Best Things to Do in Bali – Our Favourite Experiences & Places to See

There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Bali. In fact, one of the hardest parts of planning a trip can be deciding what not to do.

You could easily fill your days with:

• Temples and traditional culture
• Rice terraces and waterfalls
• Beaches and islands
• Volcanoes and viewpoints
• Cooking classes and bike tours
• Massages and spa treatments

But here’s our advice:

Don’t try to do everything.

We spent around four weeks in Bali, and some of our favourite days weren’t necessarily the ones where we squeezed in the most attractions.

We loved the sightseeing, but we also loved the days when we could slow down, take a cooking class, explore the countryside, have a ridiculously affordable massage or simply enjoy where we were staying.

Table of Contents

• Uluwatu Temple and Kecak Dance
• Tegallalang Rice Terraces
• Mount Batur – Sunrise Above the Volcanoes
• Lempuyang Temple – More Than the Gates of Heaven
• Tirta Gangga Water Palace
• Explore Bali’s Waterfalls
• Take a Balinese Cooking Class
• Take a Bike Tour Through the Bali Countryside
• Spend a Few Days on Nusa Penida
• Treat Yourself to a Balinese Massage or Spa Day
• Take Time to Experience Balinese Culture
• Explore Bali’s Beaches

These are the places and experiences we’d put on our own shortlist, along with a few things worth knowing before you go.

Uluwatu Temple and Kecak Dance

Sitting high on the cliffs above the Indian Ocean, Uluwatu Temple has one of Bali’s most dramatic temple settings.

There are really two experiences you can combine here:

• Explore Uluwatu Temple and the clifftop paths
• Stay for the traditional Kecak dance around sunset

The Kecak performance is quite different from many traditional dances. Instead of musical instruments providing the rhythm, a large group of men chant while dancers tell a story from the Ramayana.

Good to Know

• Carry a lavalava with you. This is something we always do when travelling in Bali. Many temples require shoulders and knees to be covered, and a lavalava takes up hardly any room in your bag and is easy to throw on when you need it.
• Watch the monkeys. Keep sunglasses, hats, phones and anything loose secure.
• Allow around half a day if you want time to explore the temple and stay for sunset and the Kecak performance.
• Don’t arrive at the last minute. Give yourself time to enjoy the temple and clifftop views before the performance.
• Expect sunset to be busy. It’s one of the most popular times to visit.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

If there’s one landscape most people picture when they think of Bali, green rice terraces are probably somewhere in it.

Tegallalang, just north of Ubud, is one of the best-known places to see them. You can admire the terraces from the viewpoints above or head down and wander through them for a closer look.

What to Expect

• Allow time to explore. Don’t just take a photo from the top and leave. Walking down amongst the terraces gives you a completely different perspective.
• Wear decent footwear. There are steps and uneven paths, and things can get slippery when it’s wet.
• Go earlier if you can. It’s one of Bali’s popular attractions, so it can get busy as the day goes on.
• Expect plenty happening around the main viewpoints. Cafes, swings and photo spots have become part of the Tegallalang experience.

Don’t Expect It to Always Look Like Instagram

One thing worth knowing is that rice terraces don’t stay lush and bright green all year.

Rice is planted, grows and is harvested in cycles, so what the terraces look like will depend on when you visit. You might find brilliant green paddies, newly planted fields or terraces that have recently been harvested.

That doesn’t make them any less interesting. It’s simply real working farmland rather than a landscape permanently maintained for tourists.

Tohu Tip

If you’re staying in Ubud, we’d combine Tegallalang with a few other places rather than making it your only outing for the day.

And don’t feel you need to rush through it just to get the perfect photo. Take some time to actually look around and enjoy where you are.

Mount Batur – Sunrise Above the Volcanoes

For many travellers, watching the sunrise from Mount Batur is one of those classic Bali experiences.

The traditional way to do it is the sunrise hike, which means a very early start and climbing in the dark before reaching the summit in time to watch the sun come up.

But hiking isn’t the only way to experience this part of Bali.

Hike or Jeep?

