0
Asia Bali

15 Amazing Things I Love About Bali

What I love so much about Bali is that it offers something for everyone. Whether you’re after boutique shopping, amazing wave breaks, deserted waterfalls, yoga retreats, romantic villas or Insta-worthy cafes. Bali truly has it all! There’s a reason why people keep coming back year after year, myself included. So while there’s a lot to love about Bali, hopefully this small teaser will entice you to visit this paradise known as the ‘Island of Gods’.

1. Temples of Every Corner

It can feel like there’s a temple on literally every corner in Bali, but some of my favourites that stand out are Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and its scenic lake backdrop, plus the Saraswati Water Palace conveniently located in the centre of Ubud. This one also makes for a great photo-op thanks to the beautiful lotus pond and water garden. The temple also plays host to a nightly traditional dance performance. Taman Ujung is also amazing due to its size all the variety of places to explore within the old palace. Lempuyang Temple can be a bit of a hit or miss depending on how cooperative the weather is. We arrived at sunrise and spent about an hour waiting for the fog to clear until you had a picture perfect view of Mount Agung. Some friends visited that same day just a few hours later and the clouds had rolled in and there was zero visibility of the volcano, so it really just depends on how lucky you are with the weather as to how much you might like this temple.

Ujung Water Palace in Bali
Staircase surrounded by gardens at Ujung Water Palace, Bali
Lempuyang temple with Mount Batur volcano in the background
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple floating on the lake in Bali
Saraswati Water Palace and lotus pond in Ubud

2. Sunrise at the Rice Terraces

Perhaps what Ubud is most well known for are their famed rice terraces. While you’re sure to see rice paddies scattered throughout Bali, it’s the Tegalalang Rice Terraces you’ve most likely seen splashed across postcards and Google. If you visit during the middle of the day like I did on my first visit, prepare to carefully balance across the thin terraced paths as rows of people try to pass each other in the opposite direction. There will always be someone who falls into a muddy rice paddy, just try to make sure that person isn’t you. On my second visit I went at sunrise to avoid the heat and the crowds and needless to say this was a much more beautiful and peaceful experience.

Group of girls walking along the rice terraces in Tegalaland Ubud
Walking through Tegalalang Rice Terraces in Ubud
Walking through Tegalalang Rice Terraces in Ubud

3. Breakfast Buffets

I mean honestly, isn’t this the whole point of going on holiday? The best part of breakfast buffet’s in Bali is that:

  1. You get to eat your breakfast outside and
  2. There’s normally some epic view to accompany said breakfast.
Breakfast table by the infinity pool at Munduk Moding Plantation hotel in Bali
Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa
Breakfast table overlooking the jungle at Padma Resort Ubud
Padma Resort Ubud
Floating breakfast in the swimming pool at Berry Amour Villas, Bali
Berry Amour Romantic Villas
Cheer-sing over cocktails overlooking the swimming pool at Padma Resort Ubud
Padma Resort Ubud

4. Infinity Pools

Bali understands that it’s not a real pool unless it’s an infinity pool and here you’ll have an endless supply of options when it comes to choosing your view. 

Infinity pool in the jungle at Chapung Sebali hotel in Ubud
Chapung Sebali
Sitting on the edge of the infinity pool at Padma Resort Ubud
Padma Resort Ubud
Standing on the edge of the infinity pool at Munduk Moding Plantation,Bali
Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa
Sitting in the rooftop infinity pool at Alila Seminyak Resort
Alila Seminyak

5. Seriously Instagramable Cafes

Insta-worthy restaurants and cafes is something Bali does better than most places in the world. Truth be told, I had a list of over 30 places I wanted to eat at, but sadly there’s only so many times in a day you can eat, particularly when you spend most of the day full and questioning why you ate so much at the breakfast buffet. Some of my favourite places to eat and snap are:
Seminyak: Sea Circus, Motel Mexicola, Kynd Cafe, Sisterfields, Grocer and Grind, Cafe Organic, Bambu and Merah Putih.
Canggu: The Lawn, Finns Beach Club and Crate Cafe. Uluwatu: Nalu Bowls, Single Fin and Rock Bar.

