15 of the Best Neighborhoods in Bali and How To Visit

One of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Bali, Canggu sprawls along the island’s west coast north of Seminyak, with subdistricts including Berawa and up-and-coming Pererenan. Boutiques, restaurants, bars, and, especially, beach clubs have largely replaced the rice fields that made the area famous and traffic can be hell. But a sundowner overlooking the surf is hard to beat, with options ranging from down-home beach shacks to airy, boho La Brisa or big, brash Atlas Beach Fest.

Known for high-end boutiques, spas, and hotels, this west coast district is the upscale neighbor of down-at-heel Kuta, with Legian spanning the gap. Foodies and shoppers will almost certainly find themselves spending at least one day in Seminyak. Here, hit Eat Street (Petitenget) for a wealth of bars and restaurants; then, stroll Jalan Kayu Aya, universally known as Oberoi, for fashion, design, and jewelry boutiques. Nightlife options run from long-established beach clubs including KU DE TA and Potato Head through to speakeasies such as The Shady Flamingo and 40 Thieves.

Meandering along the southwest edge of the Bukit Peninsula—that odd bulge at the base of Bali that makes the island look like a chicken laying an egg—Uluwatu is Bali’s most up-and-coming neighborhood, with the resource pressures to match. So bad is the traffic there’s even a boat service from Canggu, a 20-mile (30-kilometer) drive away. Highlights here are Uluwatu Temple, a cliff-top temple with spectacular views, rapacious monkeys, and a sunset kecak and fire dance. Less cultural types can savor cliff-edge clubs, world-class surf, and stunning beaches, most reached by hundreds of steps.

Topping the list of renowned Bali areas is, of course, Ubud, the cultural hub that put Bali on the travel map in the 1930s. Blissfully walkable (by Bali standards), it’s home to most of the island’s best art galleries and museums and some of its top restaurants, not to mention yoga, white-water rafting, and arts and crafts courses. Travelers flock to temples including Ubud Monkey Forest and Tirta Empul Temple; Tegenungan, Tibumana, Tukad Cepung, and Kanto Lampo waterfalls are Instagram magnets. Subdistricts include artsy Penestanan and Sayan, where Ubud’s top luxury hotels and restaurants are featured along a river gorge.

If you’re looking for a more traditional side of the island, then Sidemen, in the east, is one of the best places to visit in Bali. Forest, streams, and village temples break up amphitheaters of lush rice terraces, with the sacred volcano Mt. Agung creating a picture-perfect backdrop. There’s not a lot to do here other than hike, take photos, and perhaps try your hand at a craft course or a cooking class, but it’s a wonderful spot to chill with a good book.

On the shores of Lake Beratan (Danau Bratan), a crater lake in north-central Bali, Bedugul is known for Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (Pura Ulun Danu Bratan), a gorgeous water temple that seems to float on a series of islands in the lake. High enough and cool enough that locals sell homegrown strawberries by the roadside, it’s also home to the Bali Botanic Garden, the Pasar Candi Kuning fruit and vegetable market, and an eerie ghost hotel.

Unkindly dubbed “snore” for its popularity with ageing expats, there’s more to this Bali east coast district than the fast boats which run to Nusa Penida (Penida Island) and Nusa Lembongan. A long, walkable coastal path traces a golden-sand beach with waters that are calm enough for kids, making Sanur Beach a great choice for families. The offshore reef break also offers reliable surf during the wet season (roughly November through March), when the west coast is less appealing.

No fan of local flavor could resist Denpasar, the island’s bustling capital, and the ideal choice for anyone seeking local Bali experiences. From Badung Market, Bali’s main produce market, to the fabric shops of Jalan Sulawesi, there’s local color and delicious eats aplenty. Many Bali food tours head to Denpasar for babi guling (suckling pig) or gaudy jajaan (sweet treats). However, more traditional attractions include the Bali Museum, the towering Bajra Sandhi Monument, and the Jagatnatha Temple (Pura Jagatnatha).

A few miles west of Bedugul in Bali’s cool north-central highlands, Munduk is one of the island’s top hiking destinations—with options to eat and drink overlooking Lake Tamblingan a little way out of town. The village runs along the main road but extends deep into walker-friendly rice fields—although the signature hikes run to the many Munduk cascades, which include Melanting and Munduk waterfalls, and Red Coral Waterfall. Hotels can provide maps.

Bali’s subak rice farming system earned the island UNESCO World Heritage status. And Jatiluwih, which nestles in west Bali not far from Batukaru Temple, is one of its star attractions. Rice terraces roll along a series of interconnecting valleys, linked by well-designed and clearly signposted hiking routes offering adventures from half an hour to half a day—as well as the chance to buy and eat organic red, black, and chocolate rice.

Insider tip: There’s a small charge to enter the area, which is valid for as long as you stay. Be sure to try the savory red rice porridge while you're there!

Meandering along Bali’s northeastern corner, the Amed area is one of Bali’s favorite scuba diving, free-diving, and snorkeling destinations. The USS Liberty Wreck (USAT Liberty) is a major draw, as it’s one of the world’s most accessible World War II wrecks—and there’s nothing quite like seeing a sea turtle paddle through the porthole of a sunken ship. But there are plenty of other dive sites to enjoy, not to mention yoga, an activity that pairs particularly well with free diving.

Menjangan Island is the Menjangan area’s top-draw choice. As it’s not possible to stay on the islet overnight, most people base out of budget-friendly Pemuteran or a cluster of hotels within West Bali National Park, most of which have Menjangan in their name. Besides some of Bali’s most mesmerizing snorkeling and scuba diving, you can kayak through mangroves, hike the national park, and get a glimpse of the deer that roam here. Please note fees apply for both Menjangan Island and the national park.

A port town with attitude, Padangbai sits toward the north of Bali’s east coast and is the jumping-off point for fast boats to Lombok and the Gili Islands. But the underwater life here is special, and both Blue Lagoon and Tanjung Jepun beaches draw snorkelers and scuba divers to enjoy colorful coral. Underwater photographers especially love the area around the jetty, which is home to weird and wonderful macro life including nudibranchs, octopus, and pipefish.

One of the most popular Bali sightseeing districts, Nusa Penida sits off Bali’s east coast, in between Bali and Lombok. Snorkelers and scuba divers flock here for the reliable giant manta sightings; social media mavens adore golden beaches framed by plunging cliffs, particularly Kelingking Beach, as well as Penida’s famous tree houses. But Penida merits more than just a day trip, because you can also descend deep into the bowels of the earth at the Giri Putri Cave temple, chill at mellow beach clubs and casual eateries, or hike to hidden pools here.

Penida Island’s smaller neighbors, Nusa Lembongan and pocket-sized Nusa Ceningan, hang between Bali and Lombok off Bali’s east coast, linked by a much-photographed yellow bridge. Surfing, snorkeling, and diving are some of Lembongan’s star attractions—although most underwater adventurers spend most of their time on neighboring Penida—but the mangroves make for excellent kayak or stand-up paddleboard adventures. And at high tide, Devil’s Tears delivers oceanic theater as waves smash into the rocks.