UltimateIsland Guide Bali
Our favourites
The terraces of Jatiluwih sweeping towards the volcanoes of Batukaru under a blue sky The terraces of Jatiluwih sweeping towards the volcanoes of Batukaru under a blue sky Pura Tanah Lot on its rock in the sea, with thatched shrines and trees, in late-afternoon light The split gates and tiered shrines of Pura Besakih, with Mount Agung behind The tiered shrine of Pura Luhur Uluwatu at the edge of its cliff above the Indian Ocean The tiered meru shrines of Pura Taman Ayun at Mengwi above the moat The terraces of Tegallalang under palms and a bright blue sky

The city guide to Bali, Indonesia

Best of Bali

Temples on the rocks and at the cliff’s edge, rice terraces under the volcanoes, resorts above the river gorges of Ubud and sunsets on the west coast. Bali, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyVillas, leaseholds and what foreigners can own

Bali, from the gorges to the cliffs

Bali runs from the volcanoes and rice terraces of its centre down to the cliffs of the Bukit and the beaches of the south: Ubud in its river valleys, Seminyak and Canggu on the surf coast, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Sanur. Here are its great resorts and tables, its temples, its arts and its landscapes, with day trips to the Nusa islands, the east, the highlands, Mount Batur and the north. Every listing is checked against the venue’s own website or an official source, and anything we can’t confirm is left out.

The island of the gods: Bali’s temples and how to visit them

In depth

The island of the gods

Bali·In depth

The sea temples, the mother temple on Mount Agung and the water temples of a UNESCO landscape: what they mean, and how to visit with respect.

Read the story

Bali, area by area

Seven areas, each with its own guide: Ubud in the hills, the sunsets of Seminyak, the surf of Canggu, the cliffs of the Bukit, Jimbaran’s bay, the calm beaches of Nusa Dua and the sunrise shore of Sanur.

Terraced rice fields and palms at Bedulu, near Ubud, under white cloudsArea guideUbudRice fields, gorges and the artsColoured umbrellas and beanbags on Seminyak beach at sunsetArea guideSeminyak & PetitengetSunsets, boutiques and the restaurant rowPura Tanah Lot on its rock in the sea, with thatched shrines and trees, in late-afternoon lightArea guideCanggu & BerawaSurf and rice fieldsThe tiered shrine of Pura Luhur Uluwatu at the edge of its cliff above the Indian OceanArea guideUluwatu & the BukitCliffs, surf and the temple at the edgeGrilled fish, prawns and clams from a seafood restaurant at JimbaranArea guideJimbaranThe bay and the fish grillsA small temple above the sand on the beach at Nusa DuaArea guideNusa DuaCalm beaches and grand resorts

Hills and coast

Split your stay: three or four nights in the hills around Ubud, then the rest by the sea.

Outrigger boats on the water at Sanur as the sun rises over the straitArea guideSanurSunrise and the boats

Before you go

The e-VOA and the levy you pay before you land, the Day of Silence, how to dress for a temple, and itineraries that work.

The arrivals hall of Ngurah Rai International Airport, with gold-screened columnsBefore you goBali essentialsThe e-VOA, the levy, money and 112Young men carrying a giant ogoh-ogoh effigy on a bamboo frameNyepiThe Day of SilenceMonday 8 March 2027Canang sari offerings of flowers and palm leaves with incense on a pavementEtiquetteVisiting templesSarongs, offerings and respectThe tiered shrine of Pura Luhur Uluwatu at the edge of its cliff above the Indian OceanItineraryBali in four daysThe hills and the cliffsTerraced rice fields and palms at Bedulu, near Ubud, under white cloudsLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe tiered shrine of Pura Luhur Uluwatu at the edge of its cliff above the Indian OceanItineraryThe Platinum weekendAmandari, Bulgari and the Kecak

Our advice

Pay the levy on the official site

Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy is paid on lovebali.baliprov.go.id, and the e-VOA on evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Look-alike sites charge more; use only the official ones. Bali essentials

Day trips from the south

The Nusa islands are a fast boat from Sanur; the east, the highlands and the caldera of Batur are a day by car, and the north is worth a night.

