My husband and I visited Bali in October of 2018. A few of his co-workers joined us while we were there for about a week but we stayed for just shy of two weeks. We loved it here with the beaches and the good food and many, many things to explore. The food was yummy but I must say, it doesn’t beat out Thailand which has had my favorite food to date, (Italy is coming up next October… I have a feeling it might beat out Thailand).
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How Many Days in Bali to Spend by Location
This is similar to what we did on vacation but adjusted for places I felt needed more or less time. The locations and time spent in each location can of course be adjusted for your specific vacation and the total amount of time you have to spend in Bali.
Nusa Islands: 2-4 days
Canggu: 1-3 days
Ubud: 4-6 days
Amed: 2-3 days
Denpasar: 0-1 day
How Many Days in Bali: The Breakdown:
Our first stop was actually the Nusa Islands but those are in a separate post because this post was getting VERY long. I know not everyone will do the Nusa Islands so I thought that was a good splitting point.
So first things first I will go through the best things to do by location. Remember these are only the things that we did on our trip (the things that were my top priority) not a comprehensive list of everything there is to do in each location. If we ate somewhere we LOVED I include it otherwise I love just eating at places we find as we go, especially more authentic less “americanized” restaurants.
In the next Bali post it will be all about exactly what we did each day while we were there. I know it is helpful for me to see what others do on their vacations and how they group certain activities or sights that are close together. Happy vacation planning!!
Things to do in Canggu, Bali
Visit Echo Beach:
IDK about you but I’ve always wanted to see a black sand beach. Hawaii is famous for them but Bali has one too right here in Canggu. It was really fun to walk along the beach and take pictures. There are a TON of restaurants along the beach so it would be a great place for lunch or dinner on the water.
Surf at Neeyalan Beach:
Neeyalan Beach as well as many of the other beaches surrounding Canggu are known as great surfing beaches. Taking a surf lesson or even body surfing on the waves for hours is the perfect way to spend the day. I really regret not taking a surf lesson while I was here but I definitely got my fair share of waves in by wave jumping. And of course laying out on the beach is a must on vacation. There are lots of chairs for rent or you can just post up on a towel in the sand.
Day Trip to Uluwatu
This is an afternoon/day trip. We did it in an afternoon and unless there is more to do around the temple I don’t see why it would need more time. Go, walk around, and see the gorgeous sunset over the temple. And after all that make sure you watch the performance they put on at sunset. It costs a few bucks per person but its an awesome cultural experience!
Get a Massage:
This is pretty much a must in every city in Bali. For only $10 for an awesome feeling massage or $25 for a world class spa package you really can’t beat the prices. And after being battered by the waves all day your body will appreciate the love.
Eat at Cafe Organic or Cafe Mellow:
Both cafes are amazing! Cafe Organic is definitely a more western style with very hip foods like avocado toast, smoothie bowls and french toast (all of which I tried and they were amazing). Cafe Mellow is more indonesian style with delicious banana pancakes but they also have yummy smoothie bowls! Traveling in a group is great because you get to try more foods. 😉
Shopping at the Markets:
This is another one that applies to most cities, the Sunday/evening markets are THE BEST. Such a great place to find souvenirs and hand made goods from the locals. I could spend days in the markets, I love the offerings at the entrance of the market that are left by every shop owner. I think that is such an awesome gesture. Just remember to try and avoid stepping on them as this is very disrespectful.
Where to Stay in Canggu
Airbnb
We loved our Airbnb in Canggu. It was within 5-10 minutes walk to the beach and had great amenities. Couple of things though, it does not serve breakfast whereas most places in Bali do. So it is an added expense and something to think about. Secondly it is about a 10-15 minute walk into Canggu center with the shops and restaurants and of course they don’t have sidewalks so you’re basically walking on the road which isn’t very big to start with. I recommend renting a scooter if you’re going to be there for a few days. If you’ve never used Airbnb before here is a code for $55 off!
