With so many "ultimate guides" and "most Instagrammable places" online about Bali, we hope that this blogpost can help you decide whether this should be your next holiday destination! We will be sharing our honest review as always, have selected affordable accommodation that will still give you that resort feeling, and haven't decided to sell all our belongings and move to Bali (yet).
All jokes aside, we have some great tips to share from our last trip in May 2023. For those unfamiliar with Bali and don't know what the big deal is about the place, let's give you the quick version. Bali attracts 6.3 million visitors a year and has a population of 4.4 million. Over the years the majority of the tourism are surfers, yogi's, digital nomads, social media influencers and many more. In the last decade it became increasingly more popular to build private villa's. There is no doubt that social media has also played a big role in glorifying the destination with dreamy pictures and videos of the rice fields, the cliffs of Nusa Penida and photos of the infamous Bali swing which we have now even seen pop up in countries outside of Indonesia. It is no surprise that Indonesia is one of the most visited countries in South East Asia.
Before May 2023, we were last in Bali in 2017 and a LOT has changed. We thought in 2017, Bali was very busy but there has been a post pandemic boom which has been good for the businesses that were affected by the lockdowns but a lot of pressure on the local infrastructure.
So why come back? There is something about Bali that just makes it so easy to recharge your batteries there. It's a tropical island with stunning nature. There are volcanoes, beaches, forests, and waterfalls. It's big enough to keep you entertained and small enough to make it easily accessible by scooter/motorbike. If you get bored of the main island, there are lots of smaller islands you can explore just a quick boat transfer away.
The food is delicious and since so many foreigners have also set up shop in Bali there are lots of cafés, restaurants, gyms and boutiques that will remind you of home. Places are generally open until late and if there is anything you want to organise chances are that someone will be able to get this done for you. It is less of a culture shock coming here than many other South East Asian countries. Along with the great weather, the warm and welcoming culture and the affordability, makes it a top destination for travellers. Oleg used to work in Thailand and it reminds us of Thailand in so many ways when it comes to the culture, climate and affordability.
Good to know:
Bali is an island (and province) in Indonesia, right in between Java and Lombok. About 87% of the population on Bali is Hindu and just to give some perspective. 90% of the whole of Indonesia is Muslim. This makes it a unique place to experience some of the local Balinese Hindu rituals. It is so deeply rooted in their daily routines, if you decide to go you will see it all over the island.
Official language: Indonesian, Balinese
The most popular third language the Balinese learn is English. Due to the large amount of tourism, you will be able to get around easily with English.
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR).
Take mosquito spray with you, it is a tropical island!
Upon arrival to the airport, you need to get a Visa on Arrival (VOA) or you can apply for it ahead of time using the official Indonesian Immigration website (molina) and apply for an e-VOA. It could save you time to do it online but there is a credit card fee and when we arrived we found the VOA process fast and efficient so did not end up queuing for long. The price is 500,000 IDR (30 EUR) per person and they also accept multiple currencies at the payment counter (USD, EUR, AUD, IDR). Make sure you bring cash!
Generally, any area that attracts lots of tourists has been monetised in Bali. This could be picturesque spots and parking at various sites such as beaches and temples. Our experience is that they never ask for much, usually less than 1 EUR. Parking fees mentioned in our blog post are all for scooter/motorbike.
Entrance fees and sports memberships are usually cheaper for locals than foreigners, so if you're Indonesian you could potentially have some good savings!
Prices on menu's (restaurants, spa's) are often displayed without government tax and service charge which are 11% and 10% respectively. Don't be surprised when 21% extra gets added to your bill.
There is no Uber in Bali but the alternatives are Grab and Gojek. They offer cars and motorbike/scooter taxis.
Traffic on the island especially in busy hubs like Canggu and Ubud can get pretty chaotic. If you have a car, be prepared to leave earlier as during peak times the roads get congested. We found traffic more manageable in Canggu as the roads were a bit wider and they've created more routes for motorbikes/scooters. In general motorbike/scooter will get you to your destination faster as you can weave through traffic easily.
