38 Best Places to Visit in Bali, Area by Area (2026)

If you are short on time, here are the top 5 places to visit in Bali:

1. Uluwatu Temple, for the cliff-top sunset and the Kecak fire dance

2. Tanah Lot Temple, the sea temple on a rock

3. Ubud Monkey Forest with the Tegallalang Rice Terraces on the same morning

4. Mount Batur and Lake Batur, for a sunrise trek above the crater lake

5. Nusa Penida, for Kelingking Beach and its T-Rex shaped cliff

The first four are in most Bali tour packages and are ideal for first-time travellers. Nusa Penida needs a full day of its own.

Places to Visit in Bali at a Glance

All 38 places in one table. Fees are for a foreign adult in October 2026, converted at about IDR 185 to Rs 1. Drive times assume normal daytime traffic from Kuta or Seminyak. Each place name in the sections below links to its own entry-fee, timings and how-to-reach page.

Where to Go in Bali: The Areas Explained

Bali is small on a map but slow on the road. Thirty kilometres can take an hour and a half once you leave the south. The quickest way to plan is by area, doing one area per day, which is how this guide is laid out.

First trip and five days or fewer? Stay in two bases, Seminyak or Nusa Dua for the coast and Ubud for the interior, and do the north and east as long day trips.

South Bali and the Bukit Peninsula

The Bukit is the limestone knob at the southern tip of the island. It has the clearest water in Bali, the big cliff temples and the five-star strip of Nusa Dua, and it sits only 20 to 45 minutes from the airport.

Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu Temple, or Pura Luhur Uluwatu, is one of the best places to visit in Bali for first-time travellers. The temple is built on a cliff about 70 m above the Indian Ocean, one of the six sanctuaries Balinese Hindus consider the pillars of the island. Come at 4:30 pm, walk the cliff path south of the temple for the view back along the headland, then take your seat for the Kecak fire dance, which starts around 6 pm as the sun goes down. Entry is IDR 50,000 (about Rs 270) with a sarong included. The Kecak is a separate ticket of around IDR 150,000 that sells out in peak months. Hold on to sunglasses and phones, because the macaques here snatch them and trade them back for fruit.

Uluwatu Temple entry fee · Uluwatu Temple timings · how to reach Uluwatu Temple

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park

The Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue shows Lord Vishnu riding Garuda, and at 121 m including its base it is taller than the Statue of Liberty. Indian families tend to love it for the connection to the Ramayana and Mahabharata stories carved into the plazas. The park has open-air dance shows through the day and a lift to the statue's viewing deck. Tickets start at IDR 125,000 (about Rs 675). Go late afternoon, when the limestone plazas have cooled down.

GWK entry fee · GWK timings · how to reach GWK

Pandawa Beach

The road to Pandawa Beach is cut straight through a limestone cliff, with statues of the five Pandava brothers set into niches in the rock. The beach below is wide and sheltered, good for swimming and for hiring a canoe. Entry is about IDR 15,000. It is quieter than Padang Padang and a better pick if you have children.

Pandawa Beach entry fee · Pandawa Beach timings · how to reach Pandawa Beach

Padang Padang Beach

Padang Padang is a small cove reached down a staircase through a gap in the rocks. The water is clear and turquoise, and the reef break out front is one of Bali's famous surf spots. It fills up by 11 am, so arrive early. Entry is about IDR 15,000.

Jimbaran Beach

Jimbaran Beach is best known for evening visits. Fresh seafood dinners are served on the beach at tables set out on the sand, with the planes of Bali airport coming in low over the bay at sunset. Pick your fish by weight from the ice counters and agree the price before it goes on the grill. Vegetarians can ask for grilled corn, rice and sambal sides.

Jimbaran Beach entry fee · Jimbaran Beach timings · how to reach Jimbaran Beach

Nusa Dua Beach

Nusa Dua has calm water and organised beachfront areas. It is one of the safest places to visit in Bali for families. A reef keeps the lagoon flat, a paved promenade links the resorts, and Geger Beach at the southern end is open to non-guests. It is also good for senior travellers. Tanjung Benoa, just north, is where most parasailing and banana-boat rides run.

Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur and Denpasar

This is where most first-timers stay. The west coast runs from busy Kuta through Seminyak to surfy Canggu, while Sanur faces east and the sunrise.

Kuta Beach

Kuta Beach is known for surfing, sunsets and beachside cafes, and it is the easiest place in Bali to learn to surf. Two-hour beginner lessons run from the soft-sand break in front of Beachwalk mall. The beach is lively and active. It is also the busiest, and on a strong swell the lifeguards close sections, so swim between the flags. Legian Beach continues to the north. More in our guide to places to visit in Kuta.

