Bali Travel Guide
Complete guide to Indonesia's island paradise - beaches, temples, culture, and wellness
Bali Travel Guide
Discover the magic of Bali, where ancient temples meet pristine beaches, lush rice terraces, and vibrant culture.
Best Time to Visit
Dry Season (April-October)
- Best weather
- Less humidity
- High season (June-August)
- Perfect beach weather
- Higher prices
Shoulder Season (April-May, September)
- Good weather
- Fewer crowds
- Better prices
- Ideal time
Wet Season (November-March)
- Afternoon rain showers
- Still warm (27-32°C / 80-90°F)
- Cheaper accommodation
- Surfing good on west coast
- Green landscapes
Note: Bali is hot year-round!
Getting There
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
Located between Kuta and Jimbaran.
To/From Airport:
- Grab/Gojek: Rp 70,000-150,000 (depends on location)
- Pre-paid taxi booth: More expensive
- Uber not available
- Hotel pickup arranged
Distances:
- Kuta: 10 minutes
- Seminyak: 20 minutes
- Ubud: 1.5 hours
- Uluwatu: 45 minutes
- Canggu: 40 minutes
Visa
- Many nationalities: 30-day visa on arrival (Rp 500,000)
- Can extend 30 days
- Check current requirements
- Some countries visa-free
Getting Around
Scooter/Motorbike
Most Popular:
- Rent: Rp 50,000-70,000/day
- International license required (often not checked)
- Wear helmet (Rp 100,000 fine)
- Traffic chaotic
- Practice in quiet area first
Tips:
- Get insurance
- Check brakes before riding
- Careful in rain
- Watch for potholes
- Bargain for long-term rental
Grab/Gojek
- Ride-hailing apps
- Cheaper than taxi
- Motorbike (ojek) or car option
- Safe and convenient
- Download apps before arrival
Private Driver
- Full day: Rp 500,000-700,000
- 10-12 hours
- Comfortable for touring
- Driver waits while you explore
- Negotiate price beforehand
Taxi
- Bluebird most reliable
- Metered
- More expensive than Grab
- Hard to find in some areas
Car Rental
- With driver recommended
- Self-drive possible but chaotic
- Rp 300,000-500,000/day
- International license required
Regions & Areas
Seminyak
Vibe: Upscale, trendy, beach clubs
Good For:
- Beach clubs
- Sunset bars
- Shopping
- Dining scene
- Luxury resorts
Stay Here If:
- Want to be near beach
- Like nightlife
- Shopping lover
- Higher budget
Canggu
Vibe: Hipster, surfer, digital nomad
Good For:
- Surfing
- Coworking spaces
- Healthy cafes
- Rice paddies
- Young crowd
Stay Here If:
- Surf enthusiast
- Digital nomad
- Want trendy scene
- Like laid-back vibe
Ubud
Vibe: Cultural heart, wellness, jungle
Good For:
- Yoga retreats
- Rice terraces
- Temples
- Art galleries
- Monkey Forest
- Authentic culture
Stay Here If:
- Want culture/nature
- Yoga retreat
- Cooler weather
- No beach needed
Uluwatu
Vibe: Cliffside, surfing, beaches
Good For:
- World-class surf
- Cliff-top views
- Beach clubs
- Uluwatu Temple
- Sunset views
Stay Here If:
- Serious surfer
- Want dramatic scenery
- Like smaller area
- Beach lover
Sanur
Vibe: Quiet, families, older travelers
Good For:
- Calm beach
- Sunrise views
- Relaxation
- Walking path
- Less party scene
Stay Here If:
- Want quiet beach
- Family with kids
- Older traveler
- Avoid party scene
Nusa Dua
Vibe: Luxury resorts, manicured
Good For:
- 5-star resorts
- Calm beaches
- Golf courses
- Water sports
- Safe swimming
Stay Here If:
- Want resort experience
- Honeymoon
- Beach relaxation
- Don’t want to leave resort much
Amed/East Coast
Vibe: Diving, quiet, traditional
Good For:
- Diving and snorkeling
- Mount Agung views
- Traditional fishing villages
- Off-beaten-path
- Cheaper than south
Stay Here If:
- Diving enthusiast
- Want quiet/authentic
- Budget conscious
- Adventure seeker
Top Attractions
Tanah Lot Temple
Details:
- Iconic sea temple
- Best at sunset
- Entry: Rp 60,000
- Very touristy
- 1 hour from Seminyak
Tips:
- Arrive 1 hour before sunset
- Crowded
- Low tide for temple access
- Ignore aggressive vendors
Uluwatu Temple
Details:
- Clifftop temple
- Kecak fire dance (6 PM)
- Entry: Rp 50,000
- Dance: Rp 150,000
- Watch for monkeys!
