Where to Stay in Bali – Choosing the Right Area

/ Bali Indonesia, Global Travels / By
Crystal Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali

Choosing where to stay in Bali isn’t just about finding a beautiful villa, hotel or resort. The area you choose can make a huge difference to your holiday.

Bali has so many different sides to it. You can stay amongst rice terraces and temples in Ubud, beside the calmer beaches of Sanur, surrounded by restaurants, shops and spas in Seminyak, or escape across the water to the dramatic scenery of Nusa Penida.

And they can feel like completely different holidays.

Table of Contents

Before You Book: What Kind of Bali Holiday Do You Want?

Before choosing your accommodation, ask yourself a few simple questions:

  • Do you want to be able to walk to restaurants and shops?
  • Is being close to the beach important?
  • Are temples, rice terraces and traditional culture high on your list?
  • Do you want nightlife, beach clubs and plenty happening around you?
  • Would you prefer somewhere quieter and more relaxed?
  • Are you planning lots of day trips, or would you rather explore close to where you’re staying?
  • How much time are you prepared to spend getting around?
  • How long are you happy to travel from the airport to your accommodation?

Bali might not look particularly big on a map, but getting around can take longer than you expect. That’s one of the reasons choosing the right base can make such a difference.

Area First, Accommodation Second

This is probably our biggest tip when deciding where to stay in Bali:

Choose your area first, then start looking for accommodation.

A beautiful villa at a great price isn’t necessarily a bargain if it’s nowhere near the things you want to do.

During our Bali trip, we stayed in Ubud, Sanur, Nusa Penida and Seminyak, and each gave us a completely different experience.

And you definitely don’t need to stay in them all.

Choose the areas that suit the kind of Bali holiday you want, then give yourself enough time to actually enjoy them.

Ubud – Culture, Rice Terraces and Inland Bali

Ubud is probably the area we’d choose if culture, temples, rice terraces, food and exploring inland Bali were high on our list.

We stayed in Ubud for 10 days, which gave us plenty of time to explore without having to rush. We wandered the back streets, found little family-run warungs, visited temples and rice terraces, did a cooking class, joined a bike tour and, of course, made the most of the incredibly affordable massages and beauty treatments.

But Ubud also surprised us.

What Is It Like to Stay in Ubud?

Before we arrived, we pictured Ubud as this peaceful little town surrounded by jungle and rice terraces.

The countryside certainly delivers that, but Central Ubud is busy.

Scooters, cars and people all seem to compete for the same small amount of space, and some of the footpaths were an experience in themselves. There were plenty of times when we ended up walking partly on the road, so you really do need to keep your wits about you.

Once we wandered away from the busiest streets, though, we found a completely different side of Ubud. Some of our favourite moments were simply exploring the back streets and discovering a small family-run warung along the way.

Where Should You Stay in Ubud?

Staying in Central Ubud and staying amongst the rice fields or jungle can give you two very different holidays.

Central Ubud – Best for First-Time Visitors and Convenience

  • If it’s your first visit and you want to walk out your door and have restaurants, warungs, shops and markets around you, Central Ubud is probably the easiest place to start.
  • It’s convenient and there’s plenty happening, but don’t book here expecting to step outside into silent rice fields.
  • Best for: First-time visitors, food, shopping, culture and having plenty within walking distance.

Nyuh Kuning – Best for Quieter but Still Convenient

  • If you like the convenience of being near Ubud but don’t necessarily want to stay amongst the busiest streets, Nyuh Kuning is worth looking at.
  • It’s a quieter village area south of Central Ubud with guesthouses, cafes and a more relaxed feel, while still keeping you reasonably close to town.
  • Best for: A quieter stay, cafes, wellness and being close to Central Ubud without staying right in the middle of it.

Sayan and Kedewatan – Best for Jungle Views and a Retreat

  • If your Ubud dream is more about lush jungle, river valleys, beautiful resorts and switching off, look towards Sayan or Kedewatan.
  • These areas offer more of the tranquil, green setting many of us picture when we first think of Ubud.
  • They’re particularly worth considering if your accommodation is going to be part of the experience itself and you don’t mind using transport when you want to head into town.
  • Best for: Couples, wellness retreats, luxury stays, jungle scenery and relaxation.

Tegallalang – Best for Rice-Field Scenery

  • If waking up amongst rice terraces and countryside sounds more appealing than being able to walk into Central Ubud, Tegallalang is another area to consider.
  • It’s north of Central Ubud and gives you much more of that green, rural Bali setting.
  • You’ll be further from the centre, so we’d choose this area if scenery and a quieter setting were more important than having restaurants and shops on the doorstep.
  • Best for: Rice-field views, countryside, nature and a quieter stay.

So, Where Would We Choose?

