One thing we can promise you is that you will never run out of things to do in Bali. This is our second list of things to do in Bali and it has another 51 ideas for you to have fun here on the island.
Our 51 More Top Things To Do In Bali (Your Ultimate Bali Bucket List)
Eat In An Abandoned Airplane At Keramas Aero Park
Yes, there’s an abandoned passenger jet just lying around in the jungle, and instead of letting it go to waste, one enterprising local set up a restaurant inside it and restored much of the plane to make it welcoming.
It’s not the greatest meal you will ever have in your life. Bali’s fine dining scene offers way too much competition for that, but it’s one of the most unusual settings for a meal anywhere.
Find The Dinosaur At Kelingking Beach
Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida is a lovely white sand beach that is perfect for a bit of sunbathing or snorkelling, but there’s another great reason to visit this beach, too.
Get up high above Kelingking Beach on the nearby cliffs, and you will find that the local rock formations and the beach merge to give the impression of a tyrannosaurus rex! It looks amazing in an Instagram feed!
Nusa Penida is a really cool destination with lots of hidden gems like this one.
Shop Love Anchor Canggu Fashion Marketplace
Sure, Seminyak’s the most famous spot on the island for fashion shopping, but we love the Love Anchor Canggu Fashion Marketplace.
It’s a place packed with local artisans offering their wares at reasonable prices, and you can easily build a stylish island wardrobe here without ever venturing further afield.
Snack With Orangutans In Kampung Sumatra
While it’s fair to say that Orangutans are not native to this part of Indonesia, you can meet the friendliest orangutans in the world in Bali.
Head to the Gayo Restaurant in Kampung Sumatra and enjoy breakfast while the adorable apes interact with you.
It’s not cheap, but we think that it’s an experience worth paying for.
Consume Culture At The Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA)
This is the museum which was founded by a local artist and entrepreneur, Anak Agung Gede Rai.
It covers over 5 hectares and has an amazing set of collections, temporary exhibits, and cultural highlights that are unmatched elsewhere in Bali.
Kids get in for free, and the very reasonably adult ticket price includes a free drink!
Watch The Dolphins At Lovina Beach
Lovina is a bit far off the beaten track, but Lovina Beach is becoming ever more popular thanks to the proximity to dolphins here.
You can get a boat tour out of the harbour here in the early morning and spend a couple of hours watching our closest relatives at sea just being dolphins.
Some people say that the tourists might be distressing for the creatures, but they don’t appear to be distressed in any way.
Spiritually Cleanse At Tirta Empul
This temple complex in the village of Manukaya was built back in 960 AD, and it’s all built around a natural spring.
The water feeds all the pools, fish ponds and baths here, and it’s absolutely beautiful to behold.
The bathing pools are said to cleanse the soul at Tirta Empul.
Souvenir Shop At Sukwati Art Market
This colourful market outside of Denpasar is one of the best places on the island to pick up some local arts and crafts.
Whether you want paintings, statues, candles, or just general souvenirs, you can always find them here and for fairly reasonable prices, too (as long as you haggle, and you really should haggle).
Learn more: Sukawati Art Market
Discover A Filipino Touch At Blanco Renaissance Museum
This lovely museum in Ubud is dedicated to the art of the Filipino artist Don Antonio Blanco, who moved to Bali back in 1952.
It was his home and studio and has been converted to make it welcoming to visitors with an artistic bent.
The onsite cafe is quite lovely, and the lush green garden is a splendid place to chill out in.
Touch A Turtle At The Turtle Conservation And Education Centre
This lovely centre takes care of turtles that have been injured by the local fishing industry.
You can adopt a turtle and then release it back into the waters when it’s well or just come and make friends with the turtles.
Kids will absolutely adore a visit to this sanctuary.
Taste The Chocolate At Charly’s Chocolate Factory
This is a really fantastic place that is more than a chocolate factory and has some amazing “hobbit homes” for your Instagram.
The chocolate’s pretty good, mind you, and the last time we visited, we ended up spending a fortune in the factory shop. Yum.
Relax On Sanur Beach
They call Sanur “sleepy Sanur”, and it’s certainly one of the most relaxing destinations in Bali.
Head down to Sanur Beach and just lie back on a sun lounger and let the world go by.
The boardwalk at this beach is great, and it’s perfect for a sunset or sunrise stroll.
