Bali is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. When planning a trip to Bali the question often arises of where to go in Bali. The island of Bali is small but there are so many different towns, villages, and areas within this small area that all offer something different.
Whether you are heading to Bali for the food, culture, beaches, parties, or anything else, there is an ideal place in Bali for you. Bali’s wide range of offers for all types of travelers is one of the reasons it is such a popular and sought after travel destination.
It is best to move around to different cities and towns while traveling in Bali. Each place is so different and the distances between them are dismal. Prepare to be blown away by Bali and all the beautiful towns and villas within it. This guide will surely solve your problem of where to go in Bali so be sure to pick the destinations that suit you as a traveler.
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In This Post
Where to go in Bali
Seminyak
- Where to go in Bali for: Beach Clubs, Great Food & Beach Days
Seminyak is a beautiful resort area in Bali that sits right along a huge white sand beach. The area is full of luxury resorts, private villas, and high-end hotels. Seminyak is the ideal place to visit for travelers looking for a comfortable stay in Bali with the ideal mix of relaxation and excitement.
The huge beach offers ample opportunity for a beach day or two. This along with the sunbeds to rent and restaurants lining the beach make for the perfect place to have a beach vacation. Bali is most commonly known as a tropical beachy travel destination, but it is also a great place for foodies!
Read More: 12 Amazing Things to do in Seminyak, Bali
After an amazing day relaxing on the beach you can then venture to one of the many delicious restaurants in Seminyak. There are so many amazing restaurants to choose from that offer delicious food and beyond stunning interiors!
Another thing many travelers come to Seminyak for is the beach clubs. The entire area is full of beach clubs that are ideal for daytime drinking and relaxation and nighttime parties. Most beach clubs offer stunning views of the ocean and sunset, making them the ideal place to spend the night enjoying the buzzing atmosphere and magical surroundings.
Uluwatu
- Where to go in Bali for: Luxurious Accommodation, Cliff Views, Private Beaches.
Uluwatu is located on Bali’s Southern tip, just a short distance from the busier areas in Bali, and offers a welcome escape from reality. This is a trendy place to visit in Bali that has a more relaxed and chill vibe. Uluwatu is not as touristy and popular as other places which makes it the ideal place to escape to. A visit here will supply you with a ton of unique and interesting things to do.
This stunning destination is best known for its magical cliff views, semi-private beaches, high-end beach clubs, and perfect surfing spots.
All around Uluwatu you will find cliff viewpoints that showcase the stunning white cliffs of the area. Unlike Seminyak and Kuta, Uluwatu has more than one beach and most of them offer an intimate beach day experience. Beaches like Thomas Beach, Suluban Beach, and Padang-Padang Beach are the perfect white-sand, blue water beaches to escape to for a private beach day amongst stunning surroundings.
Uluwatu is also famous for its luxurious cliffside beach clubs. The most famous being Ulu Cliffhouse. This beach club is new and offers a stunning beach club experience with sunbeds and a swimming pool that extends over the cliffs of Uluwatu. If you are wondering where to visit in Bali for an exciting and luxurious stay, Uluwatu is for you!
Ubud
- Where to go in Bali for: Nature Adventures, Culture, Waterfalls
You can’t visit Bali and not go to Ubud. As the cultural capital of Bali, a visit here to explore and soak in everything this jungle paradise has to offer is a must. Ubud is full of things to do and see and one could easily spend a few days here exploring all the wondrous sites and attractions. This town is very different from most of the other popular places in Bali because it is not a beach town and offers a more nature and jungle focused adventure.
One of the main attractions in Ubud is the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. People from around the world come to view these interesting and unique land formations and to learn about rice growth in Indonesia. These stunning green rice terraces are open to the public for a small fee and visiting them is definitely a bucket list experience.
Read More: Top things to do in Ubud, Bali
Since Ubud is located amongst the dense jungle of Bali it is full of nature and wildlife like monkeys! Ubud has its own sacred monkey forest which is home to over 700 monkies. It is the perfect place to explore to see the natural inhabitants of Bali and enjoy the jungle scenery of Ubud.
The excitement of Ubud doesn’t stop once you exit the town limits, just a short distance from Ubud are a ton of stunning waterfalls to enjoy! If you are looking for a vacation full of adventure and nature Ubud is for you.
