The Perfect One-Week (Or More!) Bali Itinerary for First-Time Visitors & Tips To Avoid The Crowds

With beautiful beaches, jungle waterfalls, delicious healthy food, endless spas and yoga centers to help you unwind, and particularly kind locals, it’s not surprising that Bali is one of the most popular destinations in the world. This is the perfect one-week itinerary for your first visit to Bali, with time for both rest and adventure, tips to avoid the crowds, and an “add-on” if you have a few extra days to explore!

One Week Bali Itinerary

When you only have one week in Bali, you’ll want to split your time between no more than two “home bases.” Some of the most famous Bali sites — waterfalls, monkeys, rice terraces, and temples — can be found near Ubud, so you’ll start your trip there. It’ll be a busy first few days, but for the second half of your trip, you’ll get to enjoy to chilled out beach towns of South Bali with completely different vibes from the Ubud jungle.

Day 1: Arrive In Bali & Drive To Ubud

Welcome to Bali! The island will have welcomed you from the minute you step off the plane with warm, tropical air, ringing Balinese music, and a taste of the Hindu architecture you’ll see all over the island.

1) Drive To Ubud In Central Bali

Assuming you arrive in the morning, your driver will meet you at the airport and take you straight to Ubud — a jungle town in the center of the island made famous from the book/movie “Eat, Pray, Love.” You won’t want to do anything too ambitious today because HELLO jet lag, so enjoy some down time resting at the hotel before heading to Ubud Center to explore.

The drive is usually an hour or two from the airport, depending on traffic.

2) Have lunch at a Balinese Hindu Temple

If you’re hungry, stop for lunch at the Cafe Lotus, whichI recommend less for the food and more for the lovely views of Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati — Ubud’s Lotus Temple. I recommend sitting on the platform with pillows and low-lying tables for that restful experience and to get the best views. Be sure to go walk through the temple after lunch!

Views from the cushioned platform at Cafe Lotus — the food is unremarkable, but I just love these lunch views!

3) Shop the Ubud Markets

Next, walk over to the Ubud Center Markets and peruse the local crafts and souvenirs. Feel free to pick up some cute purses, sarongs, or wall art to take home with you, but remember to negotiate! I recommend starting by offering 1/3 the initial “price” asked by the vendors, and don’t be timid — they expect negotiations which is why they up-charge their items substantially. Be respectful and find a price that seems fair for you and for them, and feel free to walk away and say “no” if you change your mind or can’t agree.

4) chill out with a healthy dinner

For casual healthy dinner on your first night, try The Elephant, Sage, or Clear Cafe. If you’re feeling up for it, enjoy after-dinner drinks and occasional live music at Laughing Buddha. Be sure to get plenty of rest tonight in preparation for a big day tomorrow.

Day 2: Campuhan Ridge Walk, Monkey Forest, and Spa Day

Today will start early, but you’ll be sticking close to Ubud Center. Expect to be outside most of the morning, and expect it to be warm when the sun comes up. Bring layers because it might be chilly in the morning, and comfortable shoes to walk around in!

1) Watch sunrise at CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK

Wake up early to catch sunrise on the Campuhan Ridge Walk. Most likely you’ll be up early from the East-to-West jet lag, but regardless, you’ll want to arrive here first thing to dodge the crowds and heat. The walk is about 2 km and takes a couple of hours, but you can hop off the trail early if you don’t want to do the full walk.

The views of rice terraces and thick jungle as far as the eye can see are truly stunning. You might even encounter some monkeys along the way! For a snack, stop at one of the little shacks on the trail for fresh fruit smoothies or pancakes.

2) explore the MONKEY FOREST

Next, head to the Monkey Forest right when it opens at 8:30am. This is another place that can get packed with tourists, so the earlier you can get there the better! Let yourself get lost on the massive property, filled with exotic trees and flowers and, of course, lots of monkeys. Don’t miss the three temples on the property — they’re beautiful!

I absolutely love the Monkey Forest and have never had a negative experience there. You can have a great experience as well, as long as you know what to expect!

