Indonesia · Plan your own pace

Bali Travel Guide

Beach walks in Kuta, rice terraces around Ubud and a sunset by the sea: Bali gives you plenty of reasons to explore. The trick is choosing where to stay and leaving enough room to enjoy each place.

Use this guide to compare areas, pick a few experiences and put together a realistic first trip. Explore Bali through our growing collection of 4K travel videos and get a feel for the places you would like to visit.

A first-trip starting point: 7–10 days, two bases
A useful combination: Ubud + a coastal area
Our planning rule: One main area per day

These are our suggested planning choices, rather than a minimum stay or a fixed route.

Where to stay in Bali

Choose your base around the kind of days you want. A hotel that looks close to everything on a map can still mean repeated road journeys. For a first visit, we would combine a coastal stay with time around Ubud, rather than change hotels every night.

Which Bali area fits your holiday?
Area	Consider it for	Check before booking
Kuta & Legian	Beach walks, shops and a lively coastal stay.	The exact street and nearby nightlife if quiet nights matter.
Seminyak	Restaurants, beach venues and a more dining-focused stay.	Walking routes between your hotel, the beach and restaurants.
Canggu	Surfing, cafés and a social atmosphere.	Daily transport needs; do not assume a short drive will be quick.
Sanur	Sunrise by the sea and a gentler coastal pace.	Beach access and the hotel's position along the waterfront.
Ubud	Culture, rice-field outings and inland scenery.	Whether the property is in town or requires transport for meals.
Uluwatu	Clifftop views, beaches and a southern Bali stay.	Beach steps, road access and travel between individual places.
Nusa Dua	A holiday centred on a beach resort.	Meal inclusions and how easily you can explore beyond the resort.

Before choosing a hotel, look at recent reviews for noise, access and the surrounding streets. Decide whether you want to walk out for dinner or are happy arranging transport. That choice can matter more than choosing between two similar room categories.

Explore our hotel search and hotel tours →

Things to do in Bali

Walk through Kuta, from Poppies Lane to the beach

Kuta brings together a well-known surf beach, shopping and busy streets. A walk is a useful way to decide whether this lively side of Bali suits your holiday. Our Kuta walking tours include Poppies Lane 2 and street life in Part 1, followed by Lippo Mall to Kuta Beach in Part 2.

See it before you go: Kuta walking tour — Part 1 ↗ and Part 2 ↗. Opens on YouTube.

Explore Ubud and leave time for the surrounding countryside

Put Ubud on your route for an inland change of scene. Browse Ubud Market, explore the streets around the palace or plan a walk around Campuhan. Add a separate outing to rice terraces or a temple, rather than trying to visit every named attraction in one day. A hotel outside town can offer greener surroundings, but check how you will get to meals and activities.

Visit Alas Harum for rice-terrace views and optional activities

Alas Harum is a visitor attraction in the Tegallalang area near Ubud, combining landscaped rice terraces, photo spots, swings and coffee experiences. It is a managed attraction, so expect a different atmosphere from a simple countryside walk.

Check the current ticket inclusions before booking: admission, a swing, photo packages and other experiences may be sold separately. Choose what you actually want to do instead of assuming everything shown in a video is included in one ticket.

Our 4K visit: Alas Harum rice terraces, jungle swing & coffee tour ↗. Opens on YouTube.

Choose a temple visit with room to take it in

Uluwatu combines a clifftop setting with Kecak performances; Tanah Lot is known for its coastal setting, while Tirta Empul is associated with sacred spring water. Choose a visit that fits the area you are already exploring.

Follow the site's dress and access instructions, give worshippers space and ask before photographing ceremonies. A temple visit deserves more time than a quick stop for a picture.

Make space for a beach afternoon

Kuta offers west-coast sunset views, while Sanur is known for sunrise. Uluwatu adds dramatic clifftop scenery. Pick a beach for the atmosphere you want, and check local conditions before entering the water. A beautiful beach is not automatically a suitable swimming spot.

Try Balinese food between your sightseeing stops

Look for nasi campur Bali, a rice dish with a selection of side dishes; sate lilit, made with a seasoned minced mixture wrapped around a skewer; and ayam betutu, chicken prepared with a rich spice mixture. Ask what is included and how spicy it is before ordering.

Make a meal part of the day instead of rushing through it between stops. A nearby warung or a relaxed restaurant can give you a welcome break before your next walk. If you have dietary requirements, explain them clearly rather than rely on a dish name alone.

Add Nusa Penida only if it fits your pace

Nusa Penida offers dramatic coastal landscapes, but visiting requires a boat crossing and onward transport. Treat it as a separate excursion rather than a quick extra stop. Compare the actual route, pickup arrangements and time at each location before booking.

If your week already includes two bases and several full days out, leaving the island trip for another visit can give you a better holiday.

A relaxed seven-day Bali itinerary

This is our suggested outline, using three nights around Ubud and three nights on the coast. Reverse the order if it suits your flights. Transfer days deliberately have fewer plans.

