Bali Hotels › Best Places To Stay
Updated: February 10, 2024
My Favorite Hotels in Bali
• Ubud: Four Seasons • Viceroy
• Nusa Dua: St. Regis
• Jimbaran: Four Seasons
• Seminyak: W Bali
• Legian: Padma
• Kuta: Hard Rock
• Sanur: Tandjung Sari
• For couples: Poppies
• For families: Hard Rock • Padma
See Also
A private pool villa at Raffles Bali in Jimbaran. Our favorite new resort in Bali.
The Best Areas to Stay in Bali
Bali is truly paradise, with rice terraces cascading down verdant volcanic slopes, flaming sunsets dripping over powdery-white sands, and a unique and omnipresent culture that dominates the island and its people despite the continued growth of tourism. The island is appreciated by some 3-4 million Indonesian and foreign tourists each year, almost doubling the population at times. Some savor the surf, shopping, and clubbing in Kuta, while others relish spiritual and cultural pursuits in Ubud. Many come specifically to enjoy one of Bali’s best 5-star hotels and others to explore some of the best beaches in Bali. There are water sports and scuba diving, mountainous landscapes, and millennium-old temples.
Large family-friendly resorts, like the Westin, are abundant in the beach community of Nusa Dua.
Bali is compact, so it is possible to day-trip to just about anywhere on the island from your base. But traffic south of (and including) Ubud can be appalling, and most roads north of Ubud are mountainous. So, to avoid too much unnecessary travel, choose your base carefully (see below) and don’t be tempted to move between bases more than once every 4 or 5 days.
Public transport in tourist areas is often non-existent and always crowded, but privately-owned shuttle buses are plentiful and comfortable. It is also easy to find taxis (except in Ubud) and charter a car with driver for only US$50 per day – this is great value and the driver will act as a personal travel guide (albeit, with imperfect English). Intense traffic, absent road signs and narrow potholed roads are three excellent reasons why you should never rent a car and drive yourself.
The Best Places to Stay in Bali
The Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta is fantastic for families.
- Best New Hotels in Bali
Raffles (Jimbaran) • Andaz (Sanur) • Ecozy Dijiwa (Canggu) • Buahan (Banyan Tree Escape) (Ubud) • Tribe (Kuta) • MAMAKA (Kuta) • Aloft at Beachwalk (Kuta) • PinkCoco (Padang Padang) • Potato Head Studios (Seminyak)- Best Luxury Hotels in Bali
Four Seasons at Sayan (Ubud) • St. Regis (Nusa Dua) • W Bali (Seminyak) • Four Seasons Resort (Jimbaran) • Padma (Legian) • Raffles (Jimbaran) • Laguna (Nusa Dua) • Ritz-Carlton (Bukit)- Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels in Bali
Dasa Warna (Candidasa) • Ganesh Lodge (Candidasa) • CalmTree (Canggu) • The Palms (Canggu) • D’byas (Nusa Lembongan Island) • Song Lambung (Nusa Lembongan Island) • Akaya (Sanur) • ARTOTEL (Sanur) • Klumpu (Sanur) • Nick’s Pension (Ubud)- Best Hotels in Bali for Couples
Tandjung Sari (Sanur) • Viceroy (Ubud) • Alam Indah (Ubud) • Tugu (Canggu) • Ecozy Dijiwa (Canggu) • Jimbaran Puri (Jimbaran) • Poppies (Kuta) • Aquaria Eco Resort (Candidasa) • Tamarind (Nusa Lembongan Island)- Best Hotels in Bali for Families
Padma (Legian) • Andaz (Sanur) • Hard Rock (Kuta) • Mövenpick (Jimbaran) • Sofitel (Nusa Dua) • Westin (Nusa Dua) • Hyatt Regency (Sanur) • Anantara Vacation Club (Legian) • Grand Mirage (Tanjung Benoa)Best Place in Bali for Couples or a Honeymoon: Jimbaran
Most resorts in Nusa Dua promote romantic holidays, with packaged deals for newly-weds and honeymoon suites, but your hotel may also be inundated with noisy families. Considerably more tranquil and romantic is Jimbaran, where hotels don’t really cater to children and parts of the elongated, curved and sandy bay are empty and ideal for sunbathing and strolling. Each afternoon the beach becomes packed with tables and chairs as seaside cafés offer romantic candlelight dinners at sunset, with fresh seafood, as well as fireworks, wandering musicians and traditional dances.
Best Place in Bali for Sightseeing & Outdoor Activities: Ubud
With its vast range of places to stay and eat and surprisingly vibrant live music scene, Ubud is a perfect base for exploring the delights of central Bali. It’s easy to charter a car with a driver for day trips to the extraordinary sights nearby, such as the cliff sculptures at Gunung Kawi, the UNESCO-listed rice-terraces at Jatiluwih, the sacred temple and mountain springs at Tirta Empul, and the volcanic lake areas of Bratan and Batur. Minibus transfers to organized rafting, hiking, and mountain-biking tours are shorter and cheaper from Ubud than the southern beach towns. But Ubud is not, obviously, that convenient for surfing, snorkeling, and diving.
The Viceroy hotel in Ubud.
Best Place in Bali for Nightlife: Kuta • Seminyak • Canggu
Some visit Bali just for Kuta’s nightlife. Among typically seedy (but lively) options are multi-story nightclubs along Jalan Legian street with international DJs and numerous sports bars, each fiercely competing with “cocktail specials”, ‘free BBQ’ and “girls drink for free”. A quick taxi ride to the north, Seminyak offers a more sophisticated blend of live jazz, soul and R&B in intimate settings, while further north in Canggu the décor and prices in clubs are comparable to those in Europe, but patrons would need their own transport or a chartered car or taxi on standby.
