30 Best Things to Do in Bali: A Local Expert's Ultimate Bucket List

Key Takeaways

• 30 things grouped by theme — temples, volcanoes, beaches, culture, wellness and day trips — so you can plan by mood rather than scrolling a flat list.
• Plan at least 7 days to cover the south, central Bali and one Nusa Island — 5 days only scratches the south.
• Iconic spots (Mt Batur summit, Lempuyang's gate, Kelingking Beach) get crowded fast — start before 8 a.m. or skip the photo queue.
• Most attractions cost IDR 50,000–300,000 (~$3–20 USD) per entry; full-day tours and adventure activities run IDR 400,000–1,500,000 (~$25–95).

The best things to do in Bali blend sacred temples (Uluwatu, Lempuyang, Tanah Lot), volcanoes and rice terraces (Mt Batur, Tegallalang, Sekumpul), beach culture (Seminyak clubs, Uluwatu surf), and quieter villages and islands (Sidemen, Nusa Penida). Plan at least 7 days to cover the south, central Bali and one day-trip island. Most attractions cost IDR 50,000–300,000 (~$3–20 USD) per entry; tours and full-day experiences run IDR 400,000–1,500,000 (~$25–95).

Bali asks you to choose. Six days will only let you scratch one corner of the island, and the corners pull in completely different directions. The Bukit cliffs in the south are surf, sunset cocktails and dramatic temples. Ubud and central Bali are rice valleys, yoga and craft markets. The east is volcanoes, traditional villages and the launching pad for the Nusa Islands. The north is waterfalls and dolphin coves with almost nothing in between.

Most "things to do in Bali" lists hand you the same eight icons in a random order. This one is grouped by theme and tagged by region, so you can decide what to slot into your trip and what to drop. Each item carries a current price in IDR and USD, a "best for" cue, and an honest practical note where one matters — Mt Batur's crowds, Lempuyang's two-hour photo queue, Tanah Lot's tide-locked main shrine.

Whether you're plotting your first Bali bucket list or coming back for a fourth visit, this is the working version of the island.

Sacred temples and spiritual sites in Bali

Bali has more than 20,000 temples — pura — but five carry the bulk of any first-timer's list: Uluwatu, Lempuyang, Tirta Empul, Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu Beratan. Together they cover sunset, sunrise, water purification rituals and lake views. Plan a sarong (or rent one at the gate for IDR 25,000) and shoulder cover for every visit.

1. Watch the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple

The cliff temple sits 70 metres above the Indian Ocean on the Bukit Peninsula. Uluwatu Temple's nightly Kecak dance at 6 p.m. brings 70-plus chanters into concentric rings around a fire to perform the Ramayana story, finishing as the sun drops behind the temple's pagoda.

• Cost: IDR 50,000 (~$3) temple entry + IDR 150,000 (~$10) Kecak ticket
• Timing: Arrive by 5 p.m. — the amphitheatre fills fast for sunset
• Best for: First-timers, couples
• Honest note: The macaques will steal sunglasses and water bottles. Hand loose items to staff at the entrance.

2. Frame your photo at Lempuyang's Gate of Heaven

The split entry to Penataran Agung Lempuyang in east Bali is the most-photographed gate on the island. The famous shot with Mount Agung framed behind it uses a small mirror under the lens — there is no actual lake.

• Cost: IDR 75,000 (~$5) entry + IDR 150,000 (~$10) shuttle to the gate
• Best for: Photography, couples
• Honest note: The photo queue routinely runs 90 minutes to two hours. Arrive at 7 a.m. to be in the first 20 in line, or skip the photo entirely and walk the upper terraces — they're quieter and the architecture is the actual interest.

3. Take the holy spring purification at Tirta Empul

Tirta Empul is a 1,000-year-old water temple in Tampaksiring, central Bali, where Balinese Hindus queue at a series of fountain spouts for melukat — ritual cleansing. Visitors are welcome to participate respectfully.