For a first visit, we’d narrow it down like this:

  • Convenience, food and walking: Central Ubud
  • Quieter but still close to town: Nyuh Kuning
  • Jungle, luxury and relaxation: Sayan or Kedewatan
  • Rice fields and countryside: Tegallalang

If we returned, we’d probably stay slightly outside the busiest part of Central Ubud.

We’d still want restaurants and warungs within reasonable reach, but we’d happily trade a little convenience for a quieter setting.

How Long Would We Stay?

We spent 10 days in Ubud, and because we like travelling slowly and time was on our side, we were quite happy with that.

It gave us time to have busy sightseeing days followed by slower ones where we could wander, eat, have a massage or simply enjoy where we were staying.

If Ubud is mainly a base for seeing a few temples and rice terraces, you may not need anywhere near that long. But if you enjoy slower travel, it’s an easy place to settle into for longer.

A Little Ubud Indulgence

One of our favourite bargains was a four-hour beauty treatment that included a full-body massage, body scrub, pedicure, manicure, facial and flower bath.

We paid around NZ$50 each and walked out thinking we’d found the bargain of the century. Then some locals told us we’d paid too much.

We didn’t care. Four hours of being pampered for NZ$50 was worth every cent to us.

Would We Stay in Ubud Again?

Absolutely, but we’d choose our location carefully.

For us, Ubud wasn’t quite the peaceful little town we’d imagined before arriving. Central Ubud was much busier than expected.

But step away from those busy streets and there’s another side to it: beautiful countryside, temples, little warungs, wonderful food and plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy Bali.

Ubud would definitely be on our list again.

Sanur – Relaxed Beachside Bali

After the hustle and bustle of Ubud, Sanur felt like a completely different Bali, and if we’re honest, its slower pace suited us really well.

We stayed here for seven nights, right in the heart of Sanur, and quickly settled into a routine of heading out exploring in the morning before coming back and spending our afternoons at the beach.

Sanur has a long beachfront promenade, calmer water, plenty of places to eat and enough happening that you certainly don’t feel isolated.

What Is It Like to Stay in Sanur?

For us, one of Sanur’s biggest advantages was how easy it was to slow down.

You can wander along the beachfront, stop somewhere for something to eat, hire a beach chair for the afternoon or simply find a spot beside the water and stay there for a few hours.

The water was generally much calmer and shallower than some of Bali’s surf beaches, which made Sanur feel more like somewhere to actually spend time at the beach rather than simply visit it.

Where Should You Stay in Sanur?

Sanur stretches along quite a long section of coastline, so where you stay can change the feel of your holiday.

For us, being within comfortable walking distance of both the beach and somewhere to eat would be more important than paying extra for an ocean view.

Northern Sanur and Sindhu – Best for Food, Beach and Convenience

  • If you like having plenty around you, Sindhu and Northern Sanur would be one of our first places to look.
  • You’ll have the beach and promenade nearby along with restaurants, cafes, shops and local places to eat. This is also where you’ll find Sindhu Night Market, which became one of our favourite places to eat during our stay.
  • Northern Sanur is also convenient if you’re heading across to Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan, with the fast boats leaving from this end of Sanur.
  • Best for: Beach access, restaurants, local food, convenience and island connections.

Central Sanur – Best All-Rounder

  • If you’re not quite sure which part to choose, Central Sanur is probably the easiest all-round option.
  • You have good access to the beach and promenade while also being close to the restaurants, shops and cafes around Jalan Danau Tamblingan.
  • There are accommodation choices ranging from smaller hotels to larger beachfront resorts, so you don’t necessarily need a luxury-resort budget to find a convenient base.
  • Best for: First-time visitors, restaurants, shopping, beach access and having a bit of everything nearby.

Southern Sanur – Best for a Quieter Stay

  • If your priority is peace and a slower beach holiday, look towards Southern Sanur around areas such as Mertasari.
  • It’s quieter than the central and northern stretches while still giving you access to the beach, resorts and places to eat.
  • Best for: Couples, families, quieter beach days and a more relaxed stay.

So, Where Would We Choose?

For us, it would probably come down to Northern or Central Sanur.

  • Food, beach and easy access to the fast boats: Northern Sanur and Sindhu
  • Best balance of beach, restaurants and shops: Central Sanur
  • Peace and a quieter beach stay: Southern Sanur

Knowing what we know now, we’d happily stay around Sindhu. We loved having plenty of places to eat nearby and being able to wander down to the beach whenever we felt like it.

How Long Would We Stay?

We spent seven nights in Sanur, and that worked really well for us.

If you’re moving around Bali and mainly using Sanur as a beach stop, you could easily stay for less. But if you enjoy travelling slowly, having a few lazy beach afternoons and not feeling like every day needs to be packed with sightseeing, we’d happily stay for a week.