Best Place in Bali for Good Food and Restaurants: Seminyak
Kuta offers the widest choice and lowest prices, and places in Canggu can be pretentious and remote, so Seminyak wins this award. The twisted lanes are packed with alluring cafés and bistros offering cuisines from just about every country on earth – even Indonesia! Some directly face the sea, so early diners or pre-dinner drinkers can relish the sublime sunsets. Cafés perched on the beach scatter tables and beanbags across the sand each afternoon for guests to enjoy the sunset, cocktails and, later, live music. Chic beach clubs line sections of the shore where guests can order meals, swim in the pool, and relish the fiery sunset.
Best Nearby Island: Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan is more genuine and boasts more attractions than any of the three Gili Islands (off the coast of neighboring Lombok). Lembongan has minimal shopping and even less nightlife, but that’s part of the attraction for many. There are (almost) no four-wheeled vehicles, so it’s perfect for exploring the eerie mangroves, remote beaches and quaint villages on foot, by motorbike or on a bicycle (although the interior is hilly). Boats from Sanur only take 30-45 minutes, and hotels in all ranges are available in Jungutbatu village and the crescent-shaped Mushroom Bay, which is best for swimming and snorkeling.
Best Place in Bali for a Spiritual Visit: Ubud
There is no argument that for anything “spiritual”, Ubud is the place. Whether for meditation, yoga, “spiritual healing” or even traditional medical therapies, some tourists stay nowhere else on Bali – and never leave! The lofty village of Penestanan (part of Ubud) is dotted with yoga shalas (studios) offering casual drop-in or private classes, and even training courses, while some resorts nestled in the jungle nearby offer one- or two-week “rejuvenation” packages. In town, numerous cafés cater to the health-conscious with organic food and drinks made from locally-grown products.
Best Village in Bali: Padangbai
Often ignored by those rushing to/from the Gili Islands by speedboat or hopping on/off the ferry to Lombok, Padangbai is delightfully unpretentious, with a genuine village vibe. Facing a postcard-perfect arched bay and hemmed in by hills, it is spared the unrelenting hotel construction found elsewhere on the island. So, the cluster of streets is based around the school, market, and temples, rather than bars, clubs and bistros. A wonderful base from which to explore the east coast, Padangbai also boasts a 1000-year-old clifftop temple and Crusoe-esque beach called Blue Lagoon.
Jimbaran Beach in front of the InterContinental Bali Resort.
Best Place in Bali for First-Timers: Jimbaran or Sanur
Kuta, and its extensions of Tuban, Legian, and Seminyak, can seem overwhelming for some first-time visitors. Especially during holiday seasons, the roads are clogged with traffic and lanes packed with tourists. The crowds and noise, as well as the hawkers and heat, can be crushing at times, resulting in some first-timers vowing never to return. But, of course, Kuta is not remotely representative of Bali. So, to enjoy the best of Bali, without the worst of Bali, stay in Jimbaran or Sanur – both far quieter with limited nightclubs, surf and shopping and, therefore, smaller crowds, traffic, and noise.
Best Place in Bali for Families: Nusa Dua
The dozen or so upmarket resorts in Nusa Dua are all family-friendly, each with a children’s pool (often with water slides) and kid’s club offering engaging activities all day, as well as extensive children’s menus in the restaurants and child-minding services. All resorts also feature massive gardens and almost all face an exquisite beach with calm waters, while Nusa Dua itself is clean, quiet and devoid of crowds and traffic. Just north, the resort region of Tanjung Benoa is a more affordable version of Nusa Dua, and is probably more appealing to teenagers because of its extensive range of inexpensive water sports. Read: Best Family Resorts in Bali
Best Beach in Bali: Pasir Putih
Bali’s best beach is still remarkably undeveloped. Only 6km past Candidasa along the east coast, Pasir Putih (which means “White Sands”) has no hotels and only a handful of laid-back cafés on the bleached-white sand – and hopefully it stays that way. The sea is calm, and the curved bay is flanked by rocky outcrops, which offer snorkeling and shade, and backed by coconut groves. And, amazingly, half of the beach is still used as a fishing village. This slice of heaven is at the end of a scenic, flat 1.5km-long lane from the main road.
Most Underrated: Candikuning
Halfway between Kuta and Lovina, Candikuning is nestled alongside the mighty crater lake of Mount Bratan. With some of Bali’s best attractions, it is worth staying a few days, if only for the cooler weather (which is often chilly at night). Must-sees include the (1) extensive botanical gardens, one of only four in Indonesia; (2) Bedugul lakeside recreational area, almost completely patronised by Indonesian tourists, with boat trips across the lake and water sports; (3) exquisite Pura Ulun Bratan temple facing the lapping waters; and (4) bustling produce market, specializing in strawberries and corn.
Most Unusual Place: Toya Bungkah
The village of Toya Bungkah – located inside the crater of Bali’s most active volcano, Mount Batur – boasts three places for wallowing in hot springs and cool-water pools.
The Best Towns in Bali for Visitors
The main tourist areas across Bali (including the Gili Islands) are all different, with delightfully dissimilar locations and range of facilities. It is vital to choose a suitable base according to your interests (yoga or surfing?), age/family (backpackers or with kids?), budget (resorts or family-owned hotels?), and length of stay (three days or three months?).
1. Kuta & Tuban
Famed Kuta Beach – just across the beachfront road from Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort (luxury) and Kuta Seaview Boutique Resort (fantastic value).
Many come to Bali for the surf, sunsets, shopping and clubbing, and see no need to venture any further than Kuta. However, with its ceaseless traffic, endless crowds, and relentless noise people either love or loathe Kuta, and it’s close to the airport. Within walking distance, Tuban (also called Southern Kuta) offers a number of sizable and family-friendly resorts. The beach disappears or becomes gray, and Tuban has a village vibe, with fishing boats on the sand and many shops and cafés catering to locals.