Brunch at Kynd Cafe, Bali
Colourful art on the outside of Sea Circus restaurant in Seminyak
Motel Mexicola merchandise store

6. Hotel Entrances

Visit the driveway of the W Bali hotel in Seminyak for some major Kyoto Bamboo Forest vibes.

Bamboo archway at W Bali hotel in Seminyak
Bamboo archway at W Bali hotel in Seminyak
Bamboo archway at W Bali hotel in Seminyak

7. Daily Massages and Moroccan Themed Spas

Massages are so cheap in Bali so it would be a crime not to have one while you’re here. You can find somewhere to get a massage on basically every corner but Prana Spa in Seminyak is so beautifully designed it’s a must visit if you want to teleport yourself to Morocco for the day.

Moroccan style day spa in Seminyak
Moroccan style day spa in Seminyak

8. Flower Baths

When you come to Bali you’ll find yourself asking why you don’t normally bathe in a tub of flowers on a daily basis.

Sitting in a flower bath at Hidden Hills Villas, Uluwatu
Hidden Hills Villas
Sitting in a flower bath overlooking the villa swimming pool
Berry Amour Villas
Flower bath at Fivelements Retreat Ubud
Fivelements Retreat

9. Treehouses

Another things the Balinese do well and that’s treehouses. This particular one is located at Pirates Bay in Nusa Dua, but there are plenty in Ubud where you can spend the night.

Bamboo treehouse in Bali

10. Markets

Did you even visit Bali if you didn’t get yourself a Bali bag? These basket bags have become so popular across the world and you can find them throughout Bali, including the Ubud Market where they display them so beautifully you can’t help but go in.

Shopping for basket bags and dream catchers at Ubud Market

11. Swings Anywhere There’s a View

While this swing is located in Munduk, you can pretty much find a swing anywhere there is a scenic view in Bali. This includes the rice terraces or even in the ocean on Gili Trawangan. Just look out for all the cars that are pulled up alongside the road. They usually aren’t free though and will cost a couple of dollars for a photo.

Giant swing in Munduk, Bali

12. The Prettiest of Gates

Would you believe this is the entrance to a golf course? This iconic gate has become another Insta hot spot on the island and you’ll find it at the Handara Golf & Resort Bali.

Entrance gate at Handara Golf and Resort in Bali
Handara Golf & Resort Bali

13. Deserted Waterfalls

Bali truly has an endless supply of waterfalls that are often only visited by a small number of people each day, so if you’re lucky you might just end up with one all to yourself. Some of my favourite waterfalls include: Leke Leke, Banyumala Twin Waterfall, Sekumpul, Kanto Lampo and Tibumana. While some require a very steep walk down and make a swim even more rewarding, others are just a short walk from the car park.

Leke Leke Waterfall in the jungle
Banyumala Twin Waterfall in Munduk, Bali
Sekumpul waterfall

14. Monkey’s Doing Crazy Shit

The monkeys in Bali are as cute as they are terrifying, but if you’re a big fan of monkeys then you’ll be in heaven at the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest. The 27 acres of protected forest are home to more than 600 banana-snatching monkeys. As cute as they may look you’ll want to make sure you secure any loose items, as these cheeky monsters are known for stealing anything they can get their sneaky little hands on. This includes sunglasses, jewellery, hats, cameras and even items from your pockets or bags. DO NOT bring any food into the forest, regardless of whether it’s in a bag or not as they’ll smell it and pounce. If you’re feeling courageous you can purchase bananas to feed the monkeys, where they’ll likely climb all over you until they’ve snatched that banana. Remember monkeys have teeth, so if you decide to taunt and tease them with food, well they might decide to bite you instead of the banana. That being said, if you’re not carrying food with you then they’ll be rather unfazed by your presence.

Monkey drinking water from a bottle at Ubud Monkey Forest
Baby monkey's playing at Ubud Monkey Forest
Money eating fruit at Ubud Monkey Forest
Monkey breastfeeding baby monkey
Baby monkey and mum asleep

15. Sunsets

I don’t know what it is about Bali but I have never seen more pink skies anywhere else in the world than on this magical island.

Girls running through the ocean at sunset in Seminyak
Alila Seminyak

You Might Also Like