• Sunrise hike: Best if you’re reasonably fit, comfortable walking uphill in the dark and want the satisfaction of reaching the summit on foot.
• Jeep tour: A good alternative if you want to experience the volcanic landscape without doing the climb.
• Hot springs: Whichever option you choose, you can combine your morning with a soak in the nearby hot springs afterwards.

Good to Know

• Expect a very early morning. Sunrise tours usually mean leaving your accommodation well before daylight.
• Take warm layers. Bali may be tropical, but it can feel surprisingly cool at altitude before sunrise.
• Wear proper footwear if you’re doing the hike. This isn’t the morning for jandals.
• Check what’s included when booking a tour, particularly transport, guide, breakfast and any additional stops.
• Don’t feel you have to hike it. If climbing a volcano in the dark doesn’t sound like your idea of a holiday, the Jeep option still lets you experience the area.

Would We Do It?

We didn’t climb Mount Batur during our trip, so we can’t give you a firsthand account of the hike.

If we were choosing now, we’d probably be eyeing up the Jeep and hot springs combination.

Sunrise, volcanic scenery and then a soak in a hot pool?

That sounds far more our style.

Lempuyang Temple – More Than the Gates of Heaven

Lempuyang Temple is probably best known for the famous Gates of Heaven, with Mount Agung framed between the temple gates.

It’s one of those Bali photos you’ve probably seen a hundred times before you even arrive.

But there’s something Instagram doesn’t always tell you.

About That Famous Reflection…

That beautiful reflection beneath the gates in many of the photos?

There’s no pool of water there.

Someone holds a small mirror beneath the camera lens to create the reflection. It’s a clever little photography trick that has helped turn the Gates of Heaven into one of Bali’s most recognisable photo spots.

We knew this before we visited, but it was still quite funny seeing how it was actually done.

Don’t Just Come for the Photo

For us, there was much more to Lempuyang than getting that one famous shot.

Take some time to look around the temple complex rather than arriving, joining the photo queue and leaving again.

And remember, this is first and foremost an important Balinese Hindu temple, not simply an Instagram backdrop.

Good to Know

• It’s a fair drive out. Lempuyang is in East Bali, so depending on where you’re staying, getting there can take a decent chunk of your day.
• Check exactly what’s included in your tour. There can be additional costs once you arrive in the area, so don’t assume the price you’ve paid covers everything. Ask whether entrance fees, local transport or shuttle costs and other charges are included.
• Be prepared to wait if having your photo at the Gates of Heaven is important to you.
• Dress respectfully. Knees and shoulders should be covered when visiting Balinese temples. We always carry a lavalava with us.
• Allow more time than just the photo stop. There’s much more to see around the temple complex.
• Cloud can change the view. Mount Agung isn’t guaranteed to make an appearance just because you’ve arrived.

Tirta Gangga Water Palace – Gardens, Ponds and a Slower Wander

Tirta Gangga is a former royal water palace in East Bali, filled with fountains, ponds, gardens and stone carvings.

After some of Bali’s busier attractions, it’s a lovely place to simply slow down and wander.

One of the most recognisable parts is the large pond with stepping stones winding across the water, surrounded by fountains and some very well-fed koi.

What to Expect

• Beautiful gardens and water features with plenty of places to wander.
• Stepping stones across the ponds, which make for some great photos.
• Plenty of koi, including some seriously big ones.
• An easy place to explore at your own pace rather than feeling like you need to rush from one attraction to another.

Combine It With Lempuyang

If you’re already making the journey out to Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga is easy to include as part of an East Bali day rather than making two separate trips.

This is also where we’d really recommend checking exactly what’s included in your tour.

Entrance fees and other costs aren’t always included in the original tour price, so ask before booking rather than assuming everything is covered.

Our Tip

Give yourself time to wander around the gardens and enjoy the place. Tirta Gangga is one of those attractions that’s better when you aren’t watching the clock.

Explore Bali’s Waterfalls

Bali has waterfalls tucked away amongst jungle, rice fields and rocky gorges, and visiting at least one is well worth adding to your itinerary.

