, uncrowded beaches, and conversations you never planned. Bon voyage, traveler.
