Where to Go in Bali: A Bali Itinerary in 7 Days
Your ultimate guide on how to spend 7 days in Bali, Indonesia. Where to go, what to see, what to eat, and so much more.
Nestled between Lombok, the Gili Islands and the large island of Java in Indonesia, Bali is a destination which seems to be on everyone’s mind.
If you’ve never been to Bali, chances are you at least understand the feeling you’re meant to have, just at the sound of its lilting name.
Chris and I visited Bali some years back after spending time exploring Lombok and the Gili Islands. After feeling so deeply connected to Lombok on our Indonesia itinerary, we were worried that all the hype around Bali wouldn’t match up with what we found when we were on the ground there.
We couldn’t have been more wrong.
If you wanted to make a list of all the things one would want to see and do in a tropical destination, you’d quickly realize that Bali has it all: lush jungle terrain, high mountains and volcanoes, long and beautiful beaches, dramatic rocks, scuba diving, surfing…the list goes on.
On top of this, Bali has also gained a reputation for being the destination to which both surfers and yogis flock, and rightly so.
With the tranquil surroundings of bright green rice terraces, rainforested terrain and the mammoth swells of waves which crash on its southern shores, it provides the perfect backdrop for both of these activities.
If you’re planning a trip to Bali, it can be overwhelming to pinpoint exactly where you should spend time and for how long. Despite being an island, it isn’t a small one, and distances between locations can take some time to get to.
In this post, I’ve taken the time to outline the main essentials you’ll need to plan your 7 days in Bali, including ideas for the best month to visit Bali, whether or not Bali is expensive and how to tackle it, along with some ideas about where to visit in Bali.
Planning for the Best Month to Visit Bali
When you’re planning a trip to Bali, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve selected the right time of year to visit.
Thinking about the best month to visit Bali is important, because the island can be hit with a lot of rain and poor visibility during the wet season, which will negatively impact any plans for outdoor activities.
You can choose from several months within the dry season when you’re picking the best month to visit Bali.
Anywhere between April and October is fair game. The middle months, so July or August, are the driest and can therefore be the hottest as well. Think about what exactly you’re planning a trip to Bali for when you’re deciding on when to go.
If you plan on doing a lot of hiking, scuba diving or surfing, for example, I’d lean on the earlier or later ends of the dry season (April to May and September to October).
If you plan on sunbathing, relaxing by the pool or exploring a lot in shaded, covered rainforest, then planning for a time in the middle months of that timeframe would work nicely.
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Is Bali Expensive?
From the angle of social media nowadays, searching for tourism in Bali often pops up images seemingly out of so many people’s budgets.
Sure, luxury tourism (including private villas with pools, infinity pools overlooking sunsets and high end restaurants with luxurious food and cocktails) has broken onto the Balinese scene in recent years, but the true and original “Bali” has not been lost.
In fact, if the “true Bali” is what you’re looking for, spending less time in Kuta and the surrounding areas will assure you of a more authentic trip.
As with any destination, planning a week in Bali and what it’s going to cost you completely depends on your comfort for spending and what you’re looking to get out of the trip.
If you visit one or two locations in Bali, you’ll be able to keep your travel costs lower, whereas if you’re jutting around from place to place, you will end up spending a bit more.
Excluding flights, a Bali trip cost could be anywhere from under $1000 per person to over $5000 due to such a vast range of accommodation, food and drink and entertainment options.
Due to its popularity, there are a lot of avenues you could take to consider a budget. I’ve mapped out a three-tier system here so you can better understand where your expenses might go while planning your trip.
As you’re reading, think about the recommendations as if they were building on top of each other. Everything I recommend in a lower budget for a Bali itinerary in 7 days is still something I’d recommend to someone with more to spend; it’s more of a jumping off point.
7 Days in Bali on a Budget (Low Tier)
Accommodation: If this is your preferred tier, and your budget in Bali is your priority, then your focus on this trip is enjoying nature, and perhaps you should only stay in one or two places throughout your week. It is entirely possible to reach far distances on the island purely whilst doing day trips.
