Bali packs an entire cosmology into 5,780 square kilometres: sea temples that have ridden the waves since the 1500s, clifftop shrines where the sunset Kecak fire dance rages against the Indian Ocean, the UNESCO-listed rice terraces of Tegallalang and Jatiluwih still farmed by the thousand-year-old subak system, and an active volcano to climb before dawn. Here are the 20 attractions worth building your trip around, with prices, opening hours and insider tips.
$6Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest
Area
Ubud
Category
Temple / Nature Park
“Keep your sunglasses in your pocket and hide any plastic bags — the macaques are expert pickpockets who'll grab glasses, hats and water bottles in a flash. Don't feed them; it's forbidden and dangerous.”
$4Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Area
Tegallalang (15 min N of Ubud)
Category
Rice Terrace
“Bali Swings and photo spots cost around $17 extra — arrive at 06:30 and you'll have the terraces almost to yourself before the tour buses roll in at 09:00. Local farmers may ask for a small tip if you hike deeper into the valley, so keep small notes handy.”
$5Tanah Lot
Area
Tabanan
Category
Sea Temple
“At low tide you can walk out to the rock and receive a blessing of holy water from the priests — check the tide table before you go. The sunset queue between 17:30 and 18:30 is intense; come at 16:30 or visit at lunchtime for a calmer experience.”
$7Uluwatu Temple + Kecak Fire Dance
Area
Bukit Peninsula
Category
Clifftop Temple
“The 6pm Kecak fire dance (50 minutes before sunset) costs about $10 extra and is worth every rupiah — arrive at 17:00 for a good seat in the clifftop amphitheatre. The macaques here are notoriously aggressive and steal glasses, hats and flip-flops; take your sunglasses off at the entrance.”
$6Tirta Empul Holy Springs
Area
Tampaksiring
Category
Water Temple
“To take part in the melukat purification ritual you'll need a sarong (hired for about $1), a local guide who shows the correct order of the 23 fountains, and respect for Balinese Hindu tradition. Two fountains are reserved for death rituals — don't step under them. Come before 08:00 for the fewest people.”
$10Pura Besakih (Mother Temple)
Area
Karangasem
Category
Temple Complex
“Hire an official guide at the entrance (about $13) — the complex of 23 separate temples is enormous, and the guide explains the hierarchy and which parts are open to non-Hindus. Dress modestly; a sarong and sash are compulsory. Ignore scammers outside who claim a guide is required before you buy your ticket.”
$4Pura Luhur Batukaru
Area
Tabanan (north)
Category
Forest Temple
“A rental car or driver is the only sensible way here (1.5 h from Ubud, 2 h from Seminyak) — there's no public transport. Bring an umbrella, as it rains often even in the dry season.”
$9GWK Cultural Park
Area
Bukit Peninsula
Category
Cultural Park
“The performance schedule is on the park's website — plan your visit around the 18:30 Kecak for a dramatic sunset effect against the statue.”
$40–55Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
Area
Kintamani
Category
Volcano Hike
“Book the guide through your hotel (compulsory — solo hiking is banned by local village councils), meet at 03:00 from Ubud, and bring a head torch, a fleece (it's 12°C at the summit) and hiking shoes — sandals don't work on the volcanic scree. The summit breakfast includes eggs steamed over hot vents.”
FreeCampuhan Ridge Walk
Area
Ubud
Category
Walk / Rice Fields
“Come at 06:30 for cool weather and the best morning light — the walk is 2 km one way with no shade and becomes unbearable after 10:00. Stop at Karsa Café at the far end for a fresh juice or breakfast before heading back.”
$2Munduk Waterfalls
Area
Munduk (North Bali)
Category
Waterfalls
“Banyumala is easy to reach (15-minute trek), while Sekumpul needs a guide and four hours — pick according to your fitness. Trails are slippery in the wet season, so sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.”
FreeSidemen Valley
Area
Sidemen (east)
Category
Valley / Village
“Stay overnight rather than day-tripping — the rice terraces at 06:30 in the morning light are the real experience, not the middle of the day. A rental car or driver at about $40/day is the easiest way to explore.”