Be Wowed By The Devdan Show At Bali Nusa Dua Theatre
This is probably the best-performing arts performance in Bali (even better than the Kecak Dance, and we love the Kecak Dance).
It has a 90-minute long show which incorporates aerial athleticism, lasers, light displays, acting, music and more.
Hang around after the show, and for a small fee, you can get pictures with the cast in their costumes.
Chow Down On The Finest Seafood At Jimbaran Bay
As an island, Bali is surrounded by the sea, but while seafood anywhere in Bali is good, the best is to be found at Jimbaran Bay.
A beachside BBQ after sunset is the perfect way to end the day, and the area has plenty of daytime water sports to keep you busy and help you work up an appetite.
Stroll Through Ubud Art Market
Ubud Art Market is probably the busiest and most popular market for tourists in Bali.
The pieces here are mostly made in the local villages, and you can get a real feel for the quality of local craftsmanship.
To get the best deal, haggle like your life depends on it. It’s expected and welcomed.
Walk The Warm, Soft Sands Of Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is the crown jewel of Nusa Penida, and it offers white sands fringed by turquoise waters.
Your Instagram feed will love this place, and so will you. It’s just stunning. However, there’s a bit of a walk down a steep staircase to get to the sand, which won’t be easy for some people.
Uncover Authentic Balinese Life At Bugbug Village, Karangasem
Bugbug Village is one of the last remaining truly authentic villages in Bali, and it’s an amazing place to learn about the local culture.
Photographers will love how aesthetically pleasing it is and seek to immortalise Bugbug Village in film.
The Gumang Temple here is dedicated to placating Mount Agung, the largest volcano on the island.
Find Joy At The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage site and are among the most spectacular sights in all of Bali.
You will find that the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces cover over 600 hectares, and they are peaceful and quiet and just lovely.
Make sure to come after the rains, though, as that’s when they are greenest.
Slow Down In Sidemen
Sidemen is what Ubud was like before Ubud became an integral part of the Bali, Indonesia tourism trail.
If you don’t want to get a boat to the Gili islands to be truly off the beaten path in Bali, Sidemen is where to be.
The volcano views from here are incredible.
Take A Peek At Pemuteran
Pemuteran, in the northwest of Bali, has lovely calm bays and stunning mountaintop views and is also far from the usual tourist trails.
There are some lovely resorts out this way now, too, so you won’t need to abandon your creature comforts to explore this wonderful place.
Wine And Dine At A Warung
You simply haven’t experienced Bali at all until you have eaten at a proper local warung.
These are no-fuss restaurants specialising in tasty local food and are often the cheapest and most pleasant places to eat here.
You should be able to find a warung within walking distance almost anywhere in Bali.
Seek Healing From A Traditional Balinese Healer
Bali has a long history of spiritual healing, and if you’re feeling under the weather or want a little mood uplift, why not seek out the help of a local healer?
Please note: We’re not advising you to avoid your doctor here. You can use traditional and modern medicines at the same time to great effect.
Get Centered At The Mother Temple Of Bali – Besakih Temple
This is the most impressive temple complex in Bali, and it’s the spiritual home of every village temple on the island.
Head to Bedugul and be prepared to explore a bit. It’s not as big as Borobudur, but this is not a small temple to be ticked off in an hour, either.
Opt For Something Bespoke
One of the great joys of the Southeast Asian economy is that having things custom-made is way cheaper than it is at home.
You can buy a bespoke suit or some custom furniture or tailor-made shoes for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere.
So, treat yourself because you’re worth it.
Head Off For A Cream Bath
A cream bath is a local hair treatment that keeps every Balinese lady’s hair looking long, lustrous and healthy.
You can try this yourself cheaply and easily in every hair salon on the island.
Rent A Yacht For The Day
Why not live like a rock star for a day and rent a yacht? This is the perfect way to see some of the coastline of Bali from a new perspective.
There’s nothing quite like sipping cocktails at sunset on the deck of your own yacht, either. It’s not as expensive as you might think to rent a yacht.
Read more about boat parties in Bali here.
Witness The Rock Formation Of Broken Beach
The dramatic rock formations at Broken Beach are world-famous, and this is a great place on Nusa Penida to visit with your camera.
Go Out On The Water In A Local Fishing Boat
You don’t need a yacht to explore the local seas. Many of the local fishing boats are happy to take a tourist out on the waves for a small fee.