• Best Hotels: Hard Rock • Poppies • Bali Garden • Sheraton • AlamKulkul • Bali Dynasty
2. Legian and Seminyak
The beach and infinity pool at the The Seminyak.
Within a short stroll of Kuta’s malls and nightclubs, with far more space and serenity, Legian is the next beach north of Kuta. The streets are less claustrophobic, the beachfront resorts face the sand and path rather than a busy road, and the sunsets are just as legendary. Further north again is the more sophisticated Seminyak, where restaurants become “bistros” and shops are called “boutiques.” Up the coast even further, the sand becomes increasingly gray, and streets have fewer places to shop, eat and drink, but rice fields are still visible.
• Best Hotels: W Bali • Padma • The Oberoi • Seminyak Beach Resort • The Bandha • Anantara Vacation Club
3. Canggu
The Como Uma Beach Club meters from the water.
Moving further north beyond Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak is Canggu, the general name for a collection of beaches (without villages) such as Batu Bolong and Echo Beach. Although becoming as trendy as Seminyak, Canggu is spread out and challenging to navigate by car, there’s no downtown area, and the sand is almost black. However, the surf and sunsets are just as magical as the southern beaches, and visitors enjoy the laidback lifestyle and array of coffee shops and beachside bars.
• Best Hotels: Tugu • Ecozy Dijiwa • COMO Uma • The Palms • CalmTree • ASTON • Eastin
4. Sanur
The Andaz in Sanur.
Sanur is a popular and serene alternative to Kuta and Seminyak. On the east side of Bali and only a short taxi ride from the airport and malls at Kuta, Sanur faces a long stretch of beach. The delightful beachside path lined with cafés, bars, and souvenir stalls is ideal for strolling and bicycling. Sanur is also the terminal for speedboats to the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida (see below).
• Best Hotels: Tandjung Sari • Andaz • Hyatt Regency • Segara Village
5. Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is known for its 5-star beach resorts, like Laguna with it’s humungous beachfront pool.
Nusa Dua offers a unique, gated complex of luxury resorts. The streets are clean and wide, and traffic and street sellers are non-existent. Each resort boasts substantial gardens and numerous swimming pools, and most face, or are within a short stroll, of a curved white-sand beach with calm water. The resorts cater to couples but also to families by offering a children’s pool, kids club, and engaging activities. Some newer resorts are outside Nusa Dua, either isolated several kilometers to the south but still facing the gorgeous beach or just outside the southern tip near more affordable facilities but within walking distance of Nusa Dua.
• Best Hotels: St. Regis • Laguna • Grand Hyatt • Meliá • Sofitel • Westin
6. Tanjung Benoa
Beachfront pool at the Conrad in Tanjung Benoa.
Based along the thumb-shaped peninsula in southern Bali, Tanjung Benoa is a more affordable and authentic alternative than its neighbor Nusa Dua, just to the south. It’s Bali’s water sports center for jet-skiing and parasailing, and it’s more affordable than in Europe, the US, or Australia. Numerous resorts face a long stretch of white sand and calm water, with many catering to families. The village at the peninsula’s tip has temples, a mosque, and a market.
• Best Hotels: Conrad • Grand Mirage
7. Jimbaran
The brand new Mövenpick Resort & Spa in Jimbaran.
Close enough to the airport to see the planes but rarely hear them, Jimbaran is comparatively undeveloped and surprisingly under-visited. Though there are fewer places to stay, eat, and shop than other tourist regions in southern Bali, the beach can be virtually empty. The long white-sand curved bay has calm water and, to the south, even a few waves for beginner surfers. At sunset, tables line up on the beach for a romantic candlelit dinner with fireworks, wandering musicians, and traditional dances.
• Best Hotels: Four Seasons • Raffles • InterContinental Bali • Jimbaran Puri • Mövenpick
8. Ubud
The Four Seasons Resort Sayan near Ubud.
Bali’s spiritual and cultural heartland is an overgrown but intensely loveable collection of villages in central Bali. Many visitors come for the yoga retreats, art museums, cooler weather, or just to escape the comparative chaos of Kuta. Ubud also offers numerous temples, markets, and traditional dance performances. It is an ideal base for day trips (by a chartered car with a driver) to extraordinary places like the sacred temple and springs at Tirta Empul, crater lake of Bratan mountain, and rock sculptures at Gunung Kawi. Outdoor activities such as rafting, hiking, and mountain biking are easy to arrange in Ubud.
• Best Hotels: Four Seasons Sayan • Viceroy • Komaneka at Bism • Alam Indah • Kamandalu
9. Lovina
The The Lovina Hotel on the north coast of Bali.
Lovina, on the northern coast of Bali, is 10 kilometers of seaside villages offering a decent range of hotels and restaurants – but little nightlife or shopping. It has a perfect combination of sunsets, sea breezes, and sea views (as well as dolphin tours), but the beaches are gray, often dirty, and generally unsuitable for swimming. Lovina’s infectious village vibe, dramatic mountain backdrop, and accessibility to sights nearby, such as the Banjar hot springs and Bali’s second city, Singaraja, make it unique.
• Best Hotel: The Lovina • Lovina Beach Hotel • Villa Teman • Lilin Lovina • Aneka
10. East Coast
The beach just below Bloo Lagoon Village Hotel.