First of all, if you’re terrified of monkeys, please don’t go here. They monkeys get very close to you, and if you start screaming or panicking, you’ll scare the animals and ruin the experience for everyone around you.

If you go, please don’t have any loose items on you or in an open bag/purse, especially food. The monkeys will steal anything off you — water bottles, cell phones, snacks, etc. You don’t want to lose your belongings and you also don’t want to be the reason the monkeys leave trash and plastic around the jungle floor.

Finally, if a monkey tries to grab something from you, don’t fight it and don’t panic. They will win, and trying to fight a wild monkey is an invitation to get bitten. Just stay calm and find a staff member to help you get it back.

3) HAVE LUNCH in the jungle

Grab a table on the patio at beautiful Bridges Restaurant overlooking the jungle and a flowing creek below. The food is delicious (if you can manage, try to tasting menu!) and the views make you feel wrapped in the jungle. It’s sort of a mix between fine dining and casual, on the pricier side for Bali food but still affordable.

4) REST UP WITH A SPA TREATMENT IN TOWN OR AT YOUR HOTEL

Ubud is filled with amazing spas, and most are quite affordable. Your hotel probably has one, but you can also find a lot in town often for better prices (if you’re on a budget). Some good options are Putri Ubud Spa, Tamarind Spa, and Jembawan Spa. Enjoy a Balinese massage or a flower bath and unwind after your busy morning.

5) ENJOY A NIGHT OUT or fine dining

Ubud has some beautiful evening jungle/pool clubs and wonderful fine dining restaurants, depending on what you’re in the mood for. Jungle Fish is a great spot to catch sunset poolside and socialize, with fun music. If you’d rather have a nice dinner with your partner, travel buddies, or solo (Bali is a great place to travel solo!) head to SpiceBali, BLANCO par Mandif, or Mozaic for an excellent meal in a beautiful setting.

Jungle Fish Bali has an amazing infinity pool and swim up bar hidden in the jungle — an awesome setting for a night out!

Day 3: Waterfalls, Ulan Danu Beratan Water Temple, & Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Today you’ll be exploring some of the most amazing sites — two of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites — in Bali, in easy driving distance from Ubud. You’ll want to hire a driver for the day, and bring a swim suit and change of clothes in case you decide to go swimming!

1) spend your morning CHASing WATERFALLS

No Bali trip would be complete without seeing some of the beautiful waterfalls scattered all over the island! However, not all waterfalls will be the peaceful, serene experience you’ve pictured in your mind of Bali. Some waterfalls, like GitGit and Tegenungan are beautiful, but have become very touristy. If you want someplace that’s easily accessible with lots of touristy photo-ops, these are good options! But expect massive crowds and a far-from-authentic experience.

If you want a quieter experience and are willing to put in a bit more work driving and hiking, look into some of the lesser visited waterfalls like Leke Leke, Tibumana, Kanto Lampo, or Banyumala. Sekumpul is my favorite waterfall, but it’s a much farther drive and a more challenging and time-consuming hike. As with most things in Ubud, the earlier you go to any of these waterfalls, the better!

2) Learn about balinese hinduism at ULUN DANU BERATAN WATER TEMPLE

Head over to the Ulan Danu Beratan Temple to wander the landscaped grounds, admire the architecture, and learn about Balinese Hinduism. If you have time, you may want to paddle out on the lake to go see the floating temple up close.

This temple opens at 7am and can get pretty busy during the day, so if you end up having a free morning, you might want to try visiting the Ulan Danu Temple right when it opens! But even with loads of people, it’s still a beautiful and important site worth visiting on your first trip to Bali.

3) EXPLORE THE iconic TEGALLALANG RICE TERRACES

Bali’s rice terraces are world-famous, and are protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Tegallalang Rice Terraces are the most beautiful in Bali, and is an easy drive from Ubud. These rice terraces also attract hoards of tourists, especially at midday.

