I visited Bali back in 2020, before I did any kind of blogging – so I don’t feel like I can offer a thorough itinerary, but I do want to share some of the highlights from my trip! Most of the time my posts from past trips are as a result of friends who are planning trips to places I have been, and I want to share my recommendations with them… and this is the easiest way for me to compile all the info! The bonus is that now anyone can benefit, not just my social circle! 😂
I’ve organized this post by location, since Bali is pretty big! Each section has a few things to do, a few places to eat, and at least one recommended place to stay.
Maps & Recommended Route
The airport is in the south, so it makes sense to start your trip with a few days in one of the southern coastal beach towns. Popular options are Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, and Sanur. If you have the time, go for a few days to one of the smaller islands to the south-east. Then head up north to Ubud, which is a great base for day trips. You can either close out your trip there, or head back to the beaches for a few more days (this is what we did, since they’re close to the airport anyways!). Some other popular destinations are Tulamben (great access point for diving), and Uluwatu (stunning cliffside villas).
Here’s a map with the route I took, and the breakdown of my 10 days:
- 1 day in Sanur
- 3 days on Nusa Lembongan (day trip to Nusa Ceningan)
- 3 days in Seminyak
- 4 days in Ubud (day trip to Mount Batur)
- 2 days in Canggu
PS – if you click the map above, it will take you to my interactive Google Map with all of the below recommendations saved!
Sanur
Sanur was my first stop in Bali for 2 reasons: it’s close to the airport, and it’s near where you can take the ferry over to Nusa Lembongan. It was primarily a practical choice, but Sanur also has nice beaches and good food!
Do: Walking Sindhu Beach
I didn’t plan any specific outings from Sanur since I was just stopping in before taking the ferry elsewhere, but I did enjoy walking along the coast and poking in to various restaurants and resorts!
Pretty much all of them will allow you pool/lounger access if you buy a drink. I think I had 3 chocolate milkshakes in one afternoon!
Eat: Redback Specialty Coffee: Fresh Seaside Food
I kinda just stumbled on Redback Specialty Coffee and had to stop in to enjoy a meal right on the beach.
Stay: Sindhu Guest House
Sindhu Guest House is the perfect cheap, simple stay for one night. A bed to sleep on, walking distance to a beach, and yummy fresh breakfast. Would stay there again when passing through!
Nusa Lembongan
In my opinion, Nusa Lembongan is a must-see! It’s known for its clear turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and exceptional diving and snorkeling opportunities. I spent a few days there as a base for diving, but also really enjoyed the laid-back vibe and stunning beaches. It’s a good jumping off point for a day trip to the famous Kelingking Beach, if that’s on your list!
Do: Scuba Diving
HIGHLY recommend scuba diving if you can. This was some of the best diving of my life! Manta point was just unreal. And if you don’t dive, you gotta at least snorkel!
I booked with World Diving Lembongan and had a great time. It was a super friendly group and my guide was awesome at pointing out the little things that I would have missed! Saw octopus, turtles, bamboo shark, sea snakes, big and small mantas, cuttlefish… list could go on and on. Felt very organized and safe as well. 👍
Do: Enjoy the beaches, watch sunset
Some of the prettiest sunsets from my whole trip were at the beach in front of my hotel in Nusa Lembongan. The water is also unbelievably blue and beautiful. Highly recommend spending some time on these beaches.
Eat: Ginger & Jamu
I stumbled on Ginger & Jamu while strolling on the beach and couldn’t resist grabbing a smoothie bowl – it was wonderfully fresh and flavourful, with amazing ocean views.
Eat: Sandy Bay Beach Club
Sandy Bay offers hotel pickups for free from anywhere on the island for your dinner reservation – such a treat. I enjoyed an amazing meal overlooking a crazy show of a sunset. Couldn’t recommend this enough!
Stay: Nyuh Gading Home Stay
I couldn’t believe the value at Nyuh Gading Home Stay. I paid under $10 per night for a bed in a dorm room that was steps away from the beach, with a pool, and free breakfast! They also have private rooms if you wanna splurge.
Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Ceningan is a small island right between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. It’s connected to Lembongan by a famous yellow bridge. The entire island is dotted with incredibly beautiful white sandy beaches.
Do: Cycling around Nusa Ceningan
A lot of people rent motorbikes to get around in Bali, but I don’t trust myself with those so I get a regular bicycle, and had a great time touring around Ceningan!
Do: Blue Lagoon
Whether you’re on a bike, motorbike, or driving, Blue Lagoon is a must-see. It’s just a lookout, but with some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen, and the power of the ocean is so captivating.