Read More: Tibumana Waterfall: Ubud’s Best Waterfall
Nusa Islands
- Where to go in Bali for: Stunning Views, Blue waters, Luxurious Villas
The Nusa Islands are the perfect place to go in Bali for a refreshing change of pace. The island vibes are relaxed and the surrounding areas are breathtaking. The Nusa Islands are made up of 3 islands Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida. When visiting these islands you can choose to visit on a day trip from the mainland of Bali or stay overnight on one of the islands. It is best to spend a night or two to really see everything on the islands.
The islands are all full of amazing things to see and discover. Some of the highlights are the Devil’s Tear, Angel Billabong, Broken Beach, and Kelingking Beach. Every year these islands become more and more popular, and it is clear as to why!
Canggu
- Where to go in Bali for Hip cafes, co-working spaces full of ex-pats, trendy shops.
Canggu is one of the new hot spots in Bali that everyone can’t get enough of, especially young travelers. This is an area of Bali that is full of hip cafes and restaurants, trendy shops, and is the place of choice for ex-pats from around the world. You will find here a wide range of cafes and co-working spaces perfect for anyone who is working while traveling or needs to get something one.
Beyond the co-working, Canggu has a huge sandy beach and tons of beach clubs lining it. This is the perfect place to visit in Bali if you are looking to hang out with a young crowd in a buzzing atmosphere.
Munduk
- Where to go in Bali for a quiet getaway, peaceful hikes, king waterfalls
Hidden in the mountains of Northern Bali sits the stunning region of Munduk. Bali is a very popular tourist destination and in places like Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud you will see the tourist packs in full force. Sometimes it can be nice to get away from the crowds of people and a visit to Munduk is the perfect place for this.
In this Northern region of Bali you are away from the stunning coastline but are lucky enough to be within nature and high in the Balinese mountains. In Munduk, there are plenty of viewpoints to admire like the Munduk Swing Viewpoints. Plus various cultural attractions like the infamous Munduk water temple.
Munduk is where you will find some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Bali. They are huge and the best part is they are not at all as busy as the ones in Ubud. Be sure to visit Munduk Waterfall and Banyumala Twin Waterfall to see some of the most stunning falls you will ever see! Along with this, Munduk is home to the very famous and Instagrammable Handara Gate Bali.
Kuta
- Where to go in Bali for surfing and partying.
Kuta is often regarded as a place to avoid in Bali, but it is very attractive for a very specific kind of traveler; those looking to party! No matter how stunning and cultural Bali is there is still a huge amount of people who visit Bali with the intention to party in beach clubs. Everyone likes to celebrate and let loose in their own way and Kuta is the ideal spot for this.
Kuta also has a large beach and is a great place for surfing. So if you are a traveler looking for sun, beaches, surfing, and crazy nightlife, Kuta is your place.
Jimbaran
- Where to go in Bali for beach days, fewer crowds, less hassle.
Jimbaran is one of the few places in Southern Bali that offers a peaceful and relaxing stay. The beach here is called Jimbaran Beach and offers a ton more space than nearby Kuta beach and Seminyak’s beach, and the waves here and much less extreme. What makes Jimbaran even better is that the beach has very few people hassling you so you can enjoy our time in Bali hassle-free.
The prices for staying in Jimbaran are not overly budget-friendly. You will find accommodation prices to be closer to that in Seminyak’s. However, for the less crowded beach and hassle-free enjoyment, it is worth it.
When to go to Bali
Bali is a travel destination that can be visited year-round. There are two seasons; dry season and rainy season. The dry season is from May – September and the wet season is from October – April. However, the rainy season only welcomes an hour or so of rain a day and it isn’t anything to cancel a trip over!
The busiest months in Bali are July – August and December – January. Try to avoid these months for fewer crowds.
Travel Insurance
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I hope this post has solves all your questions on what the top places to visit in Bali are, and the top spots to add to your itinerary. There are so many stunning areas, towns and villages that this list only names a few! Be sure to see as much of this stunning island as you can and enjoy every moment
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Love,
SSW
I have been thinking about a trip to Bali for the longest time. Almost every Australian I know has been and loved it! So I hope to make it my turn soon!