How to Spend a Short Trip in Bali, Indonesia + What It’ll Cost
This is a guide to the top activities and attractions you should consider for a short visit to Bali, Indonesia, and what they cost.
If you have the opportunity to visit Bali and only have a few days, this article is for you! The beauty of the island of Bali is in the diversity of activities it offers. Some people visit Bali for surfing, some go for wellness retreats, others enjoy the culture and scenery, and others love the nightlife. In any case, you’re sure to be greeted by lovely Balinese people along the way and enjoy some delicious food and stunning landscapes of rice fields, volcanoes and sea!
During my recent trip to Bali, my friend and I based ourselves in Ubud and Canggu and took a day tour to discover East Bali. The trip was a wonderful experience that exceeded our expectations. We learned a lot about what Bali has to offer and what we would do differently if we were to plan the trip again. In this article, I’ll share our insights and recommendations to help you make the most of your time on the island.
Where to Stay in Bali
Before we start with activities, here are some tips on where to base yourself on the island. For a short visit to Bali, you can base yourself in any of the areas within an hour or two from the airport.
If you’re looking for affordable accommodations in a good central location, I’ll suggest using Ubud as a base. Ubud is a town known for its beautiful rice paddies, cultural heritage and wellness activities. We loved the overall ambience and nature in this city.
If you’re looking to surf or want to splurge on ocean-front accommodation, look at places like Seminyak, Kuta and Uluwatu.
What to Do in Bali
This is not an exhaustive list, but it covers the highlights of what we enjoyed and what we would have liked to add if we had time. Let’s dig in!
Take a monkey selfie in the Monkey Forest
The Sacred Monkey Forest is popular for good reason. There are countless monkeys in this forest park who roam totally free and enjoy feedings from park staff. The monkeys are surprisingly well-behaved, although they are wild so you need to watch your belongings. Please be responsible with what you take in, follow the park guidelines and be careful about getting too close.
Plan to spend about 45-60 minutes roaming around in the Monkey Forest. Take your time enjoying nature and watching the funny and curious behaviours of cute macaque monkeys. Stop by the Monkey Selfie booth to get your voucher for a monkey selfie, truly one of our favourite moments from this trip, where a staff member will assist you in safely getting a very fun photo with a monkey.
Pro Tip: Don’t wear any jewellery here and bring minimal belongings, including no open bags/totes and no food.
Total Cost
+ Entrance fee: IDR40,000 / $2.68 USD / $3.64 CAD per adult
+ Monkey selfie: IDR50,000 / $3.35 USD / $4.55 CAD per photo opp
= IDR90,000 / $6.03 USD / $8.20 CAD
We considered this money very well spent!
My favourite selfie ever! The Monkey Selfie voucher is worthwhile fun when visiting the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali.
Relax at your villa or hotel
Ubud is a cute little city with plenty of jungle, so if you’re a nature lover, you’ll easily find a hotel, homestay or villa with a perfect jungle ambience. There are also hotels and hostels in the centre, but we enjoyed being a bit distanced in our little oasis at Sitala Suite Ubud. They served a simple breakfast of eggs or pancakes to the table just outside our door every morning, so we got to start each day with the relaxing sounds of nature.
Book your own little oasis and take full advantage of the beautiful rooms, amenities, pools and hospitality in Ubud. Plan some time at your accommodation to enjoy it!
Pro Tip: Don’t stress about being away from the centre of town, it’s always possible to either get a Grab (the Uber of Southeast Asia) or your hotel will happily arrange transportation for you.
Total Cost
The cost will vary depending on the type of accommodation you choose. I shared a small but beautiful queen villa room with my friend at Sitala Suite Ubud, a small 3-star hotel with gorgeous bathrooms, comfy beds, a dipping pool and breakfast included. In total, we paid:
= IDR467,000 / $31.29 USD / $42.50 CAD per night
Take a Day Trip to Eastern Bali
Our favourite day in Bali was our Get Your Guide day tour because we got to see so many beautiful places and try new things in a short amount of time with our awesome guide, Komang!
In just one (very full!) day, we visited:
✨ Lempuyang Temple with the famous “Gates to Heaven'‘
✨ Tirta Gangga (Water Palace)
✨ Lunch overlooking Gunung Agung volcano and stunning rice fields
✨ Jungle swing (so fun!)
✨ Tukad Cepung Waterfall
✨ Coffee plantation & tasting
We booked through Get Your Guide and as usual they delivered a quality tour! We were just four people and our guide was experienced and helpful in every way, from sharing information about Balinese culture to suggesting different start times to avoid delays to taking amazing photos and more. Book your tour via my link below:
Chase Waterfalls
There are countless beautiful waterfalls in Bali. We visited two during our short stay: Suwat Waterfall around Ubud and Tukad Cepung Waterfall further east. Some of them are easy to access by stairs and groomed trails, while others will require a real hike. At some of them, you can jump in and swim in, while others are smaller or not swimmable, so the time you'll spend at a waterfall can vary from 10-30 minutes, plus trekking time.
Tukad Cepung was in a canyon, so while it was dark, it was pretty cool to go down and walk in the canyon. It takes about 20-30 minutes each way but is an easy trek. Suwat, on the other hand, is much shorter with just about 10 minutes on stairs each way.
Don’t limit yourself, there are loads of waterfalls to choose from! The easiest way to pick where to go is to either speak with your hotel reception or simply look at “waterfalls” on Google Maps and read reviews.
Total Cost:
There is often a small entrance/parking fee to enter waterfall parks. It may vary, but it was 15,000 IDR at both we went to.
