Bali Regions

April 30, 2024

The island of Bali is located at 8.6500° S, 115.2167° E as part of Indonesia in the South Pacific, just above Australia. The island encompasses 5,632 square Kilometers. The capital is Denpasar, the currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), and Bali is the only predominantly Hindu area of Indonesia. Other than Bali, Indonesia has the biggest single population of Muslims in the world. Bali regions are made up of North, South, East, West, and Central with many exciting areas to visit.

There are good reasons why Bali is referred to as the Island of the Gods. Bali is truly the jewel of Asia with a plethora of things to do and see. Unique Culture, Scuba Diving, Ancient Temples, Upscale Spas, Perfect Surf, Exotic Volcanoes, Great Food, Exciting Nightlife, Abundant Shopping, and Extremely Low prices on everything make Bali Indonesia the perfect place to visit for those looking to relax and/or have adventure. A good place to start when visiting Bali is getting familiar with the areas and towns on and around the island. Here is a breakdown of the best places to visit on Bali.

Bail Region & Town Map

Our Favorite Bali Regions

Amed

As of late, the Amed region of Bali has become an all-encompassing name for a number of small fishing villages on Bali’s northeastern coast, including Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Lean, Selang, Banyuning, and Aas. If you’ve come to paradise to catch up on some much-needed R&R while enjoying the views of tropical island life, skip Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud and head straight to Amed, Bali. Located approximately a 2 to 3-hour drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, we highly suggest a trip to this east coast oasis for a relaxing getaway as well as some of the best scuba diving, snorkeling, and free diving opportunities in Bali.

While local residents will tell you they’re trying hard to boost tourism to this area of the island, its quiet, relaxing nature is really what makes it special, in our opinion. Take from that what you will. The busiest months are June, July, August, and December when European visitors dominate the market, but outside of these months, you’ll likely enjoy a smaller backpacking community or expats in a growing number of available accommodations.

Bali Regions Amed Scuba Diving

Reasons to Visit or Stay in Amed:

Friendly locals
Escape Bali’s touristy areas
Scenic views of Mount Agung
Charming homestays and hotels for every budget
Fun, small-town vibe
Local reggae bands and beach bars
Calm water! Sorry, surfers.
Amazing sunrise views
Excellent scuba diving & snorkeling
Learn how to free dive, or improve your existing skills
RELAX!

Things To Do In Amed:

Scuba Diving – USS Liberty Shipwreck, Jemeluk Wall, Japanese Shipwreck, Pyramids, Bunutan, Gili Selang, and more!
Hiking – Mount Agung (overnight hike to reach summit by sunrise)
Salt Making
Outrigger Boat Tour
Great Beaches
Spa Treatments
Yoga Class

Balian – Bali Indonesia

Balian was once a secret that everyone seems to know about. It is a decent trek to get here, which discourages many visitors. If you want to surf this spot, we suggest staying at the Gajah Mina Beach Resort. The grounds are stunning, very close to the beach, and many units have views of the break. They have a great restaurant, excellent service, and low prices. If you make the hour-and-a-half journey from Kuta, these are some of the things you’ll be blessed with. Tip: Get there early before others make the journey.

Bali Regions Balian

Reasons to Visit or Stay in Balian:

Balian has many lefts and rights
It’s almost always bigger up here than in the South
Balian is a friendly wave, relatively
There are plenty of waves even for a crowd
The beaches are beautiful
No surfing distractions – very quiet & mellow area
Sunrise and sunset sessions with only those staying in the area

Surf Review:

We loved surfing at Balian. The wave is much more forgiving than other spots in Bali, though the waves are usually a lot bigger than other spots. This is good because if it’s the only place breaking, you can surf. On the other hand, if other spots are working, you’ll have bigger waves with less of a crowd.

It breaks on black sand, stones, and flat rock at the mouth of the Balian River south of the town of Antosari. The runoff from the river can get pretty nasty at times, so bring peroxide and earplugs.

When the waves get really big, new spots open up on the outside. Balian can offer up barrels, long walls, and can get racy in sections. In our opinion, it’s one of the more forgiving spots to surf in Bali when not too big. The lefts are a bit longer and better than the rights. Also, watch the winds because they can get beaten up later in the day.

