Bali, the Island of the Gods, the home of epic sunsets, beautiful beaches, jaw dropping scenery, lush rice fields, and majestic temples. With such a diverse range of amazing sights and activities, planning an itinerary for this bucket list destination can be daunting. There is so much to see and do, and you will always leave wishing you had more time, but this 2 week Bali itinerary hits all the top spots and has the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure for any first time visitor.
Canggu/Seminyak – 3 nights
With laid back beach vibes and close proximity to Denpasar airport, the coastal areas of Canggu and Seminyak are the perfect starting point for your visit. Here, you can get over any jetlag and allow yourself to adjust to the temperatures and the humidity.
Depending on traffic, the drive from the airport to either Canggu or Seminyak should take around 20 to 30 minutes. Once you’re settled, this first few days can be spent soaking up the sun, enjoying relaxing and very affordable massages, and exploring the foodie scene.
If you’re not one for lying on the beach and prefer more active days instead, take a trip to see the famous temple at Tanah Lot, or spend a day at Waterbom water park in Kuta.
Despite being such close neighbours, Canggu and Seminyak feel like two very different places. Where you choose to stay depends on what kind of atmosphere you are looking for, but it is very easy to move between the two so don’t stress too much about making the “right” decision!
Seminyak
An Australian tourist hotspot, Seminyak is packed full of everything you could possibly need in a sun holiday destination. There are plenty of beaches to choose from, as well as accommodations to suit any style and budget. And if shopping is your thing, Seminyak has more than enough cute little boutiques and souvenir shops to keep any shopaholic entertained.
The food scene is very different to Canggu’s laid back cafe culture, with a bit of a more formal restaurant vibe. And the downside to the touristy atmosphere is that the local sales people can be quite aggressive and relentless in their tactics, making it almost impossible to walk anywhere without being on the receiving end of countless offers of all kinds of merchandise at a “good price.”
Canggu
Hailed as one of the top digital nomad destinations in Southeast Asia, Canggu is a popular spot with expats and remote workers. This gives it a much less touristy feel than Seminyak, and for this reason, it may not appeal to some holiday makers. It definitely shouldn’t be disregarded though, as the cafe and restaurant culture here is second to none, and the beaches can easily rival those in nearby Seminyak.
With a diverse and eclectic mix of Instagram worthy cafes, traditional Indonesian warungs and international cuisine, Canggu is a foodie heaven. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for, with most places offering an impressive selection of vegan friendly options, and a number of fully plant based eateries to choose from.
Uluwatu – 2 nights
Tucked away in the southern part of Bali known as the Bukit Peninsula, Uluwatu is less than an hour’s drive from Canggu or Seminyak, but once you step out of the taxi, you will feel like you are a million miles away from the bustle of where you’ve just come from. Known for its dramatic clifftop views and strong surf culture, Uluwatu has a beautifully slow pace of life that I instantly fell in love with and felt very sad to leave.
It is home to one of Bali’s most popular temples, Uluwatu Temple, where you can see the traditional Balinese Kecak dance at sunset with the cliffs and the temple providing a dramatic backdrop. And with plenty of white sand beaches suitable for both lounging and surfing, you’ll be spoilt for choice of where to spend your leisure time. Make sure to bring good walking shoes as some of the beaches are accessed via steep steps, and keep an eye on your belongings as there will be plenty of cheeky monkeys hanging about.
Nusa islands – 3 nights
This is where your days start to get a lot busier and more jam-packed. From Uluwatu, head to Sanur to get the fast boat to the Nusa islands. You can use 12Go Asia to check times and providers and to book tickets.
This trio of islands off the southeast coast of Bali vary in size and all have their own unique character. There are daily boats running between the islands, making island hopping possible, so I recommend booking accommodation on whichever of the islands you want to spend your evenings.
Nusa Penida
The largest of the three Nusa islands, Penida is also the most undeveloped but has the biggest choice of sights and activities. You will need at least one full day just to see the main sights, but you could easily spend multiple days exploring here.
Check out my post on what to do on Nusa Penida for a more detailed guide on what the island has to offer.
My recommendations for a one day tour are:
- Angel’s Billabong
- Broken Beach
- Kelinking
- Crystal Bay
Nusa Lembongan
My favourite of the Nusa islands, Nusa Lembongan is small enough to explore on foot or by bicycle, but big enough to have plenty of hidden gems to discover. With impressive beaches and coastal views, spectacular sunsets, beach clubs, and even a mangrove forest, Lembongan has an alluring charm that is difficult to describe and impossible to resist.