You could easily anchor yourself to accommodations in Ubud for the week and venture out at your leisure. A place like Dewa Bungalows would fit this description perfectly.
Food: You’ll still have plenty of tasty options in this price bracket, but if you’re looking to save while you’re on Bali, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the local night markets flaunted by locals. The night markets are a staple, since they’re held after the heat of the day has passed.
These markets are an excellent place to get fresh, delicious fruit for cheap, or find a food cart that suits your taste serving anything from rice porridge to grilled chicken satay (my personal favourite when it comes to Indonesian street food) to bakso (which translates to meatball soup).
Entertainment: In this particular budget for Bali, you’re still going to want to see and do some exciting things, but likely fewer and farther between.
If you’re staying rooted in Ubud, this would be a perfect opportunity to watch a traditional Balinese dancing show, which is not to be missed on a Bali itinerary. It is a highlight on any trip to Bali, and relatively affordable.
Another great activity for a day trip would be to go snorkeling off the shores of Amed, with its impeccable visibility and quiet shores.
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7 Days in Bali with some Wiggle Room (Mid Tier)
Accommodation: Extending your Bali trip cost a little bit in this price bracket, you can find at least two more interesting places to stay. I would select a place to stay in the central part of the island, and then depending on your preferences, either the north or the south for your second spot.
If you choose to stay in both Ubud and Jimbaran, for example, I’d recommend staying in Tanah Merah Art Resort in Ubud and Bali Breezz Hotel in Jimbaran.
Food: In this price bracket, you can treat yourself a little more. Despite your focus on maintaining a bit of a Bali budget, I think everyone should spend at least one or two nights checking out a night market, but entering this level of prices opens you up to a few more opportunities.
Some great mid-range restaurants to check out are the Three Monkeys Cafe and Kafe in Ubud, or La Plancha Beach Bar & Restaurant in Seminyak.
Entertainment: For a mid-range budget in Bali, you have a lot more options of what you might want to do. In addition to seeing a traditional Balinese dance, you can branch out and take a yoga class at Yoga Barn in Ubud.
Their location is tucked away from the main action of the city, and is surrounded by babbling brooks and tropical trees. You’ll be surprised a meditative soundtrack isn’t playing as you practice.
Additionally, you could try your hand at scuba diving off the coast of Padangbai or Amed. The northeastern coast of Bali is known for being an excellent place for diving.
Ensure you understand the regulations and rules surrounding diving, and it you aren’t PADI certified, you’ll need to be accompanied in more shallow waters.
If staying above the water is more for you, a final great activity would be to head down to Kuta or one of the neighbouring areas along the southwestern coast and try your hand at surfing.
Make sure you stay for the surfing and then move on—you’ll notice Kuta didn’t make my list of recommended stops, and there’s a reason for that.
7 Days in Bali with Something to Celebrate (High Tier)
Accommodation: Planning a trip to Bali with a little extra change in your pocket is a fun thing, indeed.
Your accommodation options open up to some pretty exciting ideas, like small villas with their own private pools, or elaborate jungle homes with beautiful bathtubs. I could go on.
For starters, if you’re looking for unique accommodations that are of a higher price point, I’d certainly look at Villa Suari I in Padangbai, Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas & Spa in Ubud and Metta Spa Villas in Seminyak.
Food: Again, with something to celebrate, your options for places to go in Bali for meals open up in some exciting ways as possible.
Although much of the island is quite affordable, there are several upscale and beautiful places to eat in Ubud and Seminyak which will likely suit your tastebuds. Take a look at my recommendations for each of these places in the “Where to go in Bali” section of this post.
Entertainment: With this higher budget in Bali, in addition to the other recommendations, I’d suggest hiring a driver to take you on a day trip around the very southern coast of Bali to any of the beaches south of Jimbaran, Uluwatu Temple and loop around Pantai Gunung Payung beach.