This region is getting more popular as it becomes increasingly accessible. Padangbai is a charming village facing a perfect cove and surrounded by hills. Nearby, Candidasa is a beach resort without much of a beach (which eroded decades ago) but has a pleasant setting, lack of crowds, and competitively-priced facilities. Further east, Amed is a collection of fishing villages with few resorts and almost no beaches. It’s quieter than the southern tourist regions, and the snorkeling and diving are world-class. However, reaching Amed and traveling around the far east coast can be problematic. If traveling to/from the Gili Islands or Lombok, these areas provide a nice stopover.
• Best Hotels: Aquaria Eco Resort (Candidasa) • Genggong (Candidasa) • Bloo Lagoon Village (Padangbai) • OK Divers Resort & Spa (Padangbai) • Ganesh Lodge (Candidasa) • Blue Moon (Amed) • Griya (Amed)
11. Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Penida
A trendy cafe just up the beach from Indiana Kenanga Villas in Nusa Lembongan.
Nusa Lembongan island is just a 30-minute speedboat ride from mainland Bali. It’s more accessible and authentic than the three Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok. There are no taxis or private cars, but there are small vehicles for getting around. Most stay in Jungutbatu village with an extended beach or Mushroom Bay with a white-sand cove ideal for snorkeling and swimming. Other bases include the remote and laidback Mangrove Beach and Dream Beach, with lovely sand but no swimming. On the island are ghostly mangroves and photogenic beaches like Song Lambung. Far larger but less developed, Nusa Penida island (60 minutes by speedboat from Bali) is reminiscent of mainland Bali from the 1980s. Accommodations are limited, and transport is tricky, but it does offer enchanting villages, a remarkable cave temple, and one of the most perfect beaches imaginable: Crystal Bay.
• Best Hotels: Indiana Kenanga (Lembongan) • Tamarind Resort (Jungutbatu) • Hai Tide (Lembongan) • Tigerlillys (Lembongan) • Akusara (Penida) • The Kama (Penida)
Bali Itinerary – Where To Go
• 3 to 5 Days in Bali: Base yourself in Seminyak, Jimbaran, or Ubud and make day trips to eastern Bali and around the Bukit Peninsula.
• One Week in Bali: Stay in two places: at a beach region (perhaps, Seminyak, Jimbaran, or Sanur) and somewhere in the countryside, like Ubud. You will have time to relax on the beach, go for long walks in the highlands of Ubud, and explore areas around central Bali, like the two volcanoes and crater lakes at Bratan and Batur.
• Two Weeks in Bali: Spend four or five days in three places: a beach region (such as Seminyak, Jimbaran, or Sanur); somewhere in the countryside like Ubud; and splurge on a luxury resort in Nusa Dua or nearby Tanjung Benoa.
• Three Weeks in Bali: Follow the advice for two weeks. With the extra time, stay and explore Nusa Lembongan island, which offers the tropical island appeal, or Padangbai, a laidback and unspoiled village with decent tourist facilities on the east coast, or Lovina, an easygoing beach region along the north coast with far fewer tourists than the south.
Hotels on map: Four Seasons Sayan • W Bali • Padma • Hard Rock • Four Seasons Jimbaran • Raffles • St. Regis
Hi Dave, excellent and informative forum. We are planning a four week trip to Bali in August/September. The main reason for the trip is to attend a wedding in Kuta Bali. Our Bali itinerary is almost done, and is as follows; 4 nights in Ubud, 6 nights in Sanur, 7 nights on Lombok, 7 nights on Kuta Bali (for the wedding), leaving 5 nights for another location. Whilst on Lombok we would like to visit/stay on Gilli Air, therefore are you able to recommend accommodation etc. Also for the last 5 nights of our holiday, where would you recommend. Would Nusa Lembongan be a good choice? Thank you and kind regards, Eamonn
You have a good selection of bases: Ubud, for culture and landscapes; Sanur, for a low-key beach resort; and Gili Air for some island life.
Gili Air is arguably the best of the three islands; not as laidback and quiet as Gili Meno and not a ‘party island’ like Gili Trawangan – although Air (which oddly means ‘water’ in Indonesian) has more than enough places to eat, stay, drink and shop. The entire island, which you can walk around in about 90 minutes, is completely encircled by glorious white-sand beaches and calm turquoise waters.
Most tourist facilities are along the eastern coast, with almost everything within a short stroll. For restaurants, try Classico Italiano, slightly inland from the harbor, for world-class and authentic pizza and pasta; Coffee Thyme, right at the harbor, for healthy choices and views; and The Mexican Kitchen, worth a walk to the west coast for margaritas and quesadillas on cabanas overlooking the sea.
Places to stay may include:
1) Gili Air Lagoon Resort – where all villas/rooms face a circular lagoon-shaped pool. It’s secluded and quiet, but in ‘downtown’ and meters from the harbor
2) Slow Villas – luxurious, modern self-contained villas about 100m inland from the quieter north-east coast
3) Villa Karang – bit old-fashioned, but very convenient to the harbor, with a range of affordable room and villas
Nusa Lembongan is a good option for your extra five days. It’s a lovely island – vehicle free, with great snorkeling and beaches, and a charming village vibe. It is also convenient to Gili Air because speedboats, such as Scoot, travel between Sanur and Gili Air (via Gili Trawangan) and stop at Nusa Lembongan. However, Lembongan doesn’t really offer much more than you would’ve seen and experienced at Gili Air.
So, perhaps, it’s a good idea to base yourself for those five days in another part of the island, namely Lovina in the north or Padangabi to the east.
The beaches at Lovina are grey and dirty, but the views, breezes and sunsets are as wonderful as anywhere else on Bali. It’s a very quiet resort region, and an ideal base to explore by chartered car or public transport sights along the north coast such as the remarkable monkey-infested Pura Pulaki temple; the hot springs and unique Buddhist monastery at Banjar; and Bali’s second city, Singaraja.
