BALI TRAVEL GUIDE AND TIPS: HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT BALI ITINERARY

We've put together a list of everything you need to know about Bali before you go to this beautiful Indonesian island.

This is the first Capture the Atlas post you should read if you're going to Bali or want to know more about it.The links below will take you to other stories we've written about Bali; you can see the full list at the end.

We'll also give you some important travel tips for your first trip to Bali. But are you sure you want to go to Bali before you start making plans?

BALI VACATION – WHY YOU NEED TO TRAVEL TO BALI

We promise you that Bali is still worth seeing, even though it's a lot of tourists these days.It's a great place for all types of visitors.Some friends went to Bali on their honeymoon, while I went backpacking there. We were all very happy when we got back.

You can't help but learn about a new culture while on vacation in Bali. The people there are so friendly and their way of life is so beautiful that you can't help but fall in love with them.

The book Holiday in Bali can help you plan a trip you'll never forget to Bali.You should know, though, that the number of tourists visiting Bali hasn't stopped. This is good for the locals because they can afford better living conditions than people who live on other, less wealthy Indonesian islands.Some bad things happen when people visit Bali, though.We fortunate people who get to visit the Island of the Gods need to be good tourists in Bali so that everyone can enjoy the island in the future.

Bali is a one-of-a-kind place to visit, and I hope that this Bali trip guide helps you make the most of your time there.

HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO BALI – THE BEST BALI ITINERARY

Planning a trip to Bali is not complicated, since you can book almost everything online, and there is a lot of information everywhere. In general, to plan a trip to Bali, follow these ten steps:

1. Things to do in Bali: Check out the best places to visit.
2. Best Bali itinerary: Choose the best Bali itinerary according to the days you have.
3. Best time to visit Bali: When to go to Bali depending on your interests.
4. Cheap flights to Bali: Where to get the best deals.
5. Hotels and Villas in Bali: Best areas and accommodations.
6. How to get around Bali: Scooter rental in Bali or private driver.
7. Best tours in Bali: Tours that will save you time and money.
8. How much cost for a vacation to Bali: Currency, prices, and money per day.
9. Bali visa information: Check that you have the necessary documentation.
10. Safety in Bali: Vaccines, malaria tablets and travel insurance

BALI TRAVEL GUIDE (INDONESIA) – ESSENTIAL BALI TRAVEL TIPS

In this Bali travel guide, we walk you through every step of planning your trip to Bali. You’ll find a lot of useful tips based on our own experience, along with some anecdotes of our trips to Bali.

1. BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN BALI

BEST TEMPLES IN BALI

Without a doubt, there is nothing like Bali temples, so the first thing you have to do is pinpoint the most important ones.

• Besakih Temple: Mother Temple. The biggest temple in Bali.
• Ulun Danu Beratan: The most photographed temple in Bali, on Lake Bratan.
• Pura Luhur Uluwatu: Temple on a cliff. An ideal place to watch the sunset.
• Tanah Lot: Bali’s most touristy temple, only accessible at low tide.
• Lempuyang Temple: Temple of the Gates to Heaven.

There are more than 1,000 temples in Bali, so one of the most well known tips for traveling to Bali is not to get frustrated if you can’t see them all. 

BEST RICE TERRACES IN BALI

Bali's best part is its rice fields. Because rice is the main ingredient in Balinese food, growing this cereal is an important part of country life. If you go to Bali at the right time, you'll see green rice fields and beautiful scenery that you'll never forget.

Bali has a lot of rice fields, but these are the best ones:

• Tegalalang: The most popular rice paddies in Bali.
• Jatiluwih: Considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

BEST VILLAGES IN BALI

The traditional villages are something you must visit in Bali because they are full of art and good vibes. While there, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to learn more about Balinese culture and traditions.