• Cost: IDR 75,000 (~$5) entry, sarong rental included
• Best for: Cultural travellers, slower-paced trips
• Honest note: Bring a change of clothes and don't photograph people mid-prayer. The spouts at the far left are reserved for funerary rites — skip those.

4. See Tanah Lot Temple at sunset

Tanah Lot is a sea temple sitting on a black basalt outcrop on Bali's west coast. It becomes an island at high tide. The most-photographed angle is from the cliff path north, around 5:30 p.m.

• Cost: IDR 75,000 (~$5) entry
• Best for: First-timers, photographers
• Honest note: You can only walk to the temple base at low tide, and you can't enter the inner shrine — it's reserved for worshippers. Check tide tables before you go.

5. Visit Ulun Danu Beratan, the lake temple

The 17th-century temple appears to float on Lake Beratan when the water is high. At 1,200 metres in the Bedugul highlands, the cool air is a relief from the south's humidity.

• Cost: IDR 75,000 (~$5) entry
• Best for: Families, photographers, mild-climate days
• Honest note: Best visited on the way to the north (Munduk, Lovina) — it's a 90-minute drive from Ubud and not worth doubling back for.

Volcanoes, rice terraces and jungle adventures

Bali's outdoors deliver their biggest payoff before the sun is fully up. Mt Batur's summit and the Tegallalang terraces are both at their best between 5:30 and 8 a.m. — clearer light, fewer crowds, cooler air. Build the volcano, the rice fields and at least one waterfall into the same Ubud-based stretch of your trip.

6. Hike Mt Batur for sunrise

Mt Batur's sunrise hike climbs 1,717 metres of active volcano. Pick-up runs around 2 a.m. from south Bali, the ascent takes two hours, and you reach the summit by 5:30 a.m. Your guide cooks eggs in the steam vents on the descent.

• Cost: IDR 600,000–1,000,000 (~$38–63) group with guide; private guide IDR 850,000–1,100,000 (~$54–70) for two
• Best for: Active travellers, couples, anyone over 12 with reasonable fitness
• Honest note: April to October is the dry season with the clearest skies. Group tours can put 200+ hikers on the trail; pay for a private guide and start 30 minutes earlier to avoid the bottleneck at the top scramble.

7. Walk the Tegallalang Rice Terraces

The most-photographed rice fields on the island sit 20 minutes north of Ubud. Stepped slopes, coconut palms and working irrigation channels — Bali's UNESCO-recognised subak system in action.

• Cost: IDR 25,000 (~$2) entry; swing rides IDR 30,000–500,000 (~$2–32) separately
• Best for: Photographers, families
• Honest note: Arrive by 7 a.m. to walk the lower paddies before the tour buses. The "Bali Swing" attractions stacked through the terrace are theme-park-style add-ons — fine for kids, easy to skip otherwise.

8. Trek to Sekumpul Waterfall

Bali's tallest waterfall is an 80-metre twin cascade in the northern jungle. The 30-minute walk in is steep and slippery in the wet season, and you'll cross a river barefoot.

• Cost: IDR 200,000 (~$13) entry + guide
• Best for: Active travellers, photographers
• Honest note: Three hours from Ubud — pair it with Ulun Danu Beratan or stay overnight in Munduk. Gitgit and Banyumala are smaller, easier alternatives if you don't want the trek.

9. Cool off at Tegenungan Waterfall

A 20-metre cascade you can swim under, 20 minutes south of Ubud. The easiest waterfall to slot into a half-day.

• Cost: IDR 20,000 (~$1.50) entry
• Best for: Families, easy-access stops
• Honest note: Goes from peaceful to packed by 10 a.m. Visit before 9 a.m. or as a late-afternoon stop on the way back to your hotel.

10. ATV ride through rice fields and rivers

A two-hour loop runs you through working rice paddies, a long tunnel, river crossings and small villages around Ubud.

• Cost: IDR 400,000–650,000 (~$25–41) per person; tandem is cheaper per head
• Best for: Couples, small groups, anyone comfortable with a manual throttle
• Honest note: Wet-season tracks are properly muddy — wear shoes you'll throw away. Operators provide goggles and gloves; bring a bandana for the dust in dry season.

