Bali is a stunning destination; whoever visits Bali will falll in love with this beautiful Island. It is most famous for its beaches, temples, clubs, food, shopping spots, and nightlife. It always astounds people with the various adventures it offers. Beaches are the major traveler attraction here, and you can unwind, sunbathe and appreciate the sunset at these pleasant beaches.
Traveling can be stressful, but if you plan your trip efficiently, you can make the most out of your trip and make it memorable.
I selected five places and made sure I explored them and took my time to enjoy each place. I wanted to take time in some places and do more walking. I chose:
- Ubud
- Kuta Beach
- Uluwatu
- Jimbaran Bay
Day 1 and 2: Ubod
When you arrive in Bali, make a transfer to Ubod. This means a driver will pick you up and take you to the Island’s center as soon as you arrive in Bali.
On the first day of my one-week Bali trip, I visited the principal attractions in Ubud. Starting with Jl. Raya Ubud, and go from east to west. I also visited the Puri Saren Agung, the Royal Palace of Ubud, where the royal family still lives in this palace, so you can visit parts of it.
You’ll find the Ubud Traditional Art Market, where you can lose yourself among handmade products such as sculptures, paintings, handbags, and earrings and buy the best souvenirs.
Walking around Raya Ubud Street, you’ll find the Pura Taman Saraswati, a must-see in Ubud. This temple is devoted to the goddess of knowledge and wisdom. It stands out for its two ponds full of lotus flowers.
You’ll catch the Pura Dalem Ubud temple, where there are traditional dance performances some nights. Return to Raya Ubud Street, at the corner of the Art Market, the Jl. Monkey Forest street guides you to one of the important places in Bali, the Sacred Monkey Forest.
This forest is famous for the macaques who are very used to interacting with travelers. The monkeys will not hesitate to come close, play, ask for food, steal your things, or even bite you. They can be aggressive, so a word of advice, NEVER LET THEM CLIMB ON YOU unless you have suitable travel insurance.
On the second day, I visited Bali Zoo. As a nature lover, I love to see animals. The place is adequately large and a bit crowded. It is well organized and kept and the staff were nice. You can see the elephants, have a meal with the orangutans, and 500 other exotic and rare animals. You can participate in different activities and pet the animals.
End your day in Ubud by exploring local cuisines. You can find cafes serving less than USD 1, and you eat local food like Nasi Goreng or Nasi Campur for $1-2. Enjoy some Smoothies and Gelato if you’re touring during summer or hot seasons. Everything’s really affordable. If you are traveling on a budget, you won’t have any trouble. They also offer beers during Happy Hour for only $2-3 USD.
Day 3: Kuta Beach
If you are traveling around Bali, renting a motorbike is the best way to travel. The distance from Ubud to Kuta Beach should only be 30 kilometers. Since traffic is really nasty in Bali, it can take 1 to 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach there.
The cheapest alternative from Ubud to Kuta is by bus. It will be a great option if you are traveling alone, on a budget, and with minimal luggage. You can take Perama Buses and Kura Kura Buses from Kuta to Ubud.
Hit the shore in the early mornings to get a spot on the sand, with surfers steadily monitoring for ocean waves as the action takes place on the waves. Throughout the day, troupes of beach merchants and masseuses will contend for your attention- for a beach sarong or a cheap massage by the beach.
During and after sundown, it’s an eclectic scene – friendly beach soccer games you can join, random ‘beach bars’ selling cold Bintangs and local tastes, chats with locals, djembe drumming jam sessions, and even fire dancers fill the beachside.
Kuta Beach’s focal point is its central section, aptly named ‘Halfway.’ You must only cross the Jalan Pantai to Kuta Beachwalk, a modern shopping, dining, and recreation complex with many tenants.
The footpaths connect to most of Kuta’s other highlights, such as HQ Beach Club, the Kuta Art Market, Hard Rock Café, and the Balawista lifeguard tower next to the Sea Turtle Conservation site, wherein batches of hatchlings are freed regularly.
If you are a fan of beach club hopping like me, you can spend 2 days or so on this vibrant beach. Lots of ex-pats and foreigners, you won’t have a hard time speaking English here.