Although it’s ideal to visit at sunrise when visitors are scarce and the light is especially beautiful, you have limited sunrises on your one-week trip to Bali. So I recommend visiting in late afternoon/sunset, when most of the large tourists groups and tour buses will have left for the day.

Along with the entrance fee, bring small cash to pay the locals within the terraces — they sort of block some of the paths and paying them will let you go further into the terraces, and the money goes to the locals who help maintain this little piece of paradise.

Expect to get sweaty and, probably, muddy! Keep in mind when harvest is for the rice, because that’ll impact whether the terraces are green.

4) DINNER IN UBUD CENTER

Enjoy your last night in Ubud at one of my favorite restaurants: Umah Pizza. It’s a super casual spot but has some of the best pizza on the island. Make a reservation in advance or else you’ll be queuing up outside for a long wait. After dinner, feel free to wander the streets in Ubud Center to people-watch & grab some gelato at Secrets (the honeycomb flavor is worth trying!), before heading back to the hotel for the night. After a day of hiking and swimming, you’ve earned some indulgences!

Day 4: Optional Volcano Hike & Move To South Bali

If you can muster the energy, I recommend spending your last morning in Ubud doing one of my favorite activities on the island: hiking Mount Batur for sunrise! But don’t feel guilty if you decide to sleep in instead. You’ll be saying goodbye to Ubud today and heading to the beach South Bali.

1) HIKE A VOLCANO FOR SUNRISE

If you’re feeling up to it, a sunrise hike up Mount Batur (one of the active volcanoes on Bali, but hasn’t erupted since 2000) is one of my favorite things to do in Bali. Not for the faint of heart, this hike requires getting picked up from your hotel at around 2:30am, hiking up a mountain in the dark, and returning to your hotel at around 9-10am.

It’s a long and exhausting mission but the chance of being rewarded with the views of sunrise behind Mount Agung (often smoldering its volcanic plumes in the distance) is worth it. Along with an incredible sunrise (as long as the skies are clear that morning), you’ll also be able to explore the Batur crater and will encounter some monkeys that hang out at the top.

For more tips on hiking Mount Batur at sunrise, read this post: WHY A MOUNT BATUR SUNRISE TREK SHOULD BE ON YOUR BALI BUCKET LIST

2) DRIVE TO SEMINYAK/CANGGU

After Ubud, you’ll spend the last half of your trip in south-western coast of Bali to enjoy the beach areas. The drive to Canggu from Ubud is around an hour, and the drive from Ubud to Seminyak is around an hour and a half.

Whether you should stay in Seminyak or Canggu generally depends largely on whether you can drive a scooter. In Canggu, it’s really quite necessary to drive a scooter, as it’s not very walkable and ride-sharing apps like Grab and Go-Jek are banned in many areas here.

Canggu is also a more chilled out vibes, with a larger expat community. Seminyak will have more hotels and tourists, so keep these things in mind when choosing your beach home!

Wherever you stay, spend your first afternoon/evening exploring the shops and cafes around town and heading to the beach for a coconut at sunset. In Seminyak, the main beaches are Double Six Beach and Petitenget Beach, and in Canggu/Berawa, the main beaches are Echo Beach and Berawa Beach.

DAY 5-7: Soak In True Bali Vibes at your chilled out beach town

Your days in Ubud will need to be planned out a bit more, because some of the best things to do in Ubud are not located in the city center. In Ubud, you’ll need to hire drivers and spend more time traveling from place to place.

My recommendations for the beach towns in South Bali, however, are all very close to one another and don’t require advanced planning. And trust me, there are endless things to do in Bali, but part of the genuine “Bali experience” involves slowing down, eating lots of yummy healthy food, drinking coconuts at the beaches, and indulging in the spas before heading back to your busy life back home.

You’ll find my favorite things to do and places to eat in Seminyak and Canggu in the neighborhood guides below! You can easily drive between the two towns on scooter in 10-20 minutes, so there’s no need to limit yourself to one neighborhood.

Seminyak

Seminyak is quite touristic, but still a fun and vibrant area to spend a few days on your first trip to Bali. It has amazing shopping and delicious restaurants, and the west-facing beaches are fun for sunset, with lots of live music and little shacks to get a Bintang or coconut.