11. White-water raft the Ayung River

Class II–III rapids through a forested gorge near Ubud. Two hours on the water, lunch included on most packages.

• Cost: IDR 450,000–600,000 (~$28–38) per person
• Best for: Families with kids 8+, casual rafters
• Honest note: Properly tame — this is not Bali's adventure-rafting river (that's the Telaga Waja, an hour east). The Ayung is a scenic float with a few exciting drops, suitable for non-swimmers.

Bali's beaches and ocean experiences

Bali's coastline runs in three distinct moods. The Bukit Peninsula in the south is dramatic surf cliffs and turquoise bays — the postcard. Sanur and Lovina are calm, swimmable, family-friendly. The east coast is the launching pad for the Nusa Islands. Pick your beach by what you actually want from the day.

12. Surf or learn to surf at Uluwatu, Padang Padang or Kuta

Uluwatu and Padang Padang are world-class reef breaks for experienced surfers; Kuta and Legian have soft sandy beach breaks ideal for beginners.

• Cost: Group lesson IDR 350,000 (~$22) for 2 hours; private IDR 600,000+ (~$38+)
• Best for: Beginners (Kuta), experienced surfers (Uluwatu, Padang Padang)
• Honest note: Don't try to learn at Uluwatu — the reef is sharp and the takeoff is unforgiving. Start at Kuta, then graduate when you're paddling out unaided.

13. Snorkel or dive with manta rays near Nusa Penida

A 30-minute fast boat from Sanur, then a small-boat snorkel with manta rays and tropical fish at Manta Bay or Crystal Bay.

• Cost: IDR 800,000–1,400,000 (~$50–90) full-day with transfers and lunch
• Best for: Families with strong swimmers, snorkelers, divers
• Honest note: Manta sightings are seasonal — best April to October. Book through reputable operators only; the open-ocean swell can catch out non-swimmers.

14. Take a sunset dinner cruise from Benoa Harbour

A two-hour cruise on the Bali Hai or similar with buffet dinner, live music and a sunset over the south coast.

• Cost: IDR 750,000–1,200,000 (~$48–75) per person
• Best for: Couples, anniversary trips, less-mobile travellers
• Honest note: A solid one-evening option but the food is buffet-standard, not fine dining. If food matters more than the cruise, book a sunset table at Single Fin in Uluwatu instead.

15. Watch dolphins at Lovina Beach at dawn

Pods of spinner dolphins surface 1–2 km offshore at sunrise. Local boats run from 6 a.m. from Lovina on Bali's north coast.

• Cost: IDR 150,000 (~$10) per person, 2 hours
• Best for: Families, north Bali itineraries
• Honest note: Boats can crowd the dolphins — pick a small operator that keeps distance. Lovina is 3 hours from south Bali, so commit to an overnight there if you go.

16. Spend the day at Waterbom Bali

Asia's top-rated water park, with 22 slides spread across landscaped grounds in Kuta.

• Cost: IDR 750,000 adult / IDR 550,000 child (~$48 / $35)
• Best for: Families with kids 6+
• Honest note: Arrive at opening (10 a.m.) — popular slides queue 30+ minutes by lunch. Pack lockers and reef-safe sunscreen.

17. Beach-club hop in Seminyak

Seminyak is the original Bali beach-club coast. Day-bed packages, infinity pools, sunset DJs at Potato Head, Ku De Ta and La Brisa (the calmer, more design-led option in Canggu).

• Cost: IDR 400,000–800,000 (~$25–50) minimum spend; day-bed reservations from IDR 1,500,000 (~$95)
• Best for: Couples, groups, sunset evenings
• Honest note: Reserve in advance for Friday to Sunday. La Brisa is the lower-key choice if Seminyak feels too much.

Culture, traditional villages and live performances

Stepping off the temple-and-beach circuit is what stops Bali blurring into one beach club after another. The villages of east Bali still run on traditional Balinese calendars and weaving cooperatives, and the dance traditions in Ubud are working art forms — not theme-park shows.

