City guide · Indonesia
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island and province and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands.
4 ready itineraries · 3, 5, 7, 10-day plans
Bali is an Indonesian island and province and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller offshore islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan to the southeast.
The provincial capital, Denpasar, is the most populous city in the Lesser Sunda Islands and the second-largest, after Makassar, in Eastern Indonesia. The Denpasar metropolitan area is the extended metropolitan area around Denpasar.
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want Bali without a car. The 3-day plan stays inside walking range of City.
- Skip if
- Skip Bali if you only want a beach week or an airport layover. This cluster is for people who will walk most days.
Pick a trip length
One plan per length — open it and walk the days in order.
- 3days3-day itineraryA long weekend walking Bali.Open plan →
- 5days5-day itineraryPopularA first visit to Bali with room for one extra neighborhood.Open plan →
- 7days7-day itineraryA slower week in Bali, with one day outside town.Open plan →
- 10days10-day itineraryFirst-time visitors who want a full Bali trip with day trips.Open plan →
5-day preview
Skim the walking days, then open the full plan.
- 1
City
Walk City in Bali. Start at Pura Dalam Tagtag, then Pinge Village and Cau chocolates. Stay on foot.
Pura Dalam Tagtag · Pinge Village · Cau chocolates · Pura Desa Puseh lan Bale Agung Desa Pakraman Banjar Anyar · …
- 2
City
Walk City in Bali. Start at Pura Dalem Ganggangan Desa Pakraman Banjar Anyar, then Pura Melanting Desa Pakraman Banjar Anyar and Pura Gunung Lebah Banjar Anyar. Stay on foot.
Pura Dalem Ganggangan Desa Pakraman Banjar Anyar · Pura Melanting Desa Pakraman Banjar Anyar · Pura Gunung Lebah Banjar Anyar · Pura Dalem Sabang Daat · …
- 3
City
Walk City in Bali. Start at Pura Prajapati, then Pura Dalem Gede and Pura Bukit Sari. Stay on foot.
Pura Prajapati · Pura Dalem Gede · Pura Bukit Sari · Pura tegeh puseh · …
- 4
City
Walk City in Bali. Start at Pura Puseh Lan Desa Palian, then Pura Dalem Puseh and Pura Dalem Petang. Stay on foot.
Pura Puseh Lan Desa Palian · Pura Dalem Puseh · Pura Dalem Petang
- 5
Day trip toward Lombok
Leave Bali for the day. Come back to the same bed.
Lombok · Flores (Indonesia) · Java
Where to stay
Bases that fit the walking plan.
The centre
3 to 5 nights
First-time visitors
Stay inside walking range of the first-day stops in Bali.
Getting there & when to go
Lock timing and airport basics early.
Best time
Bali works year-round for a walking trip. Shoulder months are easier on crowds and hills.
- Shoulder months
- High season
- Low season
- Rain days
Airport
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
thumb|Kecak dance performance at Uluwatu Bali is a large island and you will need a way to get around if you plan on exploring more than the hotel pool. Rapid, seemingly uncontrolled development and aging infrastructure mean that the roads struggle to cope. In major tourist areas the traffic is chaotic, and there are daily traffic jams. Particular blackspots are Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak and Denpasar.
- Public transit from DPS30 to 60 minutes · Local ticket price. Check the operator the week you fly.
- Taxi or licensed ride hail20 to 45 minutes · Treat any number you see online as an estimate, not a quote.
Practical notes
Short reads before you book.
Understand
thumb|280px|Preparing for a colourful odalan temple anniversary procession Bali is one of more than 18,000 islands (based on a satellite view) in the Indonesian archipelago, and is just over 2 km (almost 1.5 miles) from the eastern tip of the island of Java and west of the island of Lombok. The island, home to a little over 4 million people, is about long from east to west and north to south.
The word "paradise" is used a lot when describing Bali. Friendly, hospitable people; a magnificently visual and spiritual culture; and spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali the top tourist attraction in Indonesia.
Get in
From February 14, 2024, all international tourists entering Bali are supposed to pay a Rp 150,000 Tourist Levy. This can be paid online, or at cashless payment counters at the airport.
The Bali government says this fee will help preserve Balinese culture and natural beauty, however questions have been raised about the levy's transparency and legality. As of mid-2026, levy payments from entering tourists are not checked, and there are not payment counters at the airport.
Get around
thumb|Kecak dance performance at Uluwatu Bali is a large island and you will need a way to get around if you plan on exploring more than the hotel pool. Rapid, seemingly uncontrolled development and aging infrastructure mean that the roads struggle to cope.
In major tourist areas the traffic is chaotic, and there are daily traffic jams. Particular blackspots are Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak and Denpasar.
Stay safe
thumb|Behind the cuddly façade lies a cunning thief Bali is, in general, a safe destination, and few visitors encounter any real problems. Bali was the scene of lethal terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005, with both waves of attacks targeting nightclubs and restaurants popular among foreign visitors.
Security is consequently tight at obvious targets, but it is of course impossible to protect oneself fully against terrorism. If it is any reassurance, the Balinese themselves—who depend on tourism for their livelihood—deplored the bombings and the terrorists behind them for the terrible suffering they have caused on this peaceful island.
Related guides
Helpful next pages for Bali.