Ubud market, a must-visit in Bali 

• Ubud: Bali artistic and cultural center. Check our complete list of things to do in Ubud.
• Penglipuran: Traditional village ideal for learning about Balinese culture.
• Canggu: Coastal town very popular for its perfect waves for surfing.

BEST BEACHES IN BALI

If you go to Southeast Asia, you must plan to spend some time at the beach. Bali's best beaches aren't on the main island; they're on the small islands that are close by. Don't miss these spots.

Kelingking Beach: don’t miss it on your trip to Bali

• Kelingking Beach: You’ll find some of the best beaches in Bali on the Nusa Islands.
• Balagan Beach: One of the many turquoise beaches in the Uluwatu area.
• Jimbaran Beach: The best beach to eat fresh fish with incredible views.
• Pasut Beach: The black sand beach where you will find a famous crooked palm tree.
• Kuta: Popular surfing beach among Australian tourists. Party destination.
• Seminyak: Very popular at sunset, with beautiful beach clubs.

BEST VOLCANOES IN BALI

The volcano-shaped island of Bali is always busy. Bali's volcanoes are also more than just a part of the scenery. Bali's volcanoes are very important to the religion, rituals, and customs of the people who live there.

Sunrise at Batur Volcano: Best tour to take in Bali

• Mt Batur: From the summit, you can see the best sunrise in Bali.
• Agung: The highest volcano in Bali. The last time it erupted was in 2017.

BEST WATERFALLS IN BALI

The coolest thing to do in Bali when it's really hot is to go to the waterfalls. Some of them are even good for swimming. You can see three of Bali's most important waterfalls on this tour, even though most of them are not near the most popular tourist spots.

Include at least one waterfall in your Bali itinerary

• Nung Nung: Bali’s most popular waterfall, which is 230 ft tall.
• Tukad Cepung: This waterfall is hidden in a cave.
• Banyumala: It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Bali.
• Tegenungan: The best waterfall to bathe in in Bali.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN BALI

The list is endless! But below you will find the five best things to see in Bali.

Tips for traveling to Bali: Beware of Monkey Forest inhabitants

• Monkey Forest: The best place to have fun watching the monkeys of Bali.
• Wanagiri Hidden Hill: Place full of swings, and straw baskets overlooking the great lakes of Bedugul.
• Karang Boma Cliff: Cliffs located south of Bali from which you can watch the sunset.

In addition, We advise you to use this map of Bali to help you figure out where the places we’re talking about are. With this map, you’re totally ready to plan the best Bali itinerary.

2. BEST BALI ITINERARY

It's time to plan your trip to Bali. Once you know what you want to do and where the different sights are, it's time to pick the best Bali schedule. One more thing we can tell you about going to Bali is to give yourself a lot of time to get from one place to another. This is because the roads aren't as good as Google Maps says they are.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED TO VISIT BALI?

In our opinion, the minimum number of days to spend in Bali is four days. With this time and good planning, you can see most of the essential places to visit in Bali. 

ONE-WEEK BALI ITINERARY IDEA

This is the best Bali itinerary if you only have 7 days:

• Day 1: Arrive in Ubud. Beginning of your 7-day Bali trip.
• Day 2: Tegalalang rice terraces and Ubud surroundings.
• Day 3: Sunset hike at  Batur. The best of my one-week Bali tour.
• Day 4: Eastern Temples of Bali – Besakih, Lempuyang and Tirta Gangga.
• Day 5: Ulun Danu Beratan. Essential temple to visit in Bali in 7 days.
• Day 6: Taman Ayun Temple, Tanah Lot and Canggu.
• Day 7: Jimbaran and Uluwatu. End of your trip to Bali in a week.

