Bali is known as the “Island of Gods” and maybe it is, thanks to its famous sunrises and sunsets, its beautiful nature, as well as the exotic temples and culture. Bali belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands and is located east of Java and west of Lombok, another magnificent island that I really love. It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Indonesia. While the majority of Indonesia’s population is Muslim, Bali’s population adheres mainly to Balinese Hinduism. Along with the volcano and the jungles, the beaches are one of the places a visitor can walk on and find tranquility. It is, also, world-renowned for the coral reefs, the waterfalls, the marine biodiversity and the terraced rice fields. If you are looking for fun and adventure, for romantic scenes, for spiritual tourism or athletic activities in nature (surfing, diving, gliding, hiking, biking, yoga, trekking, rafting, etc), Bali is the place you can combine everything!
The best season to visit Bali
Bali has a tropical, humid and warm climate all year round. The climate is distinguished by the Dry Season and the Rainy Season with temperatures that touch highs around 28-30ºC and lows around 23-25ºC. Dry Season is between April and September. For six months, Bali is less humid as the rainfalls are very scattered and rare which makes this period ideal for vacations.
Rainy Season is between October and March. The sea is rougher and the south coastline gets dirty due to winds and debris. The monsoon in Bali is not as rough as in other Asian countries, as the rainfalls might be plenty but weak and the sun always comes up after. Although it might be raining for most of those months, climate change affects the rainfalls and nowadays nothing is really predictable. It is the best season to visit the green rice field.
The high seasons, when the Island brims with tourists, are July and August, Easter Holidays and Christmas – Western and Eastern New Year’s holidays. This is when Bali is busiest even in traffic and less easy to explore. If you want to visit it during the high season, book in advance your hotel and adventures, especially during New Year’s celebrations, which is said to hold the most colorful and must-see festivals for tourists, although I have never visited the island during this period. Furthermore, during the summer months Bali holds some of its signature festivals, like the Bali Arts Festival.
The best time to save money is from February until early June and from September until early December when there are fewer tourists in Bali. During these months you can also find really good discounts on hotels, restaurants, and excursions.
How to go to Bali
Bali is the most popular destination for Indonesians and Australians. A lot of Indonesians take the bus from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, for a 23-hour journey. Bali has a famous port, a center of arrivals of many cruise lines that travel through South East Asia and other countries. If a cruise is a dream of yours, you can start from Singapore, Sumatra or Java and finally get to Bali.
Lastly, the best way of traveling is by plane. The Ngurah Raj International Airport is 13 km from Denpasar, the capital of Bali. The planes have frequent domestic flights to Indonesian cities for a full traveling experience.
While on the island you will be using bicycles, taxis or rented cars, motorcycles, scooters and buses. The Grab app functions perfectly in Bali. Be careful of the offers and the “black market” as well as of the dense traffic during the high seasons.
Where to stay in Bali
Bali has a vast diversity in experiences and activities for different kinds of tourists. Check the area that suits you regarding the plans you are making and the people you are traveling with:
For couples
The ideal area for a romantic couple on their honeymoon is Jimbaran, a village and tourist resort very close to the airport. Most of the sandy bay is empty and perfect for a couple who wants to stroll, sunbathe and have romantic candlelight dinners by the sea during the sunset. Jimbaran produces fresh seafood that, along with the fireworks and the traditional dances under the melodies of the wandering musicians, complete the most romantic picture of a honeymoon.
For families
A very good choice for families and couples in Bali is Nusa Dua. Nusa Dua provides water slides, massive gardens, kids’ activities all day long and children menus in restaurants. Nusa Dua is clean, quiet, safe and not so crowded. It accommodates water sports for teenagers, as well.
For nightlife
Three are the best-known hotspots for the tourists that seek intense nightlife: Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. Kuta hosts some famous DJs in its nightclubs and sports bars while serving cocktails and BBQ and offering the widest choices with the lowest prices. It is the party area of Bali, but not the best of Bali! Seminyak is the place where jazz, soul and R&B meet, the cafés and bistros offer dishes from every part of Indonesia and the world and the visitors can enjoy their cocktails looking at the sunset. Seminyak is generally promoted as an upscale version of Legian and Kuta. Personally, I find Seminyak appealing. However, these are by no means the only places for nightlife in Bali. For example, a lot of people prefer to go to Canggu to party.
For outdoor activities and spiritual vacations
A visitor who wants to feel Bali’s spiritual energy, go sightseeing and engage in outdoor activities should stay in Ubud. The cultural capital of Bali, made famous by the book and movie “Eat Pray Love”, is the place to eat and enjoy live music, to visit the Monkey Forest, the palace and the rice terraces of Jatiluwih and to have cooking lessons. It is the yoga and meditation center of Bali. However, I recommend that you are very careful when you choose to participate in a yoga class. Choose your teacher wisely as you should do everywhere. You can also charter a car and explore many extraordinary sights nearby, go rafting, hiking or mountain biking.
