Here’s a list of things that should definitely be on your bucket list if you’re visiting Bali for the first time. Let me know in the comments section if I forgot something!

1. Chase waterfalls

Bali is well-known for its picturesque waterfalls. No matter where you’re staying on the island, you’ll easily come across one. For a better experience, it’s usually recommended to visit any waterfall early in the morning to avoid crowds and too much light/heat. We personally visited Sekumpul and Kanto Lampo, and enjoyed them both.

2. Check out the rice paddies

The most famous rice fields in Bali are Tegallalang and Jatiluwih, both located quite close to Ubud. Tegallalang tends to get really packed so I suggest going there for sunrise. If you get lucky enough while meeting some locals, just ask and they might take you to some less crowded ones.

3. Make some monkey friends

I definitely suggest spending a few days in Ubud and visiting its surroundings. The Sacred Monkey Forest is a beautiful place where you can approach these little monkey creatures.

4. Go island hopping

The beaches in Bali itself aren’t considered the nicest. However, there are many options for you to go on a day-trip or multi day-trip to the surrounding islands, which all have stunning white sand beaches. Whether you choose to go to Penida, Lembongan, Ceningan or the Gilis (Lombok), you’ll surely find a white sand paradise.

5. Enjoy a yoga session

The atmosphere in Bali is so chill, everyone is just living much more slowly and takes time to enjoy the present moment. A good way to start your day is to do a little yoga session. If you get the chance to stay at the Kamandalu Hotel, they have a pretty epic yoga studio that overlooks the jungle.

6. Eat all the tropical fruits

Bali is the perfect place to eat fresh fruits; fruits that you probably don’t find in your home country. My sister and I usually always started our days by eating fresh pineapple and dragonfruit. There are also tons of cute cafés where they make delicious smoothie bowls (eg. Cafe Organic and Kynd Community).

7. Go surfing

The island of Bali truly is a surfer’s paradise. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or a pro surfer, you’ll find the perfect waves. This was personally my second time surfing, so my sister and I booked a lesson in Legian and had a lot of fun.

8. Visit temples

Balinese people come from various backgrounds and therefore they don’t all practice the same religion. What I found awesome is that everyone seems to be very tolerant of one another and they all live in harmony. The main religion though is Hinduism, and I highly suggest visiting a few temples and attending traditional events/dances to get to know the culture better.

9. Take a photo on a swing

It seems to be a very popular thing to come across all sorts of swings and nests while visiting tourist attractions anywhere in Bali. Before visiting, I thought it was a bit cheesy, but then I got there, and this happened… I must admit it works great for photos, and it’s very typical of Bali.

10. Party at beach clubs

There are so many options when it comes to watching sunset while enjoying a drink at the beach. You can pretty much go anywhere in Canggu, Seminyak or Uluwatu and live the most memorable experience. A few places we really loved are: Finns, Potato Head, Sundays & Single Fin, but the list could go on much longer.

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