Places to Visit in Bali: 25 Top Tourist Places and Things to Do

Bali is small, only about one and a half times the size of Goa, but packed with things to see: sacred temples on cliffs and in the sea, rice terraces carved into hillsides, active volcanoes, thundering waterfalls, white-sand beaches and islands with some of the clearest water in Asia.

Here are the 25 best places to visit in Bali, grouped by area, with tips on how to fit them into your trip, plus the top things to do in Bali, from beach clubs and spas to shopping.

1. Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Bali's most famous rice terraces, north of Ubud, best early in the morning before the crowds and heat.

2. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. A jungle temple complex in Ubud home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques.

3. Bali Swing. Giant swings over the jungle valley, one of the island's most photographed experiences.

4. Tegenungan Waterfall. A powerful waterfall close to Ubud, easy to reach with steps down to the pool.

5. Tirta Empul. A holy spring temple where Balinese Hindus bathe in purifying waters.

6. Ubud Palace and Art Market. The royal palace, evening dance performances and a busy handicraft market.

Read our full Ubud guide.

7. Kintamani and Mount Batur. The viewpoint over the active volcano and its crater lake, and the famous sunrise trek. See our Mount Batur and Kintamani guide.

8. Ulun Danu Bratan. A beautiful temple that seems to float on Lake Bratan in the cool hills of Bedugul.

9. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. UNESCO-listed terraces, larger and quieter than Tegallalang.

10. Sekumpul Waterfall. Often called Bali's most beautiful waterfall, in the north, a long drive and a steep walk away, best on a full-day trip.

11. Uluwatu Temple. A clifftop temple above the Indian Ocean, famous for sunsets and the Kecak fire dance.

12. Tanah Lot. A sea temple on a rocky outcrop, cut off at high tide and spectacular at sunset.

13. Lempuyang (Gates of Heaven). The split gate framing Mount Agung in east Bali, with long queues for the famous photo.

14. Garuda Wisnu Kencana. A cultural park with one of the world's tallest statues, and daily dance shows.

See our guide to Bali's temples for timings, tickets and dress codes.

15. Kuta and Legian Beach. Long sandy beaches with surf schools and famous sunsets.

16. Seminyak Beach. Sunset beanbags and beach clubs.

17. Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa. Calm water, resort beaches and Bali's water sports centre.

18. Jimbaran Bay. Seafood dinners on the sand at sunset.

19. Uluwatu's cliff beaches. Padang Padang, Melasti and Dreamland Beach, with turquoise water below limestone cliffs.

The best beaches in Bali for swimming are in Nusa Dua, Sanur and Jimbaran; Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu are better for surfing and sunsets. Read about the areas in where to stay in Bali.

20. Nusa Penida. Kelingking Beach, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay, on a day trip by speedboat. See our Nusa Penida guide.

21. Nusa Lembongan. A smaller, relaxed island with mangroves, snorkelling and the Devil's Tear rock formation.

22. The Gili Islands. Car-free islands off Lombok with turtles and sunsets. See our Bali and Gili Islands packages.

23. Waterbom Bali. One of Asia's best water parks, in Kuta.

24. Bali Safari and Marine Park. Safari rides and animal shows.

25. Trans Studio Bali. An indoor theme park, good for rainy afternoons.

See our guide to Bali water sports and activities.

• Water sports at Tanjung Benoa: banana boat, parasailing, jet ski and sea walking.
• Balinese massage and spa: traditional massages, scrubs and flower baths at very reasonable prices, from simple day spas to luxury resort spas.
• Beach clubs: Seminyak, Canggu and Uluwatu have famous clubs with pools, sunset views and DJs; day beds usually require a minimum spend.
• Nightlife: Kuta and Legian for bars and clubs, Seminyak for cocktail bars, Jimbaran for sunset dinners.
• Shopping: Ubud Art Market, the craft villages of Celuk and Mas, Seminyak boutiques and Kuta's malls.
• Coffee plantation visit: taste Balinese coffee and teas near Ubud or Kintamani.
• Balinese dance: Kecak at Uluwatu or Legong at Ubud Palace.
• Cooking class: learn to make Balinese dishes, with vegetarian versions on request.

If you have a spare day or two, the less-visited north and east of Bali reward the drive. In the east, visit Tirta Gangga water palace with its stepping stones and fountains, the black-sand beaches and snorkelling of Amed, and the royal water palace of Taman Ujung. In the north, combine Sekumpul and Gitgit waterfalls with the lake temples of Bedugul and the Handara gate, or stay a night in Lovina for a sunrise dolphin trip. These areas are 2.5 to 3.5 hours from the southern beaches, so a private car with driver is the best way to go.

Traffic in Bali can be slow, so it is best to group sightseeing by area and split your stay between Ubud and a beach. Our Bali tour packages do exactly that, with the Kintamani volcano and Ubud villages, the Tanah Lot and Uluwatu temples, Tanjung Benoa water sports and, on most trips, Nusa Penida included. For day-by-day plans, see our Bali itinerary guide.