10 Best and Most Magical Places You Must Visit in Bali! The City is Known to Transform Anyone Who Visits, Find Out Why (2019)

Bali, one of the most popular and visited Islands in the Indonesian archipelago is an Indonesian province located around 3.2 kms east of Java island and includes the island of Bali. It is surrounded by a few islands like Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Lombok islands. Bali is the only province in Indonesia which has majority of its population as Hindus (approx. 90%) and they are called Balinese Hindus. Tourism and related business has a significant share (close to 80%) in the Indonesian economy and Bali alone accounts for 40% of the total tourist inflow in the country.

Bali is an area with high biodiversity of marine life, especially of fish and turtles. More than 500 coral species are found in this region and most of them are reef building corals, thus the underwater reef colonies also attract lot of scuba divers and sea lovers to Bali. One can observe that Bali’s culture is greatly influenced by Indian (mainly Hindu) and Chinese cultures, apart from this some influence of Buddhist and Indonesian culture can also be seen in some parts. Bali is spread over an area of 5,636 sq.km surrounded by Pacific and Indian Ocean, has a population of about 4.5 million and the city dates back to 2000 BCE. The currency of Bali is Indonesian Rupiah and it’s currently trending close to 0.000071 USD, which makes Bali a very economic place for vacationing. Also, Indian passport holders can get free visa-on-arrival for a stay of up to 30 days in Indonesia.

Bali is just 8 degrees south of the equator and hence has a warm, humid and tropical climate round the year, dry and rainy being the two main seasons. The high time or the busiest duration in Bali are the months of July and August, Easter Holidays and Christmas/New Year week and during these times, hotel rentals are at their peak and most of the places are flooded with tourists. However, if you are looking for a relaxing getaway at economic prices; then the pre and post ‘High Season’ months viz. April, May, June and September can be a good option as room and hotel rentals get slashed by 30 – 50 % during this time plus you can expect shops offering good discounts on shopping and restaurants and beaches are also less crowded.

One more benefit of visiting in less crowded months is that you can expect cleaner water for Scuba Diving and surfing, etc. Also, lesser crowd means you can cover more places in lesser time and also a better experience with less queues at the major attractions. Airfares remain almost the same except the holiday seasons, so you can plan a budget trip with a little planning.

Starting with the ‘don’ts’, drugs are not allowed in Bali and so avoid it at every cost, else you may face imprisonment. Also, smoking is banned in public places and since 2011 ‘smoke free’ law is in effect and is being implemented seriously. While entering a temple, you must wear sarong and a sash, which you will get at the entrance. Also ensure not to wear shoes while entering any Hindu Temple and don’t forget to cover up your shoulders. Try not to take off your t-shirts even if it’s too humid as being a Hindu majority place, the culture is a bit conservative and ensure that swimsuits are limited to beaches. Refrain from touching the head of any person or child as the people of this island believe that the soul resides in the head of a person and hence it’s a sacred body part. Though local people love chatting, but try to avoid discussions on religious, global events or political topics.

Moving on to some ‘do’s’, there are plenty of places to shop, eat and relax, but always be wary of the quality and prices of the food you eat and things you buy. Always check the bottled water before drinking and try to purchase from a proper shop instead of a road side vendor. Bargain while shopping as being a tourist place, sellers often quote higher prices than the usual and if a salesman stops you midway and tries to sell you something in which you are not interested, then politely say, “No, thank you” and move ahead instead of getting irritated. You can rent a mororbike instead of hiring a taxi, to avoid the traffic, save time and also explore a 360 degree view of the Island. Bali has varieties of fresh fruits, so try and taste the fruits and juices to stay hydrated and energetic while travelling.

Bali Island has a plethora of options for exploring and visiting, be it the famous temples, animal parks, adventure parks, beaches or the mountains, both artificial and natural beauty can be found in abundance in this splendid place. Though, there can be dozens of places worth visiting in Bali, yet we have picked ten of the most visited and famous places of Bali province, which are worth your time and energy.

Spread in the northeastern part of Bali and standing tall at a height of 1,717 meters, Mount Batur is an active volcano which accommodates four craters, several villages and a lake. Watching the sunrise from the peak of Mount Batur is one of the most famous activities in Bali and the easy slope can be climbed in 2 hours by a person of normal physical fitness, but it’s advisable to hike with a guide and don’t forget to take small stoppages and admire the scenic views and the flora and fauna while coming down. One of the nine major Hindu Temples, Pura Ulun Danu Batur is also located in this mountain and is one of the most popular destinations for tourists. Interestingly, the volcano has erupted many times over the years and a nearby field filled with lava is a living testimony of the volcano’s wrath.