How to get around in Bali:
By scooter/motorbike
Walking
Taxi
Car (least recommended)
Ubud
Ubud can't be missed when visiting Bali. Trust us, we made the mistake of only booking a few days here in 2017. When we left we definitely felt like we hadn't even gotten close to exploring all that Ubud had to offer. We know you're probably thinking but I'm on an island, why would I go to the middle of it when I can go to the beach? For a first timer in Bali, we would definitely suggest to do both. But as always, we will let the pictures do the convincing!
Ubud is often called the cultural heart of Bali. There is an abundance of temples, endless green rice fields, and tropical jungle all with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Even if you don't consider yourself spiritual, there is something about Ubud that might make you feel it. It is a paradise for relaxation, with countless places to stay that are tucked away in the jungle or rice fields. The town itself feels like you're in the middle of a jungle with long winding roads and hanging trees. It's where we also have had some of the best Balinese massages on the island. If you're not familiar with this type of massage, you have to try it!
It is only 36km away from Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) airport but due to the traffic and the winding roads it can easily take 1.5 hours.
As it can get quite hot in Bali, we suggest going for one activity a day and then cool off by the pool, book yourself a massage, do some yoga or Crossfit and have some great food. If you're planning on going to any of the waterfalls, you will need to arrange some form of transportation.
We love the freedom of starting when we want and leaving when we want to without having to worry about anyone else. So for us, the scooter rental from Bikago was the best option. Check out their website to see everything it includes but some of the aspects we liked: insurance, drop off and pick up service of scooter, free e-sim, mobile holder and mobile charging available.
Scooter rental is so popular in Bali that you could literally pick one of the street from a random street vendor. We used to wing it in 2017 too but the trouble is then that the quality of your scooter may be questionable and for longer trips you want to get a reliable one with insurance. We actually saw a guy stranded in a café in Uluwatu and although he eventually got his bike to work again, the help that was being sent over never made it to him in the space of 40 minutes.
All the experiences we've shared below could fit in a week in Ubud but because it's a mix of 2017 and 2023 experiences we've decided to rate it below so you can decide yourself which ones will fit into your itinerary.
Top sites to visit and experiences:
Suwat Waterfall
Nungnung Waterfall
Tegenungan Waterfall
Mount Agung
Pura Goa Gajah
Book a Balinese Massage
budget friendly: Jembawan Spa
splurge: Viceroy Bali
If short on time, skip:
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Suwat Waterfall
Score: 5/5
Opening times: daily 8:00-18:00
Entrance fee: 25,ooo IDR (1.5o EUR per person). No parking fee.
We couldn't find any reliable sources stating the number of waterfalls there are in Bali but for a small island, there are so many to choose from. This is our favourite waterfall to go for a dip! It is a smaller waterfall (15m in height) so it doesn't make big waves and it allows you to swim around comfortably. There are lots of areas where you can jump in, the highest spot being right behind the waterfall for the thrill seekers! We didn't jump off of that particular rock but rest assured we've been told by the locals that the water is 7m deep so it's "safe" to jump off into the water. Depth wise it is safe but it is important to be mindful that waterfall areas are slippery and to be careful when walking and climbing around the waterfall area.
There is an area to park your scooter and then head to the path where a short walk (5 minutes) will bring you to the waterfall. On your way to the start of the path, there will be locals playing on instruments and it all adds to the atmosphere of the place.
When we got to the waterfall there were two people just leaving and we had it all to ourselves for a while. We got there at 8:30 and slowly more tourists started arriving so we do recommend starting early. It is 14km away from Ubud but can easily take 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Make sure to look out for the rock carvings on your way to the waterfall and there is a bamboo raft available which we saw some of the tourists use to paddle out in the natural pool of the waterfall. The raft will probably cost some money to use so just ask the locals hanging around.