Padangbai is a delightfully undeveloped village, hemmed in by hills and fronting a postcard-perfect bay. It’s an idyllic base from which to explore by chartered or public transport sights such as the eerie Goa Lawah bat cave temple; the ancient pre-Hindu village of Tenganan; and probably Bali’s best beach at Pasir Putih. You could easily stop at Padangbai on the way to/from Gili Air, as many speedboats to the Gili Islands travel to/from Padangbai.
Hi Dave,
Really useful blog thank you! I’m going to Bali on my honeymoon in June and will be there for 8 days. Currently struggling to work out where to go to as we don’t want to spend/waste too much time travelling from one place to the next.
Ideally we wanted somewhere relaxing with nice beaches, but not too quiet (as in we would still like some bars/restaurants and some atmosphere). We love the idea of watching the sunset at a relaxed bar, but also being somewhere where we can explore Bali and try local food and see the markets and local sights etc.
We’re not the types to just lie on the beach all day every day!
Friends have recommended Nusa Lembongan, Canggu, Uluwatu, and Ubud. But we are struggling to work out which would be best. Do you have any further recommendations?
Thanks!
Steph
The choices for first-time visitors to Bali can seem overwhelming and it pays to spend time making the best decisions – even more so on a honeymoon.
The places you listed may not suit your immediate needs:
1) Nusa Lembongan is a lovely quiet island, with remarkable sunsets but virtually no shopping, nightlife or sophisticated restaurants or bars
2) Canggu is a vast area north of Seminyak where your villa/hotel could be 1-2km from any café, bar or shop, and even further from the beach, with taxis rare
3) Ulu Watu is a remote area, famous for its temple, with only a handful of homestays and cafés catering mostly for surfers
4) Ubud has no beach but is the perfect place for exploring the island (see below)
With 8 days you could certainly base yourself in two areas: Seminyak, for sunsets, sea, shopping, and nightlife; and Ubud for exploring the countryside and immersing yourself in the unique culture.
Seminyak is a quieter, and far more relaxing and sophisticated version of Kuta, with plenty of elegant cafés, bars, and shops. The beach can be greyish in parts but still wonderful for swimming, sunbathing, and strolling. And the sunsets are legendary – best enjoyed sipping a cocktail on a beanbag at a café on the sand.
You could day-trip from Seminyak by chartered car with driver to places like Tanah Lot temple, and the sights in and around Ubud, but staying in Ubud, about an hour from Seminyak, is worthwhile. Ubud offers a glimpse of the ‘real Bali’, with markets, temples, museums of local art, walks in the rice-fields, traditional dances at night etc. And from Ubud it’s easy to arrange visits to extraordinary places like the rock sculptures at Gunung Kawi and crater lake of Gunung Batur.
Hi Dave. I will be in Bali for 9 days in October. We are staying the first 3 nights in Nusa Dua and the next 3 days in Ubud. I am having a really hard time choosing where to spend the last 3 days. We want to be on the beach front. I was debating between Seminyak and Sanur. I like Sanur, because I hear it is not as touristy as Seminyak and is a great base for taking day trips to neighboring islands. I like Seminyak, because I hear it has great restaurants and has awesome sunsets. Can you help me choose.
Seminyak and Sanur are pleasingly dissimilar. Seminyak is a more upmarket version of the main tourist hub of Kuta/Legian, with classy shops, sophisticated cafés and jaw-dropping sunsets best enjoyed on beanbags strewn across the sand during late afternoon. The beach is a little greyer than Kuta/Legian, and there are less tourists, but the roads are still clogged with traffic and the footpaths choked with tourists.
Sanur has no surf or malls and, therefore, considerably less tourists than the Kuta/Legian/Seminyak stretch of coast. Traffic careers along a bypass road and many hotels directly face the sea. A highlight is the 6km-long beachside path, ideal for strolling and cycling. It is certainly possible to daytrip to the delightfully laidback island of Nusa Lembongan, but the more renowned Gili Islands are too far, and the speedboat fares too high, for a daytrip. Sanur is along the east coast, so there are no sunsets.
Because you’re also staying in Nusa Dua – which, like Sanur, is quiet and along the east coast – Seminyak may be a better third base, especially for ‘great restaurants’ and ‘awesome sunsets’.
To add to your possible confusion, you could consider staying in Jimbaran, which is close to the airport and along the west coast. The beach along Jimbaran is curved, bleached-white, and sections are often empty. There are enough great restaurants for a short stay and a highlight of your entire trip to Bali will be dinner on the sand at sunset, with seafood a specialty.
Hi Dave, Just visited Bali for eight nights and have just a few words to say… your information is excellent. Your blog is so accurate. Toya Devasya is indeed goose bumpy….Thanks a ton for sharing such invaluable and in-depth information. Also Padangbai is a quaint and pretty village as you mentioned.
Sejal Padalkar
Great. Glad it was helpful.
Hi Dave,
I love reading your blog about Bali, a lot of information and your love with Bali is shown here.
I am planning a short honeymoon trip in Bali in April. It’s not enough time to explore Bali, so we want to visit the most significant places of Bali such as Kuta, Taman Ayun temple, Tanah Lot temple, Ubud, rice terraced landscapes, Pura Tirta Empul temple, Zen Hideaway, Ulun Danu. Because of this short time, I would like to ask you for some advice about my trip.
1. I’m going to arrive in Bali in the afternoon of 1st day. Should I go directly to Ubud and spend there 2 nights to explore the area? Is there any tour because I hear in Ubud, it’s hard to take transportation. We want to rest in Ubud and get to know the crowded Bali later.
2. Should I spend a one-day tour to a nearby island (Nusa Lembongan) or stay in Kuta for the last 2 days? We want to enjoy the atmosphere of the beaches there.
