10 of the Best Areas to Visit in Bali
Have you ever heard of all the amazing travel stories from those visiting Bali? We’ve heard them too! Bali is a destination with so many tourists visiting each year, it can be hard to decide what to do in Bali. A lot of people spend a lot of time in 1 or 2 areas of Bali and don’t get to see all the amazing things this small Island has to offer. If you want to explore Bali in the best way possible, we’ve made a list of 10 of the best areas in Bali for you to visit! This will allow you to decide what areas are best for you to visit and not get stuck in only 1 area. With that being said, let’s get to our list and start exploring the different areas of Bali!
10. Sanur
Sanur is centrally located making it a great location to stay if you want to do a day trip to Ubud, or the rest of East Bali. The boardwalk at the beach in Sanur truly offers a taste of local-life. Especially early in the morning as since it is on the east, it is a great spot to see the sunrise. On Sunday’s many locals go to the beaches with their families to relax and often have a beach picnic or bbq. However, don’t worry about taking your own food if you are checking it out for yourself, there are loads of beachfront cafes, street food stalls and even resorts you could go in and have a meal at.
9. Pemuteran & Menjangan Island
Penmureran is a quiet seaside fishing village in the north of Bali. Pemuteran Bay is one of the hidden gems of Bali. A place with beautiful scenery, coral reefs and an untouched beach far away from the heaps of tourists in the South of Bali. This is the perfect place to see Bali in its true, authentic form.
Pemuteran is ideal for nature excursions, trekking at the National Park, or exploring the sacred temples in the area. It is also a great spot to stay in if you want to explore Menjangan Island and its surrounding reefs. In Bahasa Indonesia, Menjangan translates to ‘deer’ so don’t be surprised if some furry friends come and have lunch beside you! The reefs are beautiful and home to an array of underwater life that you will be able to swim with while the sun shines down on you in the water.
8. Amed
Amed is an area that is actually a group of fishing villages spread over 10 km along the east coast of Bali. It’s a great place where many locals and expats living in Bali’s busier areas go to unwind. Here, you can appreciate the simple joys and life around you.
The area is famous for its world class diving. About 30 minutes driving from Amed is Tulamben, which is home to the USS Liberty shipwreck. This is known as one of the world’s most famous dive sites. The best part is, even if you are a total beginner, you can still do this dive! What an awesome way to be welcomed to the scuba diving world by doing this legendary dive.
7. Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is a haven for family holiday makers or those looking for a more relaxed Bali experience. Nightly cultural performances are often held inside your resort for a glimpse of the Balinese culture. It can feel a bit of an artificial experience, but it is still very entertaining to watch! Nusa Dua can be great if you are looking to relax for a few days after experiencing the rest of the chaos that is Seminyak or Canggu, but more on that later.
6. Kintamani
You may be thinking of Kintamani as a dog breed and if you are, you’re absolutely right! The Kintamani-Bali Dog is a dog native to the island of Bali and originally came from the Kintamani region. Kintamani is full of laid back village vibes, cheeky monkeys, and stunning views of the the peaks of Mount Agung and Mount Batur. The most common thing to do in the area is to climb Mount Batur, which is next to Batur Lake. All of this is surrounded by the high walls of the crater rim, making the view absolutely magnificent for sunrise! Other than hiking, exploring the local villages and cafes can offer you a real taste of what life in Bali is, away from the fancy resorts and western owned restaurants.
5. Uluwatu
Uluwatu hosts some of the most beautiful white-sand and surf beaches in the entire world! Padang Padang, Bingin, Dreamland and Balangan are all world-class surf spots and can be a lot of fun to check out, even if you want to watch the surfers catch some waves. After a day at the beach, check out one of the family-run warungs or surf bars built on the cliffs overlooking the water for some delicious Indonesian food or a cold beer.
Uluwatu also has some amazing resorts and beach clubs in the area that attract a lot of wedding goers, honeymooners and expats living in Canggu or Seminyak, to come down on the weekend and enjoy what is Uluwatu!
