6 Kickass Places to Visit in Bali
Bali might be a small island but every time I visit I’m wowed by the fact that there are so many beautiful and vastly different places to visit in Bali. And the best part is that every one of them is completely different. From rice terraces to tiny islands to turquoise beaches, Bali really does have something for everyone.
During the past two years I’ve had the chance to visit Bali a handful of times. While I haven’t quite managed to see every inch of the island, I have had the opportunity to see a lot. So here is a smattering of the fun and unique places to visit in Bali. And in case you’re wondering where to stay in Bali, you can read my full guide here.
6 Kickass Places to Visit in Bali!
1. Kuta Beach
Kuta is raunchy, gritty and really touristy. Most people hate Kuta Beach but for some reason I’m oddly fascinated by it. There might be a lot of drunken tourists and relentless touts, but if you’re looking for a good time Kuta is bound to show it to you. Kuta is a great place to live it up on any budget. There are loads of excellent international eateries (from Mexican to Lebanese), great hostels and boutique hotels and, of course, lots and lots of pretty Balinese temples.
Kuta has a distinct spring break vibe. And most people who come here have one thing in mind – partying hard. In Kuta it’s perfectly acceptable to walk (or shall I say stumble) down the street before noon with a beer or cocktail in hand. And you’ll no doubt encounter in-your-face touts hawking obscene t-shirts and giant penis bottle openers…you’ll even be asked if you want to be tazed. This is all very normal in Kuta.
Like I said this place is wild. Kuta is all about indulging in everything from booze to sun to shopping. It might not be my scene but I still think it’s a fun place to kill a couple of days. And if you’re down to let loose and get a little crazy, Kuta is great fun. Also, the beach is kinda pretty…
Where I stayed:
There are so many hotels in Kuta but it really is hard to find quality. My new favorite place is called the Lemongrass Cottages. Rooms go for around $50. It’s brand new (as of 2016) and right off of the main drag, Jalan Legian. The rooms are clean and super comfy, the customer service is amazing and it has a nice little pool. They also serve a great breakfast with awesome smoothies. If you’re looking to spend a little less, I really enjoyed my stay at Tanaya Bed & Breakfast. It’s clean and quiet and located right on the main drag, Jalan Legian. A double room goes for $20 and you get a free breakfast. The only drawback is that there’s no pool.
Read more: Is Kuta Worth Visiting?
2. Nusa Dua & Uluwatu
If Kuta Beach is your crazy and irresponsible little sister, then Nusa Dua is your mature and refined older sibling. Nusa Dua is my latest discovery on Bali and I have to say, I was impressed. Nusa Dua is located on the eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula on the very southern tip of Bali. With its fancy resorts it definitely attracts a slightly older and much more upscale crowd. It’s a great place for those who want a bit more of a mellow vacation but are also seeking ample beach time and an infusion of culture.
But even if you’re not staying in Nusa Dua, the area is well worth a visit. There are plenty of fun things to do on the Bukit Peninsula. I highly recommend a visit to the picture-perfect Suluban Beach. It’s not a swimming beach but who cares when it looks like this?
If you surf, head here and if not go here anyway. Just relax with a Bintang and watch the turquoise waves roll in and the monkeys play around on the cliffs. Also make sure to actually go down the stairs to the little cove and check out the caves. I assure you it’s really cool!
Uluwatu Temple is also a must-see if you’re based in Nusa Dua. This 11th century temple is perched on a limestone cliff 70 meters above the ocean. The scenery is remarkable. Plus there are lots and lots of monkeys!
Where I stayed:
There are quite a few mid-range options. I booked a double room at the Hotel Santika Saligita for around $30 a night. It was really nice with an awesome pool and an amazing free buffet breakfast. It was far from any beaches so you’ll have to take taxis or rent a scooter. If you’re looking for a little more of a splurge and a private beach, my friends stayed at the The Novotel Bali Nusa Dua so I had the chance to see it for myself. You can find double rooms for about $90. The room are luxurious and the pools and grounds are incredible. You also have access to a stunning private beach, making this place quite the bargain for Bali!
3. Sanur
When I visited Sanur it pretty much rained for the entire three days I was there. I wasn’t able to do much there but I did like what I saw between rain showers. Sanur is located on a lovely stretch of beach in Southern Bali and it’s an incredibly popular destination for families and retirees.
Yes, it’s nicknamed “snore” but despite the moniker there is plenty to do there, no matter what your age or interests. Sanur might not be as party-centric as Kuta but there is an abundance of laid-back beach bars and great restaurants. There are also some great diving and snorkeling spots offshore, old temples scattered around and, as always, lots of shopping.
Make sure to head down to the beach during sunset when tourists and local families flood the beach. It’s a prime time to do some people watching and indulge in fun Indonesian street snacks like freshly grilled corn with sambal and fried tofu.