3. I want to see Buta volcano, is it a good idea?
Our budget is not too high, so we do not want to lose time and money in going around to many places. I have searched a lot and really. I’m swimming in Bali’s pool. Which route should be the best for our short time? We really need your help!
Great thanks,
Chau Nguyen
Bali is small, but distances are deceiving and travelling around is time-consuming because of traffic, bad roads and volcanic landscapes. So, it is wise, as you have done, to plan your trip accordingly, but try to avoid fitting in too much in a short space of time. Most of the places you mention are ‘significant’, although some first-time travelers to Bali find the crowds, traffic and hawkers in Kuta overwhelming. Seminyak, barely 7km to the north, is more tranquil and sophisticated, while other beach resort regions, such as Sanur and Jimbaran, are even quieter, but still within a short taxi trip of the malls and nightclubs of Kuta.
Of the other places you mention:
Tanah Lot is certainly worth visiting, especially at sunset, but very crowded at that time; almost empty, however, the rest of the day
Pura Taman Ayun is a lovely temple, unusually with a moat, often ignored by tourists, and easily visited on the way to/from Ubud
there are rice-terraced landscapes all over Bali, but the most spectacular and accessible from Ubud are those at Tegallalang
Pura Tirta Empul temple is also wonderful, and especially enchanting during a full-moon festival
Zen Hideaway is accommodation based along the Ayung River, but 15 minutes by vehicle from downtown Ubud
Pura Ulun Danu is in Songan village, within the crater of Batur volcano and difficult to reach. But you probably mean Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple, which is extraordinary.
Ubud is the obvious base to explore and experience the amazing landscapes and culture of the island. From the airport, it’s about 90 minutes to Ubud, depending on traffic. It’s best to arrange a pick-up at the airport with your hotel in Ubud, rather than deal with unscrupulous taxi-drivers at the airport. Don’t stay the first night in Kuta unless you want to – go straight to Ubud. Surprisingly, there are no group bus tours available, so the only option is to charter a (comfortable, air-conditioned) car with a driver for only about U$40 per day to see the sights mentioned above.
Nusa Lembongan is an adorable laidback island, with virtually no traffic. There’s no organised trip you can join, but it’s only 30-45 minutes by speedboat from Sanur and easy enough to daytrip. Without a rented motorbike, however, you won’t be able to explore much more than the village and beach of Jungutbatu, but Nusa Lembongan deserves more time than just one day. It is the complete opposite of Kuta, so you need to decide if you want to experience the charming village vibe of Lembongan or the hectic resort feel of Kuta.
Gunung Batur volcano is an easy daytrip by a chartered car with driver from Ubud, with amazing views from the crater rim and hot springs at Toga Bungkah village alongside the crater lake. If you want to visit a volcano, perhaps Gunung Bratan is better. Also an easy daytrip from Ubud, it offers the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple you want to visit anyway, as well as the Botanic Gardens and markets at Candikuning village and the lakeside resort area of Bedugul, almost completely ignored by western tourists.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your very helpful information about Bali. I love your website.
My fiancé and I are visiting for 12 days. We are looking for 6-7 days by the beach to start and then to move to Ubud afterward to do activities/ have a base to see more of inland Bali.
We like surfing, snorkeling and I looked at Komkune Hotel in Keramas for those first 5 days as it looked to have a mix of everything. Do you know this hotel/area, would you recommend it? I also looked at surfers paradise, is this comparable to Keramas?
From your descriptions, Nusa Lembongan and Jimbaran look really nice too for these first five days. I’m having a really hard time choosing and would really appreciate any advice you might have.
Thanks!
It’s always a great idea to split your time between a beach region, with sunsets, cocktails, shops, and clubs, and somewhere inland, like Ubud, to enjoy the wonderful landscapes (eg rice terraces at Tegallalang), sights (eg rock temples at Gunung Kawi), and culture (eg a traditional dance at Taman Saraswati temple). In fact, with 12 days, you could easily spend time at three places, adding an island or village to experience more of the ‘real’ Bali.
Komkune Hotel is a lovely new resort, with great facilities, but it is quite remote: not in a village or near any shops, cafés or bars. The beach is no good for surfing or snorkeling, and the sand is grey and gritty. Sorry, I’m not aware of any hotel on Bali called Surfers Paradise.
You are better off staying somewhere like Seminyak, which has plenty of facilities and great waves just off-shore, with surfboard rental easily arranged. Jimbaran is also lovely: an unhurried region with a curved, white-sand beach and some modest surfing in the southern bay. It’s also close to the airport (ideal for late arrivals or early departures), and a seafood dinner on the beach at sunset will be a highlight of your trip.
Even better is Nusa Lembongan, a small island with a genuine village vibe and virtually no traffic. Only 30 minutes by boat from Sanur, Lembongan offers great snorkeling (with gear available for rent) at several places and surf, but waves are about 400m off-shore and involve a tough paddle or chartered boat to reach.
So, perhaps, with 12 days, you could try three to five days in (1) Jimbaran for a quiet beach region, with some surf and close to the airport; (2) Nusa Lembongan for a traditional village, snorkeling and surfing; and (3) Ubud for culture and inland sights.
Hello Dave,
I will be traveling solo to Bali in early September. I prefer a calm laid back atmosphere, therefore my plan is to stay near Panji Anom/Singaraja/Buleleng area for the first 11 days. Then move more south so I’d be closer to the airport for the last 4 days of my trip, but I am having trouble figuring out where I would like to stay. I’m leaning toward Jimbaran and/or Sanur, but really I am open to other ideas.
I have found it difficult to make a decision related to all the things there are to see in Bali. I have also tossed the idea around to making a trip to visit the Komodo Island while in Bail, but I’m not sure it is worth it. Any ideas on that?
