Iโve visited Bali many times over the years, and today itโs where I base myself. Even after so many visits, Iโm always discovering new things to do here.
Bali is a place where, in the space of a week, you can climb a volcano, hike a waterfall, visit an old temple, relax on a beach, go dirt biking in the jungle, and so much more.
When I first visited the island, I wasnโt sure what Iโd think of it. Today, I absolutely love it.
This is not a complete list of every interesting thing to see in Bali (that would be impossible!), but just some top highlights. These are 50 of the very best things to do in Bali, Indonesia!
Where To Stay
Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental
If you want to explore Bali in the comfort and safety of a private car with an English speaking driver, my top recommendation would be GetYourGuide.
Their price is 650k Rupiah ($45 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing in Bali (up to 10 hours) for 1-5 passengers. That's the total price for the whole car + driver + petrol! It's a great deal. They also offer affordable hotel transfers from the airport.
If you'd rather travel by motorbike, they have that too. Their scooter rentals start at 140k Rupiah (~$9) and include a helmet, rain coat, and free delivery in the south Bali area.
We've used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.
Book Now: Bali Private Driver / Scooter Rental
Best Things To Do In Bali Indonesia
South Bali
1. Kuta Sea Turtle Release
Looking for an activity that lets you interact with animals, and benefits conservation? You can release turtles with the Bali Sea Turtle Society (BSTS) as a volunteer! Itโs completely free, and you get to see hundreds of sea turtles on the beach running to freedom.
More info: Bali Sea Turtle Release
2. Bali Zoo
The Bali Zoo has a lot of great wildlife, including some species that are local to Indonesia. You can get your picture taken with tropical birds here, and the park facilities and animal care seem good too.
More info: Bali Zoo Review + Photos
3. Bali Bird Park
If youโve been to the Bali Zoo and youโre wanting to see more tropical birds, thereโs a Bird & Reptile Park just a short distance away that has over 1,000 exotic bird species. The reptile center has crocodiles and Komodo dragons too!
4. Sanur Beach
Sanur beach is pretty average in most respects, but where it really shines (no pun intended) is at sunrise. This beach is one of the best sunrise viewing spots on the entire island.
More info: Best Things To Do In Sanur
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5. Sanur Rice Fields
Thereโs a group of rice fields near Sanur that is virtually unknown to tourists, but theyโre just as green as any of the others in Bali! A new jogging path through the fields was just added in 2018.
More info: Sanur Rice Fields
6. Tanah Lot Temple
This is a mysterious looking 16th century shrine built on a rock overlooking the Indian Ocean. Tanah Lot is one of Baliโs most iconic temples, and itโs located near Canggu and north Kuta.
At high tide, the temple almost looks like itโs floating on the sea! Tanah Lot is a popular sunset spot, and when the tide is low you can even walk out to the rock for a closer look.
More info: Tanah Lot Temple
Uluwatu Bali
7. Padang Padang Beach
This is a neat little hidden beach tucked into the cliffs in south Bali. Itโs a popular spot for surfing, or you can just sip a fresh coconut and hang out on the white sand with the monkeys.
More info: Padang Padang Beach
8. Tegal Wangi Beach
My favorite part about this beach is the cool sea cave, but itโs also known as a great place to catch the sunset.
More info: Tegal Wangi Beach
9. Suluban Beach
Suluban is a secluded beach with lots of caves and huge rocks to explore, but my favorite thing is the restaurant view. Itโs an epic place to grab breakfast while exploring south Bali.
More info: Suluban Beach
10. Bingin Beach
This is a photogenic beach with exotic boulders and seaweed covered rocks. Great for scenic pics or surfing, and itโs less crowded than some of the others.
Thereโs a bit of trash and rubble lately from hotel construction, but some high quality accommodation and restaurants are starting to spring up here.
