The best places to visit in Bali aren't always the ones everyone talks about. Even on my first visit back in 2017, I quickly found myself wanting to escape the crowds of Ubud and beach destinations like Canggu. It turns out the quieter corners of the island can be even more spectacular — you just have to know where to look.
You’ll discover a different side of Bali in remote spots like Menjangan Island, where wild deer roam the shoreline, and crystal-clear waters are home to an abundance of marine life. Highland villages like Munduk offer another change of pace, with adventurous hiking trails through the rainforest.
Our Bali travel guide covers the main attractions, but here's where to go when you're ready to venture beyond them.
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Best Places To Visit in Bali
Menjangan Island: Bali's Top Snorkeling and Diving Spot
Menjangan Island is a nature-lover’s paradise far from Bali’s typical tourist trail.
Located within West Bali National Park, it’s a snorkeling and diving hotspot with water so clear you can see the thriving coral reefs from the surface. Underwater, you can spot an impressive range of marine life, including reef sharks, turtles, and manta rays, alongside an array of colorful tropical fish.
If you’re really lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of an elusive mola-mola gliding past.
Menjangan is also known for its wild deer. Keep an eye out for them along the shoreline or even swimming in the surrounding waters.
Aside from three temples where a small group of monks lives, the island itself is largely untouched by humans. There are no man-made structures on the island, so staying there isn’t an option.
The easiest way to visit is to base yourself in Pemuteran and arrange a snorkeling or diving trip with one of the nearby dive schools.
Munduk: Jungle Waterfalls and Crowd-Free Highland Hiking
Bali is no stranger to stunning scenery, but Munduk’s combination of hidden waterfalls, jungle hikes, and cool mountain air is hard to beat. This highland retreat is a must-visit for anyone keen to strap on their walking boots.
One hike not to miss is the Munduk Waterfall Trek, which connects three cascades in the Balinese rainforest. The waterfall trek alone makes Munduk one of the top places to visit in Bali for hiking, but it doesn’t end there.
Stroll through local rice terraces to enjoy lush landscapes without the crowds at the famous Tegallalang Rice Terrace near Ubud. Or head to a lookout over the twin crater lakes of Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan, surrounded by the tree-covered mountains of the highlands.
Munduk village itself is small and peaceful, with a sleepy atmosphere and family-run guesthouses. It’s not just a place to escape the crowds. The cooler climate provides welcome relief from the heat and humidity of the island's coast.
Pro Tip: The Munduk Waterfall Trek and other nearby trails have limited signage. Download offline maps or grab an Indonesia eSIM before you head into the highlands to avoid any wrong turns.
Amed: Black Sand Beaches and Volcano Views
Amed is a collection of small fishing villages dotted along Bali's northeast coast. If you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere and a slower pace of life, it’s the place to be.
This stretch of coastline is known for its volcanic black sand beaches, some with dramatic views of Mount Agung towering in the background. For even better views, head to Lahangan Sweet at sunrise to see the iconic cone-shaped volcano in the soft early morning light.
Although Amed is quiet and peaceful, it’s known as one of the best places to visit in Bali for diving and snorkeling. Shallow reefs are an easy swim from shore at spots like Lipah Beach, where sea turtles are a regular sight around the coral.
Don’t miss a visit to the Japanese Shipwreck, a shallow wreck now covered in coral and thriving with marine life. Diving is the best way to explore it fully, but you can also snorkel out from the beach if you prefer.
Aside from underwater worlds and volcano views, there’s little else to do in Amed other than chill out and take it easy. You’ll find plenty of local warungs (small, family-owned eateries) near the beachfront, serving up authentic Indonesian cuisine with lovely sea views.
Candidasa: Lotus Lagoon and Uncrowded Beaches
Candidasa's laid-back charm and easy access to some of the island's best uncrowded beaches make it the perfect alternative to Bali's most popular destinations. The Candidasa Lotus Lagoon in town is a picturesque spot for a stroll, particularly when the lotuses are in bloom.
Although there's a beach in Candidasa, the sandy shores of Virgin Beach and Bias Tugel Beach are better choices for a lazy beach day. Both are yet to be discovered by the tourist masses and are just a 20–30-minute drive from the town.
