- Center
- 3 to 4 nights
Ubud
The cultural base of the island: dances, water temples, rice fields and workshops, at the price of a town center jammed with cars.
Destinations · 8 regions
Where to stay in Bali: eight regions, eight rhythms
Bali is small on the map but slow on the road. Choosing your bases matters more than the list of sights: each page says who the region suits, where to stay, what is worth the detour and what disappoints.
The island in five areas
The south has the airport, the beaches and the concrete. The center, around Ubud, keeps the culture and the rice fields. The east is rural and turned toward diving, the north cool and mountainous. The islands, facing Sanur, have the most spectacular cliffs, at the cost of difficult roads.
The center
Ubud and its valleys: terraced rice fields, water temples, evening dances. Further north, the Batur volcano, climbed at night for the sunrise.
The north
The highlands of Munduk and the lakes, cool, green and often in the mist, then the north coast, which sees few visitors.
The islands
Facing Sanur, Nusa Penida and its giant cliffs, with difficult roads. Nusa Lembongan, its neighbor, is smaller and quieter.
Travel times between bases
From the airport, allow about 30 to 40 min to Sanur, 45 to 60 min to Uluwatu, 45 to 75 min to Canggu, 1 h 15 to 1 h 45 to Ubud, about 1 h 45 to Sidemen, about 2 h 30 to Munduk and 2 h 30 to 3 h to Amed. Nusa Penida is reached by boat from Sanur.
| Base | From the airport | Neighboring bases | What makes the drive vary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubud | About 1 h 15 to 1 h 45 | Sidemen, Sanur | Crossing Denpasar, busy at rush hour |
| Uluwatu | About 45 to 60 min | Canggu, Sanur | Jams at the foot of the Bukit late in the day |
| Canggu | About 45 to 75 min | Uluwatu, Ubud | Very variable southern traffic, narrow roads |
| Sanur | About 30 to 40 min | Nusa Penida, Ubud | Expressway, few surprises |
| Sidemen | About 1 h 45 | Amed, Ubud | Narrow, steep valley roads |
| Amed | About 2 h 30 to 3 h | Sidemen, Munduk | Long coastal road, to drive in daylight |
| Munduk | About 2 h 30 | Ubud, Amed | Mountain road and bends, never at night |
| Nusa Penida | About 30 to 40 min to Sanur, then 30 to 45 min by boat | Sanur, Uluwatu | Fast boat from Sanur, then damaged roads on the island |
The means of transport are detailed in the guide getting around Bali, the sequence of bases in the itineraries, the neighborhoods and nightly prices in where to stay in Bali.
Choosing your region by traveler profile
First trip: Ubud, then Uluwatu or Sanur. Family: Sanur, Ubud, Amed. Surfing: Uluwatu for experienced surfers, Canggu to progress. Quiet: Sidemen, Amed, Munduk. Remote work: Canggu or Ubud. Nusa Penida is best kept for fit travelers.
8 destinations shown
- Bukit peninsula
- 3 to 4 nights
Uluwatu
Limestone cliffs, coves at the bottom of staircases and reef waves, on a sprawling peninsula where nothing gets done without two wheels.
- Southwest coast
- 2 to 4 nights
Canggu
Cafés, coworking spaces and accessible waves, in an area concreted over in a few years where the rice fields are shrinking and the traffic jams growing.
- Southeast coast
- 2 to 3 nights
Sanur
A sea sheltered by the reef, a promenade along the beach and the port for Nusa Penida: the quiet resort of the south, a little dated.
- East
- 2 to 3 nights
Sidemen
A valley of rice fields at the foot of Agung, weavers and paths between the fields: peace, and almost nothing “to do”.
- East coast
- 2 to 4 nights
Amed
A coast of fishing villages facing the reef and Agung: snorkeling from the beach, diving and very quiet evenings, far from everything.
- Northern highlands
- 2 to 3 nights
Munduk
Cool highlands, waterfalls, coffee and clove plantations, mountain lakes: the Bali of walkers, often in the mist.
- Island to the southeast
- 2 nights
Nusa Penida
The most spectacular cliffs in the region and the manta rays, at the price of broken roads and viewpoints packed at noon.
Frequently asked questions
Which region of Bali should you choose for a first trip?
Ubud for the culture and the rice fields, then a base by the sea: Uluwatu for the cliffs and surfing, Sanur for a calm sea. Sidemen adds the quiet of the east if you have more than a week.
How many bases should you plan in Bali?
Two bases in a week, three in ten days, five or more beyond two weeks. Stay at least two nights everywhere: each change of accommodation costs half a day.
Should you avoid Kuta and Seminyak?
Not necessarily, but they are not bases for discovering Bali. Kuta suits a first surf lesson or a night near the airport, Seminyak half a day of shops and restaurants.
Which region of Bali for a family?
Sanur for the sea sheltered by the reef and the short transfers, Ubud for walks and culture, Amed for snorkeling from the beach with children who are at ease in the water.