FreeSeminyak Beach
Area
Seminyak
Category
Beach / District
“Potato Head Beach Club and Ku De Ta are the classic sunset bars — no entry fee, but a sun bed needs a minimum spend of around $32 in drinks. Arrive at 16:00 to secure a spot. The surf is dangerous for swimming; stick to the pool instead.”
FreeKuta
Area
Kuta
Category
Surf Beach
“Kuta is Bali's beginner surf mecca — the waves are even, the sandy bottom forgiving, and local surf schools offer lessons from around $23 for two hours. The 2002 memorial on Jalan Legian is a quiet, moving place worth 15 minutes of reflection.”
$13Amed Snorkeling
Area
Amed (NE)
Category
Snorkeling
“The USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben (15 min north of Amed) is one of the world's most accessible wreck dives — 120 m long, 5–30 m deep and teeming with tropical fish. It's superb even for snorkellers who don't dive.”
$4Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Area
Tabanan (north)
Category
Rice Terrace / UNESCO
“UNESCO-protected terraces on a far bigger scale than Tegallalang and without the tour buses — marked walking trails (45 min, 1.5 h, 2.5 h) wind through the living subak system. A car or driver is the only way here.”
$13Nusa Penida Day Trip
Area
Nusa Penida (1 h boat)
Category
Island / Cliffs
“The fast boat from Sanur takes 45 minutes (~$13 one way) — the island is big, so book a scooter or driver (~$32/day) on arrival to fit in Kelingking, Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach. Seasickness is common; take a tablet 30 minutes before boarding.”
$33Bali Safari & Marine Park
Area
Gianyar
Category
Wildlife Park
“Komodo dragons, Sumatran tigers and elephants in savannah-like enclosures — combine it with the evening Bali Agung Show (a separate ticket, about $23). Several ticket packages include transport from Ubud, Seminyak or Kuta.”
$36Waterbom Bali
Area
Kuta
Category
Water Park
“Buy tickets online at baliwaterbom.com for 10% off. Arrive at the 09:00 opening to fit everything in before fatigue and queues build in the afternoon.”
$23–33Ubud Cooking Class
Area
Ubud
Category
Cooking Class
“Most classes include a morning visit to Ubud's traditional market (Pasar Ubud, 06:00–09:00), hotel pickup and 5–6 dishes. Vegetarian versions are available, and the classrooms are often set in rice fields outside Ubud — a beautiful backdrop.”
Bali attractions in detail
1.Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest
Mandala Suci Wenara Wana — the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary — is 12.5 hectares of temple forest in the middle of Ubud where more than 1,200 long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) live freely among banyan trees, moss-covered stone figures and three temples dating to the 14th century. It remains an active Hindu reserve managed by the village council of Padangtegal: Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal is the temple of death, Pura Beji the holy bathing temple, and Pura Prajapati the cremation-ceremony temple. Walking through the forest is a sensory experience — roots coiling like anacondas over statues of Hanuman, macaques leaping along railings and paths that wind down the slopes toward the Wos River. Allow 60 to 90 minutes; the entrance sits at the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest. It's genuinely magical, but the monkeys are notorious thieves, so keep sunglasses, hats and loose bags secured, never feed them, and don't make direct eye contact with the larger dominant males.
Hours
Daily 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:00
Price
80,000 IDR (~$6) adult, 60,000 IDR child
Getting there
Southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest, walkable in central Ubud
Insider tip: Keep your sunglasses in your pocket and hide any plastic bags — the macaques are expert pickpockets who'll grab glasses, hats and water bottles in a flash. Don't feed them; it's forbidden and dangerous.
2.Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Tegallalang lies 15 minutes north of Ubud and is Bali's most photographed rice terrace — a steep valley where paddies fed by the thousand-year-old subak irrigation system curve into concentric green staircases. Subak — Bali's collective, religiously governed water system in which every farmer receives an allocation through ritual consensus — was listed by UNESCO as World Heritage in 2012. At the main entrance you'll find swing attractions, photo nests (the bird's nest, rainbow umbrellas) and coffee-and-cacao tastings featuring Luwak coffee from local growers. Walking paths lead straight down into the valley, across thin bamboo ladders and past small shrines — allow one to two hours for a thorough wander, and carry water. Between 11am and 2pm the sun is brutal and shadeless; the softest light comes at 06:30 or after 16:00, which is also when the crowds thin out. It's touristy at the entrance but genuinely beautiful the moment you walk in among the paddies.