Do/Eat: Driftwood Bar
Driftwood is pretty close to Blue Lagoon, so it’s worth tying these two together. It’s got a sweet bar with an infinity pool and pool table, so you can spend a few hours lounging, eating, drinking, and playing games while taking in the views over the ocean!
Eat: The Sand
I just stumbled on The Sand as I was biking around and was totally shocked at this little pocket of paradise. They had great bites to eat, but the highlight for sure was the loungers and the hammock in the water.
Ubud
Ubud is a great central hub for a lot of activities, it has rich culture, and a pile of amazing restaurants. Every trip to Bali should include a few days in Ubud!
Do: Mount Batur Sunrise Hike
First thing: this hike isn’t technically in Ubud – it’s up quite a bit further north. But most people won’t stay anywhere further north than Ubud during their time in Bali, so it’s the best location to check off this day trip. Plus, most of the tour groups will pick you up from Ubud.
You’ll get picked up VERY early in the morning (think 2AM) and then drive about 2 hours before reaching the trailhead. Don’t worry – you can easily catch some more Zs in the car! The trek starts around 3:30AM, so that you can reach the summit for sunrise, which happens around 6AM. The hike is steep, but not technical, and only took us about 2 hours. Then you’ll get to enjoy breakfast above the clouds as the sun comes up over the neighbouring Agung volcano and Lake Batur!
I highly recommend bringing layers, even though it feels warm even early in the morning. Once you’ve worked up a sweat and are sitting on top of the mountain in the breeze, it can get chilly!
Do: Campuhan Ridge Walk
The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a short hiking trail right in Ubud, along a ridge line through a lush valley. It’s quite a nice change from the bustling streets! It has stunning views of the forest, greenery, and neat architecture.
It’s only 2km long, but it is totally exposed so I’d recommend going early in the morning or later in the evening as it can get toasty!
Do/Eat: Folk Pool & Gardens
Folk is the place to be for a chill afternoon! You can either reserve a cabana, or just chill in the pool and on poolside loungers. To access the pool, you need to either pay upfront or spend a minimum amount at the restaurant (but it’s not high… I got one appetizer and an ice cream and that was enough!).
This is the perfect place to visit if your hotel doesn’t have a pool. OR, if you’ve checked out of your hotel and have time to kill before you can get in to the next one!
Eat: Milk & Madu
Milk & Madu has several locations around the island, including Ubud, Uluwatu, and Canggu. We visited for some comfort food in the form of wood-fired pizza and were not disappointed! Tip: they offer 2 for 1 Pizzas every Tuesday & Sunday from 4-10PM.
Stay: Hibiscus Cottages
Hibiscus Cottages offers large, private rooms for under $40 a night, it has a free breakfast, and beautiful views. The location was prime (walking distance to central Ubud, the Campuhan Ridge Walk, the Monkey Forest, and countless restaurants), and it was clean and comfortable. It’s not your typical Balinese villa, but I really enjoyed my stay here!
Stay: Komeneka at Monkey Forest
Komeneka at Monkey Forest is the quintessential beautiful Bali hotel, with an infinity pool overlooking the forest, stunning suites, and rose baths. The location is fantastic – walking distance to many attractions and restaurants – and they have a spa, bike rentals, breakfast and tea service, and so much more.
I was only able to stay here on my broke student budget because my friend Cat helped cover the costs… Cat, if you’re reading this, thanks again and I owe you one!!
Seminyak
Do: Surfing/Beach
You gotta spend some time at the beach in Seminyak! If you’re the active type, this is a great spot to surf or play beach volleyball. There are also a pile of bars with loungers along the beach, like Taris Bali, where you can get cocktails to enjoy while watching the waves.
Do/Eat: La Brisa
Beach clubs are a big thing in Bali, and I really enjoyed La Brisa! The food was great, but my fav part was the vibe – it just felt very cool.
Eat: SugarSand
SugarSand is restaurant in a hotel, with a pool right on the beach – and if you eat at the resto you get access to the pool as well! A nice little perk 🙂 The dessert here was amazing!
Eat: Nalu Bowls
When in Bali, you must smoothie bowl… And Nalu Bowls was my fav place for that! We came back twice because the fresh fruit was just to die foorrrrrrrr!
Stay: Bali Reski Asih Cottages
Reski Asih Cottages was simple and reasonably priced – not on the water but a central location where everything was walkable. Pool was obviously a treat as well!
Conclusion
That’s it yall!! There’s so much to do and see in Bali, and it has a crazy amount of delicious and affordable food, it would be real tough to go wrong with whatever you have planned. These are just some of the things I really enjoyed during my visit! Safe travels <3
