Bali Travel Guide: What to Do, Where to Stay and When to Go
Published · Updated · 6 min read
Most first timers do well with five to seven days in Bali, split between two bases, for example the south coast and Ubud. The dry season, roughly April to October, is the easiest time for weather. Every foreign visitor also pays a one-off IDR 150,000 tourist levy, and you should check the current visa on arrival fee before you fly, because it is changing.
Which part of Bali should you stay in?
Pick the area by what you want to do in the evening, because that is what separates them. Daytime sights are all reachable by car from anywhere in the south.
| Area | What it is like | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Kuta and Legian | Busy beach strip, lots of shops, close to the airport | Short stays, budget, surf lessons |
| Seminyak and Canggu | Beach clubs, restaurants, cafes, more traffic | Couples, groups, nightlife |
| Ubud | Inland, rice fields, art markets, temples and forest | Culture, walks, quiet mornings |
| Uluwatu and Bukit | Cliff-top temple and beaches on the southern peninsula | Surfers, sunsets, couples |
| Nusa Dua and Jimbaran | Resort enclave and a long calm bay | Families, easy logistics |
| Sanur | Calm, shallow beach on the east side of the south | Families, older travellers |
| East Bali (Candidasa, Amed) | Slower coast, snorkelling, water palaces | Second base for a few nights |
| North Bali (Lovina, Bedugul) | Black sand beaches, lakes, highland waterfalls | Day trips or a quiet add-on |
You can read more about the beach areas in our guide to Bali beaches. If you only change hotel once, make it south coast first, Ubud second, so you finish the trip somewhere calm.
When is the best time to visit Bali?
April to October is the dry season and the safest choice for weather. The west monsoon runs from about October to April and brings the heaviest rain from December to March, according to Wikipedia's climate summary for the island.
The difference is sharp: January is among the wettest months and August among the driest. Daytime highs in the lowlands sit around 29 to 32 degrees all year, and it gets cooler as you go up into the hills.
Rain in the wet season is often a few hours rather than a whole day, and the rainy months are generally quieter. If you want beaches and long walks, aim for May to September. If you are flexible and want fewer people, the edges of the season work too. Mountain visibility is better in the dry months, which matters if you plan a sunrise volcano climb.
How many days in Bali do you need?
Three days gets you the south coast and one day trip. Five days adds Ubud and the highlands. A week lets you add a second beach area or a day on the east coast without rushing.
Allow longer than the map suggests. Roads are slow and a trip that looks like 40 km can take well over an hour, especially in the late afternoon. Plan one main thing per day, two at most.
What are the best things to do in Bali?
Here are the things first timers most often ask about, and the order that works in practice.
- Temples at sunset. Tanah Lot on the west coast and Uluwatu Temple on the southern cliffs are the two big sunset stops. Both get crowded an hour before sunset.
- Ubud and the rice terraces. Walk, shop the art market, then drive north for the terraces at Tegalalang.
- A volcano sunrise. Mount Batur is the usual choice. We cover it properly in our Bali hiking guide.
- Food. Eat at warungs, not just beach clubs. Our Balinese food guide covers what to order.
- Travelling with children. See our list of family activities.
What does a 3 day Bali itinerary look like?
Keep it to the south coast and one cultural day.
- Day 1: Arrive, settle in, an easy beach afternoon. Save the big sights for when you have slept.
- Day 2: Culture day. We run an Ubud Tour from $60 per car that covers the main sights around town.
- Day 3: South coast. Beach in the morning, then our Uluwatu Sunset Tour, from $35 per person, in the afternoon.
What does a 5 day Bali itinerary look like?
Split the stay between the coast and Ubud, and add one early start.
- Day 1: Arrive in the south, rest.
- Day 2: West coast. The Tanah Lot Sunset Tour is from $35 per car.
- Day 3: Move to Ubud by car and spend the afternoon on foot. Our airport to Ubud transfer starts at $32 per car, so ask us for the hotel to hotel price.
- Day 4: Highlands. Our Kintamani Tour is from $70 per car and looks over Lake Batur and the volcano.
- Day 5: Slow morning, then back south or to the airport.
How do you get around Bali, and what does a driver cost?
A private car with a driver is the most relaxed way to cover several areas in a day. Public transport is thin, and renting a scooter is a real risk if you have not ridden in heavy traffic before.
Our prices are set per tour or transfer, not per hour. A few examples from our current list: airport to Kuta, Legian, Seminyak or Jimbaran is from $20 per car, Canggu, Tanah Lot, Nusa Dua or Uluwatu from $25, and Ubud from $32. Day tours run from $35 per car for the Tanah Lot sunset to $70 for Kintamani and $80 for Bedugul. Check each tour page for what is included.
What catches first timers out?
Four things come up again and again, and none of them is hard to avoid.
- Distances. Bali looks small on a map. The south coast to Ubud, then up to Kintamani, is a full day of driving with stops. Do not put Tanah Lot and Uluwatu on the same sunset, they are on opposite sides of the south.
- Nyepi. The Hindu New Year is marked in spring by a Day of Silence. Tourists are expected to stay in their hotels, and attractions such as Waterbom close for the day. The date follows the Balinese calendar and moves each year, so look it up before booking flights. Our festivals guide explains how it works.
- Temple dress. Dress modestly at sacred sites. The Ubud Monkey Forest, for example, asks visitors on its own guidelines page to avoid revealing clothing. Carry a light scarf or sarong in your bag.
- Early starts. The best light, the thinnest crowds and the coolest temperatures are all before 9 am. Sunrise tours and ceremonies start earlier than you expect.
What do you need to know about visas, the tourist levy and money?
Three things to sort before you land: the visa, the levy and some cash.
Visa. Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival, valid for 30 days and extendable once. Until recently the fee was IDR 500,000. In August 2026, immigration said it would rise to IDR 750,000 if you apply for the e-visa before departure and IDR 1,000,000 if you buy it at the airport. No start date was confirmed in the reports available, so check the official immigration site before you fly.
Tourist levy. The Bali provincial government charges foreign visitors IDR 150,000 per person, paid once. You can pay on the official Love Bali site before you arrive or at counters at the airport and seaport, by card, bank transfer or QRIS. You get a voucher with a QR code by email. Keep it on your phone.
Money. Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants. Warungs, parking attendants and small temple fees are cash. Keep small notes in rupiah.
When you know your dates and area, send them to us on our contact page and we will suggest a driver plan that fits.