Just ask around wherever you’re staying, and you won’t need long to find a volunteer for the trip.
Discover Will Deer At Menjangan Island
This island is often called “deer island”, as there are quite a lot of deer living out here. It’s worth nothing that doesn’t guarantee you will see deer here, but it’s very likely that you will.
It’s also one of the best dive spots on the island, and the local waters are home to some of the most diverse marine creatures in Bali.
Snorkelling here is excellent, too, and we can thoroughly recommend spending a day on Menjangan Island.
Bathe In Blissful Hot Springs
Volcanoes lead to hot springs, and the best hot springs in Bali are in the area around Mount Batur.
Hot springs are said to have healing properties, and their mineral-heavy waters are certainly lovely to soak in.
Show Off In Seminyak
Seminyak is one of the hippest parts of Bali, and it attracts a young crowd to classy resorts, fine dining and great clubbing.
Why not get your glad rags on and head out to join them for a day?
Become A Perfume Maker
The L’Atelier Parfums et Creations in the TS Suites in Seminyak offers a 90-minute workshop where you can make your own perfume!
Have A Royal Time At Ubud Palace
Ubud Palace is home to the Ubud Royal family, and the grounds are very pleasant and open to the public.
They also have regular traditional dance performances on the grounds.
Join The Silversmiths Of Bali
Bali’s traditional crafts include silversmithing, and you can find classes on how to work silver and become a silversmith yourself.
Make something beautiful to take home with you, and it’s great fun!
Uncover All Of Bali’s Abandoned Planes
There are eight, yes, eight abandoned planes on this island (including the restaurant we mentioned above). Why not see if you can track them all down? They make for great Instagram moments.
Sip Sundowners At Rock Bar
The Rock Bar is an amazing place for a sunset drink with amazing views of the local rock formations (which the bar is named after; it’s not a Hard Rock Cafe).
Free Yourself For Fitness
Bali has a gym and other fitness facilities in almost every single town and many of the better hotels offer guests fitness rooms, weight rooms, classes and more too.
The whole island offers excellent opportunities to engage in sports and other fitness activities to help you stay healthy and happy, too.
Unearth The Native Flora At Bali Botanic Gardens
Bali has beautiful native plant life, and you can see the best of this in the gardens at Bali Botanic Gardens.
Search Out Sekumpul Waterfall
They say that Sekumpul Waterfall is the most beautiful waterfall in Bali, and the only way to find out if that’s true is to visit it yourself.
Sekumpul Waterfall is absolutely lovely, though, we promise.
Take The Yellow Bridge To Nusa Lembongan Island
You can get an amazing Instagram shot on the bridge between Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.
Drink Coffee On A Coffee Plantation
Why not visit a coffee plantation and sample some authentic Balinese coffee? The coffee culture here is excellent and rivals anything you will find elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Meet Manta Rays At Crystal Bay
Enjoying the beach vibe of Bali, Indonesia, is always fun, but when you want a little more? Why not head to Nusa Penida and swim with manta rays at Crystal Bay? It’s a mind-blowing experience.
Lose Yourself In The Labyrinth Of Goa Gala Gala
This underground cave network and house, which took over 15 years to build after being hand-carved from the rock, is absolutely incredible!
Evade The Crowds In Candidasa
This lovely part of East Bali has almost no crowds and far less traffic than the other beach towns. It’s worth checking out.
Marvel In The Bali Provincial State Museum
This is the best museum in Bali and has the largest collection of cultural artifacts on the island. If you’re in Denpasar, it’s a must-see.
Wander The Marigold Fields Of Desa Temukus
Desa Teumukus is a small village in East Bali, and it’s near to the sacred temple.
The fields here draw locals and tourists alike in their thousands when the marigolds are in bloom. The flowers are then used in rituals at the temple when they are harvested.T
Stay In A Swanky Villa
There is no more authentic Balinese experience than staying in a large private villa with a private pool and other mod cons.
While this isn’t as cheap as it once was, if you look outside of the main tourist resorts, you can still rent a great villa for a sensible price, particularly if you’re sharing with friends.
And if you’re loaded, you can rent somewhere that Mick Jagger or Kim Kardashian would stay at.
Join The Crowds On Kuta Beach
Kuta Beach is the most popular beach in Bali, and the area is visited by thousands of people every day.
