Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Bali, Indonesia
Best Places to Visit in Bali
Bali travel — doesn’t your heart flutter just imagining it? Whenever the peak of summer turns sweltering, I always find myself dreaming of Bali, with its emerald rice fields and cool blue seas. As it happens, the dry season from April to October is the golden window for a Bali trip, so right now is the perfect time to start planning. Active volcanoes, terraced rice paddies, clifftop temples, and emerald waters… is there any other destination that packs this much variety onto a single island? So today I’ve put together a Top 10 of the must-visit attractions and places worth seeing on a Bali trip, chosen by my own criteria. Bali is a volcanic island that belongs to Indonesia, yet the whole island is steeped in Hindu culture, giving it an exotic atmosphere quite different from the rest of the country. These rankings aren’t an official index but a subjective pick weighing popularity, scenery, and accessibility, so please take them just for fun. Now, let’s start from number 10!
10. Kintamani & Mount Batur
On the central highland of Kintamani sit the still-active Mount Batur (elevation 1,717 m / about 5,633 ft) and the crescent-shaped Lake Batur. The signature experience here is the “sunrise trek,” where you set off around 2 a.m. and greet the dawn from the summit — the sun spreading red above the clouds and the caldera unfolding beneath your feet is something you won’t forget. By day, it’s just as lovely to sip a coffee at one of Kintamani’s scenic cafés with the volcano and lake in full view. The pre-dawn air is quite chilly, so I’d recommend packing a light windbreaker. It’s about an hour and a half by car from Ubud, making it a great half-day outing. For letting you enjoy an active volcano, a lake, and a trek all at once, it earns the number 10 spot.
9. Tegallalang Rice Terraces
North of Ubud, the Tegallalang Rice Terraces are the very emblem of the green, tiered rice-paddy scenery that comes to mind when you think “Bali.” Carved layer by layer into the hillside using “subak,” a traditional irrigation system the Balinese have maintained for over a thousand years, the rippling terraces are truly picture-perfect. They look their best in the soft morning light, and the walking paths threading between the paddies — along with Ubud’s famous “jungle swings” — are a big draw. As a landscape where Bali’s farming culture and nature come together, it deserves this spot.
8. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Seeming to float on Lake Beratan in the Bedugul highlands, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple was built in 1633 to honor Dewi Danu, the goddess of water. The sight of the temple and its thatched-roof towers (meru) mirrored on the calm lake is so mystical that this very temple appears on the back of Indonesia’s 50,000-rupiah banknote. At an elevation of 1,200 m (about 3,900 ft), it stays cool even at midday and turns especially dreamy when morning mist rolls in. Nearby you’ll find strawberry farms, a traditional market, and the popular “Handara Gate” photo spot, all easy to bundle into one trip. Unlike the hot coast, the cool air makes it the perfect place to escape the heat for a while. As one of “the most photogenic temples in Bali,” it lands at number 8.
7. Besakih Temple (the Mother Temple)
Set on the slopes of Mount Agung — Bali’s highest peak at about 3,031 m (roughly 9,944 ft) — Besakih Temple is the largest and oldest sanctuary of Balinese Hinduism, known as the “Mother Temple.” Some twenty temples large and small climb the mountain in terraces, and from the topmost steps you get a magnificent view of Mount Agung rising beyond the temple roofs. As the most sacred site for the Balinese, it often hosts elaborate ceremonies, letting you witness living faith in action. To enter the temple you’ll need to wear a “sarong” covering your knees, but they lend them out at the gate, so no need to worry. As the very heart of Balinese culture, it comes in at number 7.
6. Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest
Right in the middle of Ubud town, the Sacred Monkey Forest is a woodland sanctuary home to more than 1,200 Balinese long-tailed macaques (crab-eating macaques). Moss-covered 14th-century temples, giant banyan trees, and stone stairways come together to make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a jungle shrine. It’s a thrill to have the monkeys come right up to you, but they’ll snatch sunglasses, hats, and snacks in a flash, so do be careful! Avoid staring them straight in the eye or waving food in your hand, and keep your belongings tucked inside your bag to be safe. It’s within walking distance of Ubud Palace and the Art Market, so it slots neatly into an Ubud town itinerary. For letting you meet nature, temples, and wild monkeys all at once, this Ubud landmark takes number 6.
5. GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) Cultural Park
Towering over a hill in southern Bali, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) statue stands a full 121 m (about 397 ft) tall including its pedestal — one of the largest statues in the world. It depicts the Hindu god Vishnu riding the sacred bird Garuda, and this massive copper-toned statue, completed in 2018, commands an overwhelming presence even from afar. The sprawling cultural park also stages performances like the traditional Kecak dance, so there’s plenty to see. For letting you feel Bali’s scale and Hindu mythology at the same time, it ranks number 5.
4. Seminyak & Kuta Beach
On Bali’s southwest coast, Kuta and Seminyak beaches are the hub of Bali’s beach life. The gentle rolling waves have earned it a reputation as a mecca for beginner surfers, and surf schools for newcomers line the shore. Above all, the red sun setting beyond the Indian Ocean is spectacular, and a sunset enjoyed with a drink at a beach club as dusk falls is considered a must-do on any Bali trip. Seminyak has a slightly more upscale feel with its stylish cafés and boutiques, while Kuta is livelier and easier on the wallet — pick whichever suits your taste. It’s also close to the airport, so it fits nicely into your first or last day in Bali. As a beach that captures both Bali’s day and night, it comes in at number 4.
3. Tanah Lot Temple
Standing alone on a rocky islet out at sea, Tanah Lot Temple is Bali’s most iconic sunset spot. At high tide the islet is completely surrounded by the ocean, so it looks like a temple floating on the water — and the moment its silhouette emerges against a crimson sky at dusk is famous enough to be dubbed the “shot of a lifetime” in Bali travel photos. This venerable sea temple dates back to the 16th century, and the surroundings are well equipped with cafés and clifftop paths perfect for taking in the sunset. Since it’s so popular, crowds gather around dusk, so if you want a good spot I’d suggest arriving leisurely about an hour before sunset. As Bali’s finest sunset spot, it earns number 3.
2. Uluwatu Temple
At Bali’s southern tip, perched dizzyingly atop a 70 m (about 230 ft) cliff facing the Indian Ocean, Uluwatu Temple is a breathtaking sight in itself. It’s a sacred temple long believed to protect Bali from evil sea spirits, but the real highlight is the traditional “Kecak fire dance” performed on the clifftop stage at sunset. The chorus of dozens of men chanting “chak-chak-chak,” the flames, and the Indian Ocean sky burning red all come together in a performance that stays with you for a long time. For letting you enjoy cliffs, a temple, a traditional performance, and a sunset all at once, it takes number 2. (The monkeys here go after glasses too, so watch out!)
1. Nusa Penida
The honor of number 1 goes to Nusa Penida, a small island about 40 minutes by boat from Bali’s main island. Its Kelingking Beach — where a green cliff shaped like a dinosaur’s (T-Rex) back plunges down to a pure-white sand beach and jade-colored sea — is hailed as a “shot of a lifetime” spot representing not just Bali but all of Indonesia. Beyond that, the island is full of surreal coastal scenery like Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach, and if you’re lucky you can swim alongside manta rays in the water. That said, the island’s roads are rough and travel time between sights can be considerable, so for a day trip it’s more comfortable to use a local tour or a car with a driver. Boat schedules can shift with the waves, so plan your itinerary with a little extra room. With its still-underdeveloped, primal nature very much alive, it’s a place I’d insist on setting aside at least one full day for on a Bali trip — which is why it proudly takes the number 1 spot.
And that’s our Top 10 of the best places and attractions to visit in Bali — what did you think? From sacred temples to active volcanoes, terraced rice fields, and dazzling beaches… I hope you got at least a little sense of why Bali is called the “Island of the Gods.” Bali in the dry season is picture-perfect day after day, so it might just be worth seriously considering for this summer’s getaway. I’ll be back next time with more travel stories packed with useful tips. Have a wonderful Bali trip!