Hours
Best 06:30–09:00 or after 16:00
Price
50,000 IDR (~$4) donation at the main entrance
Getting there
15 minutes north of Ubud by scooter, taxi or driver
Insider tip: Bali Swings and photo spots cost around $17 extra — arrive at 06:30 and you'll have the terraces almost to yourself before the tour buses roll in at 09:00. Local farmers may ask for a small tip if you hike deeper into the valley, so keep small notes handy.
3.Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot — 'land in the sea' — is Bali's most iconic sea temple, built on a rock formation by Dang Hyang Nirartha in the 16th century. The Javanese priest who spread Shaivite Hinduism across Bali is said to have spotted the rock from the mainland, walked out at low tide and meditated there overnight; he asked local fishermen to build a temple to the sea gods and blessed the spot with sea snakes that are still believed to guard the rock. The temple itself is off-limits to non-Hindus, but the whole formation — its black cliffs, the waves crashing at its base and the sunset silhouette — is Bali's most photographed sight. On the neighbouring cliff stands a smaller temple, Pura Batu Bolong, perched on a rock with a natural arch worn through by the sea. Dress codes are strict; a sarong and sash are required and can be hired at the entrance. Come well before the crowds for the calmest experience, then stay for the golden hour.
Hours
Daily ~07:00–19:00; best near sunset
Price
60,000 IDR (~$5) including donation
Getting there
Tabanan regency, about 45 min by car from Seminyak
Insider tip: At low tide you can walk out to the rock and receive a blessing of holy water from the priests — check the tide table before you go. The sunset queue between 17:30 and 18:30 is intense; come at 16:30 or visit at lunchtime for a calmer experience.
4.Uluwatu Temple + Kecak Fire Dance
Pura Luhur Uluwatu — 'the magnificent head temple' — stands on the southern tip of the Bukit Peninsula, 70 metres above the Indian Ocean where the waves hammer vertical cliffs. One of Bali's nine directional sad kahyangan temples that protect the island from spiritual threats, it was built in the 11th century by the priest Empu Kuturan and later expanded by Dang Hyang Nirartha — the same figure behind Tanah Lot — who, according to legend, attained moksha, or spiritual liberation, on exactly this clifftop. The 6pm Kecak fire dance in the amphitheatre is the island's most dramatic cultural experience: 50 to 70 men in checkerboard sarongs sit in concentric circles chanting 'chak-chak-chak' while dancers perform the Ramayana epic — Hanuman's rescue of Sita from the demon king Ravana — climaxing in a fire dance where a performer walks through burning coconut husks. Allow two hours including the show, and guard your belongings from the temple's famously light-fingered monkeys.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–19:00; Kecak dance 18:00
Price
100,000 IDR (~$7) temple; Kecak +150,000 IDR (~$10)
Getting there
Southern tip of the Bukit Peninsula, ~1 h from Kuta
Insider tip: The 6pm Kecak fire dance (50 minutes before sunset) costs about $10 extra and is worth every rupiah — arrive at 17:00 for a good seat in the clifftop amphitheatre. The macaques here are notoriously aggressive and steal glasses, hats and flip-flops; take your sunglasses off at the entrance.
5.Tirta Empul Holy Springs
Pura Tirta Empul — 'the holy water temple' — was built in 962 AD around a sacred spring that, according to legend, was created by the god Indra to revive his army after a battle against the evil king Mayadenawa. Today the temple is the centre of melukat, the Balinese purification ritual, in which Hindu worshippers (and increasingly visitors) dress in a sarong, wade into the two rectangular pools and hold their heads under each of the 23 fountains in a precise order, right to left, to wash away negative energy and emerge cleansed. Two of the fountains are reserved for cremation rituals and must not be entered by the living. On the slope above the temple stands President Sukarno's former luxury villa, Istana Tampaksiring — now a state guest house and closed to the public. Allow one and a half to two hours including the ritual, arrive early to beat the tour groups, and treat the ceremony with the reverence local worshippers do.