Nungnung Waterfall
Score: 5/5
Opening times: daily 9:00-16:00
Entrance fee: 20,000 IDR (1.20 EUR per person) and a motorbike parking fee of 2000 IDR (0.1 EUR).
This is the OG waterfall in Bali, it is 50 metres in height and one of the more powerful and impressive waterfalls. We visited this one in 2017 as well and we were happy to see that the main differences are that they've built better parking facilities, made it a lot safer to cross to the waterfall and there is a garbage bin at the bottom. That's pretty much it, there are no bathroom or changing facilities, no vendors and no Bali swings at the foot of the waterfall so it still gives you that rugged jungle atmosphere.
It is 35km away from Ubud and will take just over an hour to reach by scooter. It isn't only the distance that makes this waterfall a less popular visit. There are 500 steps down which makes it less accessible to some visitors. It takes 10-15 minutes down and nearly double the time to go back up. This is mostly due to the humidity, it will feel like a workout but it's worth the view!
Once you get there, there is quite a lot of spray from the waterfall so be cautious when walking over the rocks. Another thing that will make the experience more comfortable is to make sure you're already wearing your swimwear and have a towel to keep your camera/belongings dry.
Although it is allowed, we don't think this waterfall is best suited for swimming. There are some pools more downstream that may be calmer but the pool directly under the waterfall is too turbulent.
Tegenungan Waterfall
Score: 3/5
Opening times: 6:30 - 18:30
Entrance fee: 20,000 IDR (1.20 EUR per person). No parking fee.
Still made it on our list even though it wasn't as impressive as Nungnung or fun like Suwat waterfall. This waterfall is about 25m in height, suitable for swimming and it takes 165 steps to get down to it. It is also only 14km away from Ubud and takes 30-45 mins to get there depending on traffic.
This waterfall will be a solid 5/5 for a lot of people, let us explain why. It has lots of facilities built around it and lots of entertainment such as a day club (where you can have food and cocktails), a Bali swing, toilets and even lockers (all at a cost). For people who enjoy this and want to make a day out of it, there are a lot of facilities to make this possible. We like the more rugged waterfalls where it's more of an adventure to get there and where it's less crowded. Honestly, we did come in the afternoon so if you start early you could have the place to yourself and the experience might be a lot more private. It was just a bit too Disneyland for us. We did take a dip in the waterfall and it was really refreshing, there are also lots of places to sit and relax. Making it a more suitable place to have a picnic than Nungnung waterfall.
Mount Agung
Score: 5/5
Cost: 85 USD per person (in 2017)
In 2017 we climbed Mount Agung. It is 3142 meters in height, an active volcano and the highest point in Bali. We were there end of July and in August it actually erupted causing thousands to evacuate the area.
Another option for a sunrise hike is Mount Batur but we already found that back in 2017 it was one of the most popular hikes to do and decided to go for a more challenging experience.
There are two options for the hike: The Pura Pasang Agung Trail and The Pura Besakih Trail. The latter one is a bit more complicated and lengthy (taking on average 6-8 hours to complete). We hired a guide through a company that existed back then and we were picked up from the hotel at 21:00 to start our hike at 23:00 and make it to the top at 6:30 in the morning to witness the sunrise. Views are truly magical from there, even though we were not as lucky during sunset as it was cloudy. It is an intermediate to hard hike (depending on your fitness level). Be prepared to start the hike at 1200m and end it at 3142 m. The guide carried additional snacks and drinks with him so we had enough food and hot drinks for the duration of the hike. If you decide to go for Mount Agung, we recommend booking yourself a great massage after as a reward!
Pura Goa Gajah
Score: 4/5
Entrance fee: 50,000 IDR (3 EUR per person). If you park in the parking lot by the temple or the souvenir shops, there is a parking fee of 2000 IDR. You can also try parking around the corner. We didn't have small change so we got to park for free.
