Bali for a first visit: where to base yourself
Guides · · 2 min read
Bali's traffic is the thing nobody photographs. Plan around it and the island is as good as promised.
Two bases, not one
Split the week. Ubud inland for rice terraces, temples and forest; the south or east coast for the sea. Trying to do both from one hotel means two hours in a car every day.
- Ubud - Tegallalang, the monkey forest, Mount Batur at sunrise, yoga and cafés.
- Seminyak and Canggu - restaurants, surf, sunsets, and the most traffic.
- Uluwatu - cliffs, the temple at sunset, better surf, quieter nights.
- Sanur and the east - calm water, families, boats to Nusa Penida and the Gilis.
What to book ahead
Mount Batur sunrise treks, Nusa Penida day trips and anything involving a boat. The rest can wait until you arrive.
When
April to October is the dry season and peak. November to March brings afternoon rain and lower prices; January is the wettest. Nyepi, the day of silence, closes the island completely, including the airport - check the date before booking.
Getting around
Ride-hailing apps work in most places but are restricted around some beaches and markets by local agreement. Scooters are cheap and dangerous - an international permit and a helmet are both required in theory and worth having in practice. Drivers for a full day cost less than two airport transfers.
Respect
Temples require a sarong and shoulders covered; most sites lend one. Ceremonies close roads without notice, which is part of being there rather than an inconvenience.