Best Things to Do in Seminyak:

Shop the boutiques on the main shopping streets, Jalan Raya Seminyak and Jalan Kayu Aya
Relax in the pool and enjoy sunset at Potatohead Beach Club or Mano Beach House (get there early to reserve a day bed, because it gets busy!)
Enjoy a spa treatment at Spring Spa
Take a yoga class at Blue Karma Oasis Studio, Prana Yoga Studio, or Jiwa Yoga
Chill on a beanbag chair at Double Six Beach, and catch live acoustic music at night

Spending an evening at Mano Beach House is a perfect way to catch sunset, have yummy food, and enjoy a swim in Seminyak

Best Restaurants in Seminyak:

Shelter Cafe (beautiful setting serving its own menu, as well as the famous Nalu Bowls smoothie bowls)
Batik (beautiful pan-Asian restaurant that feels a bit fancier, while still at an affordable price)
Restaurant Mejekawi at Ku De Ta (a fine-dining, prix fix chef’s choice menu if you’re feeling fancy! the food is absolutely amazing, but will likely be the most expensive meal you have in Bali)
Sarong (has been named one of the best restaurants in Bali!)
Sea Circus (colorful, photogenic spot with healthy options as well as burgers and tacos)
Watercress (always excellent food, especially love it for dinner)
Da Maria (same owners as Luigi’s in Canggu but more sophisticated. This is my favorite pizza in Bali! Tell them it’s your birthday, trust me… Late at night it becomes more of a nightclub, so plan accordingly depending on what kind of evening you want.)
Bikini (outstanding fine-dining restaurant with a unique sharing plates menu — really fun to come with friends and try lots of dishes)

You’ll love the colorful vibes and fresh food at Sea Circus!

Canggu

Canggu (pronounced “chan-goo”), and its “sub-neighborhood” Berawa, are still very westernized areas of Bali, but attract more expats than tourists. If you want a more chilled experience in South Bali and can drive a scooter, I recommend staying in Canggu!

Best Things To Do In Canggu:

Morning oceanside yoga at Finn’s VIP Beach Club (cost is 100k but this counts as credit toward breakfast or coffee at the restaurant)
Rent a bed at Finn’s Beach Club or Casa Del Mar for the day
Grab drinks at The Lawn or La Brisa in the evening (both have pools and become lively nightclubs after dark!)
Take a morning surfing lesson at Echo Beach
Explore the shops on the main streets in Canggu and Berawa (Batu Balong in Canggu, and Pantai Berawa in Berawa)
Take a yoga class at The Practice
Get a spa treatment at Sofia Spa or Amo Spa (Amo has a sauna/steam room/ice bath setup too, free with any spa treatment when you have the Gu Guide App!)
Experience “zero gravity” floatation therapy at Solace Float
Wander the markets at Samadi or Love Anchor (Samadi has yoga classes and a cafe as well, whereas Love Anchor has a lot more shops and is more centrally located)

Wander through the Samadi markets on the weekends, and grab a healthy brunch or take a yoga class!

Best Places To Eat In Canggu:

Peloton Supershop (some of the best vegan food you’ll ever eat, but you’ll love it even if you aren’t vegan… power house bowl, lasagna, and jackfruit tacos are the best)
Quince (awesome brunch spot — I recommend the breakfast tacos!)
Matcha (my favorite chill cafe, with delicious smoothie bowls and a vegan burger that’s one of my favorite things to eat on the island)
Tygr, Ink, or Ji (Japanese/sushi)
Da Romeo or Amami (Italian and vegan Italian, respectively)
Crate (popular brunch spot with lots of healthy options and rice terrace views)
Betelnut (popular casual, simple cafe that was one of the first to open in Canggu)
Luigi’s (awesome pizza and fun nightlife; these are the same owners as Da Maria in Seminyak)
Ruko (try the veggie omelet or charcoal smoothie bowl for breakfast!)
Milu (lovely views of the rice paddies and a really tasty, diverse, affordable menu)
Omah Jamu (delicious vegan “warung” style cafe)
Mad Pops (delicious vegan ice cream!)