Dress code: Cover knees and chest both for men and women. They provide sarongs after you pay the tickets free of charge. It is NOT necessary to buy a sarong at one of the shops.
Goa Gajah means elephant cave, and though you won't see any elephants on this site it is worth visiting if you're in Ubud as it's only about 5km away depending on where you're based. The origins of the site isn't clear cut as it is dates back to the 11th century. It was excavated by Dutch archeologists in 1923 and the bathing temple wasn't excavated until the 1950s.
What makes this site unique is that both the Hindu and Buddhist religions co-exist on this site with various imagery from both religions being present. Upon entering, you will descend down a number of steps and the bathing temple as well as the elephant cave will be the first things to stand out. The bathing temple has two ponds with 6 (3 at each pond) Hindu statues of women pouring water into the ponds. Apparently there was a 7th statue which was destroyed during an earthquake. The elephant cave's entrance looks a bit intimidating but despite this it is thought to have been used for meditation and religious offerings. It is also believed that the Buddhist relics present on the Goa Gajah site date back to the 9th century which means it may have started out as a Buddhist site.
There is a garden where you can get down to the river. It is a peaceful and beautiful walk where you will pass by more ponds and stone shrines.
Other activities
What you'll notice in Ubud is that a lot of businesses have the luxury of space and a gorgeous view because of its surroundings. For a relaxed yoga class with a view, go to Intuitive Flow. The classes are small, so no need to worry about being 1 person in a group of 50 people and there is no need to book in advance. They have classes for different experience levels so need to be intimated if you're a beginner or bored if you're more advanced. What we loved about Intuitive Flow is that they are located on a hill and their yoga studio has lots of windows which show off a stunning view of Ubud. If that doesn't already bring inner peace, the class will. A drop-in costs 110K IDR (6.70 EUR) per person.
If Crossfit is more your thing, there are a couple of boxes in Ubud. We checked out two of them and chose the one that was closer to us because traffic can get hectic. We noticed that the prices are the same so it doesn't matter where you train unless you're planning to stay longer and would like to be part of the community. Jungle Box Ubud has a big semi open space and we enjoyed the programming there. A drop-in costs 250K IDR (15 EUR) per person, we did a 3 day class pass which is 550K IDR (33.50 EUR).
Book a Balinese massage! Why we love them? They use a combination of acupressure, reflexology and aromatherapy and find it great for stiff and sore muscles.
Jembawan spa is located in the city centre and we have a soft spot for the place. The owner and her employees are warm, welcoming and always all smiles. Every massage starts off with a foot bath and ends with ginger cinnamon tea and papaya. A 1 hour Balinese massage is 150K IDR per person (just under 10 EUR) but you can also book different types of massages and complete spa packages.
If you want to treat yourself and have the budget for it, book the 2 hour couples spa package at the Viceroy Bali. We did this in 2017 and it was one of the best massages we've ever had. Even though it was pricey, it was 100% worth it. Their location is so serene and after a couple's massage and flower bath we got to enjoy a drink in the jacuzzi with an amazing view. In 2023, the price for two people is 5,500,000 IDR (335 EUR).
Where to stay:
Kori Ubud Resort - for 46 EUR a night we stayed in a suite which was 70m2 (approx. 750 sq feet) which is bigger than our apartment back home. Our room had a balcony overlooking the swimming pool and it was an amazing place to relax. Breakfast is complimentary, it was one of the few hotel breakfasts we really enjoyed with lots of healthy options such as fresh fruits and vegetables as well as your choice of eggs prepared fresh. The resort is big and has an amazing view, the location is just of one of the main roads so it's easy to travel in and out from but the rooms are far enough from the road so you feel very secluded. The only downside was that WiFi sometimes was a bit unstable.
