Bali
A sample 5-day Bali route
TWO bases: two nights in cultural Ubud, then a relaxed transfer to the south (via Tanah Lot) for the beaches and Uluwatu. One unhurried transfer day, luggage and check-in accounted for.
- Day 1Ubud — ridge walk, town & monkey forestUbud
- Day 2Ubud — rice terraces, holy water & waterfallUbud
- Day 3Transfer to the south via Tanah LotTabanan · Seminyak
- Day 4Uluwatu, the Bukit beaches & JimbaranUluwatu · Jimbaran
- Day 5South beaches & a spa farewellCanggu · Seminyak
This is one of several routes in the guide — change the length, budget and dates yourself in the workspace.
Where to eat in Bali
Every name links to a Google Maps search.
Spit-roasted spiced suckling pig with crackling, rice, lawar and sambal — Bali's most famous dish (e.g. the Ubud warungs)
Duck or chicken stuffed with 'base genep' spice paste, wrapped in leaves and slow-cooked until falling-apart tender
Sate lilit — minced fish/chicken with coconut and spices moulded onto lemongrass skewers and grilled
Rice with a spread of small Balinese dishes — sate lilit, lawar, fried chicken, tempeh, sambal — the everyday plate
Fresh fish, prawns, squid and lobster grilled over coconut husks, on tables in the sand at sunset
Nasi/mie goreng, gado-gado, soto, tempeh and tofu at a roadside warung — the cheapest, most local way to eat
When to go to Bali
Bali is tropical with a dry and a wet season. Treat this as general guidance and check a forecast (and any Nyepi date) close to your trip.
Dry season (best) May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Warm, sunny and less humid, ~26–31°C — the prime window, especially for the south and islands.
Ideal for everything. Do treks and the islands on calm, clear days; book popular villas and tours early.
Look out for: Calm seas for Nusa Penida, Clear Mount Batur sunrises, Best beach weather
Shoulder Apr, Oct
Warm and mostly dry with building humidity, ~27–32°C.
A sweet spot — front-load outdoor sights in the morning and keep a spa/indoor backup.
Look out for: Good weather, smaller crowds, Green landscapes
Wet season Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Hot and humid, ~26–32°C, with frequent afternoon/evening downpours (and rougher seas).
Plan outdoor sights for the morning; keep spa, art museums, cooking classes and beach clubs for the afternoon rain. Check the date of Nyepi — the entire island (incl. the airport) shuts for 24 hours.
Look out for: Lush, green rice terraces, Best villa value, Nyepi (Day of Silence, ~March)
What Bali costs
Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.
Budget
- Accommodation: Homestay, guesthouse or hostel in Ubud/Canggu (IDR 250,000–700,000).
- Meals: Warungs all the way — nasi campur, babi guling, sate lilit, fresh juices (IDR 25,000–70,000/meal).
- Transport: Grab/Gojek and the occasional shared driver; scooter if you ride.
- Attractions: Free beaches and the Campuhan ridge; cheap temples and rice-terrace entries.
- Evening: A warung dinner, a beach sunset, the Ubud palace dance.
Mid-range
- Accommodation: A boutique hotel or private-pool villa (IDR 900,000–2,500,000 — superb value).
- Meals: Warungs plus Balinese sit-downs, Ubud/Canggu cafés and a Jimbaran seafood night (IDR 70,000–300,000/meal).
- Transport: A car-with-driver for sightseeing days; Grab for short hops.
- Attractions: Add a Nusa Penida day, the Uluwatu Kecak dance, a Balinese spa, a beach club.
- Evening: The Kecak dance, a beach-club sunset or a spa.
Comfortable
- Accommodation: A luxury jungle or clifftop villa/resort (IDR 3,000,000–12,000,000+).
- Meals: A modern-Indonesian tasting menu and premium seafood, plus great cafés (IDR 300,000–2,000,000+/head).
- Transport: A private car and driver on call; a fast-boat charter for the islands.
- Attractions: Add a private Nusa Penida boat, a Mount Batur sunrise trek, a signature spa day.
- Evening: A clifftop fine-dining dinner, then a sunset bar.
Where to stay in Bali
Bali is base-aware: choose your area for the vibe you want. Ubud is green, cultural and calming; Seminyak/Canggu is beach-club, surf and café energy; Uluwatu/Bukit is clifftop drama and luxury; Nusa Dua/Jimbaran is calm family-resort; Sanur is quiet and the gateway to Nusa Penida. For 5+ days, splitting between Ubud and the south (with one transfer day) gives the best of both.
Ubud
Culture, nature, yoga and jungle villas
Seminyak / Canggu
Beach clubs, surf, dining and shopping
Uluwatu / Bukit
Clifftop luxury, dramatic beaches and surf
Nusa Dua / Jimbaran
Calm family resorts and beach-grill seafood
Sanur
A relaxed base and the Nusa Penida jetty
By budget
- Budget — S$20–60 · Guesthouses, Homestays, Hostels
- Mid-range — S$75–210 · Boutique hotels, Private-pool villas (incredible value)
- Comfortable — S$250–1,000+ · Luxury resorts & clifftop villas (Ubud jungle, Uluwatu cliffs, Nusa Dua)
- A private-pool villa is Bali's signature stay and astonishing value at the mid tier.
- Match your base to your days: one area for 3–4 days, an Ubud + south split for 5–7.
- Stay central to your area (walkable to cafés/beach) — Bali traffic makes 'just down the road' a long ride.
Rates and availability change constantly — confirm with the property or a booking site before paying.
Common Bali mistakes to avoid
- Treating Bali as small — packing Uluwatu, Ubud and the east into one day means hours stuck in traffic.
- Basing only in Kuta — Seminyak/Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu are far nicer for most travellers.
- Underestimating transfer time between Ubud and the south (~1.5 hrs, often more).
- Riding a scooter with no experience — accident and injury rates are high.
- Booking flights over Nyepi (the island closes completely) without realising.
Good to know
Where to stay
Ubud, Seminyak / Canggu, Uluwatu / Bukit, Nusa Dua / Jimbaran.
How long to go
5–7 days suits most visitors. Shorter and longer routes are built in, so you are never padding a trip to fill days.
Bali travel guides
In-depth, free reads with real routes, Maps links, budgets and the mistakes to skip:
- Bali: One Base or Two? How to Split Your Trip
Bali is base-aware — Ubud's green calm versus the surf-and-beach-club south. Here's how to decide between one base and a two-base split, with a sample route for each and where to stay.
Plan a nearby trip
Easy to pair with Bali on the same trip — tap through to a full guide.
Plan Bali your way
Start free, or unlock the full interactive guide with maps, food, day-by-day routes and a 1-click PDF.