If you’re interested in a more intimate experience, then perhaps you could hire a local yoga instructor to lead a private yoga practice at your accommodation, or hire a local surfing instructor for private lessons on the beach. The options are pretty endless for what you could plan for in this kind of Bali budget, or lack thereof.
Getting to Bali
The two most common ways to get to Bali are if you’re coming in by water or by air.
The land travel from the island of Java in Indonesia is long. Unless you are coming from the eastern side of Java, you likely won’t be planning a trip to Bali by land, so I’ll cover the two more common routes here.
Getting to Bali by Water
If you’ve planned to factor in a larger Indonesia itinerary for your trip, then you’re likely planning a trip to Bali via Lombok or the Gili Islands.
As a sidenote, if you have time beyond one week in Bali on this trip, I’d highly recommend spending time in both of these places for another combined week or more. The bubble of Indonesia from Bali to Lombok is a really special one.
Many fast boats are available throughout the day from Gili Trawangan to Bali and back, if you’re going the opposite direction.
Tickets can be purchased from several depots on Gili T., and it’s advised that you do your research to select the company with the boat, time, price and reviews and/or safety ratings that are right for you.
Be sure to keep an ear out for news of the weather conditions on your day of departure, as this can determine whether or not you’ll be able to leave as scheduled on the day of.
The boats from Lombok and Gili T. tend to arrive in the northeastern pocket of Bali, somewhat close to Amed and Candidasa, so you can plan for that region to start your itinerary in this case.
Getting to Bali by Air
Many international flights service Ngurah Rai International Airport, located just outside of Denpasar in the southern region of Bali.
Since the airport is located on the south side of the island, when you’re planning your week in Bali, you should know that the airport is nestled more or less directly between the recommended areas of Jimbaran and Legian/Seminyak, so planning your itinerary to start from that end of the island would be to your benefit.
Where to Go in Bali?
When you plan out your 7 day Bali itinerary, I want you to be able to pick and choose from two or three locations that interest you.
I’ve indicated what I feel is an appropriate length of time for each location, and then you should build out your itinerary in a mix and match fashion.
I’d recommend building out a Bali itinerary in 7 days by breaking the island up into three sections: Northern, Central and Southern. Pick one or two regions to focus on for your trip. From the get-go, my top three suggestions for 7 days in Bali (in order) are:
2 days in Amed, 2 days in Ubud, 3 days in Seminyak
2 days in Candikuning, 3 days in Ubud, 2 days in Jimbaran
2 days in Padangbai, 3 days in Ubud, 2 days in Nusa Dua
Bear in mind that when I outline places to go, I’m firstly thinking of a Bali itinerary with a plan going from the north part of the island to the south. If you’re working from South to North from the airport instead, feel free to invert the itineraries.
Secondly, when I highlight a location, my recommendation is that you’re staying there, but you aren’t staying put. You should definitely focus moreso on exploring each region.
Generally, places to go in Bali are relatively spread out, so it’s important to recognize that you’re either going to want to rent a scooter or arrange for transportation on many of your days on the trip, at least if you’re looking to get a full experience of Bali while you’re there.
Northern Bali
2 Days in Candikuning
Located near the central northern coast of Bali and with less tourism than other parts of the island, the region of Candikuning sits around Lake Bratan. Most famously, in this region you will visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (pictured above).
Built in 1663, this Hindu water temple serves as the location from which to give offerings to the Balinese water goddess Dewi Danu. Both the temple and Lake Bratan itself are very important to Bali, as it serves as the main irrigation source to central Bali.
In addition to visiting this temple, be sure to check out the Bali Botanic Garden and the Candikuning Market.
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2 Days in Amed
Located on the northeastern shores of the island, Amed is a sleepy and small town with rocky beaches and expansive sea views. Tourists who come up this way are in the market for excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.