You certainly don’t need to chase every waterfall on the island. Pick one or two that work naturally with where you’re staying or the route you’re already travelling.

Tukad Cepung Waterfall

One of the more unusual is Tukad Cepung, where the waterfall drops into a rocky canyon rather than tumbling down an open cliff face.

Part of the experience is getting there, making your way down the steps and through the gorge before reaching the falls.

If the conditions are right, sunlight streams through the opening above, creating those beautiful shafts of light you often see in photos.

Good to Know

• Be prepared for steps. Getting down to the waterfall also means getting yourself back up again.
• Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet. You’ll be walking around water, rocks and potentially slippery surfaces.
• Timing can make a difference. The famous beams of sunlight depend on the weather and position of the sun, so they’re never guaranteed.
• Expect company. It’s a popular photo spot, particularly when conditions are good.
• Consider the location. Rather than driving a long way just for one waterfall, see what else you can combine with it that day.

Don’t Feel You Have to See the Famous One

There are waterfalls all over Bali, so Tukad Cepung isn’t your only choice.

Depending on where you’re staying and what else you’re planning that day, another waterfall may make much more sense.

For us, that’s a better way to plan Bali: choose experiences that fit your route rather than spending half your holiday sitting in traffic trying to tick off somebody else’s list.

Take a Balinese Cooking Class

This was one of our favourite experiences in Bali.

We love food anyway, so learning how to make some of the dishes we’d been eating throughout our trip was right up our alley.

Cooking classes vary, but you can generally expect a mix of:

• Learning about Balinese ingredients and spices
• Preparing several traditional dishes
• Cooking alongside a small group
• Sitting down afterwards to eat everything you’ve made

What we particularly enjoyed was the pace of it.

After days spent sightseeing and travelling around, a cooking class was a chance to slow down, meet other travellers, have a laugh and enjoy some seriously good food.

We enjoyed our first class so much that we ended up doing another cooking class later in our trip.

Good to Know

• Check the class size. We enjoyed the social side of cooking with other travellers without being in a huge group.
• Look at what’s included. Some classes include a market visit, transport or additional activities.
• Tell them about dietary requirements when you book rather than waiting until you arrive.
• Don’t worry if you’re not much of a cook. These classes are designed to be enjoyable rather than a MasterChef audition.
• Go hungry. You’ll generally be making several dishes, and eating them afterwards is half the fun.

Would We Do It Again?

Without hesitation.

A cooking class gave us something completely different from another day of temples and sightseeing.

We learnt something, met other travellers, ate beautiful food and had a genuinely fun few hours.

For us, that’s exactly the kind of experience that makes a trip memorable.

Take a Bike Tour Through the Bali Countryside

Our bike tour was another highlight of our time in Bali.

It gave us the chance to get away from the busiest tourist areas and see a much more rural side of the island, travelling through rice fields, villages and countryside along the way.

And yes, it was hot and humid.

Very hot and humid.

But we’d still say it was worth every cent.

Why We Loved It

A bike tour gives you a completely different perspective from sitting in the back of a car travelling between attractions.

We loved being able to:

• Ride through the countryside rather than just seeing it through a car window.
• Pass through small villages and rice-growing areas.
• See a little more of everyday Balinese life away from the busiest tourist streets.
• Stop along the way rather than simply travelling from one major attraction to the next.
• Do something active without it needing to be an extreme adventure.

Good to Know

• Check the difficulty before booking. Ask about the distance, hills and how much actual cycling is involved.
• Ask whether it’s mostly downhill or flat. This can make a huge difference if you’re not a regular cyclist.
• Take plenty of water. Bali’s heat and humidity can make even relatively easy cycling feel harder.
• Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes.
• Use sunscreen, even if the day starts cloudy.
• Check what’s included. Transport, meals, drinks and bike hire can vary between tours.
• Some tours include a visit to a local Balinese school or village. You may get the opportunity to meet the children and take photos with them. It’s common for visitors to bring sweets for the kids, which is a lovely gesture, but we’d consider bringing something different instead. Stickers, pencils or a small inexpensive item from your own country can make a nice alternative and still give the children something fun to receive.

