80% of the economy of Bali, Indonesia is made up of tourism. The pandemic hit the island hard by reducing the number of foreign visitors, but it’s working to recover.
Visiting Bali is one of the best ways to help. The island offers everything you could want, including beaches, temples, waterfalls, and lush jungles. You can spend hours just looking at your surroundings, but there’s more than enough to keep you entertained.
Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more on everything the island has to offer. Watch our video to learn about the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia.
Pantai Pasir Putih
Also known as White Sand Beach, this secret spot is one of the best in Bali. The water is perfectly blue and clear and calm enough for swimming and snorkeling.
Echo Beach
This beach has begun to attract tourists but isn’t as developed as others. It’s one of the best things to do in Bali if you want a relaxing time in the charcoal-brown sand with plenty of room to stretch your legs. The huge waves are perfect for surfers.
Thomas Beach
Long steps keep some visitors and locals away from this spot, but don’t let them discourage you. It’s still one of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia. It’s full of gorgeous white sand and surrounded by palm trees. You’ll have plenty of space and can get a drink of coconut water from the local vendors.
Nyang Nyang Beach
This beach is full of white sand and green cliffs. It’s beautiful enough for anyone to enjoy but free of crowds.
Bingin Beach
Hiking down steep cliffs is the price you’ll have to pay to get to this lovely beach. It’s small but full of clear waters that are perfect for surfing, friendly locals, and great places to eat.
Diamond Beach
This beach has earned the title of the most beautiful in Bali. It sits on a limestone cliff and is covered in white sand, blue waters, and palm trees.
Sekumpul Waterfall
This is one of the best of Bali’s many waterfalls. You’ll need to take a long hike along the trails to reach it, but you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous tropical scenery. It also offers a private escape because it’s set apart from all other tourist attractions.
Banyumala Twin Waterfalls
These 11-story waterfalls cascade into a natural pool. They’re 2 hours from the mainland and require a steep hike to reach, but it’s worth the trek. It gets you to the perfect place to enjoy Bali’s natural beauty without being surrounded by crowds.
Banyu Wana Amurtha Waterfall
This spot was only recently opened to the public, and the trip to reach it is long. Drive 90 minutes out of Ubud and take a 20-minute hike through a banana plantation. There are 4 waterfalls surrounded by a lush forest, and the main one empties into a shallow pool.
Tengenunan Waterfall
Walk 15 minutes through the forest outside of Ubud to reach this waterfall. It’s too powerful to stand underneath, but you can still watch it from the rocks or swim in the catchment. Come early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Titra Gaanga
This water garden was built in 1046 by the royal Karangasem family but looks and feels like it’s been around since ancient times.
The temple is full of gorgeous shrubs, flowers, and sculptures. Its water features include a fountain, carp ponds, and stone spring water pools, one of which you can swim in.
The entry fee is only $2, which means that any tourist can afford to walk through here. It’s a great place to start your journey through Bali’s many ancient temples.
Titra Empul
This place is also known as Holy Spring. As the name suggests, it’s served as a sacred water temple for the locals for over 1,000 years. It’s full of shrines and courtyards.
You can even see the purification pools where local Hindus baptize themselves. Titra Empul is so sacred that you’ll need to pay a $1 entry fee and wear a sarong to enter.
Uluwatu Temple
This is another important temple that’s been protecting against evil spirits since 900 AD. Tourists flock to climb 230 feet to the cliff edge to get an unforgettable view of Uluwatu Beach. You can also pay $7 to watch a Kecak dance performance full of chants, costumes, and rings of fire.
Gunung Kawi Temple
This 11th-century complex has inspired plenty of myths, including the story of the ferocious warrior Kebo who carved reliefs on the temple wall with his fingernails. If you’re interested in its history, you’ll need to go down its 300 steps. Come in the early morning for a quiet but powerful experience.
Tanah Lot Temple
This has been a popular Hindu pilgrimage site for years. Make it part of your next trip to see its seaside rock facade.
