Which Part of Bali is Right for You? A Brief Guide to Bali’s Popular Destinations
Bali is truly a distinct and magical place — no wonder it’s been at the top of everyone’s social media feed for years! However, Bali has a diverse array of areas with its own atmosphere and things to offer. When you’re planning your trip to Bali, you may feel overwhelmed with all of the options. Or, if you’re like me, you may have no idea what people mean when they say “Seminyak” or “Ubud” or “Uluwatu.” I created this blog post to share what I learned after visiting different parts of Bali so that you can select the area that best aligns with the experience you’re seeking. Read on to find out more!
Disclaimer: I want to start off by acknowledging that Bali is a dynamic island filled with incredible towns, city centers, beaches, and people. During my two weeks there, I spent my time in the central-southern part of the island and didn’t get the opportunity to venture into other regions. Therefore, this blog post is written from a limited perspective and I’ll only be including the parts of Bali that are typically popular with tourists.
But First: Orienting Ourselves to Bali’s Geography
I’m including the maps below to give an idea of the relational distance between popular tourist spots in Bali.
Source: balitransports.com
Source: bali.com
Which Part of Bali is Right for You?
Denpasar
Denpasar is the capital city of Bali; it’s where most of the city’s commercial and governmental activity is located. It’s also where Bali’s airport is located, so pretty much everyone who arrives to Bali will pass through Denpasar to get to other parts of the island. You can definitely tell that Denpasar is the capital city: it’s filled with buildings, concrete, and lots of noisy cars and motorcyclists. Though Denpasar is a commercial center, it’s not particularly popular with tourists because it doesn’t possess what many tourists come to Bali to see and do (i.e. beaches, rice paddies, temples, etc). There are, however, good offerings of restaurants, malls, and other small attractions.
Denpasar is for you if:
You’re a business traveler and have meetings in the city
You an overnight layover or need to be located close to the airport for other reasons
You’re planning to have a “base” in Bali that’s centrally located to the other popular parts
Kuta
Kuta is an area located directly north of the airport with a huge tourist presence. Ironically, Kuta is so touristy that it’s become unpopular with tourists. Kuta has everything that’s expected in a place with tourist infrastructure: paid attractions, a beach, restaurants, and loads of small-vendor shopping. I will say, after driving through Kuta, it did seem a bit run down and dirty (most likely from overtourism). However, since it’s close to so many family-appropriate attractions, I think it’s a decent place to visit if you’re traveling with children.
Kuta is for you if:
You’re looking for a low-cost area with lots of hostel offerings
You’re traveling with children and want to be close to child-friendly attractions
Grimy places with lots of tattoo shops, massage parlors, and vendors is your thing (because it is for some people — and there’s nothing wrong that)
Seminyak
Seminyak is directly northeast of Kuta, hugging the coast. Seminyak is what I imagine Kuta was a couple decades ago, before it got run down. I found Seminyak to embody the most typical parts of a tourist area — very Western/American, lots of chain restaurants and businesses, and not a ton of personality. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants in this area as well as a large outdoor mall (with all of the usual suspects such as H&M, Zara, Sephora, etc) directly across from a beach.
Seminyak is for you if:
You value strong tourist infrastructure when you travel and want the comforts that you have back home
You enjoy having close access to lots of shopping and dining options
Canggu
Canggu is colloquially considered the new “hotspot” in Bali. Located northeast of Seminyak (it seems like the tourist areas just continue to spread up along the coast), Canggu is the place to which all of the digital nomads and content creators are flocking. Canggu is located on the coast so there’s plenty of beach access. Canggu is also home to world-class beach clubs, unique retail shops, and plenty of dining (lots of vegan and gluten-free options). Canggu wasn’t my favorite place in Bali, but I absolutely loved all of the vegan food.
Canggu is for you if:
You like to socialize and be where everyone else is
You are a location-independent worker and appreciate trendy cafes with strong wifi
You like to party and value nightlife while traveling
You’re a fan of beach clubs
You have a plant-based diet
You enjoy surfing
You like black-sand beaches
Ubud
Ubud is a widely popular in Bali, especially because it has earned the reputation as the “cultural capital.” When many people imagine Bali, chances are that they’re envisioning Ubud. Since it’s such a tourism hotspot, Ubud has no shortage of things to do. I highly recommend visiting Ubud during your trip to Bali. I personally appreciated Ubud’s temples, rice terraces, food scene, and natural beauty. Keep in mind, Ubud is not on the coast so there isn’t beach access. It has more of a jungle environment.
Ubud is for you if:
Your trips are oriented around the culture of a destination
You are highly spiritual or seeking a spiritual experience
You like areas that are more laid-back
You appreciate temples
You want to stay in one of those picturesque villas that Bali is known for
Sideman
Looking for an even more local Balinese experience while still being able to access tourist infrastructure? Look no further than Sideman. Located east of Ubud, Sideman was — at least to me — even more culturally authentic than Ubud. I noticed a nascent boutique/luxury hotel presence in the area, so I think this area will get more well-known with time. Note: Like Ubud, Sideman is not on the coast so there’s no beach access.
Sideman is for you if:
You seek the most local experience possible while traveling
You’re not fond of a touristy atmosphere
You’re wanting to stay in a quiet, laid-back place
You want to interact with a lot of locals
Uluwatu
Uluwatu is located on the western edge of Bali’s southern peninsula. It’s known for it’s dazzling cliffs, surf-friendly beaches, and luxury hotels and beach clubs. I visited Uluwatu as a day trip from Canggu and really enjoyed it, especially after visiting Suluban Beach (which was absolutely gorgeous).
Uluwatu is for you if:
You are a luxury traveler and/or seek high-end accommodations
You like sophisticated atmospheres
You’re into surfing
You like to be away from the hustle and bustle
You appreciate cliff-side environments
That’s what I got, folks! I hope this was helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
