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Vacation in Bali: Top Must-Visit Destinations
20
items I've been to Bali three times now and still keep a running list of the spots worth the trip. Here are my 20 must-see Bali destinations, from Uluwatu Temple and Tegallalang Rice Terraces to Seminyak's beaches and Ubud's markets — curated from top trav...
Map
Sections
4
Temples & Cultural Sites
Nature & Scenic Spots
Beaches & Islands
Family Fun & Local Markets
Temples & Cultural Sites
The temples, cultural landmarks, and sacred sites that make Bali feel so different from any other beach destination, from cliffside temples to a monkey-filled forest.
Don't bring loose snacks or dangling jewelry, the monkeys will absolutely go for it, we learned that the hard way. That said, walking through the mossy stone temples with monkeys just hanging around everywhere is genuinely one of Ubud's most memorabl...
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
The statue is even bigger in person than photos make it look. We caught a Balinese dance performance in the amphitheater there and it ended up being a highlight we didn't expect going in. Give yourself more time than you think, the grounds are bigger...
Garuda Wisnu Kencana - GWK Cultural Park
We timed our visit for the Kecak Fire Dance at sunset and it's worth planning your whole day around. Watch your belongings near the temple, the monkeys here are just as bold as the ones in Ubud. The cliff views alone are worth the trip even without t...
Uluwatu Temple
Easy one to fold into a day trip since it's so close to Ubud, and the walk down to the falls is short. We swam in the pool at the base to cool off, just watch your footing on the rocks since they get slippery.
Tegenungan Waterfall
We go for sunset every single time, the temple silhouette against the orange sky is unbeatable. It gets crowded right at golden hour, so we usually grab a spot at one of the cliffside restaurants nearby to watch from up high instead of fighting the c...
Tanah Lot
If you want to do the purification ritual yourself, bring a change of clothes (they rent sarongs there too). It's a real, active temple where locals actually come to pray, so we try to be quiet and respectful, not just there for photos.
Tirta Empul Water Temple
The viewpoint alone is worth the trip, but if you're up for the steep hike down to the beach, plan at least an hour each way and wear real shoes, not sandals. We didn't make it all the way down and still thought it was one of the best views of the wh...
Kelingking Beach
We did the sunrise trek with a guide, pickup was around 2am which sounds brutal but watching the sunrise from the summit made up for the lost sleep completely. Bring a jacket, it's colder up there than you'd expect from Bali.
Mount Batur
This one takes actual effort to get to, a guide and a scramble down through the jungle, but it's easily the most dramatic waterfall we saw in Bali. Wear shoes with grip, the path gets muddy and slippery near the base.
Sekumpul Waterfall
This is where I always end up buying way more than I planned. Sarongs, wood carvings, silver jewelry — just wander the stalls and haggle a bit, it's expected and kind of fun once you get the hang of it. Go early morning before it gets packed and hot.
Ubud Art Market
Nature & Scenic Spots
The rice terraces, waterfalls, and viewpoints worth building a whole day around, plus the volcano hike if you're up early enough.
The view is free, but a lot of the best photo spots along the paths have a small donation box, so it's worth carrying some small bills. We went early morning before the tour buses arrived and had entire stretches of the terrace almost to ourselves.
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
There are a bunch of these swing spots around Tegalalang now, and yes it's touristy, but the view over the rice terraces from up there is still worth it. Go early morning for softer light and a shorter wait for your turn.
Aloha Ubud Swing
This is a quick stop, in and out in maybe 15 minutes, but the split gate photo is worth the detour if you're already driving north toward Bedugul. There's usually a small fee to take photos, which caught us off guard the first time.
Bali Handara Gate
Beaches & Islands
The beach clubs, cliffside coves, and island day trips that make up our actual sunset-watching, water-time part of every Bali trip.
Sunset here is non-negotiable on every trip. We grab a bean bag at one of the beach clubs, order a Bintang, and just watch the sky turn orange over the surfers. It gets busy right before sunset, so we always show up a bit early to snag a good spot.
Seminyak Beach
We did this as a full day trip by speedboat from Sanur, and it's a long day, but Kelingking and the cliffs here are unreal in person. Book the boat in advance during peak season, ours nearly sold out.
Penida Island
Less crowded than the other Uluwatu beaches and the water is genuinely turquoise, not just in photos. The staircase down is a bit of a walk in the heat, so we always bring water and grab a spot at one of the little beach clubs at the bottom instead o...
Melasti Beach
No cars or motorbikes here, just bikes and horse carts, which makes the whole island feel so relaxed. We rented bikes and rode the loop around the island in a few hours, stopping for fresh coconuts along the way. Great home base if you want beach tim...
Gili Trawangan
Family Fun & Local Markets
The theme park, wildlife stops, and markets that round out a Bali trip, great for rainy days, kids, and souvenir runs.
The kids (and honestly, us too) could spend an entire day here. Get there right when it opens if you want to skip the line for the bigger slides, by early afternoon it's packed. The lazy river is clutch for when everyone needs a break from waiting ar...
Waterbom Bali
We did the drive-through safari in our own car and it was surprisingly close-up, a giraffe stuck its head right near our window. Budget a half day if you want to catch the elephant show too, it's more spread out than it looks on the map.
Bali Safari Park
This was our rainy-day backup plan and ended up being one of the kids' favorite stops. Feeding the lorikeets is worth the extra ticket, they land right on your arm. Shaded paths too, which is a relief in the Bali heat.
Bali Bird Park