Where I stayed:
There are tons of swanky resorts along the beachfront but there is also a range of boutique hotels and guesthouses for those who are more budget minded. I stayed at Prima Cottage ($25 for a double). It was actually pretty nice, traditionally decorated and had a small pool. The only drawback was that it was about a 10-minute walk to the beach.
4. Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan
Although Nusa Lembongan is becoming an increasingly popular destination among backpackers and divers it’s still an incredibly mellow place. To get here just buy a ferry ticket in Sanur. Though it’s only 30 minutes away from the hyper-tourism and mega-resorts of the mainland, Nusa Lembongan is a rustic little island where it’s possible to stay in awesome beach bungalows, find hidden surf spots and snorkel right offshore. This place is magical.
Nusa Lembongan is linked to Nusa Ceningan via a narrow bridge. So it’s possible to explore both islands in the same day. They might be tiny islands but, seriously, they are both stunning and there’s plenty to see and do.
I highly suggest renting a scooter. I wrote a guide to motorbiking Nusa Lembongan but make sure to at least check out Dream Beach, a popular surf spot and a seriously pretty cove. Grab a few beers and watch the sun set at Devil’s Tears, where you’re bound to get wet when the massive waves crash against the cliffs. Other than that just enjoy getting lost.
Where to stay:
Nusa Lembongan is a great place to indulge in a beach bungalow which costs anywhere from $25 to $50 for a double. I recently stayed in a new (as of 2016) hotel called KiBata Boutique Hotel. For $40, I got a picture-perfect bungalow complete with a panoramic view of Bali’s massive volcanoes and Jimbaran Bay (pictured above). There was also a great pool and a complimentary breakfast. I cannot recommend this place more. If you’re on more of a budget, I previously stayed in a wonderful hotel called Dodol ($18 for a double) which was perched on a cliff near Sunset Beach. I stayed for almost a week and you cannot beat the setting. Though you’ll need your own scooter since it’s kind of isolated…definitely part of the draw!
Read more:
- How to Live in Paradise for $18 a Night – Nusa Lembongan
- A Guide to Motorbiking Nusa Lembongan, Bali
- The Rugged Beauty and Laidback Charm of Nusa Lembongan
5. Nusa Penida
Located a mere 10-minute boat ride from Nusa Lembongan is Nusa Penida. Despite its close proximity it honestly feels like it’s a world away from the rest of Bali. Nusa Penida is probably my favorite of all the places to visit in Bali and is a must visit for anyone who’s in search of the “real” Bali. I love this place so much it’s literally one of my favorite islands in Southeast Asia. And that’s saying a lot!
This place oozes authenticity. There is somehow very little tourism here (though word is spreading quickly!) and life is still simple on Nusa Penida. Most islanders make their living harvesting seaweed, villagers still get excited when they see a bule (foreigner) and the island is just plain beautiful.
Again renting a motorbike is the best way to see Nusa Penida. I wrote a more detailed post about motorbiking around Nusa Penida and another guide about things to do on Nusa Penida. But to sum it up, there is a lovely beach and great snorkeling at Crystal Bay. Also check out the natural pools at Temeling Waterfall, the otherworldly landscapes of Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, and the secluded cove at Atuh Beach.
Where to stay:
There are honestly only a handful of hotels on Nusa Penida. I highly recommend the Ring Sameton Inn. I chose it because of its great Tripadvisor reviews and it did not disappoint. It was a steal for a double room at $35 and even had a pool and a complimentary breakfast. They will also arrange motorbike rentals.
Read more:
- 5 Incredible Things to do on Nusa Penida, Bali
- Finding the ‘Real’ Bali on Nusa Penida
- The Dangers of Motorbiking Around Nusa Penida
6. Ubud
I’ve now visited Ubud three times and it is slowly starting to worm its way into my heart. I’m still very ambivalent about downtown Ubud, but there’s no denying why it appeals to so many visitors. As a vegetarian I’m especially fond of the fact that Ubud is a haven for vegans and vegetarians. And if you’re into yoga, temples and art Ubud is going to be right up your alley.
But the real reason I’ve become so fond of Ubud is because of what’s outside of the city center. The Tegalalang Rice Terraces are incredible. I highly recommend getting there early in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowds.
Right down the street from the rice terraces there is a little place where you can sample the world-famous luwak coffee. (If you don’t know the nitty gritty behind how this coffee is produced read this.) I honestly thought we were being pulled into the biggest tourist trap ever, but the tasting was absolutely free and fun. There were so many unique flavors from white chocolate coffee to mangosteen tea to ginseng coffee.
I was also intrigued enough by luwak coffee to spend $5 on a cup…not so bad considering that it’s the most expensive coffee in the world. And I assure you it is delicious despite the disgusting way it’s made. I highly recommend doing a free tasting if you’re visiting the rice terraces.