The coast of Nusa Lembongan from the air, with surf on the rocks and Nusa Penida beyondDay tripThe Nusa islandsCliffs and mantasWorshippers in white climbing the great stairway between the split gates of Pura BesakihDay tripEast BaliBeneath Mount AgungThe terraces of Jatiluwih sweeping towards the volcanoes of BatukaruDay tripThe highlandsLakes and terracesMount Batur and its black lava fields beside Lake Batur, seen from the caldera rimDay tripMount Batur & KintamaniThe caldera at dawnMangroves reflected in the still water of West Bali National Park, with the volcanoes of Java behind at duskDay tripNorth & West BaliHills, waterfalls and reefs

Our advice

Allow for the roads

Distances on Bali are short and journeys are long: book a driver for the day through your hotel, and start early for Besakih, Jatiluwih or Batur. Drivers & boats

In depth: Bali’s stories

The temples, the island’s table, its dancers and painters, its resorts, getting around and where to buy: the stories behind Bali.

The split gates and tiered shrines of Pura Besakih, with Mount Agung behindIn depthThe island of the godsTemples and how to visit themA plate of Balinese nasi campur with rice, vegetables and sambal on banana leavesIn depthBali at the tableTasting menus, warungs and the beach grillLegong dancers in gold headdresses and brocade on stage in UbudIn depthPainters, dancers and the gamelanBali’s artsTerraced rice fields and palms at Bedulu, near Ubud, under white cloudsIn depthWhere Bali sleepsRiver valleys, clifftops and the beachThe arrivals hall of Ngurah Rai International Airport, with gold-screened columnsIn depthGetting to and around BaliThe airport, drivers and boatsA path through the green terraces of Jatiluwih beside a subak irrigation channelIn depthBuying in BaliWhat foreigners can own

Every morning

Watch your step: the small palm-leaf offerings on the pavement, canang sari, are placed fresh each day.

A path through the green terraces of Jatiluwih beside a subak irrigation channelFun factsBali fun factsThings you might not know

Asia and the islands with the ULTIMATE guides

Bali sits between the Indian Ocean and the Java Sea: north to Singapore, west to the Thai islands and the Maldives.

The arrivals hall of Ngurah Rai International Airport, with gold-screened columnsULTIMATE SingaporeSingaporeA short flight northClosed umbrellas on the white sand of Padang Padang beach, with turquoise waterULTIMATE Thai IslandsThai IslandsPhuket, Koh Samui and the AndamanA manta ray gliding over the reef at Manta Bay, Nusa PenidaULTIMATE MaldivesMaldivesThe Indian Ocean atollsA path through the green terraces of Jatiluwih beside a subak irrigation channelULTIMATE PropertyPropertyWhere to buy around the world