10-DAY BALI ITINERARY IDEA

If you only have 10 days, this is the Bali itinerary I recommend you do:

• Day 1: Beginning of your trip to Bali in 10 days.
• Day 2: Batur sunrise tour.
• Day 3: Besakih, Tirta Gangga, Lempuyang and Amed.
• Day 4: Tegalalang and surroundings of Ubud.
• Day 5: Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Bedugul waterfalls.
• Day 6:Jatiluwih, Pasut beach, Tanah Lot and Seminyak.
• Day 7: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.
• Day 8: Nusa Penida.
• Day 9: Uluwatu.
• Day 10: Jimbaran.

3. BEST TIME TO VISIT BALI

Many people ask us when to visit Bali, and the answer always varies. It’s not the same for someone who’s very interested in seeing green rice paddies as it is for someone whose reason to travel to Bali is to surf, so we tell you in more detail about the best time to go to Bali in this article.

Most agree that the best time to visit Bali is from April to November, coinciding with the dry season. The monsoon in Bali is from the end of October until April.

What you should know about the weather in Bali is that, unlike other places in Southeast Asia, the monsoon on this island is quite mild, so you can consider any time a good time to visit Bali.

The high season of Bali is considered July, August, and also Christmas, when many tourists decide to spend the holiday season on this island.

4. FLIGHTS TO BALI, INDONESIA

Once you’re sure about the Bali itinerary you want to take, it’s time to book your flights to Bali.

In my case, I usually book flights three months in advance, since it is statistically when they are cheapest.

The Bali airport where all international flights arrive is the Ngurah Rai International Airport, which is very close to Denpasar, the capital of Bali.

Sometimes, you’ll find it difficult to get direct flights to Bali. Most of the time, you will need to make a connection at the Shanghai or Dubai airport.

CHEAP FLIGHTS TO BALI

To get the cheapest flights to Asia from the US, you must know they arrive at the airports of Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur, so I recommend you take a flight from your home country to one of these airports and from there, take a local flight to Denpasar Airport, since they are the cheapest connections to Bali.

In addition to getting a cheap flight to Bali, you can visit these cities.

In my case, I flew to Singapore before going to Bali and came back through Kuala Lumpur, and although it was not the cheapest way to get to Bali since I took two one-way flights instead of one round-trip, it was worth it.

5. WHERE TO STAY IN BALI

Once you know the exact dates of your trip and have made a plan for what to do in Bali, it's time to book your hotels there.

Next, if you want to visit Bali, stay in Ubud. There are many places to stay in Bali, but if you want to take some of the most important trips, I recommend Ubud. This is the best place to go to do things like climb Mt. Batur or see the eastern temples. Based on your income, these are the places I think you should stay in Ubud.

You can also find some of the best houses in Bali in the areas around Ubud for much less than you might think. This is the best place to stay if you want to sleep in the woods or eat breakfast in your own private infinity pool.

Another of the places where I recommend staying for a few days is in the southern area, in Uluwatu, where some of the best hotels in Bali are located. Additionally, you’ll get better access to other tourist attractions that are in this area, such as, for example, some of the best beaches in Bali. These are our four recommended accommodations in Uluwatu

6. HOW TO GET AROUND BALI

When planning a trip to Bali, one of the main concerns is usually the best way to travel around Bali. Here, we bring you four options that will depend a bit on your budget and interests.

TRANSFERS IN BALI

You can book taxis in Bali to get from Denpasar Airport to Ubud and other parts of the island.In Bali, though, it can be hard to book flights.That means you'll need to rent a car or directly hire a private driver to make all the moves you need to do during the day. This will save you money.

I think you should not rent a scooter at Denpasar Airport, even if you are going to Bali.It's better to book a ride from Bali Airport to Ubud or the area where you'll be spending the first day of your trip. Before you drive, get used to the traffic.

This is where we made the first trip from Denpasar to Ubud because it was the cheapest we could find.We also hired our driver as a private driver for the rest of our trip to Bali because we liked him so much.

