Where to stay in Bali, and how to spend the days.
Pirinç terasları, tropik ormanlar ve sörf kıyıları. Doğayla iç içe bir konaklamadan sahil hayatına uzanan farklı deneyimler.
The area shapes the trip more than the hotel does. Pick one and the hotels below follow.
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Bali is not one place. Ubud is for rice terraces, temples and slow mornings. Uluwatu is for cliffs and sunsets. Canggu and Seminyak are for cafés and evenings out. Sanur is for a calm beach. Driving between them takes longer than the map suggests, so pick your base first.
Temples, rice terraces, beaches and cafés from the plans, each with a short note.
Everyone comes here for the sunset, so it will be crowded. My tip: don't just watch the Kecak dance and leave. Walk to the far end of the cliff path, away from the cameras, and watch the sun go into the ocean with your own eyes, not through your phone. Mind the monkeys, they grab sunglasses.
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One of the most famous waves in Bali, and not one for beginners. If you're still learning, watch from the cafés on the cliff: seeing the lineup from above is a show in itself. Going down to the cave? Only at low tide; at high tide the waves come right in.
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The royal family still lives in the back. You can walk through the front courtyards for free, no sarong needed, just cover your shoulders and knees. Across the road the art market is all bargaining; if a price isn't right, the same thing is a few stalls along. Stay for the Legong dance in the evening: buy the ticket at the gate and come early for a seat.
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Don't just watch from the side, get in the water. Come early, before the crowds. Stepping under the cold spring water first thing in the morning, before the island wakes up: for me, that's Bali. Leave your phone in the bag.
Read the noteA good coffee stop on the road to Uluwatu Temple, just before you get there. A smoothie bowl, or coffee and something sweet. No air con inside, so sit in the garden.
Read the noteA small coffee shop with a teal front in south Sanur; the barista is a local latte art champion. Get the oat milk cappuccino or the chai latte, and the eggs Benedict if you're hungry. It's tiny, so big groups should come early.
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Everyone up top is queuing for the swings. Skip them, come early in the morning and walk down to the lowest terraces. It's quiet down there, and you can hear the water running through the channels.
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The temple on a rock in the sea, the classic Bali sunset. It gets crowded, so be there an hour early for a good spot. At low tide you can walk to the base of the rock and get a blessing from the priests. Have your driver wait for you, finding a ride back is a pain.
Read the noteShort answers to the questions people ask first.
Ubud for rice terraces, temples and slow mornings. Uluwatu for cliffs, beaches and sunsets. Canggu or Seminyak for cafés and evenings out. Sanur for a calm beach. For a first trip, pick one base and do day trips from there.