Pura Besakih Temple is built on the slopes of Bali’s highest mountain, Gunung Agung and is considered to be the most important temple of the nine temples. The group of these nine temples is also known as 'Kayangan Jagat', built on the island in different directions and is believed to save the Island from bad omen. This temple is named after the dragon god and as per the folklores, he lives inside the Gunung Agung Mountain. Also known as the ‘Mother Temple’, the entire structure is divided into seven sloped terraces and has 28 structures and 20 individual, but conjoined temples. This place is considered to be a Hindu pilgrimage site for almost 2000 years and is believed to have significant spiritual importance. Do visit the three temples dedicated to the Hindu Trinity: Pura Kiduling Kreteg (dedicated to Brahma, the creator), Pura Batu Madeg (dedicated to Vishnu, the preserver) and Pura Penataran Agung (dedicated to Shiva, the destroyer).

Your journey to Bali would be incomplete without experiencing Ubud, the island’s cultural centre and home to its most important museums. Also, the place itself and the nearby surroundings are full of natural beauty. Ubud is situated at the foothills of Bali’s mountains among climbing rice fields which are terraced and look like green steps spread across the area. There are religious places nearby which include Pura Gunung Kawi, Yeh Pura, Pure Kehan, Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah. If you like visiting Museums and art galleries then couple of places like Naka Art Museum, Blanco Renaissance Museum, Museum Puri Lukisan, Museum Rudana and Agung Rai Museum of Art are worth visiting in Ubud.

The Nusa Islands are a group of three islands, Nusa Lembongan being the most popular. If you are looking for a serene and less crowded place in Bali, then Nusa Islands located on the southeastern coast of Bali is the right place. This is a perfect place for a day trip with your partner as you can cover the entire island on foot in just 3-4 hours while chitchatting and being immersed in the widespread tranquility and scenic beauty. The island has abundant marine life and coral structures and thus a popular destination for diving and snorkeling. You can also get rented bicycles to explore the island or simply relax on the soft sand beaches like Mushroom Beach, Sunset Beach, Jungat Beach and the Dream Beach.

Sidemen Valley is one and a half hours drive away from Ubud. It is a small and scenic village, lush countryside, palm plantations and pretty rice paddies form the serene view of the Sidemen Valley. You can enjoy the greenery and tranquility of this place, away from the hustle and bustle of tourist crowds. This place is considered as one of the leading manufacturers of palm wine (arak) and palm toddy (tuak) and if you are a wine lover, then do try them out. You can enjoy bike rides or long walks, cross small lakes, take pictures of the green rice fields or even enjoy the local food in a simple restaurant. Don’t forget to purchase the woven products decorated with colourful designs being made by local weavers and try your hands at making your own jewellery at Agung Silver.

Kuta Beach is one of the most popular tourist destinations and is mostly flooded with tourists and hawkers. Beautiful and soft sand is stretched along the coastline and Legian and Seminyak Beaches, which are other famous beaches, lie on the north side of Kuta. Plenty of vendors provide surfboards, boogie boards, umbrellas and sun loungers on rent and if you are a beginner surfer, then you can book surfing lessons as well. Lying on this beach under a sunlounger and enjoying coconut water while gazing at the waves gives the perfect holiday feel. Cafes and Restaurants are aplenty to satiate your taste buds and ignite the evening while partying in Kuta’s marvelous bars and pubs.

Located near Bratan Lake, a beautiful crater lake nearby Bedugal in Bali’s central highlands is the seventeenth century temple complex, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. The temple is located alongside the lake with Mount Gunung Bratan in the background and the reflection of the temple on the lake makes it a picture perfect scenery for your living room. You can enjoy water sports including boating, parasailing, jet skiing, and rides in speedboats at the lake. The nearby mountains are great for observing scenic beauty and an opportunity for trekking, while the waterfalls and hot water springs nearby gives a soothing touch to your mind and senses.

Pura Tanah Lot is a sea-side temple and is constructed on a rough rock in the sea. The temple is a marvel of architecture and was built in the 16th century. As the legend goes, the temple was built on the rocks ashore the sea in the honor of sea gods and one can observe carvings and architectural renaissances of both Hinduism and Balinese cultures in the temple premises. You can purchase a souvenir from the local vendors on the pathway to the temple and also try the local cuisines into one of the restaurants located at the cliff top.

One of the island’s most famous temple, Uluwatu Temple is located on the Bukit Peninsula near the southwestern end of the Island. 'Ulu' means 'land’s end' and 'Watu' is synonym to 'rock' in Balinese and hence the name Uluwatu is very significant for this place. The archeological studies dates back the temple to megalithic age, i.e. around 10th century and the temple is believed to protect the island from evil powers. Only Hindu worshippers are allowed to enter the temple, but the scenic pathways, splendid natural beauty in abundance, sunset from the temple premises and the Kecak Dance performance shouldn’t be missed.

Close to Ubud is the village of Pakudui with the widespread rice terraces which are grown using a traditional irrigation system and is said to be passed on to the local farmers by a spiritual man. The place is well known for its crafts and handmade items and you can definitely plan to pick a souvenir from here apart from clicking some great countryside photos. This is a great place if you are visiting in summers as the terraces are lush green and cool breezes would welcome you with the aroma of the rice paddies.