SCOOTER RENTAL IN BALI

Dan rode a scooter during his trip to Bali and wrote a guide with everything you need to know if you are renting a motorcycle in Bali. Some of the tips for traveling to Bali that he gives in that guide are:

• Learn how to ride a scooter before traveling to Bali
• Drive like the Balinese if you don’t want the police to fine you
• Take your international driver’s license with you
• Always wear a helmet
• Hire good travel insurance to Bali

Another of the best Bali travel tips to hire travel insurance

CAR RENTAL IN BALI

Renting a car in Bali is another option, which neither Dan nor I have tried, so we can’t tell you about our experience. However, in my case, I did look at this alternative when I was planning my trip to Bali, and it seemed quite expensive, so in the end, I ended up discarding it.

Also, you should keep in mind that Bali is made for scooters, and traffic jams can sometimes be horrible. If scooters are not your thing, I advise you to hire a private driver in Bali before renting your own car.

PRIVATE DRIVER IN BALI

It is without a question the most comfortable choice, but it also costs the most.Most of the time, you can hire a private car in Bali for 10 hours, and they will take you wherever you need to go.We called off the other appointment when we met our driver on the way from the airport to Ubud because we liked him so much.

A few months after my trip, some friends went on their honeymoon to Bali and got a driver through that platform. They told me the service was great.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN BALI

In Bali, there is public transportation, but it's slow, and there isn't much online about it.It is the cheapest way to get to Bali, but I don't think it's the best idea if you are only going to be there for a short time.

The most popular ways to get around are the Trans Sarbagita (blue buses), the Bemo (a type of van), and the Kura (small green buses).

Check with your hotel to find out how to use public transportation to get from one place in Bali to another.

7. BEST TOURS IN BALI

If you're going to Bali and don't want to rent a car, bike, or pay a lot of money for a private driver, my next piece of advice is to book some tours. This is especially important for getting to parts of Bali that are harder to get to or where you have to go with a local guide.To get to one of the paradise islands that circle Bali, you will also need to book a tour or a bus.

One of the most popular trips is to the Gili Islands, so we wrote this short guide to help you decide which one to visit and what to do there.Gili Trawangan was our choice.

In addition, in this article on the best tours in Bali, I recommend 4 excursions with which you can visit the most important places in Bali in only four days. In summary, these are the Bali tours that I recommend:

• Sunrise on the Batur volcano: The best tour I did during my trip.
• Ubud Surroundings: Best tour to visit the rice terraces of Tegalalang and Goa Gajah.
• Pura Ulun Danu Bratan + Jatiluwih + Tanah Lot: The most complete tour in Bali.
• Eastern Temples: The tour that won’t miss the Pura Besakih and Pura Lempuyang temples.
• Uluwatu and Jimbaran: Tour of southern Bali. Beaches, traditional dance, and seafood.
• Nusa Lembongan: Round-trip speedboat to Nusa Lembongan with pickup at your hotel in Bali.
• Nusa Penida: Round-trip speedboat to Nusa Penida with pickup at your hotel in Bali.
• Gili Islands: Round-trip speedboat to Gili Trawangan or Gili Air with pickup at your Bali hotel.

8. CURRENCY IN BALI (INDONESIA) – HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR A VACATION TO BALI

The Indonesian rupee is used as money in Bali, Indonesia. One US dollar is equal to 14,200 Indonesian rupees right now. You'll have to deal with numbers that are much bigger than you're used to. Even if everything looks pricey, it may end up being much cheaper than you thought after exchanging the money.

It can help to write down the most common exchange rates, such as $1 = 14.2k IDR, $2 = 28.3k IDR, $5 = -70.8k IDR, $10 = 142k IDR, $50 = -709k IDR, and so on. This will help you quickly learn how much things cost in Bali during the first few days of your trip.

In Bali, you can use a debit or credit card to pay for most things. But be careful, because your bank may charge you extra for exchanging the money.

But keep in mind that some small stores might not take cards. Because of this, it's always a good idea to bring cash with you in Bali.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE IN BALI

If you plan to exchange money in Bali, I advise you to check how much the real exchange is before accepting any offer made to you by any Bali money changers.