Would We Stay in Sanur Again?

Yes. Absolutely.

We’d come back for the easy beach days, the food, the walks along the waterfront and the slower pace.

Sometimes you don’t need your accommodation base to be another attraction on your itinerary.

Sometimes you just need somewhere that feels good to come back to at the end of the day.

For us, Sanur was exactly that.

Nusa Penida – Spectacular, But Choose Your Base Carefully

Nusa Penida was a completely different experience again.

The island is known for its dramatic cliffs, beautiful beaches, snorkelling, diving and incredible viewpoints, and there’s no denying the scenery is spectacular.

But if you’re planning to stay rather than visit on a day trip, where you base yourself really matters.

We stayed near Crystal Bay for seven days. We chose it because we liked the idea of being close to the beach and watching the sunset at the end of the day.

Looking back, we’d make a different choice.

Where Should You Stay on Nusa Penida?

This is probably the biggest thing we’d change if we returned. We chose Crystal Bay because we wanted to be close to the beach and thought being able to wander down for sunset would be lovely. And it was.

But after seven days, we realised we’d chosen our accommodation around one beach rather than the island as a whole.

Toyapakeh and Ped – Best for Convenience

  • If it was our first visit again, this is where we’d start looking.
  • The north-western side around Toyapakeh and Ped has more restaurants, warungs and accommodation choices, and it’s convenient for boat arrivals, snorkelling trips and exploring the western side of the island.
  • For us, having more food choices and easier access to transport would make this a much more practical base than Crystal Bay.
  • Best for: First-time visitors, restaurants, boat connections, snorkelling trips and getting around.

Sampalan – Best for the East Side

  • If your plans are focused more towards the eastern side of Nusa Penida, Sampalan is another area worth considering.
  • It’s a more local, practical base with shops, restaurants and services nearby and can make sense if your boat arrives on this side of the island.
  • We’d probably choose Toyapakeh over Sampalan for our own style of trip, but it’s worth knowing about rather than assuming there’s only one harbour area to stay near.
  • Best for: East-side exploring, local services and travellers arriving on this side of the island.

Crystal Bay – Best for Beach and Sunsets

  • If your priority is being near the beach, swimming and watching the sunset, staying nearby can be lovely.
  • But we’d choose it knowing that you’re trading some convenience for the location.
  • Food choices were quite limited during our stay, and we found ourselves travelling further whenever we wanted to explore other parts of the island.
  • After seven days, that mattered to us much more than being able to walk down to Crystal Bay.
  • Best for: Beach time, sunsets and a slower stay where you don’t mind being further from more restaurants and services.

So, Where Would We Choose?

If we returned, Toyapakeh or somewhere around the north-west coast would probably be our first choice.

We’d rather have more places to eat, easier access to transport and a practical base for exploring the island, then travel out to places like Crystal Bay during the day.

Our experience taught us that on Nusa Penida, the prettiest place to stay isn’t necessarily the most practical place to base yourself.

Good to Know

Getting around Nusa Penida was an adventure in itself.

We found some of the roads rough, narrow and full of potholes, and walking wasn’t necessarily easy either, with limited footpaths in some areas.

If you’re arriving with luggage, be prepared for things to be a little less polished than on mainland Bali. When we arrived, getting our suitcase from the boat towards the car park involved making our way across sand and stones.

None of these things would stop us visiting. They’re simply worth knowing before you arrive.

How Long Would We Stay?

If we went again, we’d probably stay for around two to four days.

That would give us enough time to explore, enjoy the scenery and have a little downtime without feeling like we’d exhausted what we wanted to do.

A day trip gives you a taste of Nusa Penida, but staying for a few nights means you don’t have to squeeze everything into one rushed day.

Would We Stay on Nusa Penida Again?

Yes, but we’d change where and for how long.

We’re glad we stayed rather than only seeing Nusa Penida on a day trip. It gave us time to experience the island beyond a few famous viewpoints.

But seven days near Crystal Bay taught us something we’d definitely do differently next time.

Stay somewhere that makes the whole island easier to enjoy, not simply somewhere that’s close to one beautiful beach.

Seminyak – Shopping, Spas and a Little Indulgence

Seminyak was the final stop of our Bali trip.

By then we’d been travelling for nine months and were into our fourth week in Bali, so we were more than ready to slow down.

Rather than spending our week sightseeing, we treated ourselves to a lovely villa and used Seminyak as a place to relax and recharge.

Our experience here was quite different from Ubud, Sanur and Nusa Penida. Seminyak has plenty going on, with restaurants, shopping, spas, beach clubs, nightlife and a huge range of accommodation, but it’s also quite spread out.

Where Should You Stay in Seminyak?

