Bali TOP 10 PLACES to visit
We’ve spent over a year living on the incredible island of Bali and today we want to show you our TOP 10 favourite parts
Bali is one of our favourite places we have lived in the last 4 years of full-time travel. It’s home to the some of the most friendly people you’ll ever meet, has an incredibly rich culture that is still very strong today, it’s filled with some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, and we think it really does live up to it’s nickname ‘The Island of the Gods’.
10. SEMINYAK
First up, Seminyak. If you’re not that into the cultural side of Bali and would prefer a time filled with lounging on the beach, shopping, daily massages, eating, drinking and some nightlife, then Seminyak is for you. Seminyak is jam packed with world-class restaurants, cafes, clubs, cocktail bars and some of the island’s most coveted hotels. While in Seminyak we recommend checking out some of the local markets to pick up some gifts for the fam, grab sundowners at one of the many beach bars, try your hand at some surfing lessons and get a massage at one of the many world-class spas in the area.
9. AMED
The next place to visit on the list is Amed, known for it’s black sand beach and incredible views of mount Agung, here you can also do a scuba diving course or simply go out for a snorkel at the nearby coral reef and shipwrecks. This sleepy fishing village is not yet a staple on every Bali itinerary, so you’ll be able to get a glimpse into the “real” authentic Bali and enjoy the laidback vibes.
8. NUSA PENIDA + LEMBONGAN
Off the coast of Bali you can find two islands, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Both are definitely worth a visit. The latter is known for its incredible shoreline and hard to reach beaches. To get to these islands, you can take a ferry from either Sanur or Kusamba. We recommend Kusamba and using the Gangga Express, for an easy 15-20 boat to Penida. On Penida, you can hire a scooter and explore the island yourself or you can get a driver to take you to all the best spots. The main attraction here is Kiliking beach for this iconic photo. There are also amazing places to stay on the island, one of them being this incredible cliff side retreat called Tropical Glamping.
7. JATILUWIH RICE FIELDS
Next on the list is a UNESCO World Heritage site, Jatiluwih offers a beautiful view of contoured rice terraces irrigated using an impressive communal water system developed by Balinese farmers. The site is about 20 times bigger than the more popular Tegalalang rice terrace, you could easily spend 3 hours here walking through the rice fields, communicating with locals and trying local delicacies at the many warungs in the area.
6. TUKAD CEPUNG WATERFALL
Next up on the list is our first waterfall and one of our favourites. Entrance here is 15k IDR ($1 USD) per person but may change by the time you get there. After a short trail through this amazing forest and a couple slippery steps down into the gorge, you’ll need to walk up river in shallow waters through the cave to get to the main waterfall. It’s a magical sight seeing water tumbling down through a cave opening, lit by shafts of sunlight. If you time it right, we recommend arriving at 11 am. As a bonus, there is another water fall on the opposite side of the stairs, which we found was an awesome place to take some photos, especially with these leaves as a background!
5. SEKUMPUL WATERFALL
Our next waterfall has to be one of the most impressive on the island, Sekumpul waterfall. You’ll need to grab a guide for this one but it will be worth it. For approximately 130K IDR ($8 usd) you can pay a guide to take you to two waterfalls. It is a moderately difficulty 30 minute trek to the waterfall’s base where you can swim and relax with friends, it was one of the best things we did on the island.
4. MUNDUK
After Amed, we going to head inland to Munduk. There’s so much we like about this place, it’s set high up in the mountains so the cooler temperature is most welcome, there are dozen’s of beautiful waterfalls in the area, Banyamala being one of our favourites, Ulun Danu, the water temple set on lake Temblingan is arguably the most stunning temple in Bali, especially if visited in the early morning and during rainy season when the lake water levels are high. If you’re into coffee like we are then Munduk is for you, there are countless coffee farms in the area, we recommend checking out Munduk Moding Plantation which sells ethically sourced coffee that is also organic and supports the local community by providing employment. Other things to do in Munduk include strawberry picking, and of course a visit to the nearby Handara gate or that iconic Bali photo.
3. UBUD
One of our favourite parts of Bali is Ubud. This is one of the more authentic places on the island, with a much cooler climate due to the higher elevation. Ubud has a ton of variety, if you’re into cultural activities and learning about the history, we recommend a visit to Tirta Empul Temple, one of the only places on the island where you can experience Balinese culture alongside the locals. Ubud also has an abundance of outdoor activities, from visiting the famous Tegalalang rice terrace, hiking the Campuhan ridge, river rafting, ATV’ing, or simply visiting one of the dozen or more waterfalls in the region. If you’re into the more chill side of things, Ubud is also known for its cafe scene and also the many yoga studios. You can even do puppy yoga!
2. CANGGU
If you’re looking a more hipster chilled out vibe then head up north from Seminyak to Canggu, now known as the digital nomad hub of the island, Canggu is a good place to relax, do some shopping, grab sundowners on the beach and take some beginner surfing lessons. There are tons of great villa’s and hotel in this area as well as world class restaurants to eat at. It is definitely a very comfortable place to live if you’re looking to spend a little longer on the island. Unfortunately the only down side is due to it’s increased popularity, it can get very busy and traffic on the infamous shortcut can be really crazy!
ULUWATU
And finally our favourite place in Bali is Uluwatu. Uluwatu is a short 30 minute taxi ride from the airport and it has to be one of the most beautiful places on the island - with an incredible shoreline and jaw-dropping cliffs! A trip to Bali is not complete without a few days spent soaking in the sun on these magnificent beaches followed by sundowners at one of the many beach bars. If you can, we recommend hiring a motorbike and just go exploring the area, there are dozens of beaches to visit, restaurants to eat at and cultural sites such as the incredible Uluwatu temple, perched high up on this cliff. If you want a more detailed video about the best beaches in Bali, you can check out this video linked below
Well that is it for our top 10 places to visit in Bali, we’re just barely scratching the surface. There are so many incredible things to explore on this island. Let us know one of your favourite places in Bali in the comments section below. You can find us on Instagram and TikTok @rhettandclaire for more up to date content!