Day 4: Seminyak Beach
Seminyak beach is Bali’s most fashionable beach, home to among the Island’s luxurious resorts and host to several fine restaurants and boutiques. Fashion stores and top dining spots with international chefs cooking world-class cuisine line the streets, from Jalan Petitenget to Jalan Kayu Aya.
Seminyak Beach is a pretty white sandy beach found north of Legian Beach. The white sand stretch 3 km from Tuban Area has made it fascinating for tourists to visit this place. Seminyak Beach is favored by the excellent wave ideal for surfing adventures; hence many surfers visit this beach to dominate the waves and enjoy the surf experiences.
The beaches here have lively nightlife scenes and are perfect for party lovers and bar hoppers. Seminyak also houses many luxurious Bali resorts, fine bistros, and entertainment choices. Shopaholics will enjoy the range of fashion stores and boutiques here, while foodies can choose from a spectrum of top dining spots lining the streets with international chefs making world-class cuisines. It is also considered a better option over Kuta for those seeking a relatively secluded ambiance than the noisy crowds.
The long beach stretch is perfect for afternoon walks, and of course, I will only go home with a spa. Located along the golden shores of Legian Beach, FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach Seminyak Bali offers stylish apartments with an iPod dock and free WiFi access. Aside from a spa center, it has an outdoor and kid’s pool. The property is within walking distance of Double Six Beach. Guests may enjoy a relaxing massage or go horse riding by the beach.
I always wanted to try the local spa and massage, and it didn’t disappoint.
Day 5-6: Uluwatu
The hilly promontory on the southern tip of Bali presents world-class surf, making it a mecca for surfers. With sky-blue waters, white sand, and limestone ridges like Nusa Penida, and it holds true that Uluwatu holds the most beautiful shores in Bali.
I took my time here visiting temples and basking in the ambiance of the gorgeous sceneries in Uluwatu. Nyang-Nyang Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in Bali. The 1.5-kilometer virgin white sand beach along the limestone cliff coastline, Nyang-Nyang, has nearly no visitors because it is difficult to reach the beach.
On the first day, I visited Uluwatu Temple, one of Bali’s most picturesque temples, on top of a 70-meter-high cliff. During sunset, the Kecak Dance performance draws many visitors. The Kecak Fire Dance is a famous dance performance. A group of 65+ human vocalists acts as instruments that amplify a story in the form of dance. This occurs during dusk on a cliff-top amphitheater inside the Uluwatu Temple complex.
Uluwatu is a wonder. I took my time here because the beaches are quieter than in Kuta and Seminyak. You can visit the hidden beach at Bingin through a small alley followed by a 5-minute walk through the stairs. There are bars to hang out at, but most importantly, the beach is to die for. In this excellent location, some hotels and guesthouses offer a lovely view to wake up with.
Don’t miss Padang-Padang Beach, as it was once featured in “Eat, Pray, Love.” Perfect spot for sunbathing and relaxing. An excellent place for some downtime and peace. There are some monkeys around, but they’re harmless. As usual, just keep an eye on your belongings.
Day 7: Jimbaran Bay
My neverending beach tour must come to an end. My last stop is Jimbaran Bay. The Jimbaran Bay beaches are gorgeous, with beautiful sand.
The beach spans from the airport to the Ritz. A section near the Ritz called Cafe19 is filled with food stalls. I recommend going here to experience dinner on the beach for sunset. It’s crowded with tourists and locals. Seafood is sold live from tanks, which I came here for.
Despite the serene beach, a lot of tourists flock to the shores. This was the best time to end my 7-day trip to Bali. Good food, music, and just the heavenly beach complete the ambiance.
Suppose you’re planning on going to Bali. In that case, other famous spots, such as the Lempuyang Temple, Tukad Cepung Waterfall, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Alas Harum Coffee Plantation, the famous Jungle Swing, Watter Garden Tirta, the traditional market, Tirta Empul Temple. You can mix up your itinerary as long as you know what you want and prepare for your trip.
Plan ahead and pre-book tickets to avoid the hassle of waiting times. Make sure you have everything you need, such as cash, since most small vendors don’t accept cards. Travel with a plan in mind, and you will avoid the hassle.
Enjoy planning your next trip to Bali. Let me know how it was for you.