Thank you, any help is greatly appreciated.
It’s tempting to get away from the crowds, noise, and hassles, and escape to somewhere like Singaraja. But Bali’s second-largest city is not a tourist region, so hotels are for Indonesian business people and not western tourists. Facilities may not be as good as hoped for, and local restaurants will serve almost nothing but rice-based meals (which might be fine with you but good to know).
As you mention the Panji Anom area, you may be referring to Lovina, a lovely, quiet and laidback tourist region along the north coast, about 9km west of Singaraja. The best base within the Lovina area is Kalibukbuk, small enough to walk around in 20 minutes. It offers enough low-key hotels, cafes, bars, and shops to satisfy, but with no clubs or malls, and only a fraction of the crowds of southern Bali. The downside is that traveling there by tourist shuttle bus takes about 4 hours, and the beach is no good for swimming – but still wonderful for walks, views, breezes and dolphin-spotting.
Anywhere in southern Bali is close to the airport, but the Kuta/Legian area may be a culture shock after Lovina. Perhaps, it’s better to stay at Sanur or Jimbaran, which are both relaxed and comparatively quiet. Jimbaran has a better beach, and a seafood dinner on the beach at sunset may be a highlight of your trip. Sanur has more facilities and a long seaside pathway which is ideal for walking and cycling.
Two other laidback regions worth considering are Padangbai, on the east coast; and Nusa Lembongan, an adorable (almost) traffic-free island, 30 minutes by boat from Sanur. With 15 days, you should consider staying in three places: perhaps, Lovina, Sanur or Jimbaran, and somewhere else like Nusa Lembongan.
Komodo Island is popular, but the boat trip can be uncomfortable and long, perhaps taking a week for a return trip. If this is your first visit to Bali, take time to really enjoy and explore it – but without rushing. Instead of Komodo, consider visiting Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali; the volcanic areas of Gunung Bratan and Gunung Batur; the remote east coast around Amed; or, for something different, the neighboring island of Lombok, only 30 minutes away on a cheap flight.
Hello Dave!
Loving all your travel insights! My husband & I are looking to take a quick 5 day trip from Seoul to Bali, as first-timers, and are wondering what the best location(s) would be. We’ve done tons of sight-seeing throughout Korea so are looking for a laid-back, beach-focused trip. Would love to check out a couple of the top sights, but without it being too hectic or overwhelming. We love great food, beaches, and sunsets, but not the overly-touristy feel. Would love input on the best place to stay, and top sights to see, whether on Bali and/or one of the other nearby islands. Thank you so much!
With only a short amount of time, you should stay somewhere reasonably close to the airport, and you won’t have time to visit any of the nearby islands. The Kuta area can be overwhelming at times, with noise, crowds, traffic, and hawkers.
The best place to base yourself is probably Jimbaran, a long curved bay of white sand and calm waters. It is comparatively quiet and surprisingly undeveloped in places, with enough places to eat, drink and shop. It is also a genuine village, with fish and produce markets and a temple. And dinner on the beach at Jimbaran during sunset, with wandering musicians, traditional dances, and fireworks, will be a highlight of your trip.
From Jimbaran, it’s easy to arrange a chartered car with a driver to visit nearby sights, such as Ulu Watu temple and the resort areas of Tanjung Benoa (for water-sports) and Nusa Dua (with a pleasant outdoor mall). A day trip to the well-known attractions in and around Ubud, such as the Gunung Kawi rock sculptures and Tirta Empul sacred temple, is also worthwhile.
A few places to consider in Jimbaran are:
1) Four Seasons Jimbaran – one of Bali’s best resorts, with arguably the finest views on the whole island. Cliff-top, but still convenient to shops and cafés.
2) Belmond Jimbaran Puri – more affordable, with a stunning and spacious beachside location.
3) InterContinental – vast tropical gardens, traditional design, and central.
Hi Dave,
Have used your guides for three of my earlier trips and want to compliment you on your very practical and useful recommendations. My wife and I plan to spend a month in Bali. We would like to spend time at 3/4 places. Our aim is to (1) swim in some clean and not too wild waves, (2) do some snorkeling (3) walk / loiter around and just chill in the vicinity of areas that offer beaches / sunset / clubbing etc and (4) also not to miss out the cultural areas of Bali. We are not looking for secluded areas but would like a decent amount of tourist company. After reading your guide, we plan is to spend 10 days each in Sanur and Seminyak. 5 days in Ubud and 5 days in some place that offers the option of being able to snorkel from the beach itself. We are debating between Amed, Blue Lagoon, Nusa Lembongan, and Gili Air. We are on a budget and do not wish to stay in upmarket beach front hotels but would like to stay in budget hotels/ B&B some distance behind the coastline. Could you please guide us on (a) choice of places chosen to stay, (b) selection of a place that will enable snorkeling from the beach and at the same time meet our other requirements of spending leisure time, and (c) recommendations for a hotel stay in the places that we could choose.
Thanks and warm regards
With a month you certainly have time to explore so much of Bali, but perhaps consider staying in five places to truly relish the beaches, landscapes, culture and nearby islands.
Let’s look at the places you are considering:
1) Seminyak is ideal for sunsets, chilling out, cafés and nightclubs, but waves can sometimes be too strong for swimming, and no snorkeling.
2) Sanur is a quieter and developed alternative to Seminyak, with calm waters, but may be worth staying for less than 10 days because it’s a little similar to Seminyak.
3) Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali and worth staying longer than 5 days for what it offers and as a base for exploring nearby temples, volcanoes, and lakes.