Kuta Beach entry fee · Kuta Beach timings · how to reach Kuta Beach

Seminyak Beach

Seminyak Beach is the stylish end of the coast, popular among couples and leisure travellers. The area has beach clubs and cafes, and shopping options are easy to find along Jalan Kayu Aya. It has a more relaxed feel than Kuta. Bean bags come out on the sand around 5 pm for sunset. See more places to visit in Seminyak and our guide to nightlife in Bali.

Seminyak Beach entry fee · Seminyak Beach timings · how to reach Seminyak Beach

Canggu

Canggu is a string of black-sand surf beaches, Batu Bolong and Echo Beach being the best known, backed by cafes, co-working spaces and the last rice fields on this stretch of coast. Come for an evening at Echo Beach with the surfers rather than for swimming, because the currents are strong. It is 30 to 45 minutes from Seminyak in traffic.

Sanur Beach

Sanur Beach faces east, so this is the place for sunrise. A reef keeps the water shallow and calm, and a 5 km paved beach path runs past old-style hotels and warungs. It is easy with children and seniors. Sanur is also the main fast-boat harbour for Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.

Sanur Beach entry fee · Sanur Beach timings · how to reach Sanur Beach

Bajra Sandhi Monument, Denpasar

The Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar honours the Balinese struggle for independence. Its diorama museum tells the island's history in 33 scenes, and the spiral staircase leads to a 360 degree view over the city. It makes a good hour on a rainy afternoon. Entry is about IDR 50,000.

Bajra Sandhi entry fee · Bajra Sandhi timings · how to reach Bajra Sandhi

Waterbom Bali

Waterbom Bali in Kuta is a large water park with numerous slides, pools and water attractions suitable for all age groups. Teenagers head for the near-vertical Climax slide, while younger children get their own splash zone. Adult day passes start at around IDR 600,000 and are cheaper when booked online. Arrive at opening to get a shaded lounger.

Waterbom entry fee · Waterbom timings · how to reach Waterbom

Ubud and Central Bali

Ubud is the cultural heart of the island and the best base for sightseeing. Rice terraces, water temples and waterfalls are all 15 to 45 minutes from the town centre. For a longer Ubud list, see our guide to places to visit in Ubud.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

The Ubud Monkey Forest, officially the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, is home to more than 1,200 long-tailed macaques living around three 14th-century temples. Walking paths are safe and well maintained, and the mossy dragon bridge over the ravine is the photo everyone takes. The official ticket is IDR 130,000 for adults and IDR 100,000 for children, per the Monkey Forest website. It is open 9 am to 6 pm, last entry 5 pm. Carry nothing loose and no food, and do not look the monkeys in the eye. Our Ubud Monkey Forest guide has more on handling them.

Monkey Forest entry fee · Monkey Forest timings · how to reach Monkey Forest

Ubud Palace and the Ubud Art Market

Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) was the home of Ubud's royal family, who still live in parts of it. The front courtyards are free to walk, and the evening Legong dance in the courtyard is the most atmospheric show in town. The Ubud Art Market across the road sells sarongs, baskets and wood carvings. Start bargaining at about half the first price.

Ubud Palace entry fee · Ubud Palace timings · how to reach Ubud Palace

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

These traditional stepped rice fields, 20 minutes north of Ubud, show the farming culture of Bali. Early morning is the best time to visit, before 8 am, when the light is soft and the tour buses have not arrived. Expect to pay an entrance fee of IDR 25,000 to 50,000 depending on which path you enter by, plus small donations to farmers along the trail. The jungle swings and nest photo frames are paid extras. Small cafes along the road offer views of the fields.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

This free 2 km path runs along a grassy ridge between two river valleys, starting behind the Warwick Ibah hotel near central Ubud. Walk it at 6:30 am and you will have it mostly to yourself, with Mount Agung on the horizon on clear days. It is flat enough for children, but carry water because there is no shade.

Tirta Empul Temple

Tirta Empul is a significant spiritual site known for its holy spring water used for purification rituals. Devotees move along a row of carved spouts in the bathing pool, praying under each one, and visitors can join under guidance. The temple has a strict dress code. All visitors must wear a sarong and sash, which are lent at the gate with your ticket. If you join the purification ritual in the pools, you rent a separate bathing sarong. Entry is about IDR 50,000. Go at 8 am, before the groups.

