Bali : Places of Worship

Bali’s temples are not museum pieces. They are active sites of daily worship, and each one serves a distinct spiritual function — sea temple, mountain temple, water purification temple, royal family temple. The six below cover that full range, spread across different parts of the island, so the one you choose depends as much on where you are staying and how far you want to drive as on what you want to see. Travjoy’s selections prioritise temples where visitor access is well managed and the experience remains respectful.

Which Temple Is Right for You?

• Want the classic Bali sunset photograph? → Tanah Lot Temple — sea temple on a tidal rock, most photogenic at golden hour.
• Want a cultural performance alongside the temple visit? → Uluwatu Temple — clifftop setting plus nightly Kecak fire dance.
• Prefer cooler weather and a mountain lake setting? → Ulun Danu Beratan Temple — highland lake temple, a welcome break from coastal heat.
• Want to understand Bali’s spiritual hierarchy? → Besakih Temple — the mother temple, Bali’s holiest site.
• Want to participate, not just observe? → Tirta Empul Temple — join the purification ritual in sacred spring pools.
• Short on time and want somewhere peaceful? → Taman Ayun Temple — royal garden temple with far fewer visitors.

If You Visit Only One — Editor’s Pick

Uluwatu Temple. The clifftop setting 70 metres above the Indian Ocean is dramatic on its own terms, and the nightly Kecak fire dance performance (starting at 6pm) adds a cultural layer that most temple visits lack. Arrive by 5pm to explore the temple grounds before the show begins. Watch your belongings — the resident monkeys are skilled opportunists. If you prefer a participatory experience over a visual one, swap this for Tirta Empul Temple, where you can walk through the purification pools yourself.