Bali Regions Surfing

Canggu – Bali Indonesia

One of the newest go-to towns for travel on Bali, Canggu is rapidly becoming one of the trendiest hideaways in paradise. With the same artsy charm as Ubud and the same hip dining scene as Seminyak, only with a quarter of the crowds, we love this area for many reasons and highly recommend staying for at least a couple of days.

Bali Regions Canggu

Reasons to Visit or Stay in Canggu:

Surfing – good for beginners and advanced surfers
Sunset at Echo Beach
Beautiful views of rice fields
Small-town vibe
Shopping events
Excellent cafes, coffee shops, and cocktail bars
Designer accommodation options

Things To Do in Canggu:

SURF! – Beginners head to Batu Bolong, experienced surfers head to Echo Beach.
Happy hour at Old Man’s – A family restaurant by day, with a fun night scene.
Seafood Barbecue at Echo Beach Club
Brunch at Crate
Tanah Lot Temple
Canggu Markets
Machinery Bali Cafe – Coffee & Pastries

Kuta – Bali Indonesia

Kuta Town is well known for being a wild tourist town with bumping clubs, tons of shopping, extremely aggressive salespeople, crowded beaches, and basically a whole lot of fun. We personally enjoy all of this activity but in moderation.

Bali Regions Kuta

Reasons to Visit or Stay in Kuta:

GREAT shopping
Waterbom Waterpark
Fun nightclubs
Vibrant, bustling scene
Fun beach break surfing
Easy walking distance to tons of restaurants and bars
Live music & DJ sets
Relaxed beach lounging
Cheap happy hour deals
Cheap spa services
Learning To Surf

Reasons to Stay Elsewhere:

Very crowded/touristy
Beach and ocean are often littered with trash
Hassling from street salesmen
Loud/noisy, even into late night hours
Lack of culture or ‘local’ feel
Check out Legian, Seminyak, or Canggu

Nusa Dua

If you’re looking for adventure and are on a budget, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. While there are a handful of homestays and budget rentals, Nusa Dua is notoriously the most expensive area in all of Bali, with prices that easily rival other expensive tropical destinations like Hawaii or Tahiti. Nusa Dua is for those looking to relax, enjoy (mostly) calm ocean conditions, and be pampered.

Bali Regions Nusa Dua

From the Grand Hyatt to the Ayodya and Mulia, this strip of coastline holds several options for high-end resorts. You get great service, all the amenities, and great views, but you’re absolutely going to pay for it. One of the big pluses of staying in Nusa Dua is the quality and atmosphere at the beach. The sand is regularly groomed and trash is picked up. Sadly, many beaches in Bali have trash on them. (The local people haven’t quite figured out that plastic doesn’t biodegrade.)

Also, local vendors are not permitted to solicit without your interest. You’ll notice that they have numbers on their hats. They have special rules in this area and are required to share profits with the hotels. We mention this because, at many other beaches, you’ll be barraged with vendors shoving sarongs and shirts in your face. They only approach if you show interest. A nice perk.

As far as entertainment goes, the closest thing you’ll find is the daily torch-lighting ceremony held at certain resorts or a lounge singer here and there. This area wasn’t built for a party but more for lounging and pampering.

Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is a must-see while traveling around Bali. Just off the Southeast coast of Bali, Nusa Lembongan is a small, sleepy island of seaweed farmers with great waves, excellent restaurants, and no cars! This guide covers everything from beaches to restaurants, ferry transportation and accommodations, seaweed farming, helpful tips, surf spots, and more! For your convenience, use the Table of Contents below to navigate to specific categories of information that interest you.

Bali Regions Nusa Lembongan

Things To Know About Nusa Lembongan:

Be well prepared with money and a map.
This is a sleepy little village so prepare to fully unwind. (Book and a hammock style)
Rent a scooter or bike to explore the island.
Order the seafood!
Get up early, go to bed early.
Make friends with visitors and locals.
Only surf on a medium to high tide.

