The short answer
If you only do a handful of things in Bali, make them these: watch the sunset Kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple, hike Mount Batur for sunrise, walk the Jatiluwih rice terraces, bathe in the holy spring at Tirta Empul, spend a day on Nusa Penida, swim at a white-sand Bukit beach such as Melasti, and eat your way through a few warungs. Add a Balinese dance in Ubud, a waterfall in the north and a morning in the quiet east, and you have seen the island at its best.
Below are 18 experiences, grouped by theme. Entrance fees are 2026 adult prices; at roughly IDR 18,000 to the US dollar, IDR 100,000 is about US$5.50.
Temples
1. Uluwatu Temple at sunset. The cliff-edge Uluwatu Temple sits 70 meters above the Indian Ocean. Entry is IDR 60,000, and the Kecak fire dance in the amphitheater costs IDR 150,000; arrive an hour early for good seats and keep sunglasses away from the monkeys.
2. Tirta Empul's holy spring. At Tirta Empul near Tampaksiring, Balinese Hindus queue at the spouts to purify body and mind. You can join them in a sarong (entry IDR 75,000); our Tirta Empul guide explains the order.
3. Besakih, the mother temple. On the slopes of Mount Agung, Besakih is a sprawling complex of more than 20 temples and Bali's most important sanctuary. The IDR 150,000 ticket includes a shuttle; go on a clear morning for the volcano behind the meru towers.
4. Tanah Lot or Ulun Danu Beratan. Tanah Lot stands on a rock in the surf and is busiest at sunset, so try late morning instead. Up in the cool highlands, Ulun Danu Beratan seems to float on Lake Beratan. Read our temple etiquette guide before you go.
Volcanoes, rice terraces and waterfalls
5. Sunrise on Mount Batur. A two-hour pre-dawn climb up Mount Batur rewards you with sunrise over the caldera lake and Mount Agung. Pickups from Ubud are around 2 to 3 a.m.; see whether it suits you in our honest take.
6. Jatiluwih rice terraces. The UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih terraces roll for kilometers below Mount Batukaru, still irrigated by the thousand-year-old subak system. Entry is IDR 100,000, and the walking trails are far calmer than Tegallalang's.
7. Tegallalang and the Campuhan Ridge. Tegallalang is the famous postcard 20 minutes north of Ubud; come before 8 a.m. For a free alternative, the Campuhan Ridge walk starts in Ubud itself.
8. Sekumpul and the northern waterfalls. Sekumpul is a curtain of falls in a green amphitheater, reached by a steep guided trek (around IDR 150,000 to 250,000). Pair it with the lakes and clove hills of Munduk. Our waterfalls ranked has the full list.
9. Sidemen Valley. East of Klungkung, Sidemen is Bali as it looked before mass tourism: weaving villages, terraced fields and Mount Agung on the horizon. Stay a night if you can.
Beaches and the sea
10. A Bukit beach day. On the Uluwatu peninsula, Melasti, Padang Padang and Bingin have the clearest water on mainland Bali. Our swimming beaches guide explains where the currents are safe.
11. A surf lesson. Batu Bolong in Canggu and Kuta Beach have gentle sandy-bottom waves and dozens of schools. Start with our beginner surf guide.
12. Snorkeling in Amed or Menjangan. The black-sand bays of Amed have reef a few strokes from shore, and Menjangan Island in West Bali National Park has the island's best wall snorkeling.
Culture
13. A Balinese dance in Ubud. Most evenings, Legong, Barong or Kecak performances take place in the courtyards of Ubud Palace and village temples. Tickets are sold at the door, usually around IDR 100,000 to 150,000.
14. A cooking class and market tour. Morning classes around Ubud start at the local market and end with a feast of lawar, sate lilit and sambal you made yourself.
15. A temple ceremony. Odalan temple anniversaries happen somewhere on the island almost every day. Ask your guesthouse; if you are invited, wear a sarong and sash and stay at the back.
Food
16. Warungs and babi guling. Eat where the Balinese eat: nasi campur for around IDR 25,000 to 45,000 and spit-roasted babi guling at lunchtime. Our guide to what to eat in Bali lists the dishes to order.
17. Seafood on Jimbaran Bay. At sunset, tables go out on the sand of Jimbaran Bay for grilled fish over coconut husks. Agree on the price per kilo before you order.
Islands
18. Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. A 30 to 45 minute fast boat from Sanur takes you to Kelingking Beach, Crystal Bay and manta rays at Manta Point. The roads on Nusa Penida are rough, so many people prefer staying a night on Nusa Lembongan. Read is a Nusa Penida day trip worth it first.
How to fit it all in
Bali looks small, but traffic means a 60 km drive can take two hours. Group your days by region: the south for beaches and Uluwatu, Ubud for culture, temples and Batur, the north for waterfalls and lakes, the east for Sidemen and Amed. A private driver costs around IDR 600,000 to 1.2 million a day and makes temple days easy. Ten days covers most of this list comfortably; our guide to how many days you need in Bali has sample splits.
Frequently asked
What is the number one thing to do in Bali?
For most visitors it is the sunset Kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple, closely followed by the Mount Batur sunrise hike and a day on Nusa Penida.
What can you do in Bali in 5 days?
Spend two or three days in Ubud for temples, rice terraces and Batur, and two days in Uluwatu or Seminyak for beaches and the Kecak dance. Add Nusa Penida only if you skip one of the other days.
Is Bali good for non-beach people?
Yes. Many of the best experiences are inland: temples, rice terraces, volcano hikes, waterfalls, dance and food. Ubud, Sidemen and Munduk have no beaches at all.
How much do Bali attractions cost?
Most temples and sights charge IDR 50,000 to 150,000 (about US$3 to $8) per adult in 2026. Guided treks, boat trips and diving cost more.
101 Things to Do in Bali
A bucket list of 101 experiences across the island, from sunrise hikes to temple festivals.
BALI 2026
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