Would you like to travel to Bali soon? If your answer is yes, read carefully these 10 amazing places to see in Bali. If, on the other hand, you do not have Bali in mind at the moment, it is very likely that you will change your mind by the end of this article.
Before discovering the wonders of this destination, it is necessary to situate ourselves. Bali is an island located in the Indian Ocean belonging to Indonesia,one of the most beautiful and complete countries in Southeast Asia. It differs from the rest of the country by having its own religion: the Balinese Hinduism
The religious beliefs of the Balinese play a fundamental role in their culture and daily life. You will see this reflected in the thousands of temples, offerings and ceremonies. The Balinese culture is one of the great attractions of the island and something that travelers tend to be fascinated by
Apart from the culture, another point in favor of Bali is its incredible nature. Throughout the island you can find a variety of landscapes, among which are the waterfalls, rice fields, different types of beaches, cliffs and some volcanoes.
If you would like to travel to Bali, you will find a wide variety of landscapes
If you would like to travel to Bali but still do not have clear when to go, we remind you that the best time to visit Bali is from April to October
What to see in Bali
The vast majority of travelers who decide to travel to Indonesia include the island of Bali in their itinerary around the country. Discover below the 10 places to see in Bali that should not be missing on your trip.
1. Besakih Mother Temple
The Mother Temple of Besakih is the most important temple for the Balinese. It is located in the east of Bali, on the slopes of Mount Agung, the highest point of the island. It is an enormous complex formed by several temples constructed in terraces located at different levels. It is surrounded by rice fields, hills and small streams
It is very interesting to visit this temple accompanied by a local guide, as it is the perfect place to discover the beliefs and traditions of the Balinese. One of the curiosities of the temple is that it miraculously survived the volcanic eruption of 1963.
2. Rice fields of Tegallalang
It is possible to see rice paddies in many parts of Bali, such as Ubud, Sidemen or Canggu. In fact, it will be one of the most common sights you will see during your travels between different parts of the island. Sometimes you will even be lucky enough to watch the farmers planting each rice plant one by one
Due to the beautiful and picturesque landscape that the rice fields create, some of them have become an obligatory stop for travelers arriving in Bali. The rice fields of Tegallalang, located in Ubud, are some of the most impressive. We recommend you to visit them first thing in the morning to be able to enjoy the place with more tranquility. Another of the most visited rice fields are those of Jatiluwih. You should know that depending on the season, the rice fields will have one aspect or another.
It’s worth visiting early in the morning
3. Sekumpul Waterfall
One of the best backpacker plans in Bali is to visit one of the numerous waterfalls present throughout the island. They usually have a cost of access but in most cases this is quite low. One of the most impressive and most visited waterfalls is Sekumpul, located in the north of Bali
The Sekumpul waterfall is actually composed of several waterfalls of different heights. The highest ones have a drop of 80 meters. The cliff walls over which the water descends are covered by dense vegetation of an intense green color. This creates one of the most beautiful sights to see in Bali.
The cliff walls over which the water descends are covered by dense vegetation of a deep green color
To get to this waterfall is necessary to make a small trekking, which will lead you through dirt roads, quite a few steps and viewpoints with incredible views of the waterfall. You’ll even have to cross a small river – it’s well worth the effort!
It’s worth it!
Other waterfalls that you can include in your Bali itinerary are Tibumana, Leke Leke, Nungnung or Tukad Cepung. All of them are spectacular.
4. Lempuyang Temple
Another of the essential places to see in Bali is the Lempuyang Temple, located in the east end of the island. It is one of the most spectacular temples that you can visit if you are going to travel to Bali. Also it is the highest. It is located 1,175 meters above sea level. The views from here are an authentic beauty
The best-known corner of Lempuyang is the famous Gates of Heaven, through which you can see the imposing Mount Agung in the background. It is a very popular place among tourists, therefore, we recommend going early in the morning. This way, you will be able to enjoy the true charm of this temple.