Day 1 — Arrive and settle in. Travel to your Ubud accommodation, have an easy meal and leave sightseeing for tomorrow. After a late flight, consider an airport-area first night instead.
Day 2 — Ubud at your own pace. Explore town, browse shops and choose one cultural stop. Keep the afternoon open.
Day 3 — Rice terraces or Alas Harum. Choose your main countryside experience and arrange a sensible route with your driver. Add another stop only if you still have time and energy.
Day 4 — Move to the coast. Check out, transfer and enjoy your new surroundings. Kuta or Legian suits a livelier stay; Sanur offers a different coastal atmosphere.
Day 5 — A coastal day. Walk, relax and explore locally. If staying around Kuta, use our walking videos to choose a stretch you would like to see.
Day 6 — One optional outing. Consider Uluwatu or another area you are especially interested in. If you prefer a slow day at your hotel, keep it that way.
Day 7 — Leave a departure buffer. Allow time for packing, checkout, the airport transfer and your airline's check-in requirements.

Have ten days instead?

Add time to your existing bases first. An extra free day can be more enjoyable than another hotel move. Consider a separate island excursion only after checking how it affects the rest of your route.

Best time to visit Bali

Bali is warm throughout the year. The usual dry season is roughly April to October, with the wetter season typically running from November to March. These are broad patterns: rain can fall in the dry season, and wetter months can still have sunny periods.

Choose your dates around what you want to do, then keep weather-dependent activities flexible. For a trip with rice terraces, walks and beaches, an unbooked afternoon gives you room to swap plans if conditions change.

Check whether your dates overlap with Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence. It affects normal travel and activities, including airport operations. Confirm arrangements with your accommodation and airline before booking.

Getting around: plan by area, not by distance

Bali's roads can be congested, and ceremonial processions can also affect travel. Build your day around nearby places rather than a long list scattered across the island.

Airport transfers: agree the pickup point, destination and price in advance; share your flight details with the provider.
A car with a driver: can work well for a day with several stops. Confirm the route, hours, waiting time and any extra charges before setting off.
Local journeys: ask your accommodation about suitable transport and pickup arrangements for the area.
Walking: plan individual neighbourhood walks rather than assume every hotel and attraction is connected by a convenient footpath.

Avoid planning a tightly timed excursion immediately before a flight. Keep arrival and departure days simple.

Practical tips before you go

Arrival documents and Bali tourist levy

Check the entry requirements for your nationality and length of stay on Indonesia's official immigration website ↗. Confirm the passport, visa and supporting-document requirements that apply to your own trip.

The official All Indonesia arrival declaration ↗ can be completed within the three days before arrival. Keep your submission confirmation available when travelling.

Bali also has a foreign tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person, subject to the official exemption rules. This is separate from your visa. Check the current conditions and arrange payment through the official Love Bali portal ↗.

Arrival and levy information checked on 19 October 2026. Recheck the official portals before departure.

Build a budget around your actual trip

Price your accommodation, transfers and the activities you want to do separately. For each tour, compare pickup coverage, entry tickets, meals, optional extras and cancellation conditions. Keep some budget unallocated for an extra journey or a change of plan.

Keep your phone useful while travelling

Save your hotel address, booking confirmations and essential travel documents offline. If you plan to use an eSIM, check that your phone supports it, is unlocked and that the plan covers Indonesia. Read our travel eSIM guide →

Leave room for local life

Temples and ceremonies are part of everyday Balinese life. Follow local instructions, respect restricted areas and avoid blocking a procession for a photograph. Be considerate when walking through village streets and agricultural areas.

Watch our Bali travel videos

Explore our growing collection of 4K travel videos to get a closer look at Bali before you go. Browse the videos below for inspiration or open the full playlist on YouTube to explore the collection.

We add more footage as we explore Bali. Save the playlist and return whenever you are planning your next trip or looking for somewhere new to discover.

Watch the full Bali playlist on YouTube ↗ Explore our Bali video page →

Frequently asked questions

How many days should I spend in Bali?

For a first trip, we suggest seven to ten days with two bases as a useful starting point. With less time, narrow the area you cover rather than squeeze the same route into fewer days.

Should I stay in Kuta or Ubud?

Choose Kuta for a lively coastal stay with a beach, shops and restaurants. Choose Ubud for an inland base and countryside outings. If both appeal, split your stay rather than plan repeated journeys between them.

Can I explore Bali from one hotel?

Yes, if you keep the trip focused around that area and accept some longer excursions. If several days centre on Ubud and several on the coast, compare a two-base trip before choosing one hotel for the entire stay.

Is Alas Harum the same as visiting a rice field?

Alas Harum is a managed visitor attraction with rice-terrace views, photo spots and optional activities. Check its programme and ticket inclusions to decide whether that is the experience you want.

Is Bali tourist levy included in my visa?

No. The provincial tourist levy and immigration requirements are separate. Check your own visa conditions with Indonesian immigration and the levy rules through Love Bali.

Plan the experiences that fit your trip

Compare routes and inclusions before booking a tour. Choose one experience you are excited about and leave enough time around it to enjoy the day.

Explore Bali tours & activities ↗

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Official sources & further reading

Our route suggestions are editorial recommendations. For current requirements and attraction details, use the relevant official source.