ATMS IN BALI

There are many ATMs in Bali, especially in tourist areas. Even if you travel to more remote places, such as the Gili Islands, you’ll still find ATMs on each island.

In addition, ATMs in Bali don’t charge a surcharge fee, so if you withdraw from any ATM in Bali, the only fee you need to pay is the one that your bank charges you.

PRICES IN BALI

Although it is a cheap country, Bali is the most touristy island in Indonesia, so you can find hotels from less than $10 to luxury villas for more than $1000 (there are also very cheap villas in Bali). The question of whether Bali is expensive or cheap depends more on who answers it than on the island itself.

If you go backpacking in Bali, you can survive on less than $10 a day. However, if you’re planning a honeymoon in Bali, plan at least $200 per person per day.

That’s why Bali is such a popular tourist destination: whatever your budget is, it’s a good option.

HOW MUCH IS A BALI VACATION?

This table can give you an approximation of how much it costs for a vacation to Bali.

Consider the backpacking budget for Bali if you’re traveling long-term and not spending much is essential for you. If you don’t mind staying in less comfortable hotels and you prefer to use local transport and reach the sights on your own without hiring any tours, your vacation to Bali will cost around $30 per day, plus flights.

The standard budget is the one for most travelers in Bali. If you’re visiting the island for a few days and want to see almost everything in a very short time, you’ll need to hire some tours. As for accommodation, if you prefer to book amazing hotels for a very low price that’s impossible to find in other parts of the world, plan $135 per day plus flights.

The premium budget is for those who are traveling for a special occasion, honeymoons in Bali, or for all those who can afford it. If you want to experience staying in one of the best villas in Bali, hire private tours in Bali and of course, eat in the best restaurants, plan $270 per day plus flights.

9. BALI VISA INFORMATION

If you are from one of these 169 countries and are only spending a holiday in Bali (less than 30 days), you have visa exception. Just check that your passport doesn’t expire in the next six months from when you enter the country and that you have a couple of blank pages so that they can stamp it and give you an “admission permit.”

If you want to spend more time, you’ll need a visa for Bali.

SOCIAL-CULTURAL VISA FOR INDONESIA

If you plan to stay more than 30 days in Bali, the best option is to process a social cultural visa for Bali at the Indonesian embassy in your home country.

This visa will last 60 days, but you can extend it for up to 6 months. The price is $50 plus the renewal fee if you would like to stay for more than 60 days.

VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA)

If you're not sure if you'll stay in Bali for less than 30 days, you should get your visa on arrival (VOA) at the airport where you arrive. You can only stay in Bali for 30 days with this visa, but you can add another 30 days a week before it expires.If you go to Bali without paying the VOA, you won't be able to get one more year.

The Bali visa on arrival costs $35, and you can get it at the airport when you get there. You will have to go to immigration more than once to renew it, so some travelers would rather hire an agency to handle it for them, even though it costs more.

If you didn't renew your visa in time or didn't ask for your VOA when you got to Indonesia, you can also leave the country and come back (either with the visa exception to Bali or with the VOA).These things can be done on the same day, and you will have an extra 30 days in Bali. This is probably the most expensive choice, though.It's also likely that they will ask for your flight out of the country to make sure you don't plan to stay longer in Indonesia.

10. IS BALI SAFE TO VISIT?

Although when talking about security in Bali, you might think about terrorist attacks, earthquakes, and tsunamis in Bali, the truth is that this is not what you should worry about.

Apart from natural disasters, which can occur virtually anywhere in the world, Bali is one of the safest islands in Indonesia. Even so, you always must take certain precautions.

And remember to watch out for monkeys when you visit Bali.

A friend of Dan's, on the other hand, crashed a scooter in Bali.He was lucky that he had good travel insurance for Indonesia, because it helped him with everything.