More info: Bingin Beach
11. Uluwatu Temple
The Uluwatu temple sits on the edge of a huge cliff in south Bali. The pagoda itself may not be spectacular, but the setting is really scenic and gives you some epic views of the ocean cliffs. Watch out for the monkeys here, theyโre notorious for trying to snatch your stuff!
More info: Uluwatu Temple
12. Batu Jaran Hill
This is a huge cliff near Uluwatu Temple, but there are no crowds and no safety fences to block your view of the waves crashing on the rocks below.
You can see the Uluwatu pagoda in the distance, and we even spotted a few sea turtles in the waves. Itโs an incredibly photogenic spot that most tourists donโt seem to know about yet.
We just discovered this viewpoint recently, but itโs one of my new favorite things to do in Uluwatu!
More info: Batu Jaran Hill
13. Karang Boma Cliff
This is another steep cliff near Uluwatu, but itโs on the south side of the temple and requires a short walk from a separate parking area.
Itโs a great spot for sunset, and you should have the place mostly to yourself.
14. Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK)
This is a cultural park in the center of the Bukit Peninsula, about 20 minutes from Uluwatu Temple.
Itโs used for exhibitions and Balinese cultural events, but most people know it for the giant statues of Hindu figures.
The centerpiece of the park is a statue of the god Vishnu riding the mythical bird Garuda. At 120 meters tall (400 feet), itโs one of the tallest statues in the world.
15. Nunggalan Beach
This is one of the bigger white sand beaches in south Bali. The walk down and back up is a killer, but youโre rewarded with a huge private beach and a cool shipwreck for pictures!
More info: Nunggalan Beach
16. Green Bowl Beach
Green Bowl is one of my favorite hidden beaches in south Bali. Itโs a long walk down to the beach, but youโre greeted by a perfect stretch of white sand and two big sea caves to explore.
More info: Green Bowl Beach
Ubud Bali
17. Ubud Monkey Forest
Some love it, some hate it. The Ubud monkey forest is a big jungle area surrounding an old 14th century Hindu temple, and over 600 monkeys live here.
It may sound weird, but the Instagram famous monkey forest was one of THE biggest inspirations for my first trip to Bali. I saw all the pictures of people posing with monkeys, and it looked really fun.
More info: Ubud Monkey Forest
18. Ubud Market
Just up the street from the monkey forest, youโll find the Ubud art market.
Itโs full of interesting handmade souvenirs like wood carvings, paintings, coconut bowls, rattan hats and bags, and everything else you can imagine.
Feel free to haggle for lower prices, because some of the sellers here start a bit on the high side.
19. Ubud Royal Palace
This palace was built in the 1800s and itโs easily one of the most well known buildings in Ubud, partly because itโs located right in the city center. Itโs free to visit.
More info: Ubud Royal Palace
20. Saraswati Temple
Saraswati is an old Hindu temple in Ubud, and it has some of my favorite Balinese style walls and sculptures in the whole island. This one is located in the Ubud town center, so itโs easy to visit on any trip to Ubud.
More info: Saraswati Water Temple
21. Layana Waterfall
This is a nice 2 step waterfall in Ubud that you can see without any hiking or entrance fee. Itโs actually sitting right next to a warung where you can buy food or drinks (optional) while hanging out by the falls.
More info: Layana Waterfall
22. Goa Gajah Cave Temple
This is one of the oldest temples I visited in Ubud, and also one of the weirdest. The doorway to the cave is really bizarre and unique, and it feels like youโre walking into the belly of some underground rock monster.
More info: Goa Gajah Cave Temple
23. Tibumana Waterfall
Tibumana is quickly becoming one of the most popular Instagram waterfall spots in Bali. The road to this one winds through some green rice fields and palm trees, so itโs also a nice scenic drive.
More info: Tibumana Waterfall
24. Gunung Kawi Temple
This is a hidden temple and archaeological site more than 1,000 years old, where you can see ancient funeral shrines carved into the cliffs. Itโs a fascinating piece of Baliโs history.