Hours
Daily ~08:00–17:00; earliest is quietest
Price
75,000 IDR (~$6) including sarong hire
Getting there
Tampaksiring, about 40 min northeast of Ubud
Insider tip: To take part in the melukat purification ritual you'll need a sarong (hired for about $1), a local guide who shows the correct order of the 23 fountains, and respect for Balinese Hindu tradition. Two fountains are reserved for death rituals — don't step under them. Come before 08:00 for the fewest people.
6.Pura Besakih (Mother Temple)
Pura Besakih is Bali's 'Mother Temple' — the holiest and oldest temple on the island, built on the slope of Mount Agung at 950 metres. The complex is made up of 23 separate temples arranged across six terraced levels, with Pura Penataran Agung as the central sanctuary. Its origins reach back to pre-Hindu times, perhaps 1000 BC, as a site of ancestral worship, but the present Hindu structure was shaped in the 14th century by the Majapahit empire. The most dramatic proof of the temple's power came in 1963 when Mount Agung erupted and lava flows passed within metres of the main temple's walls without harming it — for the Balinese, a divine sign. The complex is very much alive: daily offerings, weekly ceremonies and the great odalan festivals run year-round, and photography is forbidden during active rituals. Allow two to three hours, and note the transport from Ubud takes around 90 minutes each way through beautiful eastern highland scenery.
Hours
Daily ~08:00–17:00; avoid ceremony closures
Price
150,000 IDR (~$10) including shuttle and guide
Getting there
Karangasem, about 1.5 h from Ubud by car
Insider tip: Hire an official guide at the entrance (about $13) — the complex of 23 separate temples is enormous, and the guide explains the hierarchy and which parts are open to non-Hindus. Dress modestly; a sarong and sash are compulsory. Ignore scammers outside who claim a guide is required before you buy your ticket.
7.Pura Luhur Batukaru
Pura Luhur Batukaru is one of Bali's nine directional sad kahyangan temples — and the only one set in dense rainforest, on the slope of Mount Batukaru (2,276 metres), the island's second-highest volcano. Dedicated to Mahadewa, god of the western direction, it is very rarely visited by tourists thanks to its secluded position in northern Tabanan. The atmosphere is on another level entirely from Besakih or Uluwatu: mist rolling between fig trees, birdsong, no vendors, no tour buses — just a handful of worshippers at prayer. The temple has a distinctive three-tiered meru shrine clad in black palm fibre. Because it sits at altitude in a cloud forest, expect it to be cool and often damp, with sudden showers even during the dry season, so bring a light waterproof and sturdy shoes. It pairs beautifully with the Jatiluwih rice terraces in the same region, making an atmospheric, crowd-free day out for travellers who want to see a side of spiritual Bali that most visitors miss entirely.
Hours
Daily ~08:00–17:00
Price
50,000 IDR (~$4) including sarong hire
Getting there
Northern Tabanan; car or driver only, ~1.5 h from Ubud
Insider tip: A rental car or driver is the only sensible way here (1.5 h from Ubud, 2 h from Seminyak) — there's no public transport. Bring an umbrella, as it rains often even in the dry season.
8.GWK Cultural Park
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park on the Bukit Peninsula is home to one of the world's tallest statues: a 121-metre copper-and-brass figure of the god Vishnu riding the eagle Garuda, completed in 2018 after 28 years of construction by the sculptor Nyoman Nuarta. The statue dominates southern Bali's skyline and is visible from the airport. The 60-hectare park also holds the Lotus Pond amphitheatre, where daily performances of Kecak, Barong and Joged dance are staged (included in the ticket), Plaza Wisnu with its 22-metre Vishnu statue, and a viewing terrace with panoramas over Jimbaran Bay. It's a slightly touristy but genuinely impressive half-day, especially with children, who tend to be wowed by the sheer scale of the monument and enjoy the cultural shows. The park is easy to combine with Uluwatu Temple and the Bukit's clifftop beaches, and its proximity to the airport makes it a good first or last stop on a Bali itinerary if you have a few hours to spare.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–21:00; shows throughout the day
Price
125,000 IDR (~$9) adult
Getting there
Bukit Peninsula, ~30 min from the airport
Insider tip: The performance schedule is on the park's website — plan your visit around the 18:30 Kecak for a dramatic sunset effect against the statue.
