Bali, IndonesiaBy ArrivLast checked
Plan a trip to Bali
Rice terraces inland, surf breaks on the coast, and traffic between them that runs slower than any map suggests. Two bases beat one, because if you double whatever the map tells you about a drive you will stop resenting the island.
- Honeymoons
- Couples
- Beaches
- Wellness
Free to run, and you keep editing after. Add who's coming or a pace like “slow mornings” to shape the result.
Bali at a glance
You want Bali in 7 to 12 days, which is enough time to start with Ubud and the Tegallalang terraces and let the rest fall in around it. Pick between Ubud, Canggu / Seminyak, and Uluwatu for a base, and read the month notes before you book a flight. The three remaining stops fit in where they land. It all goes onto one map you can send to whoever is coming.
- How long
- 7–12 days
- When to go
- April to October is the dry season, with July and August busiest. The wet season from November to March brings daily downpours, though the rates come down with them. Nyepi, the day of silence in March, shuts down the entire island including the airport, so check the date before you book anything.
- Getting around
- Hire a driver by the day, which is inexpensive and takes the traffic problem off your hands. Scooters are common and risky, so the driver is the better call unless you ride at home. Grab and Gojek work in most areas and are restricted in some.
What to build the plan around
- 1
Ubud and the Tegallalang terraces
The cultural center inland, with rice terraces north of town, and you want to be there at sunrise before the buses arrive.
- 2
Uluwatu Temple
A cliff temple on the Bukit peninsula, with a kecak fire dance at sunset, which is the reason to time the drive.
- 3
Sidemen Valley
What Ubud looked like twenty years ago, ninety minutes east and much quieter, so go before it changes.
- 4
Nusa Penida
A fast boat from Sanur for Kelingking Beach, and it is a long day on rough roads, though it is worth it.
Where to stay in Bali
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- Ubud
- Inland and cooler, with yoga and cafés, though it is a long way from any beach. Browse stays in Ubud
- Canggu / Seminyak
- Surf, beach clubs, and the most restaurants, with Canggu the younger of the two while Seminyak is more polished. Browse stays in Canggu / Seminyak
- Uluwatu
- Clifftop resorts and the best surf, and the most spread out of the three, which also makes it the quietest. Browse stays in Uluwatu
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Itineraries close to Bali
Bali has no itinerary of its own yet. These are the nearest ones, and every stop is already mapped.
Bali planning questions
- How many days do you need in Bali?
- Plan on 7 to 12 days, though how you split them matters more than the total. A week lets you split between Ubud and one coast. Ten to twelve days is the right length if you are adding the Gilis or Nusa Penida, since each of those costs you a boat day at both ends.
- What is the best time to visit Bali?
- April to October is the dry season, with July and August busiest. The wet season from November to March brings daily downpours, though the rates come down with them. Nyepi, the day of silence in March, shuts down the entire island including the airport, so check the date before you book anything.
- Where should I stay in Bali?
- Depends what you want to be able to reach on foot. Ubud: Inland and cooler, with yoga and cafés, though it is a long way from any beach. Canggu / Seminyak: Surf, beach clubs, and the most restaurants, with Canggu the younger of the two while Seminyak is more polished. Uluwatu: Clifftop resorts and the best surf, and the most spread out of the three, which also makes it the quietest. Nightly rate and walking distance pull against each other in all three, so you have to pick the version of that trade you mind least.
- How do you get around Bali?
- Hire a driver by the day, which is inexpensive and takes the traffic problem off your hands. Scooters are common and risky, so the driver is the better call unless you ride at home. Grab and Gojek work in most areas and are restricted in some.
- What should I see first in Bali?
- Start with Ubud and the Tegallalang terraces, Uluwatu Temple, Sidemen Valley. Schedule the first of those before anything else, because it is the one that suffers most from a late start. The cultural center inland, with rice terraces north of town, and you want to be there at sunrise before the buses arrive.
- Can I build a Bali itinerary automatically?
- Describe the trip and Arriv builds one. Length, pace, who is coming: that is enough to get a Bali itinerary of real venues on a map, and every stop is yours to move or delete. Free to run, and an account matters only once you want to keep it.