Indonesia
Bali
Our notebook to help you plan your trip to Bali: the right season, where to stay and our ideas to make the most of it.
Beaches, rice terraces and temples are spread all over the island. Pick one or two bases and you'll make the most of each vibe.
Best weatherDuring the dry season: perfect for the beach and day trips.
A question?
Wéa answers about this destination: neighbourhoods, seasons, ideas.
When to go
Every season has its charm. Here's how to choose yours, depending on what you want to experience.
Start of the dry season
The sun is back, the rice terraces are still lush and the island is calmer than in high summer.
Full sunshine
The driest weather of the year: perfect for the beach, surfing on the west coast and climbing Mount Batur.
Between seasons
It's sunny most of the time, the summer crowds have gone and prices come down.
Green Bali
The rainy season mostly means late-afternoon showers: vivid rice fields, waterfalls at their best and cheaper hotels. And Nyepi, the Day of Silence (often in March), is a unique experience.
Where to stay
The right neighbourhood depends on what you're after. Here are our favourite places to stay.
Seminyak
Beaches, restaurants and nightlife. Perfect for a lively first stay.
Canggu
Surf, cafés and a laid-back vibe. Young travellers love it.
Ubud
Rice terraces, culture and calm, inland. Ideal for recharging your batteries.
Uluwatu
Cliffs, surf and beaches in the south of the island. Wild and spectacular.
Nusa Dua
Big beachfront resorts, nice and quiet. Really practical for families.
Our favourites
What we love there: its history, its landscapes, its flavours and its festivals. Take your time, it's all there to enjoy.
The rice terraces
Subak, the ancestral irrigation system of Bali's rice fields, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The terraces of Jatiluwih and Tegallalang, near Ubud, are stunning early in the morning.
Ideal for nature lovers
Temples by the ocean
Tanah Lot, perched on a rock, and Uluwatu, on the clifftop, are magical at sunset. At Uluwatu, you can watch the kecak dance in the open air.
Ideal for sunsets
Ubud, the cultural heart
Traditional dance, crafts, markets and little temples: Ubud is the island's artistic centre. Everywhere you'll see canang sari, the flower offerings placed every day.
Ideal for Balinese culture
Nyepi, the Day of Silence
For the Balinese New Year, in spring, the whole island stops for 24 hours: no lights, no noise, even the airport closes. The evening before, parades of giant ogoh-ogoh figures fill the streets.
Ideal for a unique experience