Things to Do in Bali: The Honest Guide to the Island's Best Experiences

On my first trip to Bali I made the classic mistake: I wrote a list of everything, then tried to do all of it in ten days. I ticked off temples in a blur, sat in more traffic than I’d care to admit, and the day I actually remember is the one I hadn’t planned — a slow morning watching farmers work a rice terrace before the tour buses arrived. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Bali, the real skill isn’t finding options. It’s choosing well, and pacing yourself.

Because Bali packs an absurd amount into one island: clifftop temples and volcano sunrises, world-class surf and coral reefs, jungle waterfalls and a food culture worth travelling for. This is my honest overview of what’s genuinely worth your time — with real 2026 prices — and, just as usefully, links to the deeper guides where you’ll want the full detail. Think of it as the map; the deep-dives are the territory. Whatever you do, resist the urge to cram. One or two big things a day, with room to just be here, is how Bali rewards you.

Bali’s iconic temples: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and the Kecak dance

You can’t understand Bali without its temples — and two are unmissable. Uluwatu Temple clings to a cliff 70 metres above the Indian Ocean, and it’s at its best in the hour before sunset (entry IDR 60,000; watch your sunglasses, the resident macaques are notorious thieves). Stay for the Kecak fire dance at 6pm, a hypnotic chanting performance staged in an open-air amphitheatre as the sun drops — it’s a separate ticket, around IDR 150,000, and worth every rupiah. It sells out, so I’d book the Kecak dance ahead.

Tanah Lot, on the west coast, is the other postcard — a sea temple marooned on a rock at high tide, framed by one of Bali’s great sunsets. Entry rose to IDR 100,000 for foreign adults in April 2026, so factor that in. Both temples ask for modest, respectful dress: a sarong and sash (usually provided or hired at the gate), shoulders covered. Go early or late to dodge both the heat and the tour-bus crush.

Rice terraces, monkeys and Ubud’s cultural heart

Ubud, inland and green, is Bali’s cultural centre — and a day here is one of the best things to do in Bali for anyone who wants more than beaches. The Tegallalang Rice Terraces are the emerald, stepped valley you’ve seen a hundred times online; entry is around IDR 25,000 plus small donations to the farmers who keep the paths, and the trick is simple — arrive by 8am, before the coaches and the jungle-swing queues. Speaking of which, the cliffside Bali swings here are touristy and genuinely fun in equal measure.

In town, the Sacred Monkey Forest is a jungle sanctuary of ancient temples and several hundred long-tailed macaques (entry from around IDR 80,000 — don’t bring loose food or dangling jewellery). Beyond that, Ubud is markets, craft villages, temples and some of the island’s best food. There’s far more than fits here, so I’ve written a dedicated things to do in Ubud guide for the full day.

Chase a sunrise or a waterfall

If you do one early start in Bali, make it Mount Batur. You leave in the small hours, trek up an active volcano by torchlight, and reach the 1,717-metre summit as the sun breaks over Lake Batur and Mount Agung beyond — genuinely one of the most moving mornings I’ve had here. Guided sunrise packages with pickup and breakfast run roughly IDR 500,000–900,000; a guide is mandatory, so book a Mount Batur sunrise trek rather than chancing it alone.

For something gentler, chase a waterfall. Tegenungan is the easy, close-to-Ubud crowd-pleaser; Tibumana and Kanto Lampo are prettier and quieter; and the mighty Sekumpul in the north rewards a proper trek with the island’s most spectacular falls. Bring water shoes and cash for the small entry fees, and go in the morning before the light gets harsh and the paths get busy.

Get in the water: beaches, surf and reefs

Bali is an island, and some of its best experiences are in the sea. The south and west coasts are for surf and sunset — Canggu’s beaches are the classic place to take your first lesson on a forgiving sandy bottom — while the reef-sheltered bays of Sanur and Nusa Dua are for easy swimming. My full best beaches in Bali guide breaks down where to swim, surf and watch the sunset.

Underwater, Bali sits in the Coral Triangle, and the snorkelling and diving are extraordinary — the WWII Liberty wreck at Tulamben, the walk-in reefs of Amed, and the manta rays off Nusa Penida. If getting in the water is your thing, my snorkelling and diving guide covers the spots, costs and seasons. Even non-divers can float over plenty here — you don’t need a certification to be amazed.

Island-hopping and day trips

When you’re ready to leave the main island, the day trips are half the magic. Nusa Penida, half an hour by fast boat off the south-east coast, has the dinosaur-shaped Kelingking cliff, Diamond Beach and Crystal Bay — spectacular, but tiring and crowd-prone, so it pays to go early and pick one coast. My honest Nusa Penida day trip guide covers the boats, fees and timing.

