Getting To Know Bali – A Beginner’s Guide

The small island of Bali has surprisingly many personalities depending on what you are searching for.

Although a small island, Bali has something for everyone, and a certain vibe and feel for each of the towns. Not all towns are created equal in Bali, so before planning your trip, think about what you want to do, what your focus is, and also what will make you miserable (ie, traffic or college kids, old people, or slow service). Updating this after my seventh trip to Bali. I may be obsessed, but there is nothing like this island. And I finally traveled over to Amed on the East side, and then Lovina to the North. So it seems like a good time to update. Updated April 2025

Sister Side Note (ssn) – Bali really is for everyone! It can be so intimidating when all you see are Instagram Models & Influencers who have the perfect settings and edited images. This is not the vibe that you feel when you are there. It is accepting and welcoming and joyful. Don’t worry about getting the perfect shot – there is beauty everywhere and your memories and experiences are wayyyyy more important than your images!

Seminyak & Kuta

Seminyak and Kuta are great for tourists. It’s a little more hustle and bustle, it caters to tourists, and there are plenty of chain hotels and restaurants. Seminyak is also where some of the best nightcubs and beach bars are located, so if you are young and looking for a great party vibe, Seminyak is your place. It is fun and outgoing, but a little more crowded. It is a big destination for Australian tourists, so there are plenty of western restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.

I find it crowded and chaotic, it’s not my favorite, but it is close to the airport (DPS), so we tend to grab a hotel if we have a late flight in or an early flight out. The Accor line of hotels is my favorite, and they have two in Kuta we love: The Heritage House and The Mercure. They are affordable and located just across the street from Kuta beach, so you also benefit from a fantastic sunset every evening.

• Beach Bars
  • Potato Head Beach Club
  • Echo Beach Club
  • La Plancha
• Hotels
  • The W Bali
  • Kima Surfcamp Bali
  • The Trans Resort Bali
  • Heritage House Kuta Beach
• Beaches
  • Kuta Beach
  • Legian Beach

ssn – my recommendation would be to hit these clubs & lounges first – the longer you spend on the island, the more wrapped up in the essence, the less you will feel like clubbing (just my experience)

Sanur

Sanur is a quiet little beach town on the south eastern side of Bali. This is quiet, and calm, and perfect for sunrise. It is a little more slow and easy going. This is where a lot of the retired Australian tourists tend to head. Also where I head for a few days of recovery after hosting a retreat and holding space for others in their healing and growing.

• Sanur faces South East so watch a bit of the sunrise and a bit of the sunset
• Restaurants & Beach Bars
  • Soul on the Beach
  • Soul in a Bowl
  • Jack Fish
  • Beach House Sanur
• Hotels
  • Maya Sanur Resort and Spa
  • Prama Sanur Beach Hotel
  • Puri Santrian
• Several Museums and Art Centers
• Patti’s Spa Recommendation: The Nest Beachside Spa

ssn – Sanur is where you catch the fast boats to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Definitely worth a trip – whether a day or several. See our Nusa Penida post for inspiration!

Uluwatu

Uluwatu is surfer town. It has a lot of hostels and surf community hangouts. It is also on a cliff, so if you are up for the hike up and down to the beach, it’s a great place for a sunset view. There are some amazing restaurants and bars that sit up on the cliffside overlooking the ocean. If being right on the beach is not your priority, but having an amazing view is, Uluwatu is just amazing.

• The most beautiful beaches
  • Bingin Beach
  • Dreamland Beach
  • Padang Padang Beach
  • Suluban Beach
  • Thomas Beach
  • And a little further up, Jimbaran Beach
• Watch the surfers
• Restaurants
  • The Omnia Bali
  • The Rock Bar
  • Single Fin
  • Lucky Fish Lounge
  • OmBurger
• Uluwatu Temple
  • Check out the Kecak dance at sunset
• GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) Cultural Park
• So many hotels and rentals Cliffside in Uluwatu

ssn – Uluwatu was my favorite for views and relaxation. I can’t imagine going back without spending at least a couple of nights there.

Canggu

Canggu (pronounced Chang-goo) used to be a laid back surfer beach town. Since Covid, it has really picked up it’s pace and embraced the tourist vibe. Young and vibrant beaches, surfing, your epitome of a beach town, a little bit of everything. Definitely a great place to just lay on a beach during the day, and then drink under the stars to the sound of the ocean at night.

• Watch the Sunset
• Restaurants & Bars
  • La Brisa Bali
  • La Laguna Bali
  • The Lawn
  • KuDeTa
  • Segno (Speakeasy)

ssn – Canggu had the best vibe! Just surfy-low-key beach bar-happy.