Seminyak & Legian – Bali Indonesia

Seminyak is one of the most popular tourist towns in Bali, and for good reason. While attracting a slightly different crowd than the clubbing-inclined visitors of Kuta, Seminyak, and Legian offer a huge variety of chic shops, restaurants, bars, boutique hotels, resorts, upscale villas, relaxing oceanside venues, and more. We love this area for its great nightlife, cuisine, and fun beach-town vibe.

Bali Regions Seminyak

Reasons to Visit or Stay in Seminyak:

Foodie’s paradise
Romantic cocktail bars
Spa services at your doorstep
Fun surfing and beach lounging
Easy walking distance to lots of attractions
Designer shopping
Upscale galleries & boutiques
Excellent sunset views
Huge variety of accommodations for every budget

Things To Do In Seminyak:

Find your perfect sunset spot – Ku De Ta, Potato Head Beach Club, La Lucciola, La Plancha
Get a spa treatment – Spa Bali, call ahead to make an appointment. Evenings are less busy.
Have a pool day – If your hotel does not have a pool find a nice one. Usually, for a drink and food order, you can access the pool area.
Enjoy delicious food – Warung Eny’s, Warung Ocha, Lacalaca Cantina, Cafe Marzano, Sakanaya, Bambu.
Experience the nightlife – Char Char Bar & Grill, Red Carpet Champagne Bar, La Favela Bali
Surf – Great place for beginners!
Festivals – Nyepi Celebration, Pawai Ogoh-Ogoh

Ubud – Bali, Indonesia

If you have the chance, it’s worth staying in Ubud for at least a few days. In and around Ubud are magnificent ancient temples, great shopping, multi-leveled rice fields, waterfalls, a majestic active volcano, the largest freshwater lake in Bali, the Sacred Monkey Forest, entertaining dance shows, organic small coffee farms, and much more.

Bali Regions Ubud

Things To Do In Ubud:

Shopping – Make sure to haggle the price, and be ready to have items persistently shoved in your face (this is everywhere in Bali, just say no thank you and move on if you are not interested)
Bali Temple Tour – Hire a driver for the day. Check out Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi, Pura Tirtha Empul, Gunung Batur, Donau Batur
Visit A Coffee Farm – Good local coffee and try the Kopi Luwak
Legong Dance & Ramayana Show – Great dancing, unique music, and fantastic costumes will entertain you in the open air of the Ubud Palace.
Sacred Monkey Forest – For the brave, the Monkey Forest is one of the most entertaining places to visit on Bali. Located in Ubud, you’ll enjoy all the wild antics and fun of the forest monkeys.

Uluwatu – Bali, Indonesia

Uluwatu is an area of peace, beauty, and world-class waves. This area is much slower than what you would expect in Kuta, but that’s one of the main reasons to visit or stay in Uluwatu. If you’re in search of picture-perfect white sand beaches, beach barbecues, excellent surfing, and world-class cultural experiences with a view, you can’t miss this popular area of Bali.

Why You Should Visit/Stay In Uluwatu:

Uluwatu Temple sunset ceremony
Jungle hiking
Relax at Blue Point
Endless left-hand waves
An array of gorgeous beaches
Cliffside beach and sunset views

Things To Do In Uluwatu:

Surf – Not for beginners. Uluwatu Beach, Padang Padang, Balangan, Bingin, Blue Point. (Check out Surfing In Uluwatu)
Relax – Karma Kandara, Finn’s Beach Club
Seafood barbecue at Jimbaran Bay – Beachside seafood at its best
Kecak Fire Dance – Daily at Uluwatu Temple
Blue Point – Single Fin Deck for sunset!
Live Large – Worth the splurge on resorts here if you can afford it. Views, infinity pools, comfort, food, amenities, and more!

Lombok’s Gili Islands

Not many travelers realize there are actually 26 different Gili Islands surrounding Bail’s neighbor island of Lombok. Here are some things to know about the Gili Islands before visiting.

Religion: As a part of Lombok, the Gili Islands are Muslim. Nude sunbathing is strictly frowned upon (and by our estimation, a bad idea anyway considering the number of terribly sunburnt visitors we saw), and walking around with a bathing suit cover-up is respectful, though by no means enforced.