Tegalang Rice Terrace
Visiting his UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia if you’re a budding photographer. It’s free to explore the layers of rice paddies watered by an ancient irrigation system. Go high or visit the lower slopes and get a bite to eat at the open-air cafe before you leave.
Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more travel guides for the best tourist islands in the world. Keep watching to learn about more of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia, including sacred temples to explore, delicious eateries, and imposing cliffs to marvel at.
Pura Lepuyang Leper
This spot is a complex of 7 temples known for the Gateway to Heaven that frames Mount Agung. Give a donation fee to enter, rent a sarong, and pay $3 for a round-trip jeep shuttle up the mountain. Visit at sunrise to avoid the crowds.
Menjangan Island
One of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia sits in West Bali National Park. It may only take up 8 miles, but it’s worth visiting. It earned the nickname Deer Island for its population of Javan rusa deer that run through its waters, and its coral reefs are perfect for diving and snorkeling.
Benju Gawan Hidden Canyon
This sacred site is full of canyons to climb, wade, and swim in. You’ll need a guide to get through them safely, and this isn’t the place to go during the rainy season.
Ubud Monkey Forest
There are over 1,000 Balinese macaques living here, and you can watch them in their natural habitat. Be prepared to have them steal your jewelry, bags, and food. There are also 3 sacred temples in the forest.
Mount Batur
Also known as Gunung Batur, this is one of the most impressive areas in Bali. It’s a 5,600-foot volcanic crater that you can cycle or hike through. It takes 2 hours to reach the top, and you’ll need to wake up early to avoid the crowds.
Sukuwati Art Market
This is one of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia if you want to go shopping while avoiding crowds and leaving with a bargain. The vendors sell handcrafted art, sculptures, dresses, home goods, bags, and more.
Dreamland
This is one of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia if you came to surf. It’s perfect for noobies and pros because the waves break over the sand. This makes them safer than other beaches where the waves break over rock or coral.
Bali Training Centre
This open-air studio has a range of fitness classes. You can try kickboxing or lifting a kettlebell. Replenish at the Cashew Tree cafe when you’re done.
Morning Light Yoga Studio
Yoga is a mainstay in Bali, and this is one of the best places to learn it. Come in whenever you like to join a 1 1/2 -hour class and enjoy refreshing coconut water when you’re done.
Bali Swing
This is the place to go if you’re missing the joys of your childhood. There are over 12 huge swings ranging from 12-78 meters surrounded by gorgeous jungles.
Bumba Bali
This is one of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia if you’re a fan of Indonesian food. Take a cooking class and learn key skills such as making curry paste, grilling meats on banana leaves, and making spicy sauces. You’ll then get to go to and explore the local markets.
Nalu Bowls
A smoothie bowl from this shack is one of the healthiest and most delicious treats you can get in Bali. Choose a base like dragonfruit or banana and toppings like strawberries, granola, mango, coconut chips, or goji berries. There are also 4 different outposts, so you’ll never be too far from a Nalu Bowls location.
Palachute
This tropical cafe has a relaxed atmosphere. Breakfast options include omelets, pastries, and parfaits. There are also plenty of areas to eat in, including an open space and a canopy with gorgeous skyline views.
La Plancha
This is one of the best places to enjoy a drink on the beach. Sit under colorful umbrellas with cushions underneath and take a sip while you watch the sunset.
Kelly’s Warung
Nasi goreng is one of the most popular Indonesian dishes. It’s made with fried rice covered in veggies and a fried egg. Kelly’s Warung specializes in it, but you can also try their juices and smoothies. You’ll also enjoy gorgeous views with your meal, and the prices are low.
Gili Islands
Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air combine to become one of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia. Take a 90-minute ride from Padang Bali harbor to reach them.
The islands offer clear blue waters and diving experiences for beach-lovers. You can also soak up the culture of Bali with cooking classes and other unique experiences.
Uluwatu Cliff
Also known as Karna Boma Cliff, this limestone wonder drops 70 meters directly into the ocean. It’s a marvel to look at and one of the best places to watch the sunset.
Do you think of Bali when deciding where to go on an island vacation? Let us know in the comments below. Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more guides on how to get the best out of the most popular islands in Asia.