Its quiet location doesn’t come at the expense of traditional sightseeing, though, and there’s plenty to see nearby. Highlights include Lempuyang Temple — famous for its “Gates of Heaven” with views of Mount Agung — and Tirta Gangga Water Palace, two of Bali’s most iconic sights.
Nusa Lembongan: Relaxed Island Life and Cliff Sunsets
Overshadowed by neighboring Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan offers a far more relaxed island getaway. You won't have to deal with the crowds of day trippers on Penida, but it's still easy enough to hop on a ferry to see sights like Kelingking Beach, famous for its T-Rex shaped cliffs.
On Lembongan, Mushroom Bay Beach and Dream Beach are perfect spots to chill out by the sea. For sunset, head to the Devil’s Tears viewpoint, where huge waves crash dramatically against the cliffs as the sky lights up with color.
Or try kayaking through the mangroves to discover a different side of the island's nature.
And, if you run out of things to do on Nusa Lembongan, cross over the Yellow Bridge to continue your adventure on the nearby island of Nusa Ceningan.
Pro Tip: Lembongan is an excellent spot for diving and freediving, and having learned to freedive here myself, I recommend giving it a go.
Bedugul: Floating Temple, Highland Lake, and Botanical Garden
Bedugul is a highland lake district in central Bali that most tourists rush through on their way to somewhere else. That's a mistake. Sitting on the shores of Lake Beratan, it rewards those who stick around with cool mountain air, forest views, and one of the island's most photographed temples: Ulun Danu Beratan, which appears to float on the water’s surface. Take a boat ride on the lake and unwind with different perspectives of the temple against the forested mountains.
Just a few minutes away, the Bali Botanic Garden — the largest botanical garden in Indonesia — is the perfect spot for a walk among colorful orchids and begonias. Or, for a more hands-on experience, visit a local strawberry farm, where you can hand-pick some of the freshest strawberries you’ll ever taste.
If that’s not enough, Bedugul is also one of the best places to visit in Bali if you want to explore the waterfalls in the north of the island. It’s easy to combine the best ones in a day: Banyumala Waterfall, Sekumpul Waterfall, and Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall are the pick of the bunch. Sekumpul is arguably the most impressive, with its 80-meter drop, but the smaller cascades of Banyumala and Banyu Wana Amertha are similarly picturesque.
Sidemen: Rice Terraces and Mount Agung Views
Sidemen is the kind of place people picture when they think of Bali: rice paddies, misty volcano views, and local warungs overlooking it all.
There's no better place to start exploring than at the Sidemen Rice Terrace. Trekking through the tiered rice paddies, you’ll typically only encounter a handful of other visitors, and on clear days, Mount Agung dominates the horizon.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, take a white water rafting trip on the Telaga Waja River. It’s a thrilling ride through remote stretches of Balinese jungle and countryside that are completely inaccessible by road.
For a more laid-back experience, simply sit back and soak up the views of tiered rice paddies dropping toward the valley floor at one of Sidemen’s traditional eateries.
And, as is the case in much of Bali, you’re never far from a waterfall. Gembleng Waterfall, just a 20-minute drive away, is the pick of the bunch. The waterfall itself isn’t particularly forceful, but the natural infinity pool makes it one of the most unique places to visit in Bali.
Kintamani: Mount Batur Views and Volcano Hikes
Hiking up Mount Batur at sunrise has long been one of the top things to do in Bali, but an early start isn’t the only way to appreciate this natural wonder. Stay in Kintamani, and you'll get incredible views of the volcano’s black slopes without needing to set foot on the trail.
Take your pick of the cafes with outdoor terraces looking out toward Mount Batur and its namesake lake in the caldera below. No 3:00 AM wake-up call required.
If you do want to hike, Bukit Trunyan is a quieter alternative to the popular sunrise trek. At the summit, you’re rewarded with views of Mount Batur, Lake Batur, and Mount Agung.
Boat trips on the lake are another great way to take in the scenery, and give you the opportunity to see the striking golden statue of Dewi Danu by the water's edge.
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