Legal Issues: Also, there is no police station (and therefore no police officers) on any of the three Gili Islands, unless they decide to make a visit from neighboring Lombok. This means that drugs, including mushrooms, marijuana, ecstasy, etc. are fairly readily available and advertised widely. Take caution, though – if you are caught buying, selling, or using any of these drugs, Indonesia is known worldwide for its extremely harsh drug laws, which can (and have) included the death penalty. Be smart!

Getting Around: There are absolutely no motorized vehicles of any kind on the Gilis. While each island can be traversed end to end in a matter of hours, the best way to get around is by bicycle or simply walking. Some locals have electric bikes and scooters, but you’ll largely enjoy the lack of noise from cars or bikes so common in Bali. Another way to get around is by cidomo, or horse cart, though we’ve read and seen many horrible things about the treatment of these animals – including their use to transport heavy cement and tools all around the island, being given ocean water as drinking water, and forced to stand in the direct sunlight all day – and chose not to use them during our stay.

Money: Gili Trawangan and Air now have ATMs, but plan to bring extra cash if you are traveling to Gili Meno. Also, expect the Gilis to be slightly more expensive than Bali, from accommodation to drinking and eating out.

Weather: Gili Air is literally one of the top 3 hottest places I’ve ever been. For the first (and hopefully only) time in my life, I got extremely sunburnt laying under a beach umbrella. And keep in mind, I live on Bali and regularly see sunshine.

Things to Bring: In addition to eco-friendly sunscreen and a hat, don’t forget your camera and snorkeling gear!

Marine Life: We were amazed to see marine life like clownfish, hawksbill turtles, green sea turtles, mantis shrimp, feather duster starfish, and more right offshore!

Bali Regions Gili Islands

Gili Air

The Gilis are an ideal travel spot for just about everyone, from partiers wanting to dance till sunrise, honeymooners seeking scenic sunsets and sexy time, scuba divers looking for epic conditions, and those just trying to kick back in the sand and sun. As opposed to the boisterous Gili T and quiet escape of Meno, Gili Air is the perfect middle ground and our personal favorite of the three Gili Islands located here.

Getting here can be quite the chore so make sure to do your research about the best boats or planes to take you as well as the weather on the day you are going. Rough seas can make a boat trip unbearable. Also, since it does take some time and planning to get there and back, it is really not worth the trip unless you plan on staying a couple of nights – otherwise, we recommend exploring a new area of Bali, and/or heading to Nusa Lembongan for an easier journey.

Bali Regions Gili Air

Reasons to Visit or Stay on Gili Air:

A perfect mix of beach bars, restaurants, and calm, secluded swimming areas
Good assortment of accommodation options for all budgets
Nice snorkeling, scuba diving, and SUP opportunities on the eastern shoreline
Small surf break to the south (may need a boat to get there, as it’s quite far offshore and largely depends on tides)
Less crowded than Gili Trawangan
More crowded (and more to see and do) than Gili Meno
Excellent views of Lombok and Bali

Gili Gede

While much less popular than the Gilis just off of northwest Lombok – specifically Trawangan, Meno, and Gili Air – the ‘Secret Gilis’, including Gili Gede, Ringgit, Asahan, and Layan, are quickly becoming the newest getaway for those seeking an intimate escape from the crowds. As with any new up-and-coming island, the best time to come is now!

Bali Regions Gili Gede

Reasons to Visit or Stay on Gili Gede:

You enjoy peace and quiet, away from the crowds
You’ve been to Bali or Lombok and are looking for more of a ‘local’ experience
Secluded, white-sand beaches sound appealing
Shorter travel time to and from Bali than the most popular Gilis
Intimate travel experience with a loved one or group of friends/family

Things To Know About Gili Gede:

Pearl farming and fishing remain as the main industries on Gili Gede, though tourism is likely to make a big splash in the coming years. Take time to meet the locals, who are all very interesting and friendly, and remember to dress appropriately (bathing suit cover-ups when walking around town, etc.), as it is a Muslim island.

There are currently no ATMs on Gili Gede, so remember to bring plenty of rupiah!

Keep in mind that dining options are limited and there are no bars, so bring what you need, and remember to dispose of all literally properly during your visit.