From there, the Gili Islands and Lombok are the natural next hop for a longer trip — car-free, laid-back, and gorgeous. On the main island, a private driver turns scattered sights into an easy day; for a single circuit I’d book a private car and driver and let someone who knows the shortcuts handle the traffic.

Planning it: passes, costs and family days

To pull it together, here’s the quick honest version of what things cost and how to do them well in 2026:

1. Temples — Uluwatu IDR 60,000 (+ Kecak IDR 150,000); Tanah Lot IDR 100,000. Dress respectfully.
2. Ubud — Tegallalang ~IDR 25,000; Monkey Forest from ~IDR 80,000.
3. Mount Batur sunrise — roughly IDR 500,000–900,000 as a guided package.
4. The tourist levy — IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor, once, via the Love Bali portal. If you’re hitting several paid attractions, a bundled Klook Pass can work out cheaper than paying gate-by-gate. Travelling with children? Waterparks, the safari and calm beaches make Bali surprisingly easy — my family holiday guide has the details. And plan your days by time, not distance: Bali traffic is slow, and two thoughtful outings beat five rushed ones.

Make it your own

The best thing you can do in Bali is stop treating it as a checklist. Pick a couple of the experiences above that actually pull at you — a clifftop temple at sunset, a volcano sunrise, a morning over the reef — and leave space around them for the unplanned mornings that end up being the ones you remember. Get that balance right and even a short trip feels rich rather than rushed.

My own list of Bali favourites is never finished — a new waterfall opens up, a temple quietly changes its hours, a beach I loved gets discovered. If you’ve found something here I haven’t, or you want a tip for a specific stretch of your trip, reply and tell me. And if you’re mapping out the practical side next, my best beaches in Bali and Nusa Penida guides are the natural next reads.

FAQs

What are the best things to do in Bali?

The island’s highlights are its clifftop temples (Uluwatu and Tanah Lot), the Ubud rice terraces and Monkey Forest, a Mount Batur sunrise trek, surfing and snorkelling, and a Nusa Penida day trip. Most visitors mix a few cultural sights with beach and water time.

How many days do you need in Bali?

Seven to ten days is a comfortable first trip — enough for Ubud, a couple of beach areas and a day trip or two without rushing. If you only have five days, pick one base and don’t try to see the whole island.

How much does it cost to visit Bali’s main attractions?

Most temple and site entries are IDR 25,000–100,000; a Mount Batur sunrise package is roughly IDR 500,000–900,000. Budget for the one-off IDR 150,000 tourist levy too, and carry cash — many booths don’t take cards.

What is the Kecak dance and where do I see it?

The Kecak is a dramatic Balinese performance where a large male chorus chants “cak” around a fire, telling a story from the Ramayana. The most famous staging is at Uluwatu Temple at 6pm, with the sunset behind it; tickets are around IDR 150,000 and sell out.

Is Ubud worth visiting?

Yes — Ubud is Bali’s cultural heart, with rice terraces, temples, art markets, the Monkey Forest and superb food. It’s the best base for anyone who wants more than beaches, and easily fills a couple of days.

Do I need a guide for the Mount Batur sunrise trek?

Yes — a licensed local guide is mandatory on Mount Batur, and it’s genuinely safer given the dark, early start and loose volcanic terrain. Guided packages include pickup, the trek and breakfast at the summit for roughly IDR 500,000–900,000.

What should I wear to Bali’s temples?

Modest dress with shoulders covered and a sarong and sash around the waist; these are usually provided or hired cheaply at the entrance. It’s a sign of respect at active places of worship, so it matters.

Can you do Bali on a budget?

Yes — warung meals, a rented scooter, free beaches and low temple fees keep costs down, and plenty of Bali’s best experiences (sunsets, rice-terrace walks, temple visits) are cheap or free. The big spends are tours, beach clubs and villas.

What’s the best time of year to visit Bali?

The dry season, roughly April to October, has the best weather for beaches, treks and outdoor sights. The wet season (November–March) is greener and quieter, with warm but heavier afternoon rain — still very doable.

Is Nusa Penida worth a day trip from Bali?

Yes, if you go early and don’t try to see everything. The scenery genuinely lives up to the photos, but the island is tiring and crowded by late morning, so pick one coast and catch the first fast boat.

Before you go — I wrote this in 2026 and double-checked every fee, price and rule I could, but Bali changes fast. Treat the figures here as a guide and confirm the latest details before you travel.

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