For the foodies:
Breakfast/coffee
Acai Queen (hands down the best acai bowls in Ubud)
Blend Cafe Ubud (the prettiest looking smoothie bowls in Ubud)
Seniman Coffee (the best coffee in Ubud and a great space to work)
Lunch/snacks
Snow Jam Cafe (we only came for the shaved ice dessert but they also serve all day brunch food and drinks)
Avocado Warung Ubud (the place to be if you like avocado's like us, we recommend the avo croissant)
Black Rose Resto Sanggingan (an Asian fusion restaurant with Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai food options)
Tukies Coconut Shop (for the best coconut ice cream in Ubud)
Dinner
You can't go to Indonesia, without eating local cuisine at a warung. It translates to shop and it's usually a family-run restaurant/eatery/shop in a casual setting. In Bali because they're mostly Hindu, you'll find that it's one of the only places in Indonesia where they serve pork.
Warung Janggar Ulam (our favourite warung in Ubud, the setting is beautiful and there's a lot of space. We liked that they served a variety of seafood, the grilled mussels are a must try!)
Warung Makan Bu Rus (the restaurant is tucked away in a cute courtyard, a little hard to find from the street side. We ordered the pork ribs, pork satay, chicken satay and two lemonades for 10 EUR. It was delicious and the cheapest dinner we had)
Warung Siam (a great place to have Thai food if you want to have a break from Indonesian food)
Tygr Ubud (a hip sushi place which also has branches in Canggu. We would recommend it for their poke bowls)
Canggu & Uluwatu
If you're travelling to Bali, some other places that you may have heard of are Canggu (pronounced: chang-goo, not kang-goo), Uluwatu and Seminyak. We will only cover Canggu and Uluwatu as we also went there in 2017 and we like the mix of surfer vibes, countless cafés, beaches and still feeling that you're surrounded by nature. Seminyak has been built up a lot so there's a lot of shops, restaurants and clubs there.
In the meantime, Canggu has changed a lot and we're not sure if it's for the better. It's become way busier (with tourists). However, with its proximity to the airport and Uluwatu it's a great area to base yourself from. Canggu is less than 20km away from the airport, and depending on traffic it can take up to an hour to get there by taxi.
We could also recommend basing yourself out of Uluwatu but Canggu much like Ubud has some "main streets" where you can find cafés, restaurants and boutiques. This makes it a lot easier to explore the area on foot. In Uluwatu, things are a bit more spread out so you're more likely to have to grab a scooter to get to any of the places. Canggu is a bit more trendy and showy than Uluwatu. Uluwatu has a lot more of a laid back vibe because it's more popular for surfing.
In Canggu you can go to the beach, find a great brunch spot and go to one of the numerous gyms or yoga studios. The food and accommodation are a bit more expensive than in Ubud which mostly down to its popularity.
So what should do you do when staying in Canggu or Uluwatu?
Go beach hopping! Explore the volcanic beaches around Canggu or the white/gold sand beaches of Uluwatu with their gorgeous cliffs.
We suggest picking one beach to visit per day because some of the better beaches in Uluwatu require a bit of walking. It usually starts on the top of a cliff and then you need to walk down to the water. Also keep in mind that a lot of the beaches don't have natural spots for shade so make sure to bring enough sunscreen, and a hat.
There are lots of beaches on the Bukit Peninsula that are managed by beach clubs. That's great if you're looking for a place where you can sit by the beach, have food and a comfortable spot to lounge all day. These places usually have an entrance fee, which will include some refreshments. The beaches we cover have public access and no entrance fee, just a parking fee.
Top sites to visit and experiences:
Pantai Nunggalan (Ulutwatu)
Pererenan Beach (Canggu)
Dirt biking
Snorkelling in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida
Balinese cooking class
Extra tips:
Green Bowl beach (when the tide is low you can walk a bit further and get some. great photos with the cliffside)
Tanah Lot at sunset
Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu temple at sunset
Pantai Nunggalan
Score: 5/5
Parking fee: 5,000 IDR (0.30 EUR)
Uluwatu is on the south western tip of the Bukit Peninsula and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches to relax on as well as for surfing. There are stunning beaches all along the south of the Bukit Peninsula but we will share our favourite one in Uluwatu.
