Top 10 Things to Do in Bali (2025 Complete Guide)

Bali rewards every type of traveller, and the top 10 things to do here are: visit Tanah Lot temple at sunset, surf Kuta or Canggu, cycle through Ubud's rice terraces, attend a Kecak fire dance, trek Mount Batur at sunrise, snorkel at Amed, take a cooking class in Ubud, explore Uluwatu temple, white-water raft the Ayung River, and spend a healing day at a traditional Balinese spa. Each of these delivers something genuinely distinct, and together they cover the spiritual, adventurous, cultural, and restorative sides of the island.

Tanah Lot is perhaps Bali's most photographed sea temple, and for very good reason. Perched on a dramatic offshore rock formation in Tabanan, it glows in extraordinary colors during the final hour before sunset. Arrive by 5:00 PM to secure a clear viewing spot on the cliffs, and consider hiring a local guide who can explain the temple's Hindu Dharma significance in detail.

Surfing in Bali suits everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. Kuta Beach remains the best place for first timers, with gentle rolling waves and dozens of affordable surf schools lining the shore. More experienced surfers head to Canggu for the famous Echo Beach break, or push further south to Uluwatu and Padang Padang for powerful reef breaks that challenge even the very best riders on the planet.

The Ubud area is the cultural and artistic heart of Bali. Cycling through the Campuhan Ridge Walk or down through Tegalalang Rice Terraces gives you an intimate view of traditional Balinese farming life that no bus tour can replicate. Book a morning cycling tour with a local operator such as Bali Eco Cycling, which departs around 8:00 AM before the midday heat arrives. Follow the ride with an afternoon Balinese cooking class where you visit a local market, select fresh spices, and prepare dishes like lawar, sate lilit, and black rice pudding under expert guidance.

For cultural performances, the Kecak fire dance staged at Uluwatu Temple every evening at 6:00 PM is a genuine highlight of any Bali trip. Around 100 male performers chant rhythmically while dramatizing scenes from the Hindu Ramayana epic, all with the Indian Ocean as a backdrop. Tickets cost roughly IDR 150,000 per person and are available at the gate or through your accommodation.

Trekking Mount Batur is a bucket-list experience that demands a 2:00 AM departure from Kintamani. The two-hour climb in the dark rewards you with one of Southeast Asia's most spectacular sunrises, with a view stretching across Lake Batur, neighboring volcanoes, and on clear mornings all the way to Lombok. A licensed guide is mandatory and typically costs between IDR 300,000 and IDR 450,000 for the full guided experience including breakfast cooked using volcanic steam at the summit.

Amed, a quiet fishing village on Bali's northeast coast, is the island's finest snorkeling and diving destination. The Japanese Shipwreck just offshore sits in shallow water and teems with colorful reef fish, making it accessible even to novice snorkelers. You can also explore the coral gardens of nearby Jemeluk Bay, where visibility regularly exceeds 20 meters. Stay overnight in Amed to catch the sunrise over Mount Agung reflecting across the dark volcanic sand beach, which is a truly rare and peaceful Bali moment.

Finally, no visit to Bali is complete without a traditional Balinese massage and wellness experience. The island's spa culture runs deep, and treatments like the Balinese massage, boreh body scrub, and flower bath are rooted in genuine healing traditions rather than being tourist inventions. Fivelements Retreat in Mambal and Taksu Spa in Ubud consistently receive outstanding reviews, but even a neighborhood spa in Seminyak offering a 90-minute traditional massage for IDR 120,000 delivers an authentic and restorative experience that will leave you ready for your next Bali adventure.