Things to do in Bali

You are coming a long way, so stay a while. Here are the places we would send you first, with rough drive times from the wedding venue in Uluwatu.

Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak fire dance

Uluwatu · about 15 minutes from the venue

A temple on the edge of a cliff, high above the ocean. Go about an hour before sunset, walk the cliff path, then stay for the Kecak dance: a chorus of chanting men, fire, and the sun going down behind them. Hold on to your sunglasses; the monkeys here are thieves.

The Uluwatu beaches

Uluwatu · 10 to 20 minutes from the venue

The south coast has some of the best beaches on the island, most of them tucked below cliffs. Padang Padang and Bingin are small and beautiful, Dreamland and Melasti are wide and easy, and Suluban sits inside a cave. Expect stairs.

Seafood on the sand at Jimbaran Bay

Jimbaran · about 30 minutes from the venue

Pick your fish from the ice, they grill it over coconut husks, and you eat with your feet in the sand as the sun sets and planes drift into the airport across the bay. Simple and hard to beat.

Ubud

Central Bali · 1.5 to 2 hours from the venue

The green, artistic heart of the island. Walk through the Sacred Monkey Forest, browse the art market, see the palace, and take the Campuhan Ridge Walk early in the morning. Worth a full day, or a night or two if you can.

The rice terraces

Near Ubud and west Bali · about 2 hours from the venue

Tegallalang, just north of Ubud, is the famous one: steep green steps carved into a valley. Jatiluwih, further west, is bigger, quieter, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Go early for soft light and fewer people.

Tirta Empul water temple

Tampaksiring · about 2 hours from the venue

A temple built around a holy spring, where Balinese people come to bathe and pray. Visitors can join the purification ritual, moving along a row of fountains in the pool. One of the most moving places on the island.

Lempuyang Temple, the Gates of Heaven

East Bali · about 3 hours from the venue

This is where the photo at the top of our site was taken. Stone gates frame Mount Agung on a clear day. It is a long drive and there is a wait for the famous photo, so leave very early and make a day of east Bali.

Sunrise on Mount Batur

Kintamani · about 2.5 hours from the venue

Hike an active volcano in the dark and watch the sun come up over a crater lake. The climb takes about two hours and starts around 3 or 4 in the morning, with a guide. Tiring, and people talk about it for years.

A day trip to Nusa Penida

Island off the southeast coast · boat from Sanur

A rugged island about 45 minutes away by fast boat. Kelingking Beach, with its cliff shaped like a dinosaur, is the view everyone comes for; Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are close by. Roads are rough, so book a tour with a driver.

Tanah Lot at sunset

West coast · about 1.5 hours from the venue

A small temple on a rock in the sea, cut off at high tide. It is one of the most photographed places in Bali, and the sunset is the reason. Pair it with an afternoon in Canggu or Seminyak.

If you have more time

Waterfalls. Tegenungan and Tibumana are easy stops near Ubud. Sekumpul, in the far north, is the most dramatic and takes a full day.

Snorkeling and diving. Amed and Tulamben on the east coast have calm water and a famous shipwreck close to shore. Boats to Nusa Lembongan go looking for manta rays.

Ulun Danu Beratan. A temple that seems to float on a mountain lake, in the cool highlands around Bedugul.

A spa day. A Balinese massage costs a fraction of what it does at home, and there is a good spa on almost every street.

A cooking class. Many start with a morning market visit and end with lunch you made yourself. Ubud has the most choice.

Good to know

July weather

July is dry season: sunny days in the 80s, cooler evenings, and very little rain. It is also the busiest time of year, so book drivers, tours and popular restaurants ahead.

Getting around

Traffic is slow and distances take longer than the map suggests. For day trips, hire a private driver for the day; your hotel can arrange one. For short rides, the Grab and Gojek apps work well.

Money

The currency is the Indonesian rupiah. Hotels and most restaurants take cards; carry cash for small shops, temple entry and tips. ATMs are easy to find.

At temples

Cover your shoulders and knees. A sarong is required at most temples and is usually lent or rented at the entrance.

Monkeys

At Uluwatu Temple and the Monkey Forest, monkeys grab sunglasses, hats, phones and anything dangling. Keep things zipped away and do not feed them.

Water and power

Do not drink the tap water; stick to bottled or filtered. Outlets are 230 volts with two round pins, so bring an adapter.

Entry rules

Check the current visa and entry requirements for Indonesia before you fly, including the Bali tourist levy. Rules and fees change, and your passport generally needs at least six months left on it.

Flights and where to stay