Tips:
- Wear sarong (provided)
- Secure belongings (monkeys steal)
- Stay for sunset
- Book dance tickets early
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Details:
- Famous rice paddies
- Near Ubud
- Entry: Rp 10,000-20,000
- Photo op
- Swing attractions
Tips:
- Early morning (less crowds)
- Wear sturdy shoes
- Bring cash for multiple “donations”
- Consider trekking through terraces
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Details:
- Ubud monkey forest
- 700+ monkeys
- Entry: Rp 80,000
- Ancient temples
- 1-2 hours
Tips:
- Don’t bring food/water
- No loose items (monkeys grab)
- Don’t look monkeys in eye
- Keep distance
- Respect the sacred space
Tirta Empul Temple
Details:
- Holy spring water temple
- Purification ritual
- Entry: Rp 50,000
- Wear sarong
- Bring extra clothes
Experience:
- Join purification ritual
- Bathing pools
- Underwater springs
- Sacred site
- Respectful dress required
Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
Details:
- Active volcano
- Start: 2-3 AM
- Summit by sunrise
- Guide required (Rp 400,000-500,000)
- 2-hour hike up
What to Bring:
- Warm clothes (cold at top!)
- Headlamp/phone light
- Water and snacks
- Camera
Waterfalls
Popular:
- Tegenungan (near Ubud, easy)
- Tibumana (beautiful, less crowded)
- Sekumpul (northern, stunning, harder access)
- Tukad Cepung (inside cave)
Tips:
- Entry fees: Rp 10,000-20,000
- Swimsuit
- Waterproof phone case
- Slippery rocks
Beaches
Seminyak Beach
- Sunset watching
- Beach clubs
- Surfing (intermediates)
- Shopping nearby
Canggu Beaches
- Echo Beach (surfing)
- Batu Bolong (surfing, beach clubs)
- Black sand
- Strong currents
Nusa Dua Beach
- Calm, clear water
- Good for swimming
- White sand
- Resort area
Padang Padang Beach
- Small, picturesque
- Surfing
- Featured in “Eat Pray Love”
- Stairs down to beach
Green Bowl Beach
- Hidden gem
- Stairs down cliff
- Surfing
- Low tide better
- Monkeys
Amed/Jemeluk Bay
- Snorkeling from shore
- Black sand
- Diving
- Traditional boats
Activities
Surfing
Beginner:
- Kuta Beach
- Legian
- Padang Padang (small days)
- Lessons: Rp 350,000-500,000
Intermediate:
- Seminyak
- Canggu
- Medewi
Advanced:
- Uluwatu
- Padang Padang
- Keramas
Board Rental: Rp 50,000-100,000/day
Diving & Snorkeling
Best Sites:
- Tulamben (USAT Liberty shipwreck)
- Amed coral reefs
- Nusa Penida (manta rays!)
- Menjangan Island
Diving:
- Discover dive: $100-150
- Certified dive: $50-80
- PADI certification: $400-500
Yoga
Ubud Studios:
- Yoga Barn
- Radiantly Alive
- Intuitive Flow
Drop-in Class: Rp 150,000-200,000
Retreats: Full spectrum available
Spa & Massage
Traditional Massage:
- Street spas: Rp 100,000-150,000/hour
- Mid-range: Rp 200,000-400,000/hour
- Luxury: Rp 500,000+/hour
Treatments:
- Balinese massage
- Body scrub
- Flower bath
- Hair cream bath
Tips:
- Tip 10% if good service
- Book luxury spas ahead
Food & Dining
Balinese Dishes
Nasi Goreng
- Fried rice
- National dish
- Rp 25,000-50,000
- Breakfast staple
Mie Goreng
- Fried noodles
- Similar to nasi goreng
- Rp 25,000-50,000
Babi Guling
- Roast suckling pig
- Balinese specialty
- Ibu Oka in Ubud (famous)
- Rp 50,000-100,000
Nasi Campur
- Mixed rice plate
- Little bit of everything
- Rp 30,000-60,000
- Best local experience
Sate (Satay)
- Grilled meat skewers
- Peanut sauce
- Rp 5,000-10,000 per stick
Gado-Gado
- Vegetable salad
- Peanut dressing
- Rp 30,000-50,000
Warungs (Local Restaurants)
- Cheap local food
- Rp 20,000-50,000 per meal
- Authentic
- Simple seating
- Where locals eat
Famous Warungs:
- Warung Biah Biah (Seminyak)
- Warung Mak Beng (Sanur)
- Warung Dedari (Ubud)
Healthy Cafes
Ubud:
- Café Organic
- Sage
- Alchemy (raw vegan)
Canggu:
- Crate Café
- Betelnut Café
- The Shady Shack
Dishes:
- Smoothie bowls (Rp 60,000-90,000)
- Avocado toast
- Fresh juices
- Vegan options
Beach Clubs
Seminyak:
- Potato Head (famous)
- Ku De Ta
- Mrs Sippy
Canggu:
- Finns Beach Club
- The Lawn
Uluwatu:
- Single Fin
- Omnia
Prices: Expensive! Rp 100,000+ drinks Tip: Min spend or entry fee
Fine Dining
- Locavore (Ubud, Asia’s 50 Best)
- Mozaic (Ubud)
- Merah Putih (Seminyak)
- Rp 500,000-1,500,000 per person
Nightlife
Seminyak
- Mirror Lounge & Bar
- Red Carpet Champagne Bar
- La Favela (club)
- Upscale scene
Canggu
- Old Man’s (live music, sunset)
- Pretty Poison (club)
- The Lawn (beach club/bar)
- Laid-back vibe
Kuta/Legian
- Sky Garden (massive club)
- Bounty Discotheque
- Backpacker party scene
- Cheap drinks
Ubud
- Limited nightlife
- Live music at cafes
- Quiet by 11 PM
- More wellness retreats
Shopping
Markets
Ubud Market
- Handicrafts
- Clothing
- Souvenirs
- Bargain hard (start 50% lower)
Seminyak Village
- Upscale shopping
- Boutiques
- Fixed prices
Souvenirs
- Batik fabric
- Wood carvings
- Silver jewelry
- Paintings
- Sarongs
- Essential oils
- Coffee (kopi luwak)
Bargaining
- Expected at markets
- Start at 40-50% of asking
- Be friendly
- Walk away technique works
- Fixed prices in malls
Day Trips
Nusa Penida
What:
- Dramatic cliffs
- Kelingking Beach (T-Rex)
- Crystal Bay
- Manta ray snorkeling
How:
- Fast boat from Sanur (45 min)
- Rp 150,000-200,000 return
- Rent scooter on island
- Full day trip
Nusa Lembongan
What:
- Laid-back island
- Snorkeling
- Beaches
- Devil’s Tear
How:
- Fast boat from Sanur (30 min)
- Can overnight
- Bike or scooter rental
Gili Islands
What:
- Three small islands
- No motorized vehicles
- Snorkeling, diving
- Party scene (Gili T)
How:
- Fast boat from Padang Bai (1.5 hours)
- Better for 2-3 night trip
- Not a day trip
Practical Information
Money
- Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)
- ATMs everywhere (fees ~Rp 50,000)
- Credit cards in restaurants/hotels
- Cash needed for small shops, warungs
- Bargain at markets
Costs
Very Budget: $15-25/day Backpacker: $30-50/day Mid-Range: $60-100/day Luxury: $150+/day
Language
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- English widely spoken in tourist areas
- Learn basics:
- Terima kasih (Thank you)
- Berapa harga? (How much?)
- Mahal (Expensive)
- Tidak (No)
Safety
- Generally safe
- Watch valuables
- Secure scooter with lock
- Avoid sketchy ATMs
- Be careful in traffic
- Beware of scams (fake police, overpriced tours)
Health
- Drink bottled water
- “Bali belly” common (traveler’s diarrhea)
- Bring probiotics
- Travel insurance essential
- BIMC Hospital (international standard)
- Pharmacies everywhere (apotek)
- Dengue risk during rainy season
Scams to Avoid
- Fake taxi drivers at airport
- Bird market “blessings” (demand money)
- Overpriced tours
- Money exchange scams (count carefully)
- Fake police asking to see money
- Timeshare presentations
Culture & Etiquette
Do:
- Dress modestly at temples
- Wear sarong at temples
- Use right hand (left considered unclean)
- Remove shoes before entering
- Be respectful during ceremonies
Don’t:
- Touch anyone’s head
- Point at people with feet
- Stand higher than priest/ceremony
- Step on offerings on ground
- Get drunk at temples
Ceremonies
- Balinese Hindu ceremonies frequent
- Streets may close
- Be respectful
- Ask before photographing
- Beautiful to witness
Accommodation
Budget ($5-15/night)
- Hostels
- Basic guesthouses
- Fan room
- Shared bathroom possible
Mid-Range ($20-60/night)
- Nice guesthouses
- Small hotels
- AC, hot water
- Pool
- Breakfast included
Luxury ($80+/night)
- Resorts
- Private villas with pool
- Full service
- Stunning views
Tip: Prices higher in Seminyak/Ubud, cheaper in Canggu/Sanur
Resources
- Bali Tourism Board
- Grab/Gojek apps (transport)
- Bali Spirit Festival (yoga, March)
- Google Maps (works well)
- Instagram: @thebalibible, @balibucketlist
- Weather: Year-round tropical
- Time: GMT+8 (no daylight saving)