9.Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
Gunung Batur is an active 1,717-metre stratovolcano in northern Bali, and the sunrise trek is the island's most classic adventure. You're collected from your hotel at 02:00–03:00, driven 1.5 to 2 hours to the base at the village of Toya Bungkah, and start climbing at 04:00 in pitch darkness with a head torch. The trail isn't technical but it's steep, and volcanic scree slides underfoot; allow two to two and a half hours to the top. From the 1,717-metre summit the view opens over the whole Batur caldera, the crater lake, Mount Abang in the distance and — on a clear day — Mount Agung and Mount Rinjani on neighbouring Lombok. Sunrise breaks around 06:10–06:30. Your guide's gas canister warms coffee and boils eggs in the natural steam vents. The descent takes about 90 minutes and you're back at your hotel by 11:00. No more fitness is required than that of a steady city walker, though warm layers and proper shoes make all the difference in the pre-dawn chill.
Hours
Pickup 02:00–03:00; back by ~11:00
Price
600,000–800,000 IDR (~$40–55) with guide, transport & breakfast
Getting there
Kintamani; hotel pickup and 1.5–2 h transfer included
Insider tip: Book the guide through your hotel (compulsory — solo hiking is banned by local village councils), meet at 03:00 from Ubud, and bring a head torch, a fleece (it's 12°C at the summit) and hiking shoes — sandals don't work on the volcanic scree. The summit breakfast includes eggs steamed over hot vents.
10.Campuhan Ridge Walk
The Campuhan Ridge Walk is Ubud's best free excursion — a two-kilometre gravel-and-concrete path along a grassy ridge between two rivers, with rice fields to the left, rubber trees to the right and views toward Mount Agung in the distance. The trail begins behind Pura Gunung Lebah temple, where the Wos and Cerik rivers meet, and continues due north through farmland that has changed little in a hundred years. It isn't a challenging hike — just steady, gently rising ground with gradually unfolding views — but in the tropical heat it still takes its toll. The sun is merciless after 09:00, and tropical downpours can strike suddenly in the wet season (November–March), turning the path muddy and slippery. At the far end lies the village of Bangkiang Sidem with a few cafés and an art gallery before you turn back the same way. Allow about an hour and a half, bring water, and go at dawn both to beat the heat and to catch the paddies glowing in the soft early light.
Hours
Always open; best at dawn
Price
Free
Getting there
Trailhead behind Pura Gunung Lebah temple, central Ubud
Insider tip: Come at 06:30 for cool weather and the best morning light — the walk is 2 km one way with no shade and becomes unbearable after 10:00. Stop at Karsa Café at the far end for a fresh juice or breakfast before heading back.
11.Munduk Waterfalls
North-central Bali — around the mountain village of Munduk at 800 metres — is the island's waterfall region. Banyumala twin falls is the most photogenic: two parallel cascades tumbling into a turquoise pool you can swim in, reached by a 15-minute downhill trek from the car park. Sekumpul, often called 'Bali's most beautiful waterfall', requires a local guide and a four-hour trek through jungle, passing seven separate falls along the way. The area is also coffee country; local farmers run small tasting huts offering Luwak coffee, cacao and spices. The climate up here is 5–8°C cooler than Ubud — a perfect break from the tropical heat of the coast — and the drive itself, winding past twin crater lakes and terraced hillsides, is a highlight. Choose your falls according to fitness and time: Banyumala for a quick, rewarding dip, Sekumpul for a proper half-day adventure. Wear grippy shoes, as the trails get slick, especially during the November-to-March wet season, and set off early to enjoy the cool of the morning.