Would We Do It Again?

Absolutely.

We were hot, sweaty and probably not looking particularly glamorous by the end of it, but we didn’t care.

It was a fun way to see another side of Bali and one of those experiences that gave us far more than simply another photo for the holiday album.

Spend a Few Days on Nusa Penida

If you have enough time in Bali, consider heading across to Nusa Penida for a few nights rather than trying to see it all on a rushed day trip.

The island is famous for its dramatic cliffs, beaches and incredible coastal scenery, and it feels quite different from mainland Bali.

Some of the experiences people come for include:

• Kelingking Beach and its famous clifftop view
• Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong
• Crystal Bay for swimming and sunsets
• Snorkelling and diving, including trips in search of manta rays
• Diamond Beach and the spectacular east-coast viewpoints

Good to Know

• Choose your base carefully. We stayed near Crystal Bay because we wanted to be close to the beach and sunsets. Next time we’d stay around Toyapakeh or the north-west coast, where we’d have more restaurants and easier access to transport.
• The roads can be an adventure. We found some narrow, rough and full of potholes, so don’t judge travel times purely by distance.
• Walking isn’t always easy either. Footpaths can be limited, depending on where you’re staying.
• Pack reasonably light if you can. When we arrived, getting our suitcase from the boat towards the car park involved making our way across sand and stones.
• Allow enough time for the island. If your Bali itinerary has room, we’d choose a few nights over trying to race around the highlights in one day.

Treat Yourself to a Balinese Massage or Spa Day

If there’s one thing Bali makes incredibly easy, it’s treating yourself without feeling too guilty about the price.

Massages, facials, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures and full beauty packages are available everywhere from small local spas to beautiful luxury wellness centres.

And we certainly made the most of them.

Our Four-Hour Beauty Treatment

While staying in Ubud, we booked ourselves in for a four-hour beauty treatment.

Our afternoon included:

• Full-body massage
• Body scrub
• Facial
• Manicure
• Pedicure
• Flower bath

The whole lot cost us around NZ$50 each. We walked out feeling wonderfully relaxed, light and clean, only to be hot and sweaty again by the time we got back to our accommodation.

There was only one thing for it: a swim, followed by the rest of the afternoon relaxing beside the pool.

Not a bad way to spend a day in Bali.

Massages Are Everywhere

You don’t need to book an expensive spa to enjoy a massage in Bali. Massage places are dotted along streets all over the island, ranging from simple local businesses to beautiful wellness centres and luxury resort spas.

While we were staying in Sanur, we even had hour-long massages on the beach for around NZ$10 each.

Absolute heaven.

Well… mostly.

On a breezy day, the sand blowing across the beach provided a little free exfoliation at the same time.

For around $10 an hour, though, we weren’t complaining.

Later in our trip, while staying around Seminyak, we discovered Soham Wellness Center and tried several different styles of massage and beauty treatments.

That’s part of the fun in Bali. You can have a simple, inexpensive massage one day and treat yourself to a full spa experience another.

Good to Know

• Prices vary enormously. Small local spas can be incredibly affordable, while luxury hotel and resort spas can cost considerably more.
• Check what’s included when booking a package so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
• Allow some downtime afterwards. We wouldn’t plan a packed sightseeing schedule immediately after a long treatment.
• Try a local spa as well as the fancy ones. Some of our favourite experiences weren’t necessarily the most expensive.
• Don’t leave it until your last day. You may discover, like we did, that one massage simply isn’t enough.

Take Time to Experience Balinese Culture

One of the things that makes Bali so special is that Balinese culture isn’t something you’ll only find inside a tourist attraction.

You’ll see temples and shrines everywhere, offerings outside homes and businesses, ceremonies taking place and traditions that are simply part of everyday life.

Make room in your trip for some of those experiences rather than only racing between Bali’s famous sights.