Matcha Cafe’s pumpkin turmeric vegan burger is one of my absolute favorite meals on the entire island. Go try it!

Day 7-10: Extra Days In North Bali

If you have a few extra days to explore Bali, I definitely recommend heading up to North Bali. It’s a much quieter, less touristic part of the island compared to Ubud, Canggu, and Seminyak, and you’ll really get a completely different experience in the mountains and jungle up here.

Be sure to visit the Tamblingan Lake water temple, chase more waterfalls like Banyumala and Sekumpul, take a dip in the Holy Hot Springs, join a dolphin-watching tour in Lovina, or go scuba diving or snorkeling at Deer Island.

For more tips on what to do and where to stay in North Bali, read this post: NORTH BALI GUIDE.

Where To Stay in Bali

Bali is filled with incredible, luxurious hotels and villas that are shockingly affordable. You can find tons of amazing places on Agoda, or even Airbnb. Be sure to read the reviews and only book places that have plenty of reviews to check for things like cleanliness, air conditioning, WiFi, bugs, the convenience of the location, English-speaking stage, and whether the place actually resembles the photos.

For my favorite spots, try booking at the accommodations listed below.

UBUD

Kamandalu (Expansive rice terraces on-site with private pool villas)
Chapung Sebali (Modern architecture with Balinese influence; the rooms with a jungle-view plunge pool are incredible! Also home to Jungle Fish Pool Bar)
Camaya Bali (Private jungle swing and unique bamboo architecture, but note that the rooms are outdoors so if you want luxuries like air conditioning, minimal bugs, etc. this might not be your place… Camaya is more like glamping than it is a luxury hotel, and is a bit further from town. CLICK HERE to get $40 off your first Airbnb booking when you create a new account!).

SEMINYAK

Double Six Luxury Hotel (Centrally located with ocean-view balconies in some rooms — my parents stayed here on their visit and it was great!)
Tijili Seminyak
Amadea Resort & Villas

CANGGU

Villa Sally (Beautiful, centrally located private villas in Berawa)
Nido Boutique Cottages (Budget-friendly, luxury cottages with a pool in a quiet area of Canggu, but still a short drive from everything. There are a few different cottages on the property so if one is booked up, check the other listings. CLICK HERE to get $40 off your first Airbnb booking when you create a new account!)

Things To Know For Your Bali Trip

Below are answers to some of the most commons questions I receive about traveling to Bali, and the things you should know before planning your trip. Find information on weather, transportation, money, and more!

When to Visit

Bali is beautiful year-round, but there are different “seasons” here that you should consider when planning your trip.

The peak season is around mid-May to September, with warm days and slightly cooler nights. These months also attract the most tourists and have the highest prices for tourist activities and accommodations.

Shoulder months from March-May and September-November are great if you want generally good weather but fewer tourists.

Rainy season generally begins mid-November and continues until around March. This can fluctuate day by day, year by year. Sometimes it hardly rains for weeks, and sometimes it rains for days straight. Prices are lowest in Bali during these months and there are the fewest tourists, but know the risks of rain in advance!

Transportation

I recommend hiring a driver to get around longer distances, like from the airport to Ubud, day trips around Ubud, and from Ubud to South Bali. Generally a full day with a driver will cost about 750k IDR (about 50 USD).

I recommend my friend Ashkar if you’re looking to hire a driver in South Bali (he may also be able to help you out in Ubud). Contact him on WhatsApp at +62-877-6178-2273. He’s incredibly friendly, professional, reliable, and speaks English!

Rent a scooter at any local scooter rental place to get around town in Ubud or South Bali (but expect the roads in Ubud to be a bit rough and steep at times). A scooter is especially helpful (if not necessary) in Canggu. Expect to pay about 50k IDR (less than 4 USD) per day, or less if you rent for longer periods of time.