4) Amed is a generic term for a 10km-long stretch of Eastern Bali incorporating several villages offering limited facilities. Certainly ideal for snorkeling just offshore, but remote. There are almost no swimming beaches and possibly only 2-3 places to eat within walking distance of your hotel.
5) Blue Lagoon probably refers to the cute beach at Padangbai, with a likable village vibe (and departure point for the Gili Islands). Snorkeling and swimming is great, while snorkeling is even better on short boat trips from nearby Candidasa.
6) Nusa Lembongan is a delightful almost-traffic-free island within 45 minutes of Sanur. Snorkeling is marvelous at Mangrove Beach and Mushroom Bay, and there is a likable ambiance and village lifestyle across the island.
7) For many Gili Air is the best of the three Gili Islands, about 90 minutes by boat from Bali. Gili Trawangan is too busy and noisy for some; Gili Meno too quiet for others. But snorkeling is outstanding from just offshore on any of the three islets.
Based on your wishes, perhaps consider arranging your trip this way (I’ve recommend some good budget hotels):
1) Seminyak (5 days) – for sunsets, nightclubs, and shopping. Try staying at Puri Cendana or Raja Gardens Bungalows.
2) Sanur (5 days) – a quieter beach region for walking, cycling and exploring southern Bali. Try Besakih Beach Hotel; Little Pond Homestay; or Ananda Beach Hotel.
3) Ubud (8 days) – best place for culture and exploring central Bali. Alam Indah for convenient ravine-side setting; or Nick’s Pension for serenity and unbeatable central position.
4) Padangbai (5 days) – for village lifestyle and snorkeling. Several affordable places facing the bay include Kerti Beach Bungalows.
5) Gili Air (7 days) – for calm swimming, accessible snorkeling and village life (Lombok-style). Many options including Gusung Indah Bungalows and Gita Gili Bungalow.
Hi there, I’d like to go to Bali October 31st – November 12th. Should I be worried about the weather?
Thanks
The rains are just starting about this time but the weather is still pretty good. No guarantees but I doubt it will be a problem.
Hi there,
I an concerned about the risk of a tsunami. Could you please recommend where is safest to stay. Travelling with young children.
Thank you,
Gron
Like visiting pretty much anywhere in the world your risk from being in a car accident is many fold greater than being caught in a tsunami. Vehicle-related deaths total about 1 million per year. All natural disasters combined caused 1 million deaths over the previous twenty years (of which tsunami-related deaths would be a fraction). I suppose if you’re so worried that you can’t relax then stay in Ubud which is far away from the ocean.
What are the best cheap hotels in Bali? We are a honeymoon couple (ages 28 and 34) traveling long-term on a fixed budget. Would love to keep hotel expenses below $50/night. Will likely spend 10 to 12 days in Bali in two or three different towns but not overly picky which. What hotels would you recommend for a relaxing and affordable stay?
With 10-12 days you have time to stay in and explore 3 different places within Bali, but avoid more distant areas like Lovina or the Gili Islands. And as (presumably) first-time visitors, it’s perhaps best to avoid the main beach strip of Kuta/Legian/Seminyak, where the crowds, noise, traffic, and street hawkers can be overwhelming for some, and not conducive to a peaceful honeymoon.
Thankfully, there are plenty of choices and, because of the favorable exchange rate and fierce competition among hotels, finding a place for less than US$50 with a pool, wi-fi, and breakfast is not difficult.
These recommended bases are only an hour by chartered car with a driver or tourist shuttle bus from each other:
1) Sanur – without the surf, sunsets, and malls of Kuta/Legian/Seminyak, but far quieter and more laidback. Still plenty to see and do, and the 6km-long beachside path is ideal for walking and cycling. All these places have a pool.
(a) Hotel Jati Sanur – so cute, quiet, and friendly. Balinese-style bungalows in lush gardens. 100m from the beach.
(b) Peneeda View Beach Hotel – best value actually facing the beach. Balinese-style rooms, seclusion, and excellent position for shops and cafés.
(c) Little Pond Homestay – newish, back from the road, and great location for cafés and bars. 200m from the beach. Terrific value.
2) Ubud – spiritual and cultural heart of Bali, with so much to see and do in Ubud (eg market, temples, art museums) and the general area (eg rice terraces at Tegallalang, rock sculptures at Gunung Kawi). Each place has a pool, but this is not always needed in Ubud which in the highlands.
(a) Nick’s Pension – unbeatable location for facilities. Gorgeous villas in rice-fields.
(b) Gayatri – another very convenient position. Old-fashioned charm and large villas.
(c) Honeymoon Guesthouse – appropriate! Along quiet street, but so convenient. Excellent café onsite.
3) Padangbai – very scenic village on the east coast. Lovely vibe and excellent value all around. Flawless beaches and ideal for daytrips, eg to the ancient village of Tenganan or eerie bat cave temple of Goa Lawah. All these hotels have a pool.
(a) Puri Rai – beachfront, trendy, and popular. Great value.
(b) Kerti Beach Bungalow – beachfront, quiet, and long-established.
(c) OK Divers Resort & Spa – a little more than your budget, but worth a splurge for perfect beachfront position and colonial-style setting. 2 pools. Diving agency onsite.
Is two weeks too long to spend in Bali for a family vacation?
10 to 15 days is the perfect length of time for a Bali holiday. That will allow plenty of time to tour the island and see the highlights. But also provide a few days to relax and unwind by the pool or beach. But more than 15 or maybe 20 days and I’d recommend hopping a boat to Lombok or the Gilis.
Are there good places to stay near the Bali International airport? Our flight departs early.
Any hotel in Jimbaran, Kuta, or Tuban will be fine for easy access to the Bali airport. If you need a name then the Holiday Inn Baruna Bali in Kuta is a great choice. But there are many others too. Taxis are easy to arrange.