Bali
Discover Bali
Bali, the famed "Island of the Gods", is the most visited part of Indonesia. Its diverse landscape of mountainous terrain, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides provide a picturesque backdrop to its colourful, spiritual and unique culture. Five rice terraces and their water temples are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy". With world-class diving and surfing, a range of natural, cultural and historical attractions, and plentiful accommodation options, it is one of the most popular island destinations in the world. Bali offers something to almost every visitor from the backpacking youth to the ultra-wealthy. Its majority-Hindu population also stands in contrast to much of the rest of majority-Muslim Indonesia.
What to Experience in Bali
beach and cliffs in Nusa Penida
brown and green temple near body of water under blue and white cloudy sky during daytime
Morning view on the lovely Tegelalang rice terraces north of Ubud, Tegelalang, Bali
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Indonesia
This was a temple in Bali well known for the sunset’s it can produce and trust me I was not the only person snapping this moment on their camera, If anything I wish I could go back to the location and try again but I tried multiple angle’s before getting this shot which I believe to be the best of my capabilities.
green grass field photography
a body of water with a small island in the middle of it
One of my very first pictures arriving in Bali and I knew it was going to be a beautiful trip full of views like this!
boy showering on lake
ocean photography
Famous Beaches
Legian
Kuta
Taste of Bali...
Bali has a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, serving both Indonesian and international food (see Indonesia for a menu reader). For better or worse, some American chains have established a presence here, although almost exclusively confined to the southern tourist areas. You will see KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. Interestingly, the menus are often highly adapted to the local tastes. The menu at Pizza Hut looks nothing like one you find in Western countries. Try the smaller local
Culture & Religion
Culture
Unlike most other islands in largely Muslim Indonesia, Bali is a pocket of Hindu religion and culture. Every aspect of Balinese life is suffused with religion, but the most visible signs are the tiny offerings (canang sari) found in every Balinese house, workplace, restaurant, souvenir stall and airport check-in desk. These leaf trays are made daily and can contain an enormous range of offering items: flowers, glutinous rice, cookies, salt, and even cigarettes and coffee! They are set out with burning incense sticks and sprinkled with holy water at least three times a day before every meal. Do
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Bali into what it is today.
Hinduism first appeared in Bali as early as 100 BC, but the unique culture which is so apparent to any current day visitor to Bali hails largely from neighbouring Java combined with elements of Bali's distant animist past. The Javanese Majapahit Empire's rule over Bali became complete in the 14th century when Gajah Mada, Prime Minister of the Javanese king, defeated the Balinese king at Bedulu. The rule of the Majapahit Empire resulted in the initial influx of Javanese culture, most of all in architecture, dance, painting, sculpture and the wayang puppet theatre. All of this is still very apparent today. The very few Balinese who did not adopt this Javanese Hindu culture are known today as the Bali Aga ("original Balinese") and still live in the isolated villages of Tenganan near Candidasa...
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Bali.
There are an estimated 20,000 temples (pura) on the island, each of which holds festivals (odalan) at least twice a year. With many auspicious days throughout the year there are always festivities going on. The large island-wide festivals are determined by two local calendars. The 210 day wuku or Pawukon calendar is completely out of sync with the Western calendar, meaning that the dates of festivals and events rotate wildly throughout the solar year. The lunar saka (caka) calendar roughly follows the Western year. All national public holidays in Indonesia are observed in Bali, although Ramada
Climate
Daytime temperatures are pleasant, varying between 20–33⁰C (68–93⁰F) year-round. From December to March, the west monsoon can bring heavy showers and high humidity, but days are still often sunny with the rains starting in the late afternoon or evening and passing quickly. From June to September, the humidity is low and it can be quite cool in the evenings. At this time of the year there is hardly any rain in the lowland coastal areas. Even when it is raining across most of Bali, you can often enjoy sunny, dry days on the Bukit Peninsula which receives far less rain than any other part of the
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsEffective February 14, 2024, all international tourists entering Bali need to pay a Rp 150,000 Tourist Levy. Local authorities strongly recommend paying the fee online before arrival in Bali, although cashless payment counters are available at the airport. Payment can be verified by showing the QR code you receive via email after payment. The Balinese government says this fee will help preserve Balinese culture and natural beauty. See the Indonesia article for information about visa regulations....
Regions
Explore AreasBali is one of more than 18,000 islands (based on a satellite view) in the Indonesian archipelago, and is just over 2 km (almost 1.5 miles) from the eastern tip of the island of Java and west of the i…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Bali is a large island and you will need a way to get around if you plan on exploring more than the hotel pool. Rapid, seemingly uncontrolled development and aging infrastructure mean that the roads struggle to cope. In major tourist areas the traffic is chaotic, and there are daily traffic jams. Particular blackspots are Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak and Denpasar. For different excursions around the island, it is common to join a tour via your hotel or at one of the many street agencies which are found
Where to Stay
Bali has, without a doubt, the best range of accommodation in Indonesia, from US$10-per-night losmens to US$4,000-per-night super-homes. Backpackers tend to head for Kuta, which has the cheapest (and dingiest) digs on the island, while many five-star resorts are clustered in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Seminyak and Ubud. Sanur and Jimbaran offer a fairly happy compromise if you want beaches and some quiet. Ubud's hotels and resorts cater to those who prefer spas and cultural pursuits over surfing and bo
Money & Budget
Whether it is simple trinkets, a nice statue or high fashion boutiques that turn you on, Bali is a shopper's paradise. A huge range of very affordable products are offered to the point where shopping can overwhelm a visit if you allow it to. Clothing is a real draw. Popular sportswear brands are available in a multitude of stores in Kuta and Legian for prices approximately thirty to fifty per cent
Language & Talk
The native language of locals is Balinese, which is related to but not mutually intelligible with Indonesian. Because all Balinese people are bilingual in Balinese and Indonesian, and Indonesian is used more, particularly in daily conversations, learning Balinese is not essential to communicate. Nevertheless, locals are proud of their language, so efforts by visitors to speak Balinese will be warm
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Bali is, in general, a safe destination, and few visitors encounter any real problems. Bali was the scene of lethal terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005, with both waves of attacks targeting nightclubs and restaurants popular among foreign visitors. Security is consequently tight at obvious targets, but it is of course impossible to protect oneself fully against terrorism. If it is any reassurance, the Balinese themselves—who depend on tourism for their livelihood—deplored the bombings and the terrorists behind them for the terrible suffering they have caused on this peaceful island. As a visit
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Bali
beach and cliffs in Nusa Penida
brown and green temple near body of water under blue and white cloudy sky during daytime
Morning view on the lovely Tegelalang rice terraces north of Ubud, Tegelalang, Bali
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Indonesia
This was a temple in Bali well known for the sunset’s it can produce and trust me I was not the only person snapping this moment on their camera, If anything I wish I could go back to the location and try again but I tried multiple angle’s before getting this shot which I believe to be the best of my capabilities.
green grass field photography
a body of water with a small island in the middle of it
One of my very first pictures arriving in Bali and I knew it was going to be a beautiful trip full of views like this!
boy showering on lake
ocean photography
beach and cliffs in Nusa Penida
brown and green temple near body of water under blue and white cloudy sky during daytime
Morning view on the lovely Tegelalang rice terraces north of Ubud, Tegelalang, Bali