More info: Gunung Kawi Temple
25. Tegalalang Rice Terraces
These are the most famous rice terraces in Bali, and theyโre also the easiest to reach. Sadly that also means the place has turned into a bit of a tourist trap, but itโs still easy to see why it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you come here in the right month, itโs one of the brightest shades of green you will ever see!
More info: Tegalalang Rice Terraces
After youโve been to the Bali Zoo and the Bird Park, next up is the Butterfly Park in Kemenuh. This one claims to be the biggest insect conservation park in Asia, and it has some rare bugs native to Indonesia like the huge Atlas moths. Biggest moth in the world!
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27. Batuan Temple
This is an ancient 10th century temple located in Batuan village, halfway between Ubud and Sanur. The whole temple grounds are open to tourists, and a lot of the buildings and carvings are different from what you normally see at other Balinese temples.
28. Flying Fox & Monkey Sanctuary
Thereโs a wildlife sanctuary in Tabanan thatโs similar to the Ubud Monkey Forest, but instead itโs home to huge flying foxes. These bats look scary, but theyโre actually super friendly and love interacting and climbing on people!
More info: Alas Kedaton Flying Fox & Monkey Sanctuary
29. Nungnung Waterfall
Nungnung is one of the biggest and most powerful waterfalls in Bali. Itโs not as well known as Sekumpul (the biggest), so itโs usually a lot less crowded. The jungle surroundings are great too.
More info: Nungnung Waterfall
North Bali
30. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Some of my favorite rice terraces in Bali are the ones at Jatiluwih. These are far from town so they havenโt been spoiled by tourism like the terraces at Tegalalang. Thereโs a walking path at Jatiluwih and you can catch some great views of the Bali volcanoes in the distance.
More info: Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
31. Danau Bratan Temple
This is a 17th century temple on a lake, and itโs arguably one of the most famous and iconic places in Bali. The 12-story pagoda just screams โAsiaโ, and the mountains in the background arenโt too shabby either.
More info: Danau Bratan Temple
32. Bali Botanic Garden
You might not see this place on many Bali itineraries, but we loved it and itโs very close to the lake temple. Some of the trees and plants here look like theyโre straight out of Jurassic Park. The highlight is a huge Banyan tree that may be hundreds of years old.
More info: Bedugul Botanic Garden
33. Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul is the biggest (and in my opinion the best) waterfall in Bali. Itโs two huge 80 meter (260 foot) tall spouts of water pouring out of the jungle treetops. This one is a must see.
More info: Sekumpul Waterfall
34. Banyumala Waterfall
Banyumala is not as big as the Sekumpul waterfall, but itโs more hidden and much less crowded. This one is not far from Sekumpul, so you could easily visit both in the same trip.
More info: Banyumala Waterfall
35. Munduk Waterfall Hike
This is a nice hike in the Munduk area that takes you to 4 different waterfalls. Thereโs even a little food shack where you can sit and eat with a view of the first waterfall.
More info: Munduk Waterfall Hike
East Bali
36. Sidemen Village
Sidemen (sih-duh-men) is a rural village 1 hour from Ubud or Sanur.
The whole valley is a panorama of rice terraces, farm lands, and spectacular viewpoints of the Agung volcano.
37. Besakih Temple
This is one of the biggest and most significant temples in Bali.
Besakih sits on the slopes of the Mount Agung volcano, and some parts of the temple may be thousands of years old.
38. Marigold Fields
Temukus village near the Besakih temple has lots of marigold fields where they grow flowers for the Hindu ceremonies.
You wonโt see any of the usual palm trees and green rice paddies here, but instead youโre surrounded by foggy mountains and bright orange marigold flowers.
More info: Bali Marigold Fields
39. Amed Beach
The main beach at Amed, on the far northeastern tip of Bali, has a mix of fine black sand (from the volcano) and smooth rocks.
Itโs a quiet beach lined with fishing boats and small hotels, and the sunsets over the volcano every night are awe inspiring.