Hours
Daily daylight hours
Price
Banyumala 30,000 IDR (~$2); Sekumpul 125,000 IDR (~$8) with guide
Getting there
Around Munduk, ~2 h north of Ubud by car
Insider tip: Banyumala is easy to reach (15-minute trek), while Sekumpul needs a guide and four hours — pick according to your fitness. Trails are slippery in the wet season, so sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
12.Sidemen Valley
The Sidemen Valley in eastern Bali — between Klungkung and Karangasem — is what Ubud was 20 years ago: unspoilt rice terraces, small villages with a traditional weaving culture (songket fabrics threaded with gold), zero tour-bus traffic, and an ever-present view of the 3,031-metre Mount Agung dominating the horizon. Here you stay at small eco-resorts with private rice-field pavilions (Wapa di Ume, Samanvaya) and hire a scooter to explore village lanes, cacao plantations and little shrines. It's ideal for two or three nights in the middle of a Bali tour, best combined with the Tirta Gangga water palace 30 minutes away. The pleasure of Sidemen isn't a single ticketed sight but the slow rhythm of rural life — farmers working the paddies, weavers at their looms, the volcano changing colour through the day. Come to switch off, walk the terraces at dawn, and experience the gentle, authentic Bali that the crowds have yet to discover. A driver for the day makes reaching and touring the valley effortless.
Hours
Always open
Price
Free (eco-resorts ~$50–160/night)
Getting there
Eastern Bali between Klungkung and Karangasem, ~1.5 h from Ubud
Insider tip: Stay overnight rather than day-tripping — the rice terraces at 06:30 in the morning light are the real experience, not the middle of the day. A rental car or driver at about $40/day is the easiest way to explore.
13.Seminyak Beach
Seminyak is Bali's upscale quarter — around 25 minutes north of the airport and worlds away from Kuta's backpacker spirit. Here you'll find designer boutiques along Jalan Kayu Aya and Jalan Petitenget, some of Bali's best fine-dining restaurants (Sarong, Mama San, Métis, Sangsaka), and a solid line of beach clubs where the whole world gathers at sunset. Potato Head Beach Club is the icon — a circular structure built from 6,600 recycled window shutters salvaged from traditional Javanese houses, wrapped around an infinity pool that seems to flow out toward the ocean. Neighbouring Ku De Ta runs Bali's longest sushi bar with the sunset as backdrop. The beach itself is five kilometres long and perfect for walking, but the surf is powerful with strong rip currents; only swim where lifeguards patrol (Petitenget Beach, just south of Potato Head). Seminyak makes an ideal two- or three-night luxury base before or after Ubud, combining stylish shopping, excellent food and that golden-hour beach-club scene.
Hours
Beach always open; clubs from ~10:00
Price
Beach free; beach-club minimum spend ~$32
Getting there
About 25 min north of the airport
Insider tip: Potato Head Beach Club and Ku De Ta are the classic sunset bars — no entry fee, but a sun bed needs a minimum spend of around $32 in drinks. Arrive at 16:00 to secure a spot. The surf is dangerous for swimming; stick to the pool instead.
14.Kuta
Kuta was Bali's first tourist beach — where Australian surfers discovered in the 1970s that the waves were perfect for beginners, and where backpackers began building a culture of cheap warungs, surf shops and nightclubs. Today Kuta is the island's most densely packed and most contested tourist destination: a 2.5-kilometre beach with even waves, ringed by chain stores (Hard Rock Café, Beachwalk Mall), karaoke bars and the never-sleeping Jalan Legian. If you're on Bali for party atmosphere, surf lessons and souvenir T-shirts, Kuta is perfect; if you're after spirituality, head straight to Ubud. On 12 October 2002, two bombs detonated outside the Sari Club and Paddy's Bar on Jalan Legian, killing 202 people from 23 countries. The Bali Bombing Memorial at the site is a quiet, important reminder and well worth pausing at. Love it or loathe it, Kuta remains a rite of passage — the gateway beach where budget travellers still learn to surf and southern Bali's tourism story began.