For a hippie style of traveling
The best spot for a nomadic way of traveling, for chilling and surfing is Canggu. You can relax, go shopping in café shops, visit rice terraces or go to the beach with your guitar. It is ideal if you are traveling single and want to enjoy brunches, good book-reading spots and start a travel blogging website.
For those who want to experience the local culture
In case you want to have a piece of everything, the island’s capital Denpasar is the city you will enjoy your stay. Denpasar is the government’s home, so all cultural events happen there. It is busy, multi-cultural, with history and attractions, shopping malls and great restaurants.
What to eat in Bali
As far as food is concerned, Bali offers everything: seafood, vegetables, and organic food, coffee, sweets and foreign food like Mexican and even Greek! During my trips to Bali I have come across at least two Greek restaurants, so maybe there are more.
Remember when you are served bread before meals in Italian restaurants? In Bali you are served crackers of many flavours: prawn, soy, potato, rice, along with tomatoes, onions and lemongrass sambal.
The most famous Balinese dish is Babi Guling, the suckling pig. It is pork, stuffed with herbs and spices, then roasted as a whole. It is served with vegetables, pork sausage and fried pork skin. If you go for noodles, try the Mie Goreng: vegetables and chicken, shrimp or pork. You may find it with a fried egg on top and served on a banana leaf. If you prefer rice, you will find it everywhere with the name Nasi Goreng. Indonesians as well as other Asians can eat rice three times per day, as breakfast, as lunch, and as dinner.
If you are walking and want a bite of fresh chicken or fish, you can try the Sate, which is mashed chicken showered in spices and coconut milk and barbequed on a lemongrass stick. The same goes with the spring rolls that are stuffed with vegetables or chicken. Bakso is another local dish, consisted of meat paste meatballs. A surprise dish is Nasi Campur, a dish with mixed rice, vegetables, meat or fish, with combinations you cannot guess, even if you order it twice from the same restaurant. Probably the same role has the dish Mini Rijsttafel, a mix of rice and meats, like smoked duck, chicken, pork, vegetables and potato croquettes. Smoked or deep-fried duck or Bebek Betutu, as it is named in Balinese cuisine, is another famous Balinese dish which is served stuffed with spices on a palm tree leaf with rice and requires many hours of cooking. If you are looking for a signature salad, Gado-Gado (“mix-mix”) is the one you will try: vegetables like boiled long beans, spinach, potato, corn and cucumber with peanut sauce, tofu and egg. A very tasty red dish, is Sambal Matah. Imagine raw shallots, lemongrass, chili, lime, shrimp paste showered with hot oil, salt and sugar accompanied with fish or chicken. Don’t leave without having tried the local desert, the Pisang Goreng. It is fried bananas, served with honey or sweet syrup, coconut or vanilla ice-cream.
Also, don’t forget the Balinese tropical fruits, that maybe you should Google in order to recognize the white-yellow Durian which supposedly smells bad but I love it, the Mangosteen, an apple-sized purple fruit known as the “blood fruit”, the reddish – dark brown Snakeskin fruit, the red and hairy Rambutan, the wild berry Boni, the sour Soursop, the Java plum which looks like olives, the orange and yellow Coconuts, the sour and green Ambarella and the Pomelo which looks like citrus.
As far as alcohol is concerned, the most famous Balinese drink is the Arak, which is an alcoholic drink from toddy palm trees. But, be cautious and drink it only in reputable bars while watching the bartender serving you, because there have been incidents of methanol poisoning.
Where to party in Bali
As stated above, there are only two cities where the party never stops: Kuta and Seminyak. In Seminyak, you will find that the Jalan Petitenget street is full of bars and restaurants, along with famous resorts that hold parties all night long. Kuta is the heart of Bali’s party scene. The world-famous huge club ‘’Sky Garden” lies there. You can also party in Legian. Downtown Legian which is the street Jalan Raya Legian is loaded with various nightlife spots. Lately, a part of Bali’s nightlife has moved to Canggu, which is promoted as an alternative nightlife area.
15 Activities in Bali
Either you are dreaming of quiet vacations near the pool under the sun or more adventurous into the jungles and the caves like I do, Bali has plenty to offer. Read below the 16 best sights you certainly should consider visiting, as well as engaging in fun activities that will give you the time of your life.