While we think it might be too busy to spend your whole vacation in Kuta, it’s definitely worth experiencing at least once.
Indulge In A Lavish Sunday Brunch
We think the best brunch in Bali is at St. Tropez in FINNS, and if you’re in Canggu, don’t miss out on it.
However, most of the big resort hotels in the rest of the island offer a great Sunday brunch, too.
FAQs
What To Do In Bali For The First Time?
There’s only one thing of the things to do in Bali that we recommend to every first-time visitor to Bali: you should visit the best of the world’s best beach clubs, and that’s FINNS Beach Club in Canggu.
FINNS is so popular now that 1 in 8 people who are visiting Bali will visit FINNS, and that’s because it’s got bars, restaurants, and infinity pools galore!
Most of all, there’s no entrance fee and no minimum spend required (unlike at most other beach clubs), so you can come and find out what all the fuss is about without breaking the bank.
We’d say that you’ve not experienced Bali unless you’ve experienced FINNS, and the thousands of amazing people who pass through our doors each day would agree.
How Many Days In Bali Is Enough?
A lifetime wouldn’t be enough for us. Bali is a large island with an incredible amount of history, culture and attractions to explore.
However, we understand that most people don’t have a lifetime available to try all the things to do in Bali. Given that, as many days as you can afford to enjoy in Bali are going to have to be enough.
The good news is that if you don’t fit in all the things to do in Bali on your first visit, you have a good reason to come back, and we think that once you’ve visited this paradise island, you’ll definitely want to come back.
There are plenty of other things to do in Indonesia that are close by, too, such as the Gili Islands, Nusa Penida, etc. This part of the Indian Ocean has a wealth of things to do, see and do.
Can I Do Bali In 5 Days?
If you only have five days, then you can certainly see many of the popular tourist attractions in Bali, and while you certainly can’t do all the things to do in Bali in just five days, you can certainly have a great time here on the island.
We recommend checking out our suggested Bali itinerary for this length of stay if you want to get the most out of your time here.
Are 7 Days Enough For Bali?
There are plenty of things to do in Bali in the course of a week, but we doubt that you could work through our entire Bali bucket list in a week, either.
Of course, it’s worth coming to Bali for seven days, and with some judicious planning, you can see a lot of the island and certainly see Central Bali, South Bali, East Bali, North Bali, etc.
Your Bali adventures will be exciting and interesting, and they will almost certainly give you a taste for more.
A recent study shows that many people come back to Bali over and over again because there are so many things to do in Bali and never enough time to fit them all in.
It’s also worth remembering that Bali is evolving right now, too. There are always new things to experience here, and that makes coming back even more fun!
What’s Bali Famous For?
Bali is famous as a paradise island in the middle of the ocean.
While all of Indonesia is an archipelago, and there are, quite literally, thousands of islands to explore (island hopping here could be the whole of somebody’s life if they wanted it to be), Bali is the jewel among them.
This is almost certainly because Bali has a somewhat different culture from the rest of Indonesia, thanks to being a Hindu majority rather than an Islamic one.
This means there’s a more relaxed approach to life in Bali, and the alcohol laws in Bali tend to be a little less strictly enforced, too.
Over the years, however, people have come to realise that there are just so many things to do in Bali that visiting Bali has become an essential travel experience.
What Is The Best Month To Go To Bali?
Most of the things to do in Bali are not dependent on the time of year. You can have a great time at something like Bali Zoo or Uluwatu Temple all year round.
However, if you want to see rice terraces and rice paddies, for example, they are best viewed in the wet season when they are green and lush and full of life.
If you want to dive with the Mahi Mahi fish, on the other hand, the month of April might be the best time to tackle your Bali bucket list.
And there’s no doubt that it can be a little easier to get through the things to do in Bali during the dry season when it’s a little less humid, and there tends to be a cool onshore breeze.
We’d suggest that you make a list of all the things to do in Bali that you’re interested in and then do a little research on your Bali bucket list to ensure that you come at the right time to enjoy those things.
Final Thoughts On Things To Do In Bali
As you can see, there are a lot of things to do in Bali, and while you may not want to do them all, we bet that your Bali Bucket List has grown substantially in the course of this article.
There is no bad time to visit Bali, and there is certainly no “right length of time” to be here. We hope to see you at FINNS when you visit, and we hope that you have a great time here in Bali.
