Bali's breathtakingly beautiful scenery makes it easy to just settle for the imaginary cliche of the island as a tropical paradise and nothing more. But behind the luxury resorts, picture-perfect rice fields, and idyllic beaches lies a rich culture, steeped in tradition and spirituality, and one of the friendliest and most welcoming places you're likely to find anywhere. Dare to go beyond the comforts of the resort areas to truly explore all the island has to offer and let yourself be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime.
Most first-time visitors to Bali will be drawn to the island's southern regions, such as Kuta, Nusa Dua, and Seminyak. These areas are famous for their golden beaches, upscale hotels, vibrant restaurants, and lively nightclubs, making them the epicentre of Bali's tourism and entertainment.
In the south, you'll also find the bustling regional capital of Denpasar. Unlike the tranquil villages and serene landscapes elsewhere on the island, Denpasar offers a cosmopolitan contrast with its busy streets, modern amenities, and dynamic atmosphere, juxtaposed with the island's traditional Hindu temples and lush natural scenery.
Heading further north and deeper inland, visitors will encounter a different kind of beauty with green, lush mountains and picturesque hilly rice terraces. The town of Ubud, situated in this region, is Bali's cultural heart, renowned for its artistic heritage, with numerous museums, galleries, and arts and crafts shops.
Elsewhere on the island, diverse attractions await. In the west, the West Bali National Park offers pristine natural landscapes and wildlife. The northern coastline boasts quiet and secluded beaches, while the east is dotted with small coastal villages and dramatic volcanoes. For diving enthusiasts, the southeastern islands present some of Bali's most spectacular underwater spots.
To complement these experiences, Bali's diverse offerings ensure that whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, culture, or natural beauty, every corner of the island provides a unique and unforgettable experience.
Bali is quite simply a tropical paradise with a unique mixture of modern tourist facilities and breathtaking natural wonder, combined with great shopping, beautiful beaches and a rich cultural heritage. Besides spending your day lazing on the unreal beaches, you can also enjoy exceptional diving, snorkeling and wonderful day trips to nearby attractions, like the inland rice fields and cultural expeditions to Ubud.
Seminyak
Waterbom Bali
Bali Safari and Marine Park
Tirta Gangga
Yoga in Bali
Surfing in Bali
Traditional Music and Dance
Bali Bird Park
Werdhi Budaya Art Centre
Cooking Classes in Bali
Bali Pulina Coffee Tours and Recreation
Denpasar has its share of functional warungs (basic Indonesian eateries). For the best of Balinese and international cuisine, however, take a taxi to Seminyak or Kuta. Some of the best Western, Asian, and international food can be found in the restaurants of the major resort hotels, which offer a wide choice of alternatives.
Chez Gado Gado
Melting Wok Warung
Bali Asli
Taco Casa
Sea Circus
Ku De Ta
Bali is one of the exclusive lists of islands that produce Kopi Luwak, a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet, a small animal native to the area. Once the beans have passed through the animal, they are roasted like ordinary coffee beans. Try a cup if you're feeling brave, stick to more traditional coffee, or have some of the fresh fruit juices available at the numerous cafés on the island.
Kopi Pot
Gusto Gelato & Caffè
Tutmak Warung Kopi
Sea Circus
The most exciting nightlife in Bali is in Kuta—from throbbing dance clubs to hot karaoke bars and cool jazz cafés, you'll find it all here.
If you're happy to just sip a cocktail and watch the sunset, there are also several options in the many tourist resorts around the island.
Komune Resort & Beach Club
Rock Bar
Potato Head Beach Club
Sea Circus
Woobar
Ku De Ta
Hard Rock Cafe
Shopping in Bali is rich in artwork and handicrafts. Markets and stalls throughout the island showcase long-held traditions of wood carving, silver and gold craft, embroidery and more, particularly in Ubud, the island's cultural hub. Urban areas also have modern shopping centres that cater to all your shopping and entertainment needs, the most prominent being the pleasant Kuta Beachwalk.
Among Pasar Badung, you can find shops and stalls selling all kinds of goods, from fresh fish, fruits and vegetables to Bali and Java crafts and textiles. On the other side of the river, Kumbasari Complex, there are a lot of small traders selling cheap batik garments, jewels, silverware and antiques.
As for the international-style retail space, there are also a number of air-conditioned shopping centres in Denpasar, like New Dewata Ayu and Matahari, which are located facing Jalan Dewi Sartika. Moving out from the city, Sanggraha Kriya Handicrafts in the eastern suburb of Topathi (8 km from the city centre) sells a wide variety of Balinese handicrafts at a fixed price.
Yet, Bali's best shopping destination is not in Denpasar, but in the vicinity of Kuta and Sanur Beach Resort, or the Ubud Mountain Resort, which are less than an hour's drive from the city. Kuta is a good place to buy cheap beachwear and trendy jewellery. You can go to Ubud to buy the best traditions and modern Balinese wood carvings, ready to bargain with the seller to get a satisfactory price.
Sukawati Art Market
Discovery Mall
Ubud Art Market
Kuta Square
Ubud Monkey Forest Road
Badung Market
Pasar Seni Kumbasari
Beachwalk Shopping Center
Mal Bali Galeria
Celuk Village
Bali Collection
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport, is Bali's main international gateway, situated 13 kilometres from Downtown Denpasar. Travel time from the airport to the city centre ranges between 30 and 45 minutes.
Official airport taxis operate on a fixed price list based on the destination, with counters located just outside the duty-free area.
Public transportation options from the airport include shuttle buses operated by Trans Sarbagita, which connect the airport to various destinations on the island. These buses are inexpensive but run infrequently. Alternatively, minibuses known as 'bemo' are available and travel throughout Bali, including to and from the airport. While these minibuses are also low-cost, their drivers often charge tourists higher fares, making the price difference with taxis minimal. As a result, many travellers find taking a taxi to be more convenient.
Address: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport
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Phone: +62 361 9351 011
Website: https://bali-airport.com/en
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Public Transport
Numerous bemos (minibuses) operate on fixed routes around the city and the rest of the island, leaving when full and stopping anywhere on their route on request. Most foreigners find the system confusing and find haggling over fares challenging. There are also buses connecting the bigger cities around the island, operating mostly during the daytime. Both buses and bemos can be stopped anywhere along their routes.
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Taxi
Blue and yellow city taxis can be hailed on the street, at numerous taxi ranks, or called from your hotel or restaurant. They are cheap by international standards and are much more convenient than bemos, or mini-buses. However, be prepared to haggle over fares as taxi meters have failed to keep pace with inflation. Many drivers speak a little English.
Uber does not operate in Bali. The ride-sharing apps currently available in Bali are Grab and Gojek.
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Post
Stamps and envelopes can be bought at the concierge desks of all hotels, and this is a much more convenient option than using public post offices. The main post office on the island is located in Denpasar, but there are also smaller outlets in most of the bigger towns around the island.
Address: Kantor Pos Denpasar - Jalan Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar, Bali
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Phone: +62 361 223565
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Pharmacy
You can find several different pharmacies in all the different tourist destinations and bigger cities on Bali. The Balinese call them 'apoteks' and the biggest chain is Kimia Farma.
Address: Apotek Kimia Farma 242 Raya Kuta - Jalan Raya Kuta 102, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali
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Phone: +62 811 3960 7718
Website: https://kimiafarmaapotek.co.id
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Electricity
Indonesia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. The power sockets in the country are of type C and F.
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Telephone
Country code: +62
Area code: 361
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