Also, if you are in the area, don’t forget to check out Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu). The temple is inhabited by monkeys, who are notorious for stealing guests’ stuff, such as flip-flops, hats, or sunglasses. The monkeys then will turn the items into staff at the temple for fruit or nuts. Although this obviously encourages them to steal more, it can be quite funny to see how smart the monkeys are. There is also a Kecak dance performance daily in the temple at 6pm on the cliff-side during sunset, it is definitely one of the best sites to see in all of Bali.
4. Seminyak
Seminyak is one of the most popular areas to visit in all of Bali, especially for domestic tourists from cities like Jakarta, Surabaya or Bandung. It is full of luxury hotels, shopping and great places to eat. Seminyak also has a very busy nightlife scene. There are some great bars in the area such as La Favela or Motel Mexicola. Many expats live in the area in private villas, about 7-10 minutes away from the action back areas closer to the beach.
Seminyak is also home to some of the best beaches in Bali, such as Seminyak Beach, Petitenget Beach and Double Six Beach. La Plancha is a famous beachside restaurant and bar famous for its colourful umbrellas and is one of the most popular places to watch one of Bali’s famous sunsets.
3. Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is an island southeast of Bali that is most famous for the most instagrammable place in Indonesia, Kelingking Beach. Tourists and locals flock to the 200m high cliff for an epic shot of them standing with the beach far below in the background. The bay below, is nicknamed T-Rex bay because of its shape.
Other than this famous viewpoint, a common way to experience Nusa Penida is to do a single day trip from Bali and travel around the Island by boat, snorkelling. You won’t find any fancy beach clubs or hipster cafes here but Nusa Penida is still well worth the visit. Your instagram page will have lots of content when you return back home.
2. Ubud & Tegallalang
Ubud is one of the most unique places on our list. Here, you will notice fresh mountain air that is a lot cooler than the other southern parts of Bali. There are also lots of waterfalls, excellent food, hotels and villas with great views. You can really sense the culture of Bali here with all the arts and crafts markets as well.
Ubud is the place where many come for relaxation, healing or to get in amazing physical shape. It’s been a haven for yogis for years, and expats travel from far and wide, choosing to settle here over the likes of Seminyak or Canggu, in favour of the peaceful jungle lifestyle. Some of the most popular fitness centres like The Yoga Barn and Academy Fitness are in Ubud and are great options if you are looking for the ultimate fitness holiday.
On day 8 of our 12 day Indonesia Tour, we will visit the famous Monkey Forest Temple! It is home to over 1000 monkeys and this is a chance to get close with them and see them in their natural jungle habitat. Then on day 9, we will head to check out the ultimate Instagram spot – Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Here, you can sip coffee at a cafe overlooking the beautiful rice terraces from above or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try out some zip lining or jungle swings.
1. Canggu
Canggu has grown from a small, hipster surf spot to one of the busiest neighbourhoods in all of Bali. It is home to loads of digital nomads, backpackers and young travelers. Canggu has the best cafes and co-working spaces in Bali making it great for those that want to get some work done whilst on holiday. Some of the best cafes are Milk and Madu, Crate Cafe or Copenhagen Canggu. If you are looking for more vegan or vegetarian options, The Shady Shack is a great choice with their no-meat menu!
Canggu also has a great beachclub scene. You can check out The Lawn, La Brisa or a bit to the south on Berawa Beach where you have the world famous Finns Beach Club. Our Indonesia Tour starts in Canggu with our hotel being right in the middle of all the action, whilst also being walking distance to the beach.
BONUS TIP: East Java and Gili T
If you have more time and wish to check out some of the islands around Bali, you can go diving around its pristine bays of Gili Trawangan. It is also a great place to go if you are looking for a unique nightlife experience.
If you want to venture into East Java, it will feel like stepping into another world! During our Indonesia Tour, we trek Mount Bromo at sunrise and catch some waves at an isolated surf camp in Red Island. If you are keen to learn surfing but looking for something different than Indonesia, check out our 12 day Sri Lanka tour.
If you want to explore the amazing island of Bali with us we promise you will not regret it! We can show you some of the best destinations this island has to offer, and some of the best spots in East Java and Gili Trawangan too! Our 2022 dates are available for booking so don’t wait! Secure your spot with a $200 AUD deposit today.
Feeling inspired about your next adventure? Check out our other trips here.