Some Ways to Experience It

• Visit a temple, but take the time to understand a little about where you’re visiting rather than simply stopping for a photo.
• Watch a traditional Balinese dance, such as the Kecak performance at Uluwatu.
• Wander through local markets and see a little more of everyday Bali.
• Take a cooking class and learn about the ingredients, flavours and dishes you’ve been eating.
• Join a countryside bike tour, where you may travel through villages and farming areas away from the main tourist centres.
• Watch for local ceremonies and processions. You may come across them simply while travelling around the island.

A Little Respect Goes a Long Way

Remember that Bali’s temples, ceremonies and traditions aren’t there purely for visitors.

Dress appropriately, follow any instructions you’re given and be respectful when ceremonies are taking place.

And as we’ve already mentioned, keep a lavalava in your day bag. It takes up hardly any room and you’ll be very glad you have it when you unexpectedly find yourself somewhere that requires knees or shoulders to be covered.

Explore Bali’s Beaches

You can’t really talk about things to do in Bali without mentioning the beaches, but don’t expect every Bali beach to look or feel the same.

Depending on where you go, you can find everything from busy surf beaches and dramatic cliff-backed coves to calmer stretches of water where spending the afternoon doing very little is the main attraction.

Choose Your Beach to Suit Your Day

• Sanur: Calmer, shallower water and a long beachfront promenade. This was much more our style for swimming, walking and lazy afternoons beside the water.
• Seminyak and Kuta: Better known for surf, sunsets and having plenty happening around the beach.
• Uluwatu area: Dramatic cliffs, smaller beaches and some of Bali’s best-known surf spots.
• Jimbaran: A long sandy beach where you can combine sunset with dinner at one of the beachfront seafood restaurants.
• Amed and Lovina: Black volcanic sand and a completely different feel from the busier beaches of southern Bali.
• Nusa Penida: Spectacular coastal scenery and beaches, although reaching some of them can involve steep tracks and plenty of steps.

A Little Reality Check About Bali’s Beaches

One thing that surprised us was the water.

At the beaches we visited in Bali, we didn’t find that stunning, crystal-clear blue water we’d become used to seeing in some other parts of Asia.

In Sanur, the water was generally calm and lovely for swimming, but we often found quite a bit of seaweed stirred up along the shoreline, particularly with the boating and shipping activity offshore.

Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida was nice too, but again, the water wasn’t as beautifully clear as we’d expected.

That’s not to say we didn’t enjoy Bali’s beaches. We absolutely did, especially our lazy afternoons in Sanur.

It’s simply worth knowing that if you’re heading to Bali expecting every beach to have pristine turquoise water, that may not be what you find.

Our Tip

Don’t choose a Bali beach based purely on how blue the water looks in a photo.

Think about what you actually want from your beach day: swimming, surfing, snorkelling, sunset, somewhere to eat or simply a beach chair and a few hours doing absolutely nothing.

So, What Should You Prioritise?

With so many things to do in Bali, it’s very easy to end up with an itinerary that has you racing from one side of the island to the other.

We wouldn’t.

Instead, choose a few experiences that suit the way you like to travel.

• Culture and temples: Uluwatu, Lempuyang and traditional Balinese experiences
• Rice terraces and countryside: Tegallalang and a bike tour
• Something active: Mount Batur, cycling or exploring Nusa Penida
• Food: Take a Balinese cooking class
• Nature: Waterfalls, beaches and Nusa Penida
• Relaxation: Beach days, massages and a proper Bali spa treatment

And most importantly, leave some empty space in your itinerary.

Some of our favourite Bali memories came from the things that weren’t particularly complicated: finding a little warung, relaxing beside the pool, having a $10 beach massage or simply deciding we’d done enough sightseeing for the day.

Our Final Tip

Bali isn’t a holiday you need to complete.

You don’t have to visit every famous temple, photograph every rice terrace or chase every waterfall you’ve seen on social media.

Choose the experiences that genuinely interest you and build them around where you’re staying.

It means less time sitting in Bali traffic and more time actually enjoying Bali.

We spent around four weeks here and still didn’t do everything. And we’re perfectly happy with that.

It just gives us a reason to come back.

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