In Seminyak and some areas in Canggu, you can use the ride-sharing apps Go-Jek and Grab to get around by car or scooter. Scooters are the cheapest and quickest way.

Please remember to always always always wear a helmet on a bike! SO many people get in accidents around here (I’ve been in some myself and nearly everyone I know also has at some point) and it’s all too common to hear about serious injuries and deaths among tourists.

SIM Card

The two main cell networks in Bali are Telkomsel or XI. SIM cards are sold at the airport but are outrageously overpriced — do not buy a SIM card of cellular data at the airport.

I recommend stopping somewhere in town to get one (ask your driver or hotel, but little cell phone shops and some convenience stores will sell them). You shouldn’t need to spend more than a few dollars for the SIM card and enough data for your trip.

Money

Although many Western cafes and hotels in Bali accept credit and debit cards, it’s still pretty common for many to be cash-only. It’s also not uncommon for credit card machines to be broken, so you’ll want to always have cash on hand just in case.

Check with your hotel in advance to see whether it accepts credit or debit card.

Be sure to also have a way of getting more cash if needed. There are ATMs all over the towns in Bali that accept international cards — try going to one inside a convenience store or hotel to avoid getting your card skimmed!

Finally, always have smaller bills on hand for tipping local guides, entrance fees to waterfalls or other sites, Go-Jek/Grab drives, and negotiating at the markets. Don’t expect the locals to have change.

An easy conversion to remember is that 15,000 IDR (“Indonesian Rupiah”) equates to roughly 1 USD.

Respect the Culture & “Bali Vibes”

For your one-week trip in Bali, you’ll mostly be visiting areas where people generally speak at least some English and restaurants and hotels have been Westernized. However, keep in mind that you are in a foreign and developing country.

Be patient with locals who don’t speak English, and understand that things move slowly and can run on “island time.” Expect some things to break (like WiFi, electricity, your bedroom door, etc.), and be prepared for restaurants to not have ingredients available. Respect local customs and dress code, which includes covering up at temples and not going topless at the beach (yep, I’ve seen it).

Single-Use Plastic and Waste

Plastic waste and other pollution is a HUGE problem in Southeast Asia and in Bali in particular. But remember that the pollution in the oceans and air over in Asia affects absolutely everyone on planet earth. So yes — it’s your problem too.

Please do not contribute to the problem while visiting Bali. Refuse plastic bags, straws, and water bottles, and either bring a reusable shopping tote & water bottle or purchase one while here. There’s simply no excuse for using these single-use plastic items in Bali when there are so many alternative, sustainable options readily available.

Never litter, even if it seems like other people are. Try to spend your money supporting the huge number of eco-friendly, sustainable boutiques, restaurants, and hotels on the island. Simply Googling the company’s name and looking at their website or Instagram should give you an idea of whether sustainability is important to them.

Instagram Craze

You’ll find that so many hotels, cafes, and even tourist sites are designed to give visitors the perfect photo op for their Instagram posts. Instagram is, in a way, responsible for some of the huge tourism influx — for better or for worse.

While Bali is incredibly photogenic, and while I do encourage you to bring a camera and snap ten thousand pictures, I also really, really encourage you to spend some time away from the iPhone or camera and actually experience this beautiful island and foreign country.

I don’t encourage you to spend your entire trip trying to recreate iconic Bali photos rather than actually doing anything fun, experiencing the island, speaking to locals, learning about the culture, etc.

Bali can be as deep or as superficial as you make it, and I encourage you to seek after the former as much as possible.

Let's Go.

Bali is a bucket list destination for so many travelers, and for good reason — it offers delicious healthy food, stunning beach sunsets, luxurious spas and hotels, and the friendliest locals you’ll find anywhere, and all for extremely budget-friendly prices.

Although certain areas and attractions in Bali can be over-touristed, the tips above should help you avoid the crowds and have that serene, chilled out Bali experience you’ve always dreamt of. Enjoy your one-week trip to Bali, and I hope your first-time visit leads to many, many more!

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Have any questions on traveling to Bali? Leave them in the comments below!