Why go to Pantai Nunggalan?
When you're on an island where nothing is a hidden gem anymore because everything that is worth seeing is already tagged on Google maps, you start looking for things that make the place stand out. What we really liked about it is that it's a big stretch of beach, and that it has a shipwreck on it. Yes, a shipwreck! It's not very big but it seems like there's some local artists who decorate it every now and then and it adds a unique touch to the beach scenery.
To navigate there, look for Villa Plenilunio Bali. There will be parking marked up for scooters/motorbikes. The walk to the beach is about 20 minutes down a dirt path and there are some signs along the way. At some point there will be a fork and both ways have a sign that point to the beach, the one on the right will get you a bit closer to the shipwreck but it doesn't matter which one you follow. You can wear sandals, surfers even walk it barefeet and with their surfboards. However, it may be more comfortable to wear sturdy shoes as it is quite a bit of walking. Once you get to the beach, you should be able to see the shipwreck already but if not open Google maps and walk in the direction of Nyang Nyang beach.
It's also best to bring some food and drinks with you. It looked like there were some small beach shacks selling stuff in the past but this wasn't the case when we got there. We got there just before 10:00, perhaps the vendors come out later in the day.
Pererenan Beach
Score: 4/5
Parking fee: 2,000 IDR (0.10 EUR)
A great volcanic sand beach in the Canggu area, it's a popular surfing spot and a lot quieter than Canggu and Batu Bolong beach. If you're looking for beach restaurants it would be better to head to Canggu beach and Batu Bolong. Our favourite time of day to go is during sunset as the colours are at their best. At the start of the beach there is a big statue which also gives it more character. From Berawa beach onwards towards Seminyak the whole coast is filled with beach clubs so we much preferred the area of Pererenan for a relaxing walk at sunset.
Dirt biking
Score: 5/5
For Qiao-An's birthday surprise part 2 (first part was in the Australia blog post), Oleg arranged to go dirt biking on the beach. Qiao-An got her motorbike license 2 weeks before leaving on sabbatical in February and has always wanted to try it out. For more advanced dirt biking, there is also an option to do this around Mount Batur. Since this was the first dirt bike experience for Qiao-An, it was better to start off with an easier track.
The company we used is called Karbit Bike Adventure and we can highly recommend them. Their guides were very friendly and bikes were well maintained. They first brought us to a dirt bike track where we could experience the real deal. It's exhilarating but be prepared to go slow and trip up a few times! A complimentary drink was included and then we were off to the beach.
The dirt bikes are manual, so if you have no motorbike experience - good luck. Just kidding, they will take you down a road to check whether you feel comfortable shifting gears. On the way to the dirt bike track and beach there is always a guide in front of you and behind you so it felt professional and safe.
If you want to bring your motorbike to the beach without the dirt biking experience you can go to the same beach. It's a long stretch of beach where you're allowed to ride your motorbike, just be mindful you're sharing the place with regular beach-goers too. Just look for Pantai Pasut.
Snorkelling in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida
Score: 4/5
To start off, we will not be recommending the company we used to go snorkelling. It's advertised as a manta ray snorkelling trip so if you look this up you will get countless options. If you stay on Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida, you will also be able to book this trip directly on the islands. The standard tour will include manta bay and lots of boats show up at these places. It's overcrowded, smells like gasoline due to all the boats and we can imagine if it was stressful for us it is probably worse for the sea life. If we were to rate the company we went with it would've been 1/5.