More info: Amed Coast
40. Jemeluk Bay
This scenic bay is the main snorkeling site in Amed, with good corals on both sides of the bay.
Thereโs also a popular viewpoint near the road where you can watch the sunset over the bay.
Jemeluk has lots of good restaurant and hotel options, and you can walk here from Amed Beach in about 10 minutes.
More info: Amed Coast
41. Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
The Mount Batur hike in east Bali is one of the islandโs most popular day trips, especially for sunrise, where you can catch epic morning views from the top of an active volcano!
More info: Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
Nusa Penida
42. Kelingking Cliff Point
Kelingking Cliff in Nusa Penida is one of the most famous Instagram spots in Bali. You can admire this epic view from the top of the cliffs, or climb a stairway down to the white sand beach to get an even closer look.
More info: Kelingking Cliff Point In Nusa Penida
43. Crystal Bay
This beach on Nusa Penida is a great place to relax and watch the sunset with your toes in the sand. It has a bunch of little food and drink shacks, or you can rent a sun chair or bean bag to sit on.
More info: Crystal Bay In Nusa Penida
44. Suwehan Beach
Looking for a hidden beach with perfect white sand and turquoise waves? Suwehan is one of the best hidden beaches in Penida.
Thereโs even a cool pointy rock that looks like a Christmas tree (or maybe an elf hat), and the locals recently built some tree houses where you can stay a night near the cliffs.
More info: Suwehan Beach In Nusa Penida
45. Atuh Beach
Atuh is not as hidden as Suwehan, but it has a unique stiletto shaped rock that makes it just as memorable. There are also some unique food and accommodation options to check out here.
More info: Atuh Beach In Nusa Penida
46. Rumah Pohon Treehouse
This is an epic treehouse you can stay the night in at Nusa Penida. Youโll fall asleep to the sound of geckos chirping in the trees, and wake up to an incredible sunrise over the Raja Lima islands, with dolphins and manta rays swimming and jumping in the distance.
More info: Rumah Pohon Treehouse In Nusa Penida
47. Diamond Beach
This is a newly accessible โcliff beachโ in Nusa Penida. Diamond Beach is named after the pointy gem shaped rock on the beach, and it has the same white sand and amazing views as Suwehan Beach, but even better in my opinion.
More info: Diamond Beach In Nusa Penida
Other Top Things To Do In Bali
48. Souvenir Shopping
Most of the souvenirs in Bali are quality handmade things, and the wood carvings and paintings are especially nice. You can find the usual items like fridge magnets and keychains too, if thatโs your thing. Thereโs something for everyone.
49. Indonesian Food
One of my favorite things about Bali is the food. The nasi goreng (fried rice) and sate ayam (chicken kabobs) are both really good. In some places you can get a full meal for $3. Fresh fruit juice is served as a drink in every restaurant, and you can try some exotic ones like the purple dragonfruit.
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50. Bali Dirt Biking
There are a bunch of companies offering dirt bike tours in Bali, and they go to places like the Tabanan black sand beach and the Kintamani volcano crater. Itโs a cool experience if youโre looking to get an adrenaline rush while touring some scenic Bali vistas.
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More Bali Travel Tips
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this list of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia.
Donโt forget to check out my complete Bali Travel Guide with free tips, info, photos, and more!
Ubud Hotels
Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental
If you want to explore Bali in the comfort and safety of a private car with an English speaking driver, my top recommendation would be GetYourGuide.
Their price is 650k Rupiah ($45 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing in Bali (up to 10 hours) for 1-5 passengers. That's the total price for the whole car + driver + petrol! It's a great deal. They also offer affordable hotel transfers from the airport.
If you'd rather travel by motorbike, they have that too. Their scooter rentals start at 140k Rupiah (~$9) and include a helmet, rain coat, and free delivery in the south Bali area.
We've used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.
Book Now: Bali Private Driver / Scooter Rental