#1. Tanah Lot temple
Tanah Lot is a small formation a bit off the Balinese shore. It means “Land in the Ocean”. It is famous for the Tanah Lot temple which is attached to mythological stories from the locals since the 16th century. Its rare beauty focuses on the dense green trees that in reality would find it difficult to grow on rocks. The temple is dedicated to the Sea God, who is said to have ordered sea snakes to guard the Tanah Lot. Nearby, you will find restaurants, cafés and art shops.
#2. Uluwatu Temple and beach
The magnificent location of Uluwatu Temple 70 meters above the waves is breathtaking. The temple dates back to the 10th century. Around it you will find walls and a forest with monkeys that are believed to guard the temple. As a visitor, you must wear a sarong or sash, which is given in the temple. Visit it a bit before sunset to take amazing photos and stay a little longer after it to watch the local Kecak dance in the amphitheater. Uluwatu beach is ideal for surfing with fast and powerful waves, but also for relaxation and sightseeing. Explore the beautiful caves of the beach, while you are there.
#3.Ubud Monkey Forest
A lot of macaque monkeys and tree species, 12,500m2 of forest are daily available to explore. The forest is a research location for the monkeys’ health, diet and breeding habits. It is considered sacred due to the small temples and the statues that lie around. Be careful, though, the monkeys might see your goodies and steal them from you.
#4.Ubud town
Ubud is promoted as the “cultural capital” of Bali. Relaxation, rejuvenation, yoga, meditation, cooking and healthy food, boutique shopping, Hindu architecture, poetry readings are some of the attributes of Ubud. Don’t forget to pass by the Ubud Art Market, where you will buy souvenirs, handmade goods and inexpensive gifts. Nevertheless, Ubud is not so alternative as it wants to appear. It is full of mainstream restaurants, cafes and shops of various kinds.
#5. Bali Safari & Marine Park
One of the largest wildlife parks in Bali is Bali Safari & Marine Park which covers over 400,000 m2 of land. More than 80 species and 400 animals roam free in the park. You may come across hippos, spotted deers, Himalayan bears, zebras, camels, baboons, elephants, piranhas, Indian white tigers and lions. You can feed the elephants, embark on a safari journey or dive in the waterpark and amusement park.
#6. Kecak Dance
Kecak is a form of Balinese Hindu dance and music drama and it is traditionally performed in temples and villages in Bali. The dance is performed in a circle by 50 – 150 men wearing checked cloths on their waists. They perform a romantic story of the lovers Rama and Shinta. The spectator can often hear the word sound of “cak” during the dance. It is performed in various places. Uluwatu Temple is one of them.
#7. Rafting on Ayung River
This is considered the best whitewater rafting in Bali. It is appropriate for beginners and families. It is extended in approximately 68.5 km and it passes through the Bali rainforest and the rice fields. You might even discover a waterfall!
#8. Nusa Dua area
Nusa Dua is famous for the 20 resorts it accommodates. The tourists can swim to its known Geger beach, where farmers grow seaweed or the popular and crowded Pawana beach. It is family-friendly and inexpensive. It has water sports, a shopping center, small markets, restaurants, which makes it ideal for a calm sunset drink. I have enjoyed playing with the waves there.
#9.Tamblingan Lake
Lake Tamblingan is on the foot of Mount Lesung and it is quite a cold area, but definitely worth visiting the place. It is a peaceful paradise that you can go by trekking or canoeing. It lies near the temple Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan but it is less touristic.
#10. Bird Park
Bali Bird Park & Reptile Park is a great educational attraction for families. While walking around among the 2000 tropical plants, the visitors can see 1000 birds and more than 250 species coming from the Indonesian archipelago and many of them roaming around free. It is one of the rare places where you can come close to exotic birds and magnificent species, like parrots, owls, eagles and macaws. Bird Park’s mission is to breed endangered species in captivity in order to preserve their species. You can take some photos with the birds resting on your arms!
#11.Lovina Beach
In Northern Bali, there is a combination of beaches traversing several villages, the Lovina Beach. Calm waves, black sand shores, cafés, and seafood restaurants guarantee relaxing vacations. You can hire a small boat to get you off the coast for 1000 m and enjoy the sunrise and the dark-skinned dolphins or do snorkeling.
#12 Tegenungan Waterfall
Tegenungan Waterfall is located close to Ubud and is one of the most popular waterfalls in Indonesia, which means that you will not be alone there. Fortunately, most people will not get in the water, so if you want to try swimming, you can certainly find serenity there, while you admire the green surroundings of the place. Take my advice and get in. Don’t miss the fun!
#13.Singaraja Town and Palace
Singaraja was the former Dutch colonial capital of Bali situated in the North of the Island. In Indonesian, it means “Lion King”. Now, the not-so-touristic Singaraja is the second-largest city in Bali and still maintains the colonial vibe. It has two universities and the Royal Palace, where the descendants of Raja’s family still live. The town is modern with world-famous supermarkets, shopping malls, shops for clothes, hardware and stationery and many more. It also has a library filled with old manuscripts of sacred texts which were written on palm leaves. It, also, serves as a port.