There are also pickpockets in Bali, so be careful. Some of our friends had money stolen from their hotel room, and others had their backpacks stolen while they were eating at a warung.

Also, it's not a surprise that you can get sick in Bali even if you drink bottled water.

To make a long story short, Bali is not dangerous, but be careful. Get the cheapest travel insurance plan if you are on a tight budget.

BALI TRAVEL INSURANCE

Although Bali is safe, you can always experience unforeseen events, so if you want peace of mind, you should buy travel insurance to Bali.

Finally, here are some other Bali Travel Tips. If you have any other questions, leave them in the comments section, so we can add them to this part of the article.

WHERE TO EAT IN BALI

The best place to eat in Bali is in warungs, small family restaurants where you can try the delicious cuisine of Bali.

Where to eat in Bali: You can’t miss the best warungs on the island

The best known Balinese recipe is Nasi Goreng, fried rice with eggs and vegetables that can be accompanied by meat or seafood. I loved it!

DRIVING IN BALI

Riding a motorcycle is one of the best options to explore Bali. Additionally, it’s essential that you get an International Driver’s License for Bali, since, although you won’t need to show it when renting your scooter, the police can pull you over and fine you without it.

SUPERMARKETS AND SHOPS IN BALI

Going to Bali for a long time? You might want to cook instead of going out to eat every day. If so, I think you should check out the local markets. They're usually open in the morning and have fresh eggs, fruits, and vegetables.

Besides that, there are big supermarkets where you can buy anything, from drinks and food to things to tidy up.Coconut, Bintang, and Pepito are the most well-known.

You can also buy snacks and soda at small stores in your area. Some of these are open 24 hours a day.

WHAT IS THE RELIGION IN BALI?

Religious beliefs are very important to the people who live in Bali. A lot of people in Indonesia follow Hinduism, but only on the island of Bali.Most of the people in Indonesia are Muslims. It is called "Balinese Hinduism" in Bali, though, and it is a mix of Hindu and animist beliefs with the worship of Buddhist saints.

Bali is known as the "Island of Smiles" because the people there believe in Karma. If you want to learn more about Bali's culture, read this.

Please respect Bali's religion and ways of life.You might be shocked at first by how much Canang sari you see on the ground, in temples, and even on store and hotel desks and counters.

People make these every day with incense, flower petals, rice, and lime leaves. They do make the streets of Bali dirty and attract bugs, but they are very useful for locals and much better for the environment than the plastic trash that other people leave behind.

WHAT CLOTHES TO WEAR IN BALI TEMPLES

In Bali, you don't have to take off your shoes to go into a temple. But in some churches, both men and women are expected to cover their legs with a Sarong.

In some churches, there are signs that say women shouldn't go in if they are on their period. This is an interesting fact.

WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF BALI?

The official language of Bali is Indonesian, although Balinese is also spoken. A large part of the population also speaks English, especially those whose jobs are related to tourism and hospitality.

WHERE TO STAY IN BALI?

One of the best places to stay in Bali is Ubud. There are also a lot of places to stay in Kuta and Seminyak, but Nusa Dua is where you'll find the best luxury resorts in Bali.

Uluwatu is another great place to stay in Bali and visit the island's best beaches. For those who want to see the island's most remote spots, Bedugul is another great choice.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN BALI

Finally, we don't want to end this article on how to travel to Bali without telling you to be a good traveler.

Don't book tours that treat animals badly, please. There have never been elephants in Bali, but it's sad that there are places with elephants in cages that are called "sanctuaries." This is done to get tourists to come, who think they are helping an animal-horror business when they really are just supporting it.

It's not fun to ride an elephant in Bali. It's been years of pain for these animals so tourists will pay to ride them for a while. If you can get close to wild animals, then nature is not respected there. Animals should stay wild!

Please, Bali has a lot to offer. Adding an activity with tamed wild animals to your list of things to do in Bali won't make it stand out.