Must-Visit Attractions in Bali

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Looking for the full package? You can now travel with Culture Trip to Bali on an immersive 12-day adventure around the island – think hidden waterfall hikes, mountain treks, Balinese cooking classes and many other cultural experiences that ensure an authentic experience.

These Balinese sculptured rice terraces offer tourists a chance to enjoy nature and a valuable glimpse of local culture and customs. Tourists can explore the village and meet residents.

Ubud is the cultural hub of Bali and home to many traditional artists producing unique and authentic products that represent the island. Tourists can find anything here, from art pieces to humble souvenirs. Keen to visit? You can do so with Culture Trip by joining our specially curated small-group Bali adventure, led by our local insider.

Besakih Temple, the largest in Bali, sits on the slopes of the island’s highest mountain, Mount Agung. The complex comprises 86 temples that are more than 1,000 years old. Each year, the temple hosts more than 70 religious ceremonies or celebrations attended by Hindu devotees from all over the island.

Probably best known for its appearance in the movie Eat, Pray, Love (2010), this once-hidden gem lives up to the hype. A perfect nook where you can chill by the sand, swim past awesome rocky structures or surf the waves off the cliffs.

A two-hour hike up the mountain will bring you to the best spot on the island for basking in the sunshine’s first rays. Watch the sunrise with Mount Abang and Batur Lake in the background – an unforgettable experience you can have on Culture Trip’s epic 12-day Bali tour. Highly Instagrammable.

Ubud used to be a royal town, so it’s not surprising that the area is packed with stunning palaces that still stand as cultural and historical landmarks. The Ubud Royal Palace, or Puri Saren Ubud, is among the biggest and can be found in the heart of the neighbourhood.

Beyond the sparkling blue ocean and white, smooth sand, Pandawa Beach is also a cultural landmark – a place that hosts splendid figures of the five heroic Pandawa characters from the Mahabharata epic and a venue for cultural performances, including the famous kecak (fire dance). You can also enjoy a fun day out canoeing on the calm waters.

This huge cave, also a Buddhist temple, is covered in carved stories and sacred figures. The temple features a large bathing pool, built to cleanse the soul and ward off evil spirits, so legend has it.

Snorkelling and diving in Amed will reward you with sights of colourful coral, tropical fish and even Japanese shipwrecks. Amed Beach is known for its expansive, black volcanic sand.

Tourists are drawn to Lovina for many reasons, one of which is the opportunity to go dolphin watching on its calm seas. The area is also a popular beginner-friendly snorkelling and diving destination.

Tanjung Benoa is by far the most popular spot for watersports in Bali, where tourists can find virtually every beach and ocean activity, including banana boating, sea walking, flyboarding and scuba diving. The area is also packed with luxurious resorts for those who’d like to stay the night.

The seaside restaurants lining up along Jimbaran Bay serve the best and freshest seafood dishes on the island. Most restaurants have candlelit outdoor seating areas, where you can dine and chill with your feet in the sand.

This mountain village has a clean, green environment, fresh, cool air and charming natural attractions. The waterfalls and hills make Munduk a popular trekking destination, and during the colonial era, it was the favourite mountain retreat of the Dutch, hence the European architecture, historic buildings and flourishing commodities.

This may not be the island’s best beach in terms of natural beauty (although it’s still pretty incredible), but Kuta Beach is world-famous and with good reason. Today it’s one of the liveliest spots on the island, offering countless fun activities – from surfing and eating to shopping, from dawn to late at night.

A substantial cultural park in Bali, Garuda Wisnu Kencana has many different attractions to enjoy – exhibition halls, gigantic folklore-inspired statues, street theatre, festival park and much more. Revolving around the Garuda character of the Mahabharata epic, you can also learn the legend that shapes many aspects of the Balinese culture in a fun and entertaining way.