Hours
Beach always open
Price
Free; surf lesson ~$23 / 2 h
Getting there
Kuta, right by the airport
Insider tip: Kuta is Bali's beginner surf mecca — the waves are even, the sandy bottom forgiving, and local surf schools offer lessons from around $23 for two hours. The 2002 memorial on Jalan Legian is a quiet, moving place worth 15 minutes of reflection.
15.Amed Snorkeling
Amed is a string of seven small fishing villages along Bali's northeast coast — the opposite of Seminyak and Kuta in pace. Black volcanic sand, traditional jukung outrigger boats and a coral reef that starts just five metres from the shoreline make Amed the island's best snorkelling base. The USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben, 15 minutes north of Amed, is one of the world's most accessible wreck dives: a 120-metre American cargo ship torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942, which drifted ashore and settled at 5–30 metres deep when Mount Agung's 1963 eruption nudged it back into the sea. Today it's blanketed in coral and swarming with tropical fish, and shallow enough that even snorkellers can float above it. Accommodation is simple but charming, and the slow, unhurried rhythm makes Amed perfect for two or three nights between temple tours and rice-terrace walks. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, rent gear on the beach, and go early when the water is clearest and calmest for the best underwater visibility.
Hours
Daily daylight hours
Price
Snorkel gear ~50,000 IDR/day (~$3); Tulamben dives from ~$55
Getting there
Amed, northeast coast, ~2.5–3 h from the south
Insider tip: The USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben (15 min north of Amed) is one of the world's most accessible wreck dives — 120 m long, 5–30 m deep and teeming with tropical fish. It's superb even for snorkellers who don't dive.
16.Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Jatiluwih, in the northern Tabanan region, is Bali's largest and most spectacular rice-terrace area — 600 hectares of terraced hillside at 700 metres, listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2012 alongside Tegallalang and the other subak systems. Unlike Tegallalang, Jatiluwih is undisturbed by tourist infrastructure: no swings, no photo nests, just living rice cultivation with farmers ploughing behind water buffalo and sharing water through the thousand-year-old subak system. Three marked walking trails — 45 minutes, 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours — wind through the terraces. The altitude brings a cooler climate (24–26°C) than the coastal resorts, making the walks genuinely pleasant. It pairs naturally with Pura Luhur Batukaru in the same region for a full day in Bali's serene, crowd-free interior. Because there's no public transport, you'll need a rental car or driver, but the reward is one of the most breathtaking and authentic agricultural landscapes in Southeast Asia — vast, green and almost entirely yours to walk in peace.
Hours
Daily ~08:00–18:00
Price
50,000 IDR (~$4) including parking
Getting there
Northern Tabanan; car or driver only
Insider tip: UNESCO-protected terraces on a far bigger scale than Tegallalang and without the tour buses — marked walking trails (45 min, 1.5 h, 2.5 h) wind through the living subak system. A car or driver is the only way here.
17.Nusa Penida Day Trip
Nusa Penida is the largest of three islands off Bali's southeast coast — a dry, limestone island that is geologically and culturally distinct from Bali itself. Kelingking Beach is the island's Instagram icon: a cliff formation shaped like a T-Rex skull facing the sea, with a turquoise cove 200 metres below. The climb down is steep, slippery and takes 45 minutes — many people simply admire it from the viewpoint. Angel's Billabong is a natural rock pool with crystal-clear water (safe only at low tide, as waves can surge in without warning), and Broken Beach is a circular cliff formation where the sea has eroded a natural archway. Manta Bay in the northwest is one of the world's best places to snorkel with giant manta rays (wingspans up to seven metres); tours cost around $50 and cover three snorkel stops. A full day trip from Bali is hectic but doable, though an overnight stay is recommended to see the island at a saner pace and beat the day-tripper crowds to the famous viewpoints.
Hours
Boats from Sanur throughout the day
Price
Fast boat ~200,000 IDR (~$13) one way; island transport ~$32/day
Getting there
45-min fast boat from Sanur
Insider tip: The fast boat from Sanur takes 45 minutes (~$13 one way) — the island is big, so book a scooter or driver (~$32/day) on arrival to fit in Kelingking, Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach. Seasickness is common; take a tablet 30 minutes before boarding.
