13 Best Things To Do in Bali

In June of 2023 I spent 9 days exploring Balinese culture and diverse geographic terrain. Thoughtful planning allowed me to explore the city-like feel of Canggu, the seafront beaches in Uluwatu and the serene nature of Selat. In short, my travel itinerary was perfect. Here are the top 13 things to do while exploring Bali, Indonesia.

Getting to Bali + transportation + payments

Bali, Indonesia is an island located in the southeast region of Asia. Like most tourists, you will need to take international flights to arrive on the island. I flew out of New York City’s JFK airport with Qatar Airways. The total duration of my flight was 22 hours with a 1 hr 30 min stopover in Doha, Qatar. This was my first time flying with Qatar airways and I was pleasantly surprised by the customer service and food quality while flying in economy class.

Once arriving in Bali there are multiple modes of transportation available. I opted for rideshare throughout the entirety of my trip due to convenience and availability. Gojek and Grab are reliable rideshare apps to use while visiting Bali as Uber and Lyft aren’t available in the country. With these rideshare apps you’ll have the option to pay cash or cashless and book either cars or mopeds. 

While some vendors and businesses may accept visa/mastercard payments, I highly recommend converting money into Indonesian Rupiah. I converted $300 USD into Indonesian Rupiah with Chase Bank before I left for my trip. This saved me the hassle of finding a trustworthy currency exchange in Bali, and saved me from the notoriously subpar airport currency exchange rates. If you find yourself running low on cash, there are locations in Bali where you can do a currency exchange whether with an attendant or atm.

My review of the hotels and villas I stayed in will occur in a follow up blog post. Let’s get into my top 13 things to do in Bali!

1. Nail Treatment at AU Nails

I booked a pedicure and Gel-X manicure with AU Nails salon in Canggu. Booking this service in Bali was a more budget friendly option opposed to getting the service done in the US giving me a total of IDR 630K or $40 USD. My The nail technicians were kind, attentive, and flexible with accommodating for the designs that I wanted on my nails.

2. Spa Treatment at Tonic

The pink decor drew me in but the relaxing massage was the most memorable. After my 20+ hour long flight to Bali, my muscles were aching for a deep tissue massage and the masseuse at Tonic Spa did not disappoint. I was greeted with a chilled ginger tea drink and explored the bright pink property, decorated with flamingos and Koi fish. Unique to the massages I receive in the US, I was guided to a bowl of water where my masseuse washed my feet with a sugar scrub before beginning the massage. I left Tonic feeling rejuvenated and ready to explore the island.

3. Lunch at Penny Lane

Dine at the Hip Hop inspired Penny Lane restaurant. The menu offers a variety of breakfast, shared plates, smoothies and salads. The most alluring is the decor and layout of the restaurant, featuring Renaissance inspired murals of famous artists like Biggie and Tupac.

4. Enjoy Dinner at Eastin Ashta Canggu

Since I was still recovering from my flight jet lag, I choose to dine within the hotel where I was staying in Canggu. For my dinner I ordered a saucy and aromatic beef rendang paired with a refreshing ginger beer soda.

5. Explore Banyumala Twin Waterfalls

I trekked along and narrow path that eventually led to the majestic Banyumala twin waterfalls. The steep descent and rocky path down to the falls was well worth the view. To enter the falls there is an entrance fee of 50 rupiah that must be payed in cash. I arrived at the falls at 8:35am and enjoyed the falls by myself for about 20 minutes before other tourists arrived.

6. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple Tour

Ulun Danu Beratan features a religiously and culturally significant Hindu temple in Bali. The temple is architectured like a courtyard with an outer, middle, and inner courtyard holding various shrines pictured above. The shrines represent the status of the Hindu deity. In addition to exploring the temples, I got a delicious chicken lunch from the restaurant on the property.

7. Rice Field Tour

Depending on the season, you may be able to catch the lush greenery of Bali’s rice fields. A significant food source and export, Balinese rice is grown in rice fields featured throughout the Balinese countryside. I visited in June, so the rice fields were brown and ready to harvest. The optimal time to see them at their greenest is between February and April.

8. Cretya Ubud Floating Breakfast

If you want to experience an affordable yet mouthwatering brunch, head over to Cretya Ubud for their floating breakfast. Reservations for the floating breakfast are required with prices starting at IDR 400K for one person or 750K for 2 people. I arrived at the dayclub at 7:15 am and was served at 8:25 am. During the wait time, I enjoyed the many pools that Cretya offers in addition to the lush green views of the rice fields nearby. This day club is quite popular and gets crowded very quickly, so I recommend arriving early.

9. Putri Bali Spa

The best massage I’ve received while in Bali was at Putri Bali Spa in Ubud. Just a short ride from Cretya Ubud, the sprawling compound of Cretya follows the theme of an oasis in the jungle. My treatments included the traditional Balinese body mask and 60 minute foot massage. Each massage room comes equipped with a hot water shower, soak in tub, and scented body oils.

10. Swim and Savor at Alila Seminyak

I enjoyed a relaxing pool day at Alila Seminyak while visiting friends I met in Bali. Lounging by the infinity pool with views of the blue water, I could see children flying their kites in the distance and the sunset into a golden backdrop. For my poolside lunch I enjoyed crispy calamari and lamb small plates. For visiting guests the Beach Bar day passes cost IDR 400K per person and includes a IDR 200K food and beverage credit.

11. Brunch at Copenhagen Canggu

I hopped on a moped and headed to Copenhagen Canggu, a Scandi inspired brunch spot. This location reminded me of my travels in Copenhagen, you have the option of choosing from the create your breakfast board list of bakery, eggs, fruits/greens, protein and sweet menu items. I chose the 3 pieces for 69k rupiah and got 2 slices of sourdough with slate butter, crispy bacon, and a waffle topped with whipped cream, raspberry jam, and coconut flakes.

12. Explore the Beauty of Amed Beach

I couldn’t leave Bali until I visited a black sand beach. While many tourists may flock to the coastal white sand beaches, Amed beach and many others stand out to me with its natural black sand. This beach is primarily occupied by fishing boats and a few restaurants alongside the waterfront, but the views and serene nature are magnificent.

13. Ring Making Class

There’s no better way to commemorate my trip than by making custom jewelry. Specifically, a sterling silver ring at the Krisna Silver Class. This workshop was fun and interactive, I learned the art of jewelry making and had the opportunity to buff and shine my own ring!