Pecatu, Bukit peninsula (south)
Uluwatu Temple & the sunset Kecak
A clifftop sea temple perched ~70m above the ocean, with a daily sunset Kecak fire dance in the open-air amphitheatre next door.
Best things to do in Bali
Bali's sights are spread across the island, so the smart move is to plan around your base rather than chase everything. Here are the icons worth building a day around — temples, a volcano sunrise, waterfalls and the Nusa Penida cliffs — and then what to do in each area you might stay in.
Choose visually first
Pick the kind of Bali day before reading the list
Temples, nature and culture sit in different parts of Bali. Start with the day shape, then open the detailed sights only if that direction fits your base.
6 ideas
Temples & sacred sites
Sea temples, lake temples and holy springs — bring a sarong; most provide one.
Choose a temple day →
6 ideas
Nature, viewpoints & treks
Volcano sunrises, rice terraces, waterfalls and the Nusa Penida cliffs.
Choose a nature day →
2 ideas
Culture & experiences
Evening dance and coffee agrotourism — easy to slot into any base.
Choose a culture evening →Temples & sacred sites
Sea temples, lake temples and holy springs — bring a sarong; most provide one.
Beraban, Tabanan (west coast)
Tanah Lot
Bali's most photographed sea temple, set on an offshore rock and framed by the sunset.
Bedugul highlands, Tabanan
Ulun Danu Beratan
The lake temple whose shrines appear to float on Lake Beratan when the water is high — the scene on the 50,000-rupiah note.
Tampaksiring, ~40 min north of Ubud
Tirta Empul holy spring
A temple built around a sacred spring where Balinese Hindus — and visitors — perform melukat, a purification ritual moving spout to spout through the bathing pool.
Rendang, Karangasem (Mount Agung, east)
Besakih, the Mother Temple
Bali's largest and holiest temple complex, on the slopes of Mount Agung.
Abang, Karangasem (east)
Lempuyang — the Gates of Heaven
An active clifftop temple famous for the split-gate photo with the mountain behind.
Nature, viewpoints & treks
Volcano sunrises, rice terraces, waterfalls and the Nusa Penida cliffs.
Kintamani, Bangli (central highlands)
Mount Batur sunrise trek
The classic pre-dawn hike up an active volcano (1,717m) to watch sunrise over the caldera and Lake Batur — about two hours up, starting around 3.30–4am.
~20 min north of Ubud
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
A steep, sculpted valley of terraced paddies watered by Bali's traditional subak cooperative irrigation, with paid jungle swings on site.
Around Ubud & the north
Chase a waterfall
Tegenungan (near Ubud) is the easy one — big falls, steps down, minimal effort.
Island off the south-east, fast boat from Sanur
Nusa Penida day trip
A 30–45 minute fast boat from Sanur reaches the island of Kelingking's T-Rex cliff, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong (only safe at low tide — never swim on a rising tide) and Crystal Bay.
Pancasari, Bedugul (north)
Handara Gate
A free-standing Balinese split gate framing forested crater hills — a pure photo stop rather than a temple, at the entrance to the Handara golf resort.
Karangasem (east Bali)
Sidemen Valley
A quiet rural valley of rice terraces, rivers and weaving villages under Mount Agung — the slower, less-developed alternative to Ubud.
Culture & experiences
Evening dance and coffee agrotourism — easy to slot into any base.
Ubud, Uluwatu & Nusa Dua
A traditional dance performance
Kecak, Legong and Barong are a standard evening out: Ubud Palace stages a different nightly dance around 7.30pm, Uluwatu runs the sunset Kecak, and GWK includes daytime dances and an evening Kecak.
Ubud & Kintamani belt
A coffee plantation tour
A common half-day: a plantation tour with free tastings of Balinese coffees and teas, with kopi luwak (civet coffee) sold as the premium pour.
Things to do by area
Wherever you base, there's a day or two of things to do on the doorstep. Pick your area:
Things to do in Ubud
Rice terraces, the ridge walk, temples and the Monkey Forest.
Open area →Uluwatu & the Bukit
Clifftop temples, the sunset Kecak and world-class surf.
Open area →
Things to do in Jimbaran
The fish market, Tegal Wangi tide pools and GWK.
Open area →
Things to do in Nusa Dua
The promenade, Water Blow and Tanjung Benoa watersports.
Open area →
Things to do in Sanur
Sunrise walks, the beach path and the Nusa fast boats.
Open area →
Things to do in Canggu
Surf, café mornings, beach clubs and sunset.
Open area →Practical notes (read before you plan)
- Plan around your base.The icons are scattered — temples in the east, Batur and terraces in the highlands, Nusa Penida off the south-east. Cluster them by direction so you're not crossing the island twice.
- Some sights now require a guide. Besakih, the Mount Batur sunrise trek and Sekumpul waterfall all use a mandatory local guide — factor it into time and cost.
- Carry a sarong and cash. Temples need a sarong (most provide one) and charge small cash entry fees in rupiah. Bali also has a one-time foreign-tourist levy — pay it via the official Love Bali site and check current amounts.
- Time the tides and the light.Tanah Lot's rock base and Nusa Penida's Angel's Billabong are low-tide only; temples and terraces are best early, before the heat and the crowds.
Good to know
What are the must-see things to do in Bali?
The island icons are Uluwatu Temple and its sunset Kecak, Tanah Lot, the Tegallalang rice terraces, a Mount Batur sunrise trek, a waterfall like Tegenungan or Sekumpul, and a Nusa Penida day trip. Beyond those, each area has its own things to do — Ubud for culture and rice fields, the Bukit for cliffs and surf, Sanur and Nusa Dua for calm beaches.
How many days do you need to see the main sights?
Bali's icons are spread across the island, so plan around your base rather than trying to see everything. A week lets you pair one inland stay (Ubud, for temples, terraces and Batur) with one by the sea, and still fit a Nusa Penida day. See our how-many-days and itinerary guides.
Do I need to pay to visit Bali's temples and sights?
Most temples and sights charge a small cash entry fee in rupiah, and some — Besakih, Mount Batur and Sekumpul waterfall — now require a paid local guide. Bali also charges a one-time foreign-tourist levy you can pay online via the official Love Bali site; check current amounts before you go, as fees change.
What should I wear to Bali's temples?
A sarong and a covered top with shoulders covered. Most temples provide a sarong (and sash) free or for a small rental at the entrance, but carrying your own is easier. Purification sites like Tirta Empul have a separate wet sarong if you bathe.
Is the Gates of Heaven photo real?
The temple (Lempuyang) is real and active, but the mirror-lake 'reflection' is created with a small mirror held under a phone camera — there's no pool. Expect a long managed queue for the photo, so arrive at opening.