Indonesia · City guide
Bali: choose your coast, then explore the temples
Bali is an island destination, not a single city: Denpasar is its capital, while the outings below span several areas. Our suggested first visit is five or six nights, with a coastal base and, if temple visits are your priority, a separate stay around Ubud. That is an editorial starting point, not a minimum stay. Choose a few outings rather than trying to complete this whole list. This guide concentrates on Sanur, the southern coast and temple visits inland; it is not a route through every part of Bali or its neighbouring islands.
Get to know Bali
In this guide 8 sections
Go a little further
Best Things to Do in Bali
Sanur Beach and the shore path
East of Denpasar, Sanur has a long pedestrian path beside the beach and is known for sunrise views. We suggest making this your first low-pressure outing: walk a section, stop for breakfast, then decide whether to continue. The tourism board describes calm waves, but that is not a daily swimming-safety report. Check actual conditions before entering the water, and leave yourself the option of enjoying the coast entirely from land.[3]
Tirta Empul near Tampaksiring
Tirta Empul is an active sacred water temple near Tampaksiring, not far from Ubud. Its springs feed purification pools used for melukat rituals. Go to understand the place rather than treating the pools as a recreational swim. Our suggestion is to ask staff about permitted areas and participation before joining any ritual; observing respectfully is also a valid visit. Wear the required sarong and avoid interrupting worshippers for photographs.[4][2]
Goa Gajah near Ubud
Goa Gajah is an archaeological site with caves, rock carvings, gardens and sacred pools near Ubud. We suggest choosing this or Tirta Empul for your first inland temple outing. Follow local directions about access and dress at this religious site.[2]
Uluwatu Temple in Pecatu
Uluwatu Temple stands on a limestone cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean in southern Bali. The tourism board also identifies sunset Kecak performances here. Our suggestion is to choose whether the temple visit or a performance is your main purpose, then check current arrangements locally; no performance ticket or schedule is promised by this guide. Arrange your return transport before setting out and keep a comfortable distance from cliff edges.[2]
Tanah Lot in Tabanan
Tanah Lot's sea temple sits on a rocky outcrop in Tabanan and is particularly associated with sunset photography. Choose it for a coastal excursion rather than another inland temple. Follow the site's access instructions; photographs of visitors near the temple are not permission to walk there.[2]
Taman Ayun in Mengwi
Taman Ayun is a royal temple in Mengwi with extensive gardens and tiered meru towers. Choose it for the architecture and gardens rather than a sea view. The tourism authority asks visitors to cover shoulders and knees, speak softly and follow temple officials' directions; apply that approach here and at the other temples.[2]
Ulun Danu Beratan in Bedugul
The water temple on Lake Beratan is known for a tiered meru shrine that appears to float on the lake. It is in Bedugul in central Bali, rather than on the southern beach strip. We suggest giving this its own inland excursion instead of combining it with Uluwatu. Confirm the day's route with your driver.[2]
A taste of the city
What to Eat and Where
Balinese dish recommendation
Ayam betutu
This chicken dish uses base genep spice paste and slow cooking. Expect a strongly seasoned meal rather than plain roast chicken. Ask about chilli before ordering.[5]
Confirm service arrangements with your chosen venue.
Balinese dish recommendation
Sate lilit
Sate lilit uses minced fish or chicken with coconut, wrapped around a stalk and grilled. The tourism board points to beachside warungs in Sanur among places to look. Ask which protein the kitchen uses; the dish name alone is not an ingredient or allergy guarantee.[5]
Check directly with the venue you select.
Balinese dish recommendation
Babi guling
Babi guling is spiced, spit-roasted pork, prized for its crisp skin. It is not suitable for visitors avoiding pork. Ask what comes on the plate and request sambal separately if you prefer to control the heat.[5]
Confirm availability with the chosen kitchen.
Balinese dish recommendation
Tum ayam
Minced chicken and spices are steamed in banana-leaf parcels for tum ayam. Look for it when you want a different preparation from grilled satay or roasted meat. Ask the kitchen about ingredients rather than treating a modest-looking parcel as automatically mild or suitable for every diet.[5]
Check the current menu directly.
Balinese dish recommendation
Tipat cantok
Tipat cantok combines sliced rice cakes and steamed vegetables with peanut sauce. It is a useful contrast to the meat dishes above, but contains peanuts. Ask about the full sauce ingredients and your preferred chilli level before ordering rather than assuming a vegetable-based dish meets your dietary needs.[5]
Choose a venue and confirm its arrangements.