18.Bali Safari & Marine Park
Bali Safari & Marine Park in Gianyar (40 minutes from Ubud) is the island's largest animal park, with over 60 species — many from the Indonesian archipelago's unique fauna: Komodo dragons from Komodo Island, critically endangered Sumatran tigers, babirusa wild pigs from Sulawesi, jaguars, lions, elephants and water buffalo. The park is divided into Africa, India and Indonesia zones, explored aboard a glass-walled safari bus that drives through savannah-like enclosures. Add-on attractions include the Bali Agung Show (a 40-minute cultural theatre performance with over 150 dancers and animals), wetland elephant rides (controversial — some visitors choose to skip these) and the Fun Zone water park. It's a strong option with children aged four and up who tire of temples; allow five to six hours for a full day. Several ticket tiers bundle in hotel transfers from the main resort areas, and the more expensive packages add animal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences, making it an easy, all-in-one family day out.
Hours
Daily ~09:00–17:00
Price
500,000 IDR (~$33) Jungle Hopper; 950,000 IDR Wildlife Explorer
Getting there
Gianyar, ~40 min from Ubud
Insider tip: Komodo dragons, Sumatran tigers and elephants in savannah-like enclosures — combine it with the evening Bali Agung Show (a separate ticket, about $23). Several ticket packages include transport from Ubud, Seminyak or Kuta.
19.Waterbom Bali
Waterbom Bali in Kuta is consistently ranked Asia's best water park by TripAdvisor — and deservedly so. Across 3.8 hectares of tropical garden (50,000 plants of 700 different species) sit 22 rides including Climax (a capsule slide where the trapdoor drops open beneath your feet and you free-fall for two seconds before the water catches you), Smashdown (a parallel racing slide), a 250-metre Lazy River and a dedicated kids' zone for ages 3–10. Cafés, restaurants and a poolside bar make it a full day out — and the queues are well managed even in high season. It's the perfect counterpoint to a run of temples if the children are flagging, and adults enjoy the bigger slides just as much. Buy your tickets online for a discount, arrive right at opening to ride everything before the afternoon crowds, and note that lockers, tubes and towels are available to rent, so you can travel light and spend the whole day splashing about.
Hours
Daily 09:00–18:00
Price
535,000 IDR (~$36) adult, 385,000 IDR child under 12
Getting there
Central Kuta, walkable from many hotels
Insider tip: Buy tickets online at baliwaterbom.com for 10% off. Arrive at the 09:00 opening to fit everything in before fatigue and queues build in the afternoon.
20.Ubud Cooking Class
A cooking class in Ubud is the island's best cultural investment — four to six hours in which you first visit the traditional Pasar Ubud market (your teacher explaining every vegetable, spice and fruit), then head to the classroom (usually an open pavilion in the rice fields 15 minutes outside town) and finally cook five or six traditional Balinese dishes. You always start with basa genep — the Balinese base paste of 13 spices (galangal, turmeric, ginger, shallot, garlic, coriander, pepper, salam leaf, lemongrass, candlenut, terasi shrimp paste, chilli and salt) that is the foundation of all Balinese cooking. From there you move on to sate lilit (spiced minced fish on lemongrass skewers), lawar (spiced vegetable salad with coconut), nasi kuning (yellow rice) and black-rice pudding with coconut cream for dessert. Casa Luna and Paon Bali are the two best-rated schools; both devote about 90 minutes to ingredient knowledge and culture, not just the stove. Expect to book about a week ahead, as the best classes fill up fast.
Hours
Morning classes, ~4–6 h
Price
350,000–500,000 IDR (~$23–33) per person
Getting there
Various schools around Ubud; hotel pickup usually included
Insider tip: Most classes include a morning visit to Ubud's traditional market (Pasar Ubud, 06:00–09:00), hotel pickup and 5–6 dishes. Vegetarian versions are available, and the classrooms are often set in rice fields outside Ubud — a beautiful backdrop.