5. Nusa Islands
If you are going to travel to Indonesia, another place you cannot miss are the islands known as the Nusa Islands (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan). These islands belong to the province of Bali and are quite less developed than other tourist areas of the island. It is possible to reach them by taking a boat from Sanur Beach or from Padang Bai. The trip takes approximately 40 minutes
Here you will find some of the best beaches in Bali. In Nusa Penida you can’t miss the famous Kelingking Beach and the stunning Diamond Beach. Both beaches have strong currents, therefore, we do not recommend bathing. Do not forget to take out international travel insurance for Bali in case you have any problems. Another of the great attractions of this island is to swim with giant manta rays
If you look for calmer beaches, you will find them in Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan. If it’s true that Nusa Penida is a bit wilder, on these two islands, linked together by a bridge, you can enjoy a quieter and more relaxing atmosphere.
6. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
One of the most picturesque images of Bali you will find it in the locality of Bedugul. Concretely, in the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. This temple is constructed in a small island located in one of the ends of the Beratan Lake. It is very striking as it gives the sensation of floating. As you can imagine, this temple is dedicated to the god of water.
It’s a very striking temple as it gives the sensation of floating
7. Thomas Beach, Uluwatu
Uluwatu is the southernmost region of Bali located on the island. It is famous for its cliffs and for its beaches of blue waters and white sand. Also it is the favorite place of the lovers of the surf, since some of their beaches have the best waves of Bali. If you feel like spending a day at the beach, in Uluwatu you will find many options. One of our favorite beaches in Uluwatu is Thomas Beach.
Thomas Beach
This beach is not as popular as others in the area (Bingin Beach or Padang Padang). However, it is one of the best options if you want to enjoy a morning or afternoon of sun, water and sand. Apart from being a fairly large beach, it has restaurants and it is possible to rent sun loungers with umbrellas. Something you should know before visiting this beach
is that to access it you will have to go down, and then up, quite a few stairs.
8. Uluwatu Temple
Another of the places that can not miss in your passage through the south of Bali is the Uluwatu Temple. It is one of the best places to see in Bali, not only for the temple itself, which is quite small, but also for its incredible natural environment. It is located on a cliff 70 meters above the sea. During your visit you will be able to enjoy an incredible landscape with the Indian Ocean as the protagonist.
It is recommended to visit the Uluwatu Temple in the afternoon, since at 18h there is a Kecak show, a traditional Balinese dance. It is well worth seeing. In addition, you might be lucky enough to witness one of the best sunsets of your life.
9. Tanah Lot Temple
The Tanah Lot Temple stands out for being built on a rock formation on the seashore, creating a unique landscape. Because of this, it is only possible to access the stairs leading to this sacred place at low tide. It was built in the 15th century and is another of Bali’s most important temples.
The best time to visit Tanah Lot Temple
is when the tide is low
The best time to visit Tanah Lot is at sunset, as long as you are not bothered by crowded places. If you prefer to enjoy the temple at a quieter time, we recommend going at a different time of day
The Tanah Lot is quite close to Canggu, one of the main tourist centers of Bali. You can take advantage of your visit to the temple to approach this village and eat in one of its wonderful restaurants. If you are not going to see the sunset from the famous temple, you can do it in one of the beaches of Canggu. We recommend Echo Beach.
If you are not going to see the sunset from the famous temple, you can do it in one of the beaches of Canggu
10. Amed Beach
One of the most magical and mystical places in Bali is Amed. This fishing village located in the east of the island is a real treasure. Despite being a tourist destination, it has nothing to do with other areas of Bali as Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak. Amed has a tranquility that will infect you as soon as you arrive.
It’s a place of tranquility
Imagine taking a dip on the beach in the sunset light while enjoying the incredible views of Mount Agung. In Amed, it’s possible. Also, this part of the island is ideal if you like snorkeling and scuba diving. One of the most interesting places to see underwater is the US Liberty shipwreck, located in Tulamben, very close to Amed.
It’s a great place to visit
In Amed you won’t just have coastline. The surrounding area is full of rice paddies and mountains. On the other hand, Amed is a very good base for visiting places like Tirta Gangga Temple or Lempuyang Temple. From Amed you can also take a boat to the Gili Islands, a destination we recommend if you also plan to visit Lombok.
If you want to include all the attractions in Amed, you can also take a boat to the Gili Islands, a destination we recommend if you also plan to visit Lombok.
Amed is a great place to visit
If you want to include all these places in your itinerary and visit them at your leisure, it is advisable to spend a minimum of 10 days in Bali
Finally, if you want to know if Bali is safe, we advise you to read our article on security in Bali. Also, don’t forget to take out international travel insurance for Bali