Ubud

Ubud is considered the cultural and spiritual center of Bali. It is about an hour inland (hour and a half with traffic). You’ll find it to be Bali’s version of a big city, with plenty of scooters weaving in and out, lots of great restaurants and hotels. But in the middle of all this city kind of chaos is this amazing calm flow about everything. This cultural center has a truly a magical feeling. It is also very well located on the island for a centralized location for sight seeing of waterfalls, temples, and seeing Bali as more than just an island with a beach.

If you are not in Bali for a beach, then Ubud is definitely my choice for where to be, a little bit of everything all wrapped up into a fabulous energy. My yoga retreats (we are booking for 2026 if you are interested!) are always held in Ubud. But I love staying in other areas of Bali before and after, to take in the full feel of the island.

• Restaurants/Bars
  • Hippie Fish
  • Laughing Buddha
  • CP Lounge
  • Ibu Susu
• Spas
  • Cantika Zest – hands down our favorite and first stop upon arrival!
  • Green Tara
  • Bali Botanica
• Waterfalls
  • Tegenungan
  • Tukad Cepung
  • Kanto Lampo
  • Tibumana
• Temples
  • Tirta Empul
  • Tirta Gangga
  • Saraswati Temple (visit the Lotus Cafe in front of the temple for amazing views of the lotus flower ponds)
• The Campuhan Ridge Walk
• Tegalalang Rice Terraces or Bali Swing
• Sacred Monkey Forest

ssn – Ubud was amazing (Patti is so right!). Anything you want to do, from spa treatments to waterfalls to the Swing can be done from here.

Tanah Lot

This spot on the Southwest coast is a must for sunset viewing, rock formations, a temple and famous Kecak dance performances. It is beautiful, and one of my favorite places for sunset. At low tide you can walk out to the temple and receive a blessing. At high tide, the temple becomes an island, unreachable, but beautiful.

Munduk, Bedugul

The towns of Munduk and Bedugul are the gateway to some of the most scenic but least visited spots. It is a low tourist experience, with lots of hiking and goregous views.

• Waterfalls
  • Nung Nung Waterfall
  • Banyumala Waterfall
  • Leke Leke Waterfall
  • Munduk Waterfall
  • Sekumpul Waterfall
• Temples
  • Pura Ulun Danu Temple
  • Lempuyang Temple (Gate’s of Heaven)
  • Handara Gate
• Hike Mt Batur or Agung – a very early morning start but this is the most convenient place to stay. Definitely worth it for the sunrise

ssn – I cannot wait to do some of these waterfall hikes on the next trip in 2026!

Lovina

We found the town of Lovina pretty nice.  It was very much what I assume lower Bali towns were 20 years ago.  With a hint of tourism and Westernization, but still retaining Balinese charms and a much lower level of crowds.

Lovina is known for the place where you can swim with Dolphins.  I know, sounds like a horrid tourist trap, right? This is conflicting for me, as I tend to shy away from activities that interfere with animals in their own environment, but we did it.  And it was amazing!  I started off very concerned because we took this little boat out for about 90 minutes to get to “the spot”.  There were about 15 other boats, but we were informed that this is the less busy spot.  When the pod of dolphins is spotted all the boats head for them.  You can get in the water and hold on to this swing-like contraption that pulls you along while the boat drives.

And it was absofuckinglutely amazing!!!! I spotted the dolphins way down below us in the water, and the boat just drives along with them, and when they start to surface for air and jump, you are right there in the middle of it.  Hands down one of the coolest things I have done.

The snorkeling in Lovina is also lovely, we did spot a turtle and some amazing sea creatures on our way back.

• Things to do
  • Swim with dolphins
  • Snorkling West Bali National Park
  • Deer Island
  • Jatiluwih rice terrace
• Hotel
  • Mimpi

Amed

This small town on the eastern coast is technically made up of three areas:  Central Amed (Amed Village/Jemulak), East Amed (Lipah and Selang), and Tulamben. Amed is big for snorkeling and scuba diving.  There is the Tulamben wreck which is a USAT wreck from WII that has become a coral bed, a Japanese shipwreck, and then Jemulak where you can just walk right off the shore and find some amazing coral and fish snorkeling.

Amed is perfect for some quiet down time, just sitting by the sea, enjoying the view, and swimming with some great tropical fish.

• Hotel
  • Puri Witara
• Restaurants/Bars
  • Gusto’s
  • Baby Dragon Bar

I love them all, but they all provide something a little different. So enjoy your trip and I hope you get to see all the amazing destinations that Bali has to offer!

Other Bali posts

• Nusa Penida
• Canggu Speakeasy Guide