Read my guide to what to do on Nusa Lembongan here.
Nusa Ceningan
The smallest of the three islands, Nusa Ceningan still has plenty to offer when it comes to jaw-dropping views and scenery and soft white sands. Home to the Blue Lagoon and Secret Beach, it’s worth heading across the bridge from Lembongan to visit for a few hours at least.
You can read all about what to do on Nusa Ceningan here.
Gili islands – 3 nights
Not technically part of Bali itself, a visit to the nearby Gili islands is still an absolute must on any Bali itinerary. Fast boats run daily connecting the Gils to Bali and also to the Nusa islands. 12Go Asia is a great site for checking times and booking in advance.
As with the Nusa islands, each of the 3 Gili islands has its own style and character, ranging from the party atmosphere of Gili Trawangan to the romantic honeymoon ambience of Gili Meno, with Gili Air offering an easygoing mix of the two. Once again, there are regular daily transfers between the islands, so try to base yourself wherever you would like to spend your evenings.
A combination of offshore coral reefs, calm conditions and crystal clear waters makes the Gilis a perfect location for snorkelling and diving, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the most popular dive destinations in Southeast Asia.
Gili Trawangan
The biggest of the 3 islands, Gili T is still small enough to walk around the entire coastline in under 2 hours. Also known as the party island, this is definitely the most popular and has the biggest choice of accommodations and activities.
Gili Air
Smaller than Gili T, Gili Air still has a lively buzz and plenty of beachfront bars. It combines a somewhat toned down version of the buzz of Gili T with the tropical island essence of Gili Meno, and is my favourite of the 3 islands.
Gili Meno
The smallest and quietest of the Gilis, Meno has a much less touristy feel and a slower pace. It is most popular with honeymooners and those looking for a more deserted island vibe.
You can read my complete guide to visiting the Gili islands here.
Ubud – 3 nights
No trip to Bali could be complete without visiting Ubud, the island’s spiritual and cultural capital. Surrounded by rainforest and rice paddies, this town in central Bali is home to palaces and temples, and is the perfect base for day tripping to some of Bali’s most popular and iconic sights.
There is so much to do here that you certainly won’t be able to see everything in a couple of days. I recommend renting a scooter if you are confident driving one. It will give you so much more flexibility to tour around and build your own daily itineraries. There are many tours available to book on sites like Viator.com, but they can be quite rigid and restricted as they tend to group attractions by geographical area and do not leave much room for mixing it up. Alternatively, consider hiring a driver who will work with you to build your own day trip based on your wish list of what you want to see.
Attractions in and around Ubud centre which can be seen in a day, either on foot or using taxis:
- Sacred Monkey Forest
- Saraswati Temple
- Ubud Palace
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Ubud Art Markets
Located a short drive outside of Ubud centre:
- Tegalalang Rice Terraces
- Tegenungan Waterfall
- Tirta Empul Temple
Useful Tips, Information And Links For Planning Your Trip
- Bali has one airport, located in Denpasar. You can use Skyscanner to search for flights.
- The currency in Bali is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). You can find the current exchange rates here, but my rule of thumb for my time here has been 15,000 IDR to €1.
- ATMs are plentiful in areas like Canggu, Seminyak and Ubud, but harder to find on the smaller islands. Nusa Ceningan has no ATMs that I am aware of. Try to carry some cash at all times as some places don’t accept card payments. Use the same common sense when selecting and using ATMs that you would at home.
- You will need a Visa On Arrival which you can purchase when you land at Denpasar airport. It costs 500,000 IDR (roughly €35), and you can pay in IDR, Euro or USD.
- Booking.com have a large and varied selection of accommodation in Bali. They also have a tiered loyalty scheme where you can earn discounts and free breakfasts at some properties.
Getting Around In Bali
There is no public transport in Bali. Your options when moving between locations are to hire a driver, book a taxi or use a rideshare app.
Bluebird are the official taxis. They use a meter which removes the need to negotiate a price with your driver. Don’t allow yourself to be fooled by blue coloured taxis masquerading as official Bluebird cars. When you get into the car, always check that your driver is going to run the meter. If you find yourself using a non metered taxi or a private driver, always agree a price before setting off.
There are 2 rideshare apps, Grab and Gojek. You will need to download the apps to use these and will need Wifi or data to use them.
If you need to negotiate a price with a local driver, try to do a little research beforehand. Use a site like Rome 2 Rio to get an estimate of how much the journey should cost and use this as the foundation for your negotiations. If you feel that the price is too low, make sure to tip if you are happy with the service. It is possible that you have found an honest local driver who really wants the work.
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