Where I stayed:
I can’t in good faith recommend the guesthouse I stayed in. It wasn’t awful but it was pretty bad. The owners were so nice I’d feel guilty calling them out publicly. But Ubud is full of great boutique hotels and super budget-friendly homestays. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about The Ayala Resort. You can find double rooms for around $120. It’s a bit of a splurge but I must admit it looks pretty tempting!
If you’re Bali-bound you might also be interested in:
- Which Part of Bali is Right For You?
- How to Rent the Perfect Villa in Bali
- Why I Love Bali, And Why It’s Taken Me So Long
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Well, I see that you have captured some interesting images of Bali. I’m kind of getting curious about it. Is it too expensive for a tourist?
Bali is not the cheapest destination in Southeast Asia but it’s fully possible to travel there on any budget. I was on a budget of $40 a day and doubt I even spent that. You can find great hotels for $20 or dorm beds for much less. Last time I was there with three other people and we paid $50 to hire a driver to take us around the island for 8 hours. Just to give you an idea 🙂 You should go someday. It’s a photographer’s dream.
I’ve been to Bali twice and always enjoyed staying in Ubud, mostly because I’m not at all a beach person! I did really enjoy having a seafood dinner at dusk in Jimbaran Bay, though.
I haven’t been to Jimbaran Bay yet but I hear it’s really pretty. It just goes to show how many different places there are on Bali!
Thanks for this awesome post! We’re going to Bali in a few weeks for the first time, so I’ll definitely use some of your recommendations. I’ve never heard any good things about Kuta until this post, haha, but we may have to go now if only for the delicious food!
How exciting! I hope you guys have a great time. Although I’m sure you will 🙂 Because I’m living in Jakarta, and I’m a little deprived of good international food, I go kind of food crazy when I’m in Kuta! Kuta isn’t my scene at all, but as long as you know what to expect and just enjoy it for what it is you’ll have a good time. Happy travels!
Hi Justine,
i am looking to travel to Indonesia for business and a little of tourism. i am a little nervous as i am travelling alone. looking at Bali/Jakarta. what do you advise?
So, Ubud is finally convincing you a bit now, eh? 🙂 On our last visit to Bali, I really wanted to check out Nusa Lembongan, but hubby won that argument and we ended up in Gili Air (which of course, fine too). But your post, makes me want to go back and check out all the other places you mentioned too, especially Nusa Dua. It looks GORGEOUS! Question though: did any of the places you visited have a good beach for swimming? This is the one thing I always have problems with for Bali. Sometimes I just want beautiful water, I can swim in!!!
I’ll admit that Ubud is growing on me a bit! I love Nusa Lembongan but I have to say I would probably choose to go to the Gilis too. There is something really magical about those islands. That being said, I totally recommend going to Lembongan and Penida – both are stunning and totally different than the Gilis.
Finding good swimming beaches is really important to me too. Honestly, when it comes to Bali I haven’t found any great swimming beaches. I’m sure there are a few around the island. There really is a lot I haven’t seen. I didn’t swim at Nusa Dua because the tide was out. But when the tide comes in it looks like it might be a great beach. Sometimes it boggles my mind how hard it is to find great swimming beaches in SE Asia.
I’m planning my first solo trip to Bali in January so I will definitely keep all these places in mind. Thanks for the comprehensive list!
— Melody // http://www.marevoli.com
You’re going to have a blast Melody. Bali is a great place to travel solo! If you have any questions feel free to ask. Happy travels 🙂
I’m currently traveling throughout Bali. My favorite place thus far are the Gilli islands beautiful water for snorkeling or scuba, relaxed, and no cars.
Yay, you’re finally there. I completely agree about the Gilis. I loved it there so much I stayed two whole weeks. I pretty much had to tear myself away from Gili T in order to explore stuff on Bali. I’m glad you’re having a good time 🙂
I’ve heard great things about Bali especially how it’s incredibly vegan friendly which is always a plus for me. In fact those vegan parfaits and the street food snacks look delicious.
Being a vegetarian and vegan is pretty easy on Bali, especially Ubud. Ubud is full of vegan restaurants which is awesome. The restaurant where those parfaits are from is a super popular vegan restaurant. Their juices are particularly good!
Great post Justine!!! I’ll definitely be sharing
Thanks Paula 🙂
I’m planning on traveling to Bali in December! So I’m super glad that I stumbled upon your blog! Thanks for the advice! 🙂
I’m so excited for you! You’re going to have such a good time. Just let me know if you have any questions about your travels 🙂
I dream of Bali! So happy for you and your travels, love this post!