There are many towns in this region which are charmingly undeveloped and have a carefree feel of a Bali far away from the action of Kuta and Denpasar. Chris and I were especially happy with the budget hotel we found while we were there, called Amed Cafe .
Amed makes for a great jumping off point to explore more of the northeastern region of Bali. You can rent a scooter or speak to your accommodation about hiring a driver for the day.
Chris and I rented a scooter and headed to hike up to Penataran Lempuyang, a Hindu temple on top of a large mountain with stunning views of the surrounding areas and Mount Agung in the distance.
This feels like a good time to share the single cautionary tale of my experience that made me terrified of monkeys on my travels. When headed on any hikes or walks, we know the rule to have no food because they’ll smell it in an instant.
What I didn’t think about was at the top of the mountain, I bought a Pocari Sweat (like a Gatorade, for you North American readers) to rehydrate, and then several monkeys began aggressively following me as we began our descent. I quickly realized it was because of the drink I was holding, which in my mind was still a plain bottle of water.
After some frantic screaming and confusion, Chris told me to throw the bottle out of my hand. Sure enough, two monkeys chased after it, fought over it and the winning monkey unscrewed the lid of the bottle, opened it and began downing my drink!
The brilliance and resourcefulness of these creatures is something I’ve always admired, but from this day forward I’ve chosen to admire it from a good distance.
2 Days in Padangbai
This final option in the northern end of the island on your 7 day Bali itinerary is sleepy little Padangbai. With a few more beaches and a little more going on than its neighbour around the corner, Amed, Padangbai makes for the perfect spot to take it easy and get some diving in.
Padangbai has more sweeping views of the ocean and is very picturesque, as it sits on a half moon bay. To the north, you can relax with stunning views along Blue Lagoon Beach. To the south, it has the quieter and more private little beaches of Bias Tugel Beach and the aptly named Secret Beach.
In the region of Padangbai, take a drive to check out the stunning Purah Goa Lawah temple, which is known for both the temple itself and the nearby bat-dwelling cave. You can also head north to Candidasa to check out its beaches and its largely photographed Lotus Lagoon.
Central Bali
2-3 Days in Ubud
As you may have noticed, despite offering three separate options for how to plan your Bali itinerary, I made sure to include 2-3 days in Ubud on each one.
Located quite literally in nearly the exact centre of the island, Ubud feels like a place slowly being enveloped by the nature surrounding it. And I mean that in the best way possible.
Ubud is the religious and cultural centre of Bali and if all of the other reasons that follow don’t communicate it, this alone means that it is a place not to be missed on your trip to Bali.
I’ve met a lot of people who travel to Bali and only book accommodation in the south end of the island. I think this is a real missed opportunity. Anyone I’ve met who’s done that and saved Ubud for a mere day trip seems to regret it.
It feels like wherever you travel in central Ubud and the region surrounding it, you’ll meet monkeys, overgrown temples, luscious green rice terraces, palm trees and cool stretches of rainforest.
I gave several recommendations for Ubud in the Bali trip cost section, earlier in this post. In addition to those, outside of Ubud I would recommend visiting the Tirta Empul Water Temple and the Tegalalang rice terraces. These are easy to get to if you hire a scooter or have a driver to take you.
While you’re in Ubud, I’d also recommend keeping an eye out for one of the many different types of package activities you might enjoy for the day.
Chris and I took a downhill bike tour day trip, where we were driven to the top of the Kintamani Volcano and then biked down through beautiful villages, rice fields and many areas of central Bali.
There are also many cooking classes that could pique your interests in and around Ubud where you can learn how to cook traditional Balinese dishes, or places to do yoga. Last but not least, make sure you check out a traditional Balinese dance while you’re here.
As you head south from Ubud to your final destination on the trip, if it’s possible, I’d try to schedule a stop at the Tegenungan Waterfall on your way.
You can also arrange for a day trip here from Ubud (since it’s about 30 minutes from the town), but it’s your choice. This is a beautiful waterfall which you don’t have to hike to get to, with the exception of walking 100 steps down to see it.