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Europe

See all Europe
Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.Visit the guide The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against a blue skyGermanyULTIMATE BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Philharmonie and three opera houses, the story of the Wall, and day trips to Potsdam and Dresden.Visit the guide The Royal Pavilion in Brighton under a blue skyEnglandULTIMATE BrightonThe Royal Pavilion and the piers, the Lanes and the North Laine, Kemptown and Pride, and the South Downs on the doorstep.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Nyhavn, CopenhagenDenmarkULTIMATE CopenhagenNyhavn and Tivoli, Rosenborg and Amalienborg, smørrebrød at lunch, Geranium and Kadeau’s three stars, Danish design and the harbour baths.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide The Ha’penny Bridge on the Liffey, DublinIrelandULTIMATE DublinTrinity and the Book of Kells, the Georgian squares, The Shelbourne, the pubs and their music, and the coast from Howth to Dalkey.Visit the guide Edinburgh Castle on its rock above the trees of West Princes Street GardensScotlandULTIMATE EdinburghThe castle and the Royal Mile, the Georgian New Town, seven MICHELIN stars from Leith to Stockbridge and the August festivals.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Varenna on Lake ComoItalyULTIMATE Lake ComoVilla d’Este and the Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Varenna, the gardens of the villas, Riva boats and the four MICHELIN stars of the lake.Visit the guide Lisbon’s rooftops falling to the Tagus under a clear blue skyPortugalULTIMATE LisbonBelém’s monastery and tower, the castle above Alfama, palace hotels, Belcanto’s two stars, and day trips to Sintra, Cascais and Comporta.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaSpainULTIMATE MadridThe Prado and El Retiro, the Royal Palace, DiverXO’s three stars and cocido since 1870, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Valletta’s honey-coloured skyline, with the dome of the Carmelite church and the spire of St Paul’s, above the harbour at sunsetGozo & CominoULTIMATE MaltaValletta’s knights’ city, temples older than the pyramids, Caravaggio, seven MICHELIN-starred kitchens and the Blue Lagoon.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide The Duomo di Milano and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoItalyULTIMATE MilanThe Duomo and the Last Supper, La Scala and Brera, the Quadrilatero della Moda, Bartolini’s three stars, and day trips to Lake Como.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Oslo Opera HouseNorwayULTIMATE OsloThe Opera House you can walk on, MUNCH and Vigeland, the polar ships of Bygdøy, Holmenkollen and Maaemo’s three MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro in ParisFranceULTIMATE ParisThe Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Notre-Dame reopened, the palace hotels, nine three-star tables, the bouillons, and day trips to Versailles and Giverny.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Prague Castle and Charles BridgeCzechiaULTIMATE PraguePrague Castle and Charles Bridge, the Old Town and Malá Strana, Mozart, Dvořák and the opera, the Christmas markets and the five MICHELIN stars of 2026.Visit the guide The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratOur sister guideULTIMATE Property (prime markets worldwide)Prime neighbourhoods, estate agents, new developments and how buying works, market by market across the ULTIMATE network.Visit the guide The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakOur sister guideULTIMATE Rail Journeys (great train journeys worldwide)The story of the train, the great rail journeys of the world and where to book them, from the Orient Express to the Glacier Express.Visit the guide The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE Regions (editor’s letters & regional guides)Editor’s letters and the food, markets, nature and seasons each region shares, starting with the Balkans.Visit the guide Reykjavík and Mount Esja from HallgrímskirkjaIcelandULTIMATE ReykjavíkHallgrímskirkja and Harpa, the geothermal pools and Sky Lagoon, whales and the northern lights, and the Golden Circle a morning away.Visit the guide St Peter’s Basilica in Rome under a clear blue skyItalyULTIMATE RomeThe Colosseum and the Vatican, the grand hotels above the Spanish Steps, La Pergola’s three stars, the trattorias, and day trips to Tivoli and Pompeii.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Gamla Stan, StockholmSwedenULTIMATE StockholmGamla Stan and the Royal Palace, the Vasa and Skansen, Frantzén’s three stars, fika and the archipelago of 30,000 islands.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide The Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceItalyULTIMATE VeniceThe Grand Canal and St Mark’s, palace hotels, Two MICHELIN Stars at Glam, the bacari, the Biennale, and Murano, Burano and Torcello.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral and the rooftops of central ViennaAustriaULTIMATE ViennaThe State Opera and the Musikverein, Schönbrunn and Klimt, the coffee houses and Heurigen, and Railjets to Budapest every hour.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Zurich and the LimmatSwitzerlandULTIMATE ZurichThe Limmat and its two minsters, Chagall’s windows, the Bahnhofstrasse and Sprüngli, the lake, Baur au Lac and The Dolder Grand, and the city’s MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide

North America

See all North America
Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide The Palacio de Bellas Artes at duskMexicoULTIMATE Mexico CityThe Templo Mayor and the Zócalo, Bellas Artes and the murals, Pujol and Quintonil’s two stars, Día de Muertos, and day trips to Teotihuacan and Puebla.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide

Caribbean

See all Caribbean
The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide

South America

See all South America
Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado and Sugarloaf in silhouette at sunrise, above the bay and the cityBrazilULTIMATE Rio de JaneiroChrist on the Corcovado, the cable car to Sugarloaf, the Copacabana Palace, Lasai’s two stars, the Carnival, and day trips to Paraty and Ilha Grande.Visit the guide

Asia & Indian Ocean

See all Asia & Indian Ocean
The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayOur sister guideULTIMATE SingaporeMarina Bay and Raffles, three restaurants with three MICHELIN Stars, the hawker centres, and the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Longtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsOur sister guideULTIMATE Thai IslandsWinter sun on two seas: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the Gulf.Visit the guide

Middle East & North Africa

See all Middle East & North Africa
The pyramids of Giza across the desertEgyptULTIMATE CairoThe Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the minarets of Islamic Cairo, feluccas on the Nile and journeys to Luxor and Aswan.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide The Riyadh skyline at dusk, with the Kingdom Centre and Al FaisaliahSaudi ArabiaULTIMATE RiyadhMud-brick At-Turaif on the wadi, the Masmak and the souqs, the towers of KAFD, Saudi kitchens with a Bib Gourmand and the Edge of the World.Visit the guide

Africa

See all Africa
Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles above Cape TownSouth AfricaULTIMATE Cape TownTable Mountain and Robben Island, The Silo and the Mount Nelson, the great tables of Constantia and Camps Bay, and day trips to the Winelands and Cape Point.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and residents talking about Bali, its temples, tables, beaches and the villages between them.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Pura Luhur Uluwatu