#14. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, or Pura Beratan as it is being called for short, is a major Hindu water temple in Bali since 1633 and it is dedicated to the goddess of water, lake and river Dewi Danu. The temple is on the shore of Lake Beratan and looks like it is floating. Like the Tamblingan Lake, it is 1,200 m above the ground so it has a cold tropical climate. The temple complex consists of four smaller temples. When I visited the place, it was foggy! You can explore it on foot or by paddling around with small boats. Don’t forget: Lake Beratan is considered one of the 20 most beautiful lakes in the world!
#15. Beaches of Bali
Firstly, I would like to make perfectly clear from the beginning that Bali’s beaches are not ideal for swimming. Some of them might provide a wonderful view, while others are a surfers’ paradise. However, people who enjoy swimming as I do will be disappointed. There are no beaches in Bali that offer the pleasure of swimming in crystal clear and safe waters as, for example, many beaches in the Mediterranean Sea or in Thailand do. Having said that, I have to add that I have visited several beaches in Bali and my favourites are the following: Go to Nusa Dua beach for 14 km of palm trees and orchids, blue waters, white sand, and water sports. Go to Padang Padang beach in Uluwatu to admire the amazing scenery and for surfing.
What to visit if you have some extra time
#1 Goa Lawah /Bat Cave Temple
Goa Lawah also known as Bat Cave is very important to the Balinese Hindu community and one of Bali’s most important temples as it is one of Bali’s key nine directional temples like Tanah Lot. It is a nice place to visit, especially if you are interested in temples and religious places, but you might be a bit disappointed by the full of smelly bats cave, which is not so impressive and definitely not accessible.
#2.Waterbom Bali Park
Water slides, water games, tropical gardens and pools in an area of 38,000 m2 in Kuta! A great way of spending a day with family or friends. You can splash after a 25.9 m height, race your friends, shower under the waterfalls, take a relaxing ride and swim to the swim-up bar for tropical drinks. It includes various canteens, open-air restaurants and spas. I don’t consider it a cheap activity, but you may want to try it. I did and I didn’t regret it!
What should not be your priority to visit in Bali
Sanur town and beach.
The beach is not suitable for swimming as far as I am concerned and the town does not offer much to the visitor apart from restaurants and prostitution. Yes, that’s right, Sanur is the capital of prostitution in Bali and very popular to the local men for this reason as the prices here are much lower than Kuta.
Some safety tips before you travel to Bali
It is true that sometimes we avoid or forget the safety measures we should take before traveling abroad, especially if the destination is on another continent. If it is your first time in Bali or Asia, read some of the caution tips below to be prepared for anything that might come up while you are in Bali:
- Be careful when entering a monkey territory. Some monkeys might be friendly, but some may be really aggressive. Keep your personal things hidden in your bag that you hold in front of you and try to avoid looking at the monkeys in the eyes. Also, in case a monkey bites you, go straight to the hospital.
- Don’t go near the cliffs. In case the waves are tall, there are no safety railings on the cliffs for you to hold on. The huge waves, named “Devil’s Tears”, might knock over the people who are standing on the edge. It is a true story and you should keep a distance or else the 10-meter waves can really hurt you.
- Do not trust Google Maps that much. Check the path that Google suggests and make sure it’s not mountainous, steep and narrow. You may ask local drivers or even hire a driver to reach your destination.
- As in every part of the world, the same goes for Bali when it comes to getting a tattoo. Make sure that the tattoo studio that you want to go to has a certified level of hygiene, then read forums and ask around. Beware – it is a matter of health and HIV!
- Furthermore, read the reviews of your accommodation regarding frauds, security and thefts. Many villas do not include security and your belongings might end up in… bad hands. So, don’t pack many valuable things with you or make sure that you will be carrying them along to every little trip.
- If you are a lady or a group of ladies walking during the nights after your drinks, be careful of some unwanted attention even when ordering a taxi. If you do encounter a robbery or sexual harassment, which is very rare in Bali, call POLDA Bali, the main police headquarters in Denpasar, instead of the local police office. There’s also a special police force for tourism known as PAM OBVIT Bali, which emphasizes on the well- being of foreigners. You may contact them for help. Generally, Bali is a safe destination for female travelers.
- Dress code is another chapter you should consider. Not all days in Bali are sunny beach days. Some clubs and resorts require a formal dress code, so make sure before you go there that you know the rules. Also, the temples require that you wear a sarong before entering. Usually, they give shawls and sarongs to the visitors at the entrance, but you can always have one which is completely yours.
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