Southern Bali
3 Days in Seminyak or Legian
Once you make your way down to the southern end of Bali, you’ll find that you all of a sudden have more options for where to go in Bali than you had on the North end, for better or for worse.
The south coast of Bali is a lot more built up, although there are many worthwhile places to check out.
Legian and Seminyak are side by side and north of Kuta. They make for great places to stay because of their stunning beach views and plentiful options of impressive restaurants.
While you’re here, make sure you spend a full or half day at the beach, especially if beach time has been limited on your itinerary prior to this.
You have the option of finding a relaxing place to sit and read in the sun, or visit one of the staple sunset bars (which are really good for any time of the day), such as Double Six Beach, abundant with colourful bean bag chairs and umbrellas.
If you’re enjoying the vibe at Double Six Beach, you can walk up to finish the evening at Ku De Ta, more north along Seminyak beach, for the tail end of sunset and evening drinks.
In terms of eating, your options are quite literally endless, especially in Seminyak. Try Biku, Rev Bistro or Sisterfields Cafe if you feel like a treat. Some other great options are Balkan BBQ & Cocktail Bar or The Coffee Club in Legian if you’re more in the market for drinks with a view.
There are many beaches in the area for you to check out while you’re here, but please take the time to travel up to Tanah Lot from this area.
You’ll be headed back north, but this time along the coast to this dramatic temple located on scenic cliffs off the western coast of Bali.
2 Days in Jimbaran
Sitting just south of Ngurah Rai International Airport (but far enough away that you don’t really notice it), quiet Jimbaran makes for a great place to still take in the delights of being on the western coast of Bali, but without the hustle and bustle of Kuta and its swanky neighbour, Seminyak.
Being far less developed than its northern counterparts, Jimbaran has a much more local feel to it than several other places in southern Bali, which you’ll see in its surroundings and food offerings.
Both Jimbaran Beach and Tuban Beach are lovely, and are the perfect place to spend a beach day, while Lia Cafe and Jukung Bali Seafood make for great, more relaxed places to grab a bite.
Venturing south of Jimbaran, be sure to stop at a few spots along the coast like Honeymoon Beach and Kubu Beach.
If you have a little extra time to dedicate to a day trip, do a reverse of my proposed itinerary for the southern coast from Nusa Dua, or at least make it to Uluwatu Temple if you can.
2 Days in Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua makes for a great option in the southern end of Bali, especially if you are travelling with kids. The western coast can become a bit busy, with wilder crowds of people flocking to Kuta, and adults being up for a lot of the night long after the sun has gone down.
On the eastern coast, you aren’t going to get the sunsets while you’re in Nusa Dua, but you are still going to be able to enjoy the sea views and delights of Bali from here.
There are many large and luxurious hotels on this side of the island, so especially for a family there are typically a lot of entertaining things to do on site.
Much to do in Nusa Dua concerns relaxing by the beach and the sea, which is your welcome invitation to take it easy. You can head to Pantai Samuh to the north or see the Waterblow natural feature closer to the centre.
In addition to everything you can see and do in Nusa Dua, its location makes for a great jumping off point from which to explore the southern coast of Bali.
When you plan a Bali itinerary in 7 days, it’s advantageous to be close enough to explore several key spots close to home
You can choose from checking out Pantai Gunung Payung beach or Nyang Nyang Beach, followed by Karang Boma Cliff and then the not to be missed Uluwatu Temple.
Or, plan your trip by heading the furthest distance (to Uluwatu Temple) first, and then work your way back to Nusa Dua.
Final Thoughts on Spending One Week in Bali
As you can tell, there’s an abundance of options for what you can get out of your 7 days in Bali. I wanted to highlight that there’s a lot more to do beyond bumming it on the beach in Kuta.
Do you feel like this post is helpful? Would you switch out of emphasize anything I’ve mentioned more? I’d love to know! Please feel free to leave a comment below.
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