    This week's pick

    Pura Luhur Uluwatu

    Uluwatu·Clifftop temple

    Watch the Kecak at sunset beside the cliff temple of Uluwatu, then stay on the Bukit for dinner above the ocean.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Terraced rice fields and palms at Bedulu, near Ubud, under white cloudsItineraryA day in UbudOne dayThe tiered shrine of Pura Luhur Uluwatu at the edge of its cliff above the Indian OceanItineraryBali in four days: the hills and the cliffsFour daysThe terraces of Jatiluwih sweeping towards the volcanoes of BatukaruItineraryTemples and terraces in a dayOne day, by carOutrigger boats on the water at Sanur as the sun rises over the straitItineraryA slow day on the coast: Sanur to JimbaranOne dayA path through the green terraces of Jatiluwih beside a subak irrigation channelItineraryA property viewing day: Canggu, the Bukit and UbudOne dayTerraced rice fields and palms at Bedulu, near Ubud, under white cloudsItineraryThe Gold weekend: a luxury weekend in BaliTwo daysThe tiered shrine of Pura Luhur Uluwatu at the edge of its cliff above the Indian OceanItineraryThe Platinum weekend: Bali at its most exclusiveTwo days

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Bali at the table: tasting menus, warungs and the grill on the beachUbud · In depth
    2. 2Locavore NXTLodtunduh, Ubud · Tasting menu
    3. 3MozaicSanggingan, Ubud · Tasting menu
    See all 17

    Cafés

    1. 1Seniman CoffeeUbud · Roastery
    2. 2Expat. RoastersSeminyak · Roastery
    3. 3Revolver EspressoSeminyak · Espresso bar
    See all 8

    Bars

    1. 1Rock BarJimbaran · Sunset bar
    2. 2Single FinUluwatu · Cliffside bar
    3. 3La FavelaSeminyak · Bar and club
    See all 11

    Hotels

    1. 1Where Bali sleeps: river valleys, clifftops and the beachUbud · In depth
    2. 2AmandariKedewatan, Ubud · Resort
    3. 3Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton ReserveKedewatan, Ubud · Resort
    See all 28

    Sights

    1. 1The island of the gods: Bali’s temples and how to visit themBali · In depth
    2. 2Pura Tanah LotTabanan · Sea temple
    3. 3Pura Luhur UluwatuUluwatu · Clifftop temple
    See all 16

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Painters, dancers and the gamelan: Bali’s artsUbud · In depth
    2. 2ARMA – Agung Rai Museum of ArtPengosekan, Ubud · Art museum
    3. 3Museum Puri LukisanCentral Ubud · Art museum
    See all 17

    Nature & Beaches

    1. 1Jatiluwih rice terracesTabanan · Rice terraces
    2. 2Tegallalang rice terracesTegallalang, Ubud · Rice terraces
    3. 3Mount Batur and Lake BaturKintamani · Volcano
    See all 14

    Walks

    1. 1The Campuhan Ridge WalkUbud · Walk
    2. 2Sanur’s seafront pathSanur · Walk
    3. 3The Nusa Dua beach walkNusa Dua · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Seminyak VillageSeminyak · Shopping centre
    2. 2Seminyak SquareSeminyak · Shopping centre
    3. 3Beachwalk Shopping CenterKuta · Shopping centre
    See all 9

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112Bali · Emergency number
    2. 2BIMC Hospital KutaKuta · Private hospital
    3. 3BIMC Hospital Nusa DuaNusa Dua · Private hospital
    See all 11

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Bali: villas, leaseholds and the rules for foreignersCanggu · In depth
    2. 2Knight Frank IndonesiaBali · Property consultancy
    3. 3Exotiq PropertyBerawa, Canggu · Estate agent
    See all 5

    Developments

    1. 1Mandarin Oriental, BaliUluwatu · Resort
    2. 2Kura Kura BaliSerangan Island · Special economic zone
    3. 3Bali International HospitalSanur · Hospital
    See all 5

    Drivers & Boats

    1. 1A driver for the dayBali · Private driver
    2. 2Ride-hailing: Gojek and GrabSouth Bali and Ubud · Apps
    3. 3Riding a scooterBali · Driving rules
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Getting to and around BaliBali · In depth
    2. 2I Gusti Ngurah Rai International AirportTuban · Airport
    3. 3The e-VOA: Indonesia’s visa on arrival, onlineIndonesia · Visa
    See all 6

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