If you’re visiting for the first time, Seminyak Beach and the Oberoi area are two of the easiest places to start your accommodation search.

Seminyak Beach – Best for Beach Access and Sunsets

  • If your idea of Seminyak involves beach days, sunsets, beach clubs and drinks beside the water, staying close to Seminyak Beach makes sense.
  • You’ll have easy access to the coast while still having plenty of restaurants and places to go nearby.
  • We didn’t actually make it to Seminyak Beach during our stay, so we can’t give you our personal opinion of the beach itself. But if the beach was going to be a big part of our holiday, this is where we’d start looking.
  • Best for: Beach access, sunsets, beach clubs and shorter stays.

Oberoi – Best for Restaurants, Shopping and Walkability

  • If food, shopping and being able to wander out for dinner matter more than being right beside the sand, we’d look around Oberoi.
  • The area around Oberoi Road, also known as Eat Street, and Seminyak Square puts you amongst restaurants, cafes, boutiques, shops and spas while still keeping the beach within reach.
  • For us, this would probably be the area we’d look at first if we returned and wanted to experience more of Seminyak.
  • Best for: Restaurants, shopping, cafes, spas and having plenty within walking distance.

Petitenget – Best for Beach Clubs and Nightlife

  • Petitenget is worth looking at if you want restaurants, beach clubs and nightlife nearby.
  • It can suit travellers who want to be close to plenty of action without necessarily staying right in Central Seminyak.
  • Best for: Beach clubs, restaurants and nightlife.

Towards Legian – Worth Comparing for Value

  • At the other end, accommodation towards the Legian border can be worth comparing if you’re watching your budget but still want access to Seminyak’s restaurants, shopping and nightlife.
  • Best for: Travellers looking for potentially better-value accommodation while remaining close to Seminyak.

So, Where Would We Choose?

It really comes down to what you want most:

  • Beach and sunsets: Seminyak Beach
  • Restaurants, shopping and walkability: Oberoi
  • Beach clubs and nightlife: Petitenget
  • Potentially better value: Towards the Legian border

If we returned to Seminyak and wanted to explore more than we did last time, Oberoi would probably be our starting point.

And if we were coming back for another week of doing very little?

We’d happily disappear into a beautiful villa again.

Would We Stay in Seminyak Again?

Yes, particularly if we were looking for a few days of indulgence.

For restaurants, shopping, spas, nightlife and beach clubs, Seminyak gives you plenty of choice.

And if your idea of a Bali holiday involves a beautiful villa, a pool and a few days of doing very little, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that either.

So, Which Part of Bali Should You Stay In?

If you’re still trying to decide, we’d narrow it down like this:

  • Ubud: Culture, temples, rice terraces, food and exploring inland Bali.
  • Sanur: A relaxed beach stay, walking, swimming and a slower pace.
  • Seminyak: Restaurants, shopping, spas, beach clubs and nightlife.
  • Nusa Penida: Dramatic scenery, beaches, snorkelling and a little more adventure.

Other Popular Areas of Bali to Consider

Of course, these aren’t the only places to stay in Bali. Depending on the kind of holiday you’re looking for, there are several other popular areas worth considering:

  • Kuta: A lively choice close to the airport, known for surfing, shopping, nightlife and plenty of accommodation at different price points.
  • Canggu: Popular for surfing, cafes, beach clubs and a more casual, social atmosphere.
  • Jimbaran: A quieter coastal option known for its beach, sunsets and seafood restaurants. A good choice for couples and families wanting a more relaxed stay.
  • Uluwatu: Think dramatic cliffs, ocean views, beaches and surfing. A good option if you prefer staying further away from Bali’s busier central tourist areas.
  • Lovina: On Bali’s northern coast, with black-sand beaches and a much quieter atmosphere. Popular for dolphin trips and travellers wanting to explore more of northern Bali.
  • Amed: A peaceful area on Bali’s eastern coast, particularly popular for snorkelling and diving, with black volcanic beaches and a much slower pace.

We haven’t stayed in these areas ourselves, so we’ve kept them brief, but they’re worth having on your radar when deciding which part of Bali suits your trip.

For a first trip to Bali, we’d rather choose two or three areas that give us different experiences and spend enough time in each to actually enjoy them.

Our Final Tip

If there’s one thing we’d do before booking accommodation in Bali, it’s this:

Open the map.

Don’t just look at the beautiful villa, the pool or the price. Check where it actually is in relation to the beach, restaurants, shops or places you want to visit.

Bali traffic can turn what looks like a short journey into a much longer one, and sometimes paying a little more for the right location can make your holiday a whole lot easier.

We’ve stayed in four very different parts of Bali, and each taught us something about choosing a base.

Choose the area first, accommodation second, and build your Bali holiday around the way you actually like to travel.

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.”

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