Chris and I are back in Bali again! Since our first trip, we seem to find ourselves here every year. There are so many reasons to come to Bali, the people, the natural beauty, the beaches, to name a few.
As I write this, I’m sitting in a cafe in Ubud, with super slow Wi-Fi but the rice field it looks onto more than makes up for that. Right now, I wouldn’t want to be writing anywhere else.
So I thought I’d put together a list of some of our favourite things to do in Bali (in no particular order), in case you’re tempted to explore Bali!
Things To Do In Bali
#1 Do A Rice Terrace Trek
On our last trip to Bali, we went on two of these, and I fell over both times! But I absolutely loved them :) You often go past farmers and people working in the rice fields, and the scenery is beautiful.
#2 Yoga
If you go to Ubud, chances are you will see people wearing yoga clothes, carrying yoga mats, eating after yoga etc. Ubud is the land of yoga, so if you’re interested, it’s a pretty good place to try it!
#3 Eat At A Warung
A warung is basically the name of the local eateries making Balinese food. Most are pretty rustic, but they are some of the few places you can actually try local and Indonesian cuisine.
#4 Eat At A World Class Restaurant
Bali has a growing number of world-class restaurants. Seminyak is known for it’s restaurants, but on our last trip some of our favourites were also in Ubud and Jimbaran.
#5 Do A Cooking Class
Doing a cooking class in Bali not only improves your cooking skills but helps you learn about Balinese culture. It’s also where I have tasted some of the best Balinese food over the years.
#6 Visit A Traditional Market
Traditional markets are where locals buy their fresh produce and other supplies. Visiting one gives you an insight into Balinese culture and it’s also a feast for the eyes. Each village usually has one.
#7 Get A Massage
Bali is the land of massages… from cheap and cheerful to luxury spas.
#8 White Water Rafting
Popular in the rivers near Ubud, if you’re seeking some adventure and fun!
#9 Do A Volcano Trek
Mount Batur is a popular trek… up an active volcano! We haven’t done this one, but we hear the sunrise views at the top are worth it.
#10 Stay In An Amazing Hotel
Bali has some beautiful and luxurious hotels, with amazing designs. The hardest thing will be narrowing the field!
#11 Have A Seafood Dinner On The Beach
Jimbaran Bay is famous for its seafood dinners on the beach. Feet in sand, prawns on plate. This is one of our favourite things to do in Bali.
#12 Watch The Sunset From The Best Spots
We have seen so many beautiful sunsets in Bali, and so many great places to watch them from. The pool, the beach club, the bar, the beach…
#13 Chat With The Locals
Balinese people are generally very friendly and curious, so stop and have a chat :)
#14 Spend The Day At A Beach Club
Think beautiful beach, comfortable chairs, nice restaurant… what more could you want?
#15 Explore The Beaches Of The Bukit Peninsular
The beaches in southern Bali are some of the best. Hire a private driver and spend the day exploring the beautiful beaches. Some of our faves include Padang Padang and Bingin Beach.
#16 Take Photos
With so many interesting things to take photos of, you won’t be able to help yourself!
#17 Cycle Through The Villages
We once did a bicycle tour where we rode through lots of different villages and it was one of my most memorable moments in Bali. A must do!
#18 Hire A Private Driver
The main ways to get around in Bali are via taxi and private driver. Taxi is fine to get you from A to B, but if you want to explore and use their local knowledge, hire a private driver for a day and stop off at amazing sights.
#19 Visit A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Our favourite was the Jatuliwih Rice Terraces, an hour or 2 from Seminyak and Ubud.
#20 See At Least 2 Different Sides To Bali
Bali has so many different sides, and if you only stay in once place you might miss some of the best parts!
Thanks for all your help! We are looking to spend two days and one night in Ubud. What would recommend? How does hiring a driver work- is it an all inclusive price or do you also pay for petrol and miles? Thanks!
Thanks Christina,
Definitely staying in Ubud is better than just doing a day trip. 2 days and 1 night is good, but I’d try and do a few nights if you have the time. Most private drivers you pay for half day or full day for the car/driver and petrol/miles are inclusive. We actually just released an article on this… https://almostlanding-bali.com/discover-a-different-side-to-bali-with-your-bali-private-driver/
Have a great time in Bali :)
Leaving for Bali in just one week….have you visited Lombok and/or the Gili Islands? Thinking of overnighting for a night or two to explore. Would love suggestions and ideas for venturing outside – love beaches, biking, food, not nightclubs. Also heard the ferry’ s are kind of sketchy, have you used them? Thank you!
Hi Joann, we visited Lombok and Gili Trawangan a couple of years ago. We did go over on a speed boat and we found it to be ok. But, I will say that I have read about a few not-so-good experiences on trip advisor. I think it largely depends on the swell that day, and obviously choosing a good company too. Otherwise, you can get a 30-minute flight to Lombok.
If you decide to go to Gili, keep in mind it will take half a day to get there and another half a day to get back, so if you go to just Gili or the mainland, I think 2 – 3 nights would be much better, and if you go to both, probably 4 nights (and check with your doctor, but when we went we had to take Malaria tablets for Gili/Lombok).
As for suggestions on what to do, Gili T has stunning clear blue waters all around it, it’s a small island and you can actually hire a bicycle and ride around the entire island, perhaps stopping off at beaches/restaurants, you can also go paddle boarding, snorkelling and diving. As for Lombok, there are waterfalls to walk to, you could trek Mount Rinjani and explore the beaches (particularly in the southern end).
Take a look at this page for more info: https://almostlanding-bali.com/gili-trawangan/
Let us know if you have any more questions and have a great time in Bali :)
Hi, I love your blog! I will be going to bali in October for the first time I will be staying for a week in ubud and a week in seminyak I was wondering if it would be easy or worth visiting the gili Islands or Lombok within this time? Any advice would be great
Hi Joanna, thank you so much :)
You could definitely visit them in this time, but it would mean less relaxing because you would be moving around more. It really depends what you want to see and do in Bali and/or Lombok. Gili Trawangan is a small and beautiful island, with a lot of tourists. It’s great for diving, snorkelling, swimming, riding bikes around the island, relaxing and there are a fair few bars.
Lombok (mainland) has much less tourists, you get that ‘untouched’ feeling with lots of locals around. Some attractions include waterfalls, beaches, and trekking Mount Rinjani. If you do go to Lombok and Gili, I would probably spend at the very least, 2 days in each. Keep in mind that it’s about a 30 minute flight to Lombok or 2.5 – 3 hr speed boat ride to Gili T, so either way you will spend half a day getting there.
Or you could stick to Ubud and Seminyak, and explore a little more of Bali. You could do day trips to Jimbaran (seafood dinner, seafood markets in morning, traditional market), Uluwatu (beaches, temple), Jutiliwih rice terraces etc.
Hopefully this helps clear things up a bit, it just depends what type of a holiday your looking for. Whatever you decide, I’m sure you will have a fabulous time :)
Let us know if you have any more questions, happy to help.
Just wanted to say I’ve enjoyed your blog too. I’m coming up to my 5th trip and it’s still interesting to see new things others experience over there.
Good work, guys!
Hi Kris, thanks so much that means a lot :)
Really enjoying your blog! I’ll be heading to Bali for the first time in a week and have found your blog to be a great asset! Thx!
Thanks Manuela! Let us know if you have any questions we can help with and have a great time in Bali :)