We share this because we're being honest about our experience. Why still rate this so high? The boat trip to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida is worth it, it's beautiful and we also enjoyed the scenery whilst snorkelling. We just didn't enjoy snorkelling with the company. On a future trip, we would want to stay on Nusa Penida and approach a proper diving school to give it another chance. We're sure that there are other spots around the island where there aren't hoards of boats and perhaps a diving school can bring you further out. We would encourage you to find an experience that would be more pleasasnt for you and the animals. Have a look at the pictures and see for yourself, the cliffs of Nusa Penida are beautiful!
Balinese cooking class
Score: 5/5
If you love Indonesian food like we do, this is the activity for you! We booked with "Anika cooking class Bali" back in 2017 and had a great time. There are many options for cooking classes offered usually you have the choice of group or private, and with a market trip or without. We decided just to go for the group cooking class and ended up being the only two there. This meant we actually got a private cooking class and they asked some staff from their own kitchen to come help us. You make everything from scratch, including the sambal (Indonesian chilli sauce) and peanut sauce. Food always tastes better when you helped making it so the most rewarding thing is to be able to tuck into your own feast afterwards! (Feel free to leave a comment below if you want to see the return of Oleg's long hair)
Where to stay:
The Kamare - well located in Canggu and down a quiet road just off a main road. This meant that we had no issues with traffic noise because only people that were staying in the area would drive down it. The Kamare has a lounge area where you can store your food in the fridge and prepare your own food. They have a swimming pool and lounge chairs, and even though our room was right opposite the pool on the ground floor we didn't have noise issues as the guests staying there were all respectful of each other. We can imagine if guests aren't mindful, it could be quite noisy.
For the foodies:
In general, we preferred the food in Ubud much more to that in Canggu. We tried two places for smoothie bowls but they didn't quite measure up to the places we tried in Ubud. Same goes for coffee but maybe our expectations were just too high after Ubud.
Breakfast was not included in our accommodation in Canggu so we decided to grab breakfast from Pepito Market. This supermarket has lots of good options for tourists.
Breakfast/coffee
Brunch Club Bali (for their fluffy soufflé pancakes which they call p*rncakes! They take about 20 mins to make and come out very jiggly. For those who aren't buying into the hype they also serve other all day brunch options)
Revolver Canggu (a trendy kind of place but we enjoyed their coffee)
BGS Uluwatu (a surf shop and café serving good coffee, they also have a branch in Canggu)
Lunch/snacks
Al's Coffee & Gelato Canggu Bali (their klepon flavoured ice cream and matcha espresso are amazing!)
Muzoya Bali (Japanese style bakery with delicious cheesecake)
Loca warung Uluwatu (serves great local food and generous portions)
Single Fin Uluwatu (for a drink and to enjoy the view. If you've been to the beach and want to have a quick rinse, they have showers you can use)
Dinner
Fuji Sushi Canggu (affordable sushi with good seating, we like that there are lots of options and that the sushi is served in a sushi boat)
Waroeng Sushi Canggu (affordable sushi, not as nice indoor seating as at Fuji)
Unibowl PokeBowl Bali (they have a ton of options for pokebowls, also open for lunch)
HoiAn by MeVui (a good Vietnamese restaurant with a beautiful view on the rice terrace)
Menya Kenji Canggu (a delicious ramen joint with lots of indoor and outdoor seating)
Warung Goûthé (a French inspired warung serving brochette which are skewers)
Conclusion: should you go to Bali?
Yes! Our batteries were fully charged after 2 weeks in Bali. It's one of those islands where you're just never done exploring. We will definitely be back in the future. As mentioned before, it is the country in South East Asia where you'll have not have as big of a culture shock. Due to the amount of tourism, there is something for everyone. Hideout in a jungle resort? Yoga retreat? Hike up an active volcano? Chill at the beach all day? Chances are you'll find it all here. The only thing is, Bali does not have hidden gems anymore. Don't fall for the clickbait blogs claiming to have found hidden or secret places! They are all gems, that have been monetised in one way or another and that you need to be prepared to share with other tourists.
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