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Things to do in Ubud, Bali
Visit Monkey Temple:
Um hello, this is a must. The monkeys are so cute and fun. Bring hand sanitizer because they aren’t the most clean animals of all time but they are so fun to watch. They do try to steal EVERYTHING though and they do. NOT. like when you stop them. So keep everything put away or attached to you somehow. And remember they know how to work zippers lol.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
I highly recommend going at sunrise, there are significantly fewer people and it is so serene. We got up an hour before sunrise in order to get ready and be at the rice terraces just as the sun was rising over the hills. We spent such a long time wandering through the terraces. It goes on and on forever and even though it is all “the same” I never tired of seeing more. So many amazing opportunities for pictures as well. 100% a must in Bali.
Take a Cooking Class:
During your Balinese cooking class you will learn how to make several traditional food dishes using the same cooking methods as the locals.
Robin and I took our first cooking class in Thailand a little over a year ago and we had a ton of fun. It caught us off guard how much we liked it but we decided that it was worth it to take more.
Here in Bali was no exception! It was so fun and we learned a few new things about cooking. I recommend taking a cooking class wherever you’re traveling, especially if you love the food. They always give you the recipes to everything you make too so you can make the same foods back home which is an extra special touch.
Hike Mount Batur:
This does mean a VERY early morning (2 am) but watching the sunrise over the volcano is so stunning you won’t regret it. Most companies offer pick-up from Ubud and include breakfast with your guided hike. This way you don’t have to worry about arranging transportation or food which is nice.
The tour companies leave plenty of time so there is no rush to get to the top. The hike while steep is about a medium difficulty and being in shape is not a requirement (I was not in shape at the time so I know). Get your camera ready because the sunrise is dream worthy.
Don’t forget to leave time for a nap afterward though.
Book your Mount Batur hike now.
Visit the Ubud Art Market
The Ubud art market is a food market in the morning for locals and at about 10-11 turns into a bustling shopping center with anything your little tourist heart could desire. From clothing and accessories like sunglasses and purses to home goods like soap dispensers (funny story) to normal souvenirs like keychains and magnets you will fin it here plus so much more. Bring cash and get ready to spend more that you budgeted for!
Get a Massage, Again:
Duh. It feels so good and after all the sightseeing and hiking you’ve done, treat yo self!
Where to Stay in Ubud
This Airbnb was amazing. I can’t recommend it enough with a private pool, free breakfast, staff, and rides into Ubud center. We wanted for nothing, they even arranged laundry services for us. Check it out and here is $40 off your first Airbnb!
Must Do Activities in Amed, Bali
See Lempuyang Temple:
So this temple actually belongs to a temple complex spread over a couple miles. The temple pictured here is the first in the complex and as such became the most popular to visit and take pictures of. Pictured here are the gorgeous gates to the temple with a view of Mt. Agung. Kinda hard to beat that. The actual temple is a set of three stairways and is also very beautiful.
Just note the “water” effect is a mirror that a local hold while taking pictures for tips. Pretty cool right!! And very entrepreneurial of him! In reality there is a concrete floor there.
Tirta Ganga
Ahh! I think this might be one of my favorite places we visited in all of Bali. It was stunning!
Before you buy your tickets and enter the grounds buy some fish food. We didn’t buy any because I didn’t think we would want it. However, if you want the koi fish in your pictures you’ll need it. Plus it is actually really fun to feed the fish. Spend a little time here and just walk around. It is worth it.
Where to Stay in Amed
We found this cute hotel super last minute online. It was right on the beach and was individual bungalows! I wish I had taken a picture of them but trust me they’re cute. We met the owner and he was super nice, the staff is also very helpful. Although, we asked for massages and I’m fairly certain the kitchen staff were the ladies that gave us the massages after they got off work haha. Hey anything for extra money and I’m all for supporting the locals. It wasn’t the best massage I’ve ever had but it wasn’t the worst either.
Bali Lovin’
We had so much fun during our time in Bali, Indonesia. It is a beautiful country filled with friendly, courteous people. I definitely recommend going if you have the chance. Make sure you read the post all about the Nusa Islands! Thanks for reading and let me know in the comments or on Instagram what was the most helpful and if there’s anything else you want to know!
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