Tirta Empul entry fee · Tirta Empul timings · how to reach Tirta Empul

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)

Goa Gajah, also known as the Elephant Cave, is an ancient temple site near Ubud dating back to the 11th century. You step into the cave through the carved open mouth of a demon. Inside is a small Ganesha statue, and below the cave are bathing pools and the remains of a Buddhist shrine by a stream. Entry is about IDR 50,000. It takes an hour and pairs well with Tirta Empul.

Goa Gajah entry fee · Goa Gajah timings · how to reach Goa Gajah

Tegenungan Waterfall

Tegenungan Waterfall is the easiest big waterfall to reach from Ubud or the south, about 20 minutes from Ubud. It takes around 170 steps to reach the pool. It is suitable for families and good for photos and short visits. Entry is about IDR 20,000. Swimming is allowed in the shallows on calm days. More options in our waterfalls near Ubud guide.

Tegenungan Waterfall entry fee · Tegenungan Waterfall timings · how to reach Tegenungan Waterfall

Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Tukad Cepung drops into a narrow rock canyon, and on a sunny morning between about 9 and 11 am, beams of light shine down through the gap above it. It is a short walk and a scramble through a stream, so wear sandals that grip. Entry is about IDR 20,000.

Neka Art Museum and Museum Puri Lukisan

Neka Art Museum, opened in 1982 by the collector Suteja Neka, traces Balinese painting from the old Kamasan style to modern work. Museum Puri Lukisan, one of the oldest art museums in Bali, sits in a garden in central Ubud. Either is a good choice for a rainy afternoon. Tickets are about IDR 85,000 to 100,000 each.

Neka Art Museum entry fee · Neka Art Museum timings · how to reach Neka Art Museum

Bali Safari and Marine Park

Bali Safari and Marine Park, an hour from Kuta, lets you see tigers, Komodo dragons, elephants and orangutans from a safari tram, with animal shows through the day. Packages for foreign adults start at around IDR 800,000. Bali Zoo and the Bali Bird Park in the same district suit a shorter, cheaper half-day with small children. See Bali Bird Park.

Bali Safari entry fee · Bali Safari timings · how to reach Bali Safari

Kintamani, Mount Batur and Besakih

Mount Batur and Lake Batur

Mount Batur is an active volcano of 1,717 m, and the sunrise trek is Bali's best-known adventure. Pickups from Ubud are around 2 am, the climb takes about two hours by headtorch, and from the top you watch the sun come up behind Mount Agung and Mount Rinjani on Lombok. A registered local guide is required. Group treks cost about IDR 600,000 to 800,000 per person, usually with transfers and breakfast. Richa Sahu from Delhi, who did an 11-day Bali trip with us, said the early-morning Mount Batur jeep track was the best part of it. The jeep tour is a good option if you would rather not climb. Pura Ulun Danu Batur on the crater rim is worth a stop on the way back.

Mount Batur trekking · Pura Ulun Danu Batur entry fee · Pura Ulun Danu Batur timings · how to reach Pura Ulun Danu Batur

Besakih: Bali's Mother Temple

Besakih Temple is called the Mother Temple of Bali because of its spiritual significance. It is located on the slopes of Mount Agung, the highest volcano in Bali, at about 1,000 m. The temple complex is vast and includes more than 80 individual temples climbing the mountainside in terraces. It hosts the island's biggest Hindu ceremonies. The entry fee for foreign adults is IDR 150,000, which includes a local guide and the shuttle from the car park, so ignore anyone at the gate who offers to guide you for an extra fee. Come on a clear morning for the view of Agung.

Besakih Temple entry fee · Besakih Temple timings · how to reach Besakih Temple · Mount Agung sunrise trek

Tabanan and West Bali

Tanah Lot Temple

Tanah Lot is one of the most photographed places to visit in Bali. The temple stands on a rock in the sea and is surrounded by water at high tide. At low tide you can walk across to the holy spring at its base and receive a blessing from the priests. It is best visited in the late afternoon. Get there by 5 pm, take your sunset photo from the cliff to the north, and allow extra time to leave because the road out jams after dark. Entry is IDR 75,000 for foreign adults and IDR 40,000 for children, paid in cash at the gate.

Tanah Lot entry fee · Tanah Lot timings · how to reach Tanah Lot

Taman Ayun Temple

Taman Ayun in Mengwi was the royal temple of the Mengwi kingdom, built in 1634. It is surrounded by a moat, and its tiered meru shrines rise above clipped lawns. It is part of the UNESCO listing for Bali's subak irrigation landscape. Visitors walk around the inner courtyard rather than into it, so it takes about an hour. Entry is about IDR 50,000. It sits on the way from the south to Bedugul, so combine it with Ulun Danu Beratan.