Thanks Marissa! I dream of Bali too 🙂
Aaah Bali. The coffee plantation near Ubud is where my addiction to coconut coffee started! I loved Amed too, so quiet when I was there and some great snorkeling to be done 🙂
I haven’t made it to Amed yet. It just goes to show how many great places there are to visit in Bali! I hope to get there someday soon.
Another place to visit in Bali is Lovina beach where before sunrise you can rent a boat to catch a glimpse of Dolphins and later enjoy the sunrise
I would love to go to Lovina. It’s definitely on my list. I really hope to get back to Bali very soon!
Hi there, what a great, helpful article! Thanks so much. Just starting some research on our first ever Bali holiday and this was very inspiring.
I’m so glad that it helped Kate! I hope you have a wonderful time in Bali. It’s such an amazing, amazing place 🙂
Going to Bali in a week after a year in Australia. I’ve heard so much of the place from travelers here. Can’t wait to see how beautiful the island is! Thanks for all the tips!
Enjoy your time in Bali! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
Well written.. To add some more places in your list, do visit tanah lot temple and uluwatu…
Great suggestions!
Hey Justine,
Your writing shows how Bali has etched a special place in your heart. My husband and I are on our maiden trip to Bali and in less than 24 hours, it’s impressed us greatly.
Right now we are in Ubud (love this place for food and the culture) and will be heading towards Kuta andNusa Dua.
We have a day to spare in between and kind of torn between Gili, Penida or Lembongan.
If Gili is the place, we can reduce a day from Kuta and visit there.
Otherwise would want to choose between penida or Lembongan. We don’t have any plans to dive or snorkel, but just get our feet wet and feast our eyes and souls.
What’s your recommendation? Thank you for your suggestion and love your article.
Thanks Archie. I’m so excited for you!! Bali is a fantastic place. Hmm, it takes longer to get to the Gilis than either of the Lembongans. So if you only have a day I probably wouldn’t do the Gilis? You can easily spend a day on either Lembongan if you’re going from Sanur. But if you’re just looking for a day trip to a beach it would be less time consuming to just head to one of the beautiful beaches on Nusa Dua. Sulitan is gorgeous. And there are beaches nearby that are good for swimming but I can’t remember the names!!
Hey! I am going to Bali in December and I am so excited! I was wondering how long it takes to get around nusa lembadong and nusa ceningan because I want to see everything but feel i do not have a lot of time!! Also any advice on how to get from nusa lembadong or nusa ceningan to nusa penida because i am staying there before
Exciting!! I’m going back to Bali this week and I’m SO excited 🙂 Getting around Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan is super easy since both islands are small. You can get around Lembongan in a couple hours on a scooter, I think. Nusa Penida is a short boat ride away. I’m guessing 10-20 minutes, depending on where you depart from. I’ve never actually traveled by boat between the two but I imagine it’s easy to find a boat. Penida is much larger. I only had one full day to explore. And while I saw a lot, it wasn’t enough time. Enjoy 🙂
Hi there,
Do you know the name of the coffee plantation near the Ubud rice terraces? Was it Luwak Coffee Plantation?
Hmm, I don’t remember the exact name. Sorry!
I was not so fond of Kuta; it was covered with people and trash. I loved sanur. I also really loved the blue lagoon, Ahmed, and the water palace.
Haha, a lot of people have the same impression of Kuta. The beach does get really, really dirty during trash season… it’s awful. Ah, I’ve never been to Ahmed. I’d love to visit one of these days!
My family is considering taking a trip to Bali in December, around Christmas. This will be our first time to Bali and wondered what sites we had to make sure to take in and the best places to visit/stay? We will be staying for about a 10 days and want to make sure we take in as much as we can.
I’ve written a lot about travel on Bali, so feel free to do a search on my site. But since you’re traveling with a family I’d say Seminyak or Nusa Dua would both be good places to base yourself. Seminyak is a lot more crazy and chaotic and there’s tons to do (shopping, beaches, restaurants). But if you’re looking for a more relaxing time Nusa Dua is more resort oriented and tranquil. It just depends on what you’re looking for. I would highly recommend visiting Uluwatu (and it’s famous temple and Suluban Beach), Tanah Lot is another famous temple, Tegalalang Rice Terraces in Ubud are stunning and perhaps a visit to a volcano (I’ve never done that but I’ve always wanted too!). Hope this helps!
I love Bali!
Would love to go there again 🙂
x
Hi! Sorry I guess this is an older post but I’m headed to Bali in two weeks with a group of six friends. How would you recommend getting around? Do you need a car to travel around Ubud or can you walk? Did you have a tour when visiting the temples and rice fields and coffee harvest or is it better to hire a car and venture for yourself?
Hey! Where did you do your free coffee tasting? At the Tegalalang Rice Terraces? I have been looking for a good place to sample some coffees!
Yes, right down the road from there. I think there is also a proper coffee plantation a few miles up the road.