Set your own pace
Plan your stay
Leave the airport with a pickup plan
The airport transport directory lists taxis, a Grab Lounge and a Gojek Customer Lounge. It places the Grab pickup zones at international and domestic arrivals; the Gojek locations differ by terminal. Check current signs and your app's instructions rather than following an old screenshot. We suggest confirming your accommodation's full address before departure and leaving arrival day free of a distant temple reservation. This guide does not quote transfer fares or journey times.[6]
Plan around areas, not a single island-wide checklist
For a first trip, our suggested sequence is a Sanur shore day, an inland temple day around Ubud, then a choice between the southern coast and a Bedugul excursion. Keep another day flexible rather than committing to all seven outings. These are itinerary suggestions based on the locations above, not a timed driving route. At temples, cover shoulders and knees, avoid stepping on offerings and let worship take precedence over photography.[3][2][4]
Before you travel
Travel Health
Before travelling, review routine vaccinations and your itinerary with a travel-health clinician. Türkiye's Indonesia guidance discusses food- and water-borne infection risks and recommends bottled drinking water and avoiding ice; use that as a reason to check food and drink hygiene, not as a guarantee about any restaurant. Its country page was last updated in February 2023, so recheck current advice before departure. WHO recommends avoiding mosquito bites during the day as well as using covering clothing, screens and appropriate repellent. Seek immediate medical care for severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or bleeding, including after a fever subsides. Avoid contact with unfamiliar animals and report bites promptly to a health facility; Indonesia's health ministry specifically stresses prompt reporting of animal bites. This is general prevention advice, not a diagnosis, prescription or assessment of your personal vaccine needs.[7][8][9]
Find your season
Weather Through the Year
Historical climate normals, not a forecast.[10]
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Travel note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 °C | 24.1 °C | 345 mm | Pack rain protection. |
| Feb | 33.4 °C | 24.2 °C | 274 mm | Keep outdoor plans flexible. |
| Mar | 33.6 °C | 24 °C | 234 mm | Leave room for showers. |
| Apr | 34.4 °C | 24.8 °C | 88 mm | Plan shade and water breaks. |
| May | 33.1 °C | 24.1 °C | 93 mm | Carry light rain protection. |
| Jun | 31.4 °C | 23.5 °C | 53 mm | Consider outdoor outings. |
| Jul | 30.4 °C | 23 °C | 55 mm | Keep sun protection handy. |
| Aug | 29.6 °C | 22.5 °C | 25 mm | Carry water for walks. |
| Sep | 31.4 °C | 22.9 °C | 47 mm | Retain a wet-weather option. |
| Oct | 33.6 °C | 23.7 °C | 63 mm | Allow shaded breaks. |
| Nov | 32.7 °C | 23.5 °C | 179 mm | Keep a rain layer accessible. |
| Dec | 33 °C | 23.5 °C | 276 mm | Leave spare time around outings. |
Best Time to Visit
June to September is our starting suggestion for outdoor plans: Denpasar's historical table shows less rainfall than December to March. WWIS labels the overall period 1961–1990 but leaves the separate temperature and rainfall period fields blank. These historical averages are not a forecast or a description of every Bali elevation. Check current weather separately for Bedugul and any coastal activities. The high and low columns are average daily maximum and minimum temperatures, not monthly mean temperatures.[10]
Make it a journey
Current fares to Bali
BEST DIRECT FARE22% belowSydney (SYD) to
Bali (DPS)
Round trip26 Nov – 3 Dec7 days
From A$494.00
Nonstop both ways6h 20m out · 6h 5m back
RECENTLY FOUNDPerth (PER) to
Bali (DPS)
Round trip14 Apr – 21 Apr7 days
From A$507.00
Nonstop both ways3h 45m out · 3h 35m back
RECENTLY FOUNDBrisbane (BNE) to
Bali (DPS)
Round trip5 Feb – 26 Feb21 days
From A$527.00
Nonstop both ways6h 15m out · 6h back
RECENTLY FOUNDMelbourne (MEL) to
Bali (DPS)
Round trip13 Feb – 26 Feb13 days
From A$419.00
Nonstop both ways6h 15m out · 5h 45m back
RECENTLY FOUNDLos Angeles (LAX) to
Bali (DPS)
Round trip17 Jan – 27 Jan10 days
From US$863.00
1 stop each way21h out · 18h 15m back
Flight routes to Bali
A few useful answers
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I spend in Bali?
We suggest five or six nights for a first visit focused on this guide's coastal walks and temple outings. That is an editorial choice, not a universal minimum. Pick one or two inland excursions and retain some uncommitted time rather than treating a list of attractions as a daily schedule.[1][2]
Should I stay in Sanur or around Ubud?
Choose according to what you want to repeat. Sanur suits the shore-path outing described here; Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah are near Ubud. Our suggestion is to split your stay only if both settings matter to you. Otherwise, choose one base and be selective about excursions.[3][2][4]
Can I visit temples without joining a ritual?
Plan a respectful visit rather than assuming participation is required. Follow staff directions about visitor areas, dress and ceremonies. Tirta Empul is an active place of worship with purification pools; ask locally before taking part. Observing from a permitted area can be more appropriate than joining a ritual you do not understand.[2][4]
Stay curious
Keep exploring
Behind the guide
Sources and editorial checks
Fact check: 2026-10-25. Food check: 2026-10-25. These are editorial checks, not a claim of a first-person visit. Suggested routes and time allocations are planning judgments.
- Indonesia Travel: Bali · accessed 2026-10-25
- Indonesia Travel: 11 Must-Visit Temples in Bali and How to Get There · accessed 2026-10-25
- Indonesia Travel: Sanur Beach · accessed 2026-10-25
- Indonesia Travel: A Guide to the Holy Springs of Tirta Empul · accessed 2026-10-25
- Indonesia Travel: 13 Iconic Balinese Cuisines You Must Try in Bali · accessed 2026-10-25
- Bali airport: Public Transport directory · accessed 2026-10-25
- WHO: Dengue and severe dengue · accessed 2026-10-25
- Türkiye travel-health authority: Indonesia · accessed 2026-10-25
- Indonesia Ministry of Health: Rabies awareness circular · accessed 2026-10-25
- WMO World Weather Information Service: Denpasar; BMKG data · accessed 2026-10-25
- Wikimedia Commons: Pura Ulun Danu Bratan 3.JPG · accessed 2026-10-25
- HOW TO TRAVEL BALI - 14 Days in Paradise · accessed 2026-10-25 · discovery/access only; not used as verified evidence
- The ONLY Bali Travel Guide You’ll Ever Need (2026) · accessed 2026-10-25 · discovery/access only; not used as verified evidence
- Travel Bali in a Minute - Drone Aerial Video | Expedia · accessed 2026-10-25 · discovery/access only; not used as verified evidence
On-location video candidates were recorded, but usable captions were unavailable for this edition. No video observations are claimed.