Taman Ayun Temple entry fee · Taman Ayun Temple timings · how to reach Taman Ayun Temple

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Jatiluwih is the larger, quieter and UNESCO-listed version of Tegallalang, more than 600 hectares of terraces on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, still watered by the thousand-year-old subak system. Marked walking loops run from 1 to 4 hours. Entry is about IDR 50,000. It is two hours from Kuta, so pair it with Tanah Lot or Bedugul.

Bedugul, Munduk and North Bali

The central highlands sit at 1,200 m, cool enough that you will want a light jacket in the morning. Beyond them the road drops to the quiet north coast.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Ulun Danu Beratan stands on the shore of Lake Beratan in Bedugul, and its 11-tier shrine appears to float when the water is high. Morning mist over the lake is common, so come before 10 am. Entry is IDR 75,000 for foreign adults. The Candikuning market on the way sells strawberries grown in the hills.

Ulun Danu Beratan entry fee · Ulun Danu Beratan timings · how to reach Ulun Danu Beratan

Lake Tamblingan and Munduk Village

Lake Tamblingan is the quietest of the three crater lakes, ringed by forest. Local guides paddle you across in dugout canoes to small temples on the shore. Munduk Village, just below, enjoys a cooler climate and is known for its coffee and clove plantations and waterfall trails. It suits slow travel, and it is worth a night if you are heading to the north coast.

Lake Tamblingan entry fee · Lake Tamblingan timings · how to reach Lake Tamblingan

Nungnung Waterfall

Nungnung Waterfall crashes down about 50 m into a misty pool in the hills north of Ubud. Getting there takes around 500 steps down, and you will feel them on the way back up. Entry is about IDR 20,000. It is far less crowded than Tegenungan.

Nungnung Waterfall entry fee · Nungnung Waterfall timings · how to reach Nungnung Waterfall

Sekumpul and Gitgit Waterfalls

Sekumpul Waterfall is a cluster of seven falls in a jungle valley, and many travellers rate it the finest in Bali. The walk down and the river crossing take about three hours return, and the village asks visitors to go with a local guide. Gitgit Waterfall, 40 minutes away near the Singaraja road, is a 40 m drop reached by an easy path, the better choice for children and seniors. Entry to each is IDR 20,000 to 50,000.

Gitgit Waterfall entry fee · Gitgit Waterfall timings · how to reach Gitgit Waterfall

Lovina

Lovina is a calm, black-sand stretch on the north coast. Boats leave at 6 am to look for wild dolphins, for about IDR 150,000 per person. Dozens of boats chase the same few pods, so ask your skipper to hang back. Lovina is also the base for snorkelling and diving at Menjangan Island in West Bali National Park.

East Bali

East Bali is the island's quiet side: temples on volcano slopes, black-sand fishing villages and terraced valleys with far fewer people.

Pura Lempuyang (Gates of Heaven)

Pura Lempuyang Luhur is the top temple of one of Bali's oldest temple complexes. The split gate framing Mount Agung, the most photographed spot on the island, belongs to the lower temple, Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang. The famous mirror reflection in the photos is a trick, done with a piece of glass held under the phone, because there is no lake. Visitors pay an entrance fee of around IDR 100,000 plus a shuttle from the car park. The queue for the gate photo can run two to three hours by mid-morning, so arrive by 6 am. Pura Lempuyang Luhur itself is about 1,700 steps above the gate for those who want the full pilgrimage.

Lempuyang entry fee · Lempuyang timings · how to reach Lempuyang

Tirta Gangga and Amed

Tirta Gangga is a former royal water palace from 1946, with fish ponds you cross on carved stepping stones. Entry is about IDR 50,000. Half an hour north, Amed is a row of black-sand fishing beaches where you can snorkel straight off the shore at Jemeluk Bay. Divers continue to Tulamben for the USAT Liberty wreck.

Sidemen Valley

Sidemen Valley is a quiet countryside escape, far from the busy beaches and tourist hubs. Rice terraces climb toward Mount Agung, and village weavers still make songket cloth by hand. The area offers boutique resorts and homestays, and a night here is the best antidote to Kuta.

Tenganan Village

Tenganan is a centuries-old Bali Aga village that keeps its original walled layout, architecture and customs. Families here still weave geringsing, a double-ikat cloth made in only a handful of places in the world. Entry is by donation, and buying a small piece of weaving is the best way to support the village.

Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan

These three islands lie off the southeast coast. Fast boats leave Sanur from about 6:30 am and take 30 to 45 minutes. Online fares run about IDR 150,000 to 250,000 each way, and every visitor pays an IDR 25,000 island fee at the harbour.

Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is famous for its towering cliffs. Kelingking Beach, with its T-Rex shaped headland, is the anchor of every day trip, along with Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong and Crystal Bay for snorkelling. Boat trips to Manta Bay are the way to swim with manta rays. The roads are rough and the Kelingking stairs down to the beach are steep and loose, so most people just look from the top. The day depends on your island driver, so book the car with your boat ticket through a trusted operator rather than at the jetty. For more, see our guide to day trips from Bali.

Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan

Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are twin islands joined by a yellow suspension bridge, calmer and less crowded than Bali. The waters around them are clean and clear, perfect for snorkelling, and you can watch the waves explode at Devil's Tear at sunset. Stay a night if you can. The last boats back leave around 4 to 5 pm.

Nusa Lembongan entry fee · Nusa Lembongan timings · how to reach Nusa Lembongan

The Gili Islands are often sold with Bali, but they lie off Lombok, two hours or more by fast boat from Padang Bai. Plan them as an overnight trip, not a day trip from Bali. Read about all the islands around Bali.

Best Places in Bali by Traveller Type

Couples will find more ideas in our list of places to visit in Bali for honeymoon, and trips are planned through our Bali honeymoon packages. Travelling with children? See places to visit in Bali with family and our Bali family packages. For rafting, diving and swings, our things to do in Bali guide goes deeper, and solo travellers can look at Bali solo trip packages.

Suggested Bali Sightseeing Itineraries: 3, 5 and 7 Days

Choosing the right plan helps save time and money. These routes keep each day inside one area, so you spend your time at the sights rather than in traffic.

The 3-day plan covers the main temples and beaches and suits short trips. The 5-day plan mixes culture, beaches and nature at a balanced pace and is the most popular choice. Our 5 days Bali trip follows it closely. The 7-day plan adds the islands and the highlands for relaxed sightseeing. Every route can be customised through our Bali tour packages or the luxury Bali packages, and if you want a first-hand account, read this 8-day Bali itinerary travelogue.

Best Time to Visit Places in Bali

The dry season from April to September is the best time for sightseeing. Skies are clearer, trails are dry and the sea is calmest for the Nusa boats. The rainy season from October to March brings frequent showers and high humidity, usually in heavy afternoon bursts, so plan temples and treks for the morning.

Visiting during the dry season ensures smooth travel and fun water activities. Note that Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence, usually in March, closes the whole island including the airport for 24 hours. Read the full month-by-month guide on best time to visit Bali, or see what October looks like in places to visit in Bali in October.

Things to Know Before Visiting Bali Attractions: A Guide for Indian Travellers

A few things catch Indian travellers out on their first trip. All of them are easy to sort before you fly.

Tourist levy and visa

Every foreign visitor pays the Bali tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (about Rs 810) once per trip. Pay it on the official Love Bali portal before you fly and keep the QR code on your phone. Indian passport holders get a 30-day visa on arrival, or can apply online for the e-VOA at evisa.imigrasi.go.id, for IDR 500,000 (about Rs 2,700). Your passport needs six months of validity. Details are in our Bali visa for Indians guide and on how to reach Bali.

Cultural etiquette

Bali is rich in culture and tradition. Respecting local customs will make your visit more meaningful.

• Dress modestly at temples. Always cover your shoulders and knees. Sarongs and sashes are provided or rented at the major sites.

• Follow local rules. Pay attention to signs and instructions at religious sites, and avoid loud behaviour.

• Respect traditions. If you come across a ceremony, watch quietly and never step on or touch the small canang offerings on the ground.

• Temples ask women who are menstruating not to enter the inner courtyards. Signs at the gate explain the custom.

Entry fees, cash and cards

Temple and waterfall tickets mostly cost IDR 15,000 to 75,000 (Rs 80 to Rs 405), and most beaches are free. Smaller sites take cash only, while the Monkey Forest, GWK and the big parks accept cards and QRIS. Carry IDR 200,000 to 300,000 in small notes for each day out to cover tickets, parking, sarong rental and donations. Exchange money at authorised money changers with a printed rate board, not at street booths.

Getting around

Hiring a private car with a driver is the most comfortable way to cover several attractions a day, especially for families. A day's hire runs roughly 8 to 10 hours, and your driver will plan the order of stops. Grab and Gojek work well around Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud, but some tourist areas restrict app pickups, so walk to the main road. Distances are short, but traffic is slow, so plan one area per day.

Related Bali Guides

• Bali tourist attractions and famous places

• Things to do in Bali and Bali activities and tickets

• Where to stay in Bali

• Balinese cuisine and shopping in Bali

• Bali travel guide

• Cheap Bali packages

Edited by TravelTriangle