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

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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

Patti is a yoga teacher who had been to Bali previously but was leading her first retreat in 2019.  The retreat was 7 days (click here for more information on her retreats) and was packed full of cultural excursions and spiritual healing that checked a lot of our Bali wish lists. This was her first year, so Peggy attended the retreat to lend a little moral support. We extended our trip an extra week for a some sister time and #sisbehaving after the retreat. Starting with Nusa Penida then on to Canggu and Uluwatu. Our extra Bali days will be covered in another post.

We opted to spend a couple nights out on Nusa Penida, a small island to the south of Bali. There are a few bucket list items on Nusa Penida, but otherwise it is a quieter, less modernized version of Bali.  The people are wonderful and welcoming, but it is definitely a slower, less touristy place, with not very good roads (not a place to rent a scooter unless you have extensive riding experience).

Sister side note (ss) – We opted for an Airbnb that had the option to hire a cook for meals (it was pretty remote) and a driver for touring the island so we had these resources at our disposal!

Getting to Nusa Penida

You will need to take a ferry to get there, about a 45-min ride from Sanur. There are several ferry or fast boat options. We used Idola Express and bought our tickets online before we left home.

The other thing we found out about Nusa Penida is that it is even hotter than Bali, and we spend quite a bit of time pretty miserable due to the heat. That being said, it was beautiful and peaceful, and absolutely worth a trip. 

Nusa Penida Day 1

Broken Beach

The true “must see” sights on Nusa Penida are quite far apart, so plan one day to just spend driving around the island. This is what we did.  Broken Beach was first on the list.  The pictures are crazy beautiful, but I didn’t feel that is was that awe-inspiring in person.  Of course, my recollection could be swayed by the heat, and the crowds.  I look back at the pictures and it is truly a beautiful view.

ssn – I did feel that it was awe-inspiring. I was underwhelmed by the other “must-see” location – Angel’s Billabong – see further down.

Angel’s Billabong

Our lovely driver then took us to Angel’s Billabong. It is on the list of Nusa Penida sights but again, it was a little drive and the roads are a bit primitive. It was really one of those, get out, wander out amongst the other tourists, take some pictures and get back to the aircon (lol, that’s air conditioning for those from the US)

Klingking Beach

After a quick lunch at a local warung, we hit up Klingking beach. It is the iconic T-Rex rock that is all over Instagram.  Its crowded and touristy, but it really is an incredible sight to see.  However, the hike all the way down to the actual beach is about a 45 minute walk, coming up it’s over an hour of a fairly steep climb. So if you plan to spend anytime down on the beach, plan your day accordingly.

ssn – We did not go down to the beach. Next time for sure! We just didn’t have enough time and did we mention that it was hot af?

Our AirBnB

Pretty much called it a day after this and headed back to our AirBnB, because I did forget to mention that it was insane!  What an amazing find, the view was spectacular, and I loved just being alone on this hilltop. 

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Nusa Penida Day 2

Snorkeling with Manta Rays

Day two was a complete score for us.  We decided that snorkeling with the Manta Rays needed to happen.  There are numerous companies that provide this half day snorkeling adventure, and if this is your thing, this is a great place to snorkel.  Boats make two or three stops at different places, including Manta Bay, equipment is included.

We, however, had a taxi driver who knew a smaller side company. Our big hang-up was spending half day on a boat, when we were on a limited time schedule.  Instead we got in on this smaller boat, with 10 other people, friendly staff, and only 2 hours of total time.  Obviously, if you are in it for the full snorkeling experience, take the longer boat trips, but we were focused on just making the mantas happen.  And they did! We saw two fairly up close (not close enough to touch, but still RIGHT THERE).

A word of caution, because there are so many tour boats, be prepared for a lot of people in the water at once, and a lot of people crowding every time there was a manta in the area. 

ssn – three things to note, this was Patti’s first time snorkeling so that was super exciting! Secondly, jellyfish babies everywhere and their stings hurt! Thirdly, just being out there on the boat was unbelievably beautiful. Therefore, you are getting lots of pictures!

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After the boat trip, we were famished and ready for a drink.  The cool thing about Nusa Penida is lots of small beach restaurants, all sitting right on the beach.  We ended up at Penida Colada – obviously for the name.  A couple of cocktails and some fabulous local food, and we were happy for the day.

ssn – I still dream of their Dragonfruit Margaritas

Nusa Pendia Day 3

The Cave Temple

Our final day in Nusa Penida, we made a last minute decision before our boat ride back to Bali that we needed to see the cave temple.  This was my favorite part of the island.

Goa Giri Putri Temple was incredible.  You hike up about 200 stairs to the top, get a blessing before going in, and then there is this little hole in the side of the mountain, just big enough to squeeze through.  You back in, duck under this low low ridge, stand up on the other side, and BOOM, big huge cave temple inside the mountain.  I am so glad we made time for doing this temple.  Completely worth it.

ssn – this was such a special visit. The peace and serenity were so moving. And they will rent you a sarong if you don’t have one, so no worries there.

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Lunch with a View

After the temple we stopped for lunch, again, beachside restaurant. Super cute, with amazing Mie Goreng, and a fantastic view.  We definitely felt these little beach spots refill your soul and make you feel completely grateful for your life.

ssn – The seafood Mie Goreng (fried noodles) was the best of the whole trip!

We headed back on our fast boat to Bali for our last few days in Uluwatu.