= 15,000 IDR / $1.00 USD / $1.37 CAD per person
Chill at Cretya Ubud Jungle Club
This Jungle Club is beautiful, with natural architecture beautifully set in the jungle and rice terraces, art installations, activities and photo opportunities set about the grounds. It somehow feels like an amusement park, with all the activities and photos happening around you, yet at the same time completely serene and peaceful. It exceeded our expectations and we really enjoyed spending a few hours here, starting with lunch and dessert, then wandering the grounds to admire the rice fields and installations, take some photos, and finally enjoying a couple of beers at the pool.
The small entrance fee gives unlimited access to the grounds, pools, restaurants and bars here. For an additional fee, you can also opt for other activities, like a flying fox (zipline) across the rice fields or one of many jungle swings. We didn’t try them here, but they did look like fun! If you’re with a group, there are also tables and sun beds that can be reserved in advance for a fee. Plan to spend at least two hours here, but we stayed for over three hours and could have stayed longer just lounging.
Pro Tip: Lunch here was really good value! Whereas I often find places like this get by on their amazing views and amenities, Cretya also nailed delicious Asian food at reasonable prices for the venue. They also have a Western restaurant, for the less adventurous ;)
Total Cost
+ Entrance fee per adult (18+ only): IDR50,000 / $3.40 USD / $4.60 CAD
+ Lunch per adult (meal, fresh juice & dessert): IDR239,000 / $16 USD / $21.50 CAD
+ Two local beers by the pool: IDR117,600 / $7.90 USD / $10.60 CAD
= IDR406,600 / $27.25 USD / $36.60 CAD
Cretya Ubud Jungle Club offers stunning grounds to explore, gorgeous pools to chill in and a great restaurant.
Try a Coffee Tasting
Bali is dotted by coffee plantations, several of which grow more than just coffee but also fruits, herbs, spices and teas. You can visit these plantations, where they’ll offer you a tour and you can learn about the different things they grow and what they’re used for. Most importantly, you’ll be offered a tasting, and it’s really worthwhile.
One of the plantations we visited near Ubud gave us 18 different coffees and teas to try! They aren’t full-size coffees, but they are generous servings. You could easily share a tasting (see image below) between 3-4 friends. Coffee flavours included ginger, coconut, ginseng, durian, cocoa, vanilla, avocado, and more. We also loved the teas, like rosella, ginger and mangosteen.
Note that the “prize coffee” in Bali is luwak coffee, which is made from the droppings of wild civets (a type of cat). While we did try it (and it tasted surprisingly good), we later learned that this coffee relies on questionable practices when it comes to the treatment of animals. So I would recommend politely declining luwak coffee and enjoying the rest instead, or researching and asking questions about how they collect the luwak coffee to make a decision for yourself.
Total cost:
Costs may vary, but normally they will ask you to buy a coffee or pay a fee for the tasting. This is what we paid.
+ IDR100,000 / $6.75 USD / $9.15 CAD
You’re in for a caffeine rush if you pop by a coffee plantation in Bali! Sample a variety of unique flavours like ginger, ginseng and avocado coffee, plus delicious teas!
Dinner & Shopping in Central Ubud
Central Ubud has some cute strips of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars, all nearby Ubud Palace, where they have nightly cultural entertainment. At night, a couple of streets are closed to traffic, so pedestrians can stroll freely and have their pick of many food and drink choices. We loved how most restaurants are set up in a patio style where the front row overlooks the street - perfect for people-watching with a Bintang (Indonesian beer).
You can, of course, repeat this activity any time and try different places. For shopping, you can also visit markets like Ubud Art Market or Pasar Seni Ubud Market.
Total Cost
Not counting any shopping or further drinking you choose to do, here’s a chill night out in Ubud:
+ Dinner and 1-2 beers: IDR149,205 / $10 USD / $14.50 CAD
+ Ice cream: IDR35,000 / $2.30 USD / $3.15 CAD
= IDR183,525 / $12.30 USD / $16.58
Take a Yoga Class and/or Enjoy a Spa
Bali is a spiritual place and has become known for its wellness industry. Unsurprisingly, you’ll find countless spas, wellness centres and yoga studios all over the island. Treat yourself to a Balinese massage, spa treatment and/or yoga class. We took a yoga class at Guan Yin Yoga Shala in Canggu, which is located within a resort, and it was an excellent setting with great instruction.
Total Cost
Costs will vary a lot depending on the type of setting (ex. resorts typically charge more) and what you’re getting. At the resort, we paid:
Yoga class: IDR130,000 / $8.85 USD / $11.85 CAD
Chill, Eat & Surf in Canggu or Seminyak
Canggu and Seminyak are among the most popular areas for tourists to stay and for foreigners to live. Reviews may be mixed on Canggu, which has been largely overtaken by foreigners, but it is irrefutably known to be a good spot for surfers. If that’s your thing, you’ll definitely want to check it out! Canggu also has many great places to eat, so check out my Canggu restaurant recommendations if you’ll be heading there. It takes about one hour to reach either town from Ubud, so you can get there by Grab car or by hiring a driver from your hotel.
While it wasn’t our favourite for cocktails, we couldn’t deny the The Lawn in Canggu had a beautiful setting for an evening out near the beach.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Campuhan Ridge Walk is a scenic area with nicely groomed jungle ridge trails you can stroll through. There’s a small waterfall and river here as well, making it an ideal peaceful setting. The walk itself is quite accessible and not too difficult, but it does get very hot so you might