18. See the Devdan Show at Nusa Dua or a Legong dance in Ubud

Devdan is a 90-minute Broadway-style production telling Indonesia's regional dance stories. Legong is the older, more contained Balinese form — gamelan orchestra, intricate hand movements, hour-long set in an open courtyard.

• Cost: Devdan IDR 525,000–950,000 (~$33–60); Legong at Ubud Palace IDR 100,000 (~$6)
• Best for: Families (Devdan), cultural travellers (Legong)
• Honest note: If you only see one, the Ubud Palace Legong has more soul — open courtyard, gamelan two metres from your seat. Devdan is the polished spectacle.

19. Wander Penglipuran Village

A 700-year-old Balinese village in Bangli kept to its traditional layout — bamboo gates, identical compound walls, a single ceremonial avenue running the length of the town. Recognised as one of the cleanest villages in the world.

• Cost: IDR 25,000 (~$2) entry
• Best for: Cultural travellers, families with older kids
• Honest note: Visit before 11 a.m. to see locals doing daily offerings. Pair with Tirta Empul or Mt Batur for a full central-Bali day.

20. Slow morning in Sidemen Valley

Sidemen is east Bali's quiet alternative to Ubud — rice terraces with no entrance gate and almost no buses. Mt Agung dominates the skyline. Walking trails through working paddies; small homestays from IDR 400,000 a night.

• Cost: Free
• Best for: Couples, slower-paced travellers
• Honest note: This is what Ubud looked like 20 years ago. Stay one night, not just a day-trip — the morning light is the entire point.

21. Tenganan, the original Balinese village

A "Bali Aga" village in Karangasem predating the 14th-century Hindu-Javanese arrival. The community still weaves the rare double-ikat geringsing cloth — one of three places in the world that does.

• Cost: Donation (typically IDR 25,000 / ~$2)
• Best for: Textile lovers, cultural travellers
• Honest note: A real working village, not a recreation. Cloth weavers can take a year per piece — prices reflect that. Combine with Lempuyang or the Tirta Gangga water palace.

22. Browse Ubud Art Market for batik, silver and woodwork

A two-storey market on Ubud's main street with stalls running batik sarongs, silver jewellery, carved masks and hand-painted homewares.

• Cost: Free entry; expect to bargain to roughly 50% of the first asking price
• Best for: Souvenir shopping, family browsing
• Honest note: Quality varies wildly. For better craftsmanship at fixed prices, head to Sukawati Art Market 20 minutes south or to the silver workshops in Celuk village.

Wellness, food and beach-club Bali

Wellness and food are where Bali stretches well past the highlight reel. Cooking classes pull you into morning markets; spa rooms cost a fraction of equivalent treatments at home; and Bali's eating ranges from IDR 35,000 warungs to fine-dining tasting menus. Two days into your trip, build at least one slow afternoon around food or wellness.

23. Take a Balinese cooking class

Most classes start at a market with the chef walking you through ingredients, then move to an open kitchen for sambal, pepes ikan and a base gede curry paste. Four hours total.

• Cost: IDR 450,000–650,000 (~$28–41)
• Best for: Couples, food travellers, families with kids 10+
• Honest note: Casa Luna and Paon Bali (both in Ubud) get strong reviews; Canggu has more vegan-leaning options. Skip classes that don't include the market visit — that's where the real learning happens.

24. Traditional Balinese spa treatment in Ubud

The standard Balinese massage runs 90 minutes, mixes acupressure with long strokes, and finishes with a flower bath. Treatment villas in Ubud cost a fraction of the same hour in Seminyak.

• Cost: IDR 250,000–600,000 (~$15–38) for 90 minutes; high-end resorts IDR 1,500,000+ (~$95+)
• Best for: Everyone
• Honest note: Read recent reviews before booking — quality varies wildly between adjacent spas. Jaens Spa, Karsa Spa and the Yoga Barn's wellness centre in Ubud are reliable; expect to tip IDR 50,000–100,000.

