City guide · Indonesia
Bali
Volcano temples, jungle pools and surf-side beach clubs
April–October (dry season)
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Indonesian, Balinese (English widely spoken)
Asia
The guides
The best of Bali, by category
Bali packs rice-terraced valleys, clifftop sea temples and a living Hindu culture onto one volcanic island. Mornings start with offerings of flowers on every doorstep, and days end with sunset at a Uluwatu cliff bar or a Canggu beach club.
The shortlist
If you only have time for the best
The single highest-rated picks across every category in Bali.
Hotels
See all 6- 1
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Sayan, Ubud
4.7★2,000+ reviews - 2
AYANA Resort Bali
Jimbaran
4.7★10,000+ reviews - 3
The Legian Seminyak
Seminyak (Petitenget Beach)
4.7★2,000+ reviews
Restaurants
See all 6- 1
Locavore NXT
Ubud
4.6★1,000+ reviews - 2
Mozaic
Sanggingan, Ubud
4.6★1,500+ reviews - 3
Ibu Oka Babi Guling
Ubud (opposite Ubud Palace)
4.5★7,500+ reviews
Bars
See all 6- 1
Rock Bar
Jimbaran (AYANA Resort)
4.5★15,000+ reviews - 2
Potato Head Beach Club
Seminyak (Petitenget)
4.5★25,000+ reviews - 3
Single Fin
Uluwatu (Suluban cliff)
4.5★10,000+ reviews
Attractions
See all 6- 1
Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu)
Uluwatu, Bukit Peninsula
4.6★50,000+ reviews - 2
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Tegallalang, north of Ubud
4.5★50,000+ reviews - 3
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Ubud
4.5★75,000+ reviews
Where to base yourself
Bali neighborhoods, decoded
Pick your area first — it shapes everything else about the trip.
Seminyak
Polished beach-resort glamourBali's most established upscale strip lines Petitenget Beach with designer boutiques, spas, beach clubs and the island's densest restaurant scene. Sunset cocktails on the sand are the daily ritual.
Ubud
Jungle culture and wellness capitalThe island's artistic and spiritual heart sits among rice terraces and river gorges, packed with yoga studios, craft markets and Bali's best restaurants. Base here for temples, waterfalls and volcano treks.
Canggu
Surf, laptops and smoothie bowlsA former rice-field village turned digital-nomad epicentre, with black-sand surf beaches, café culture and big beach clubs like FINNS. Evenings revolve around sunset at Batu Bolong or Berawa.
Uluwatu & the Bukit
Clifftop surf and sunsetsThe limestone peninsula at Bali's southern tip hides white-sand coves like Padang Padang and Bingin beneath world-class surf breaks. Clifftop temples, villas and bars stare straight into the sunset.
Beyond the city
Day trips worth the ride
Nusa Penida
45 min by fast boat from SanurDramatic limestone cliffs at Kelingking Beach, snorkelling with manta rays, and the natural infinity pool at Angel's Billabong make this Bali's most spectacular island escape.
Munduk & the northern lakes
2.5 hr by car from SeminyakCool highland villages, the twin Banyumala waterfalls and the iconic lakeside temple of Ulun Danu Beratan reward a full-day mountain loop.
Sidemen Valley
1.5 hr by car from UbudThe Bali of thirty years ago: rice terraces under Mount Agung, weaving villages and almost no crowds, with the mother temple Besakih nearby.
Eat like a local
What to order in Bali
Babi Guling
Spit-roasted suckling pig stuffed with basa genep spices, served with crackling, lawar and rice.
Try it at: Ibu Oka, Ubud
Bebek Betutu
Duck rubbed in spice paste, wrapped in banana leaf and slow-roasted for many hours until falling apart.
Try it at: Bebek Bengil (Dirty Duck Diner), Ubud
Nasi Campur Bali
A plate of rice surrounded by small portions of meats, vegetables, sambal and peanuts — Bali's everyday feast.
Try it at: Warung Wardani, Denpasar
Sate Lilit
Minced seafood satay blended with grated coconut and spices, grilled wrapped around lemongrass stalks.
Try it at: Jimbaran Bay seafood grills
Good to know
Bali essentials, answered
A week is the sweet spot: three nights around Ubud for culture and jungle, three or four on the coast (Seminyak, Canggu or Uluwatu) for beaches and sunsets. Ten days lets you add Nusa Penida or the quiet east coast.