25. Yoga at The Yoga Barn or Alchemy in Ubud

Drop-in vinyasa, yin and meditation classes morning and evening. Ubud is the established yoga hub of Southeast Asia.

• Cost: IDR 130,000–180,000 (~$8–12) drop-in
• Best for: Solo travellers, wellness-focused trips
• Honest note: Class quality is high — most teachers are international with serious credentials. Book the 7 a.m. or 9 a.m. slots; afternoon Ubud heats up and traffic in is brutal by 11.

26. Eat babi guling, nasi campur and warung-style street food

The proper Bali eat-list: babi guling (roast suckling pig — the signature dish at Ibu Oka in Ubud), nasi campur (rice with five small sides), bebek betutu (slow-roasted duck), satay lilit and lawar.

• Cost: IDR 35,000–80,000 (~$2–5) per meal at a warung
• Best for: Everyone — this is one of the best things to do in Bali on any budget
• Honest note: Eat where the locals queue, not where the buses park. Warung Mak Beng in Sanur (one menu, one fish soup) is the textbook example.

27. Brunch at a Canggu cliff or beach café

Canggu's café strip — La Brisa, The Lawn, Crate, Milk & Madu — is a two-hour brunch coast worth a half-day on its own.

• Cost: IDR 90,000–180,000 (~$6–11) for brunch
• Best for: Slow mornings, couples, digital-nomad travellers
• Honest note: Saturday brunch waits run 40+ minutes. Go Tuesday to Thursday or arrive at 9 a.m. The Lawn has the best ocean view; Crate has the best food.

Day trips, waterfalls and the Nusa Islands

Two of Bali's strongest experiences aren't on Bali at all — they're an hour east, on Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Add the Ubud Monkey Forest as a half-day in the centre and you have three day trips that each give you a complete change of pace.

28. Day trip to Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida

The T-Rex-shaped cliff overlook at Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida is the most-photographed view in Indonesia. The descent to the beach is a 45-minute scramble down a near-vertical bamboo staircase — the climb back up is brutal in the heat.

• Cost: Fast boat IDR 200,000 (~$13) each way + tour IDR 600,000–900,000 (~$38–57)
• Best for: Active travellers, photographers
• Honest note: Penida's roads are properly rough — book a tour with a hired car and driver, not a scooter unless you're experienced. Make Kelingking your first stop; the queue at the viewpoint is half an hour by 10 a.m.

29. Sail to Nusa Lembongan for snorkelling and a slower pace

Lembongan is Penida's smaller, gentler neighbour — clear water, mangrove channels, three good snorkel sites and almost no traffic.

• Cost: Day cruise IDR 400,000–800,000 (~$25–50) with snorkelling and lunch
• Best for: Families, couples, anyone who finds Penida overwhelming
• Honest note: A day cruise gets you the highlights. Stay the night if you want to dive Crystal Bay or watch sunset from Devil's Tear.

30. Visit the Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud

Ten hectares of forest in the middle of Ubud, home to roughly 1,200 long-tailed macaques, three temple complexes, and banyan trees the size of small buildings.

• Cost: IDR 80,000 (~$5) entry
• Best for: Families, half-day visits
• Honest note: Tuck phones, sunglasses and water bottles into a closed bag — the macaques will steal them. Don't make eye contact, and don't smile at males with their mouths open.

Plan your Bali bucket list

Bali rewards travellers who pick a region and commit. Five days based in Seminyak won't show you the rice valleys; ten days based anywhere will mean three of them are spent in traffic if you don't plan by region. Build your Bali bucket list by theme — temples one day, volcano the next, an island day-trip later — then anchor each day to one of the four regions. You'll see more by driving less.

Every experience and POI on this list has been vetted by Travjoy's local experts so you can book with confidence — no guessing whether a tour operator is reputable, no hunting through forum threads for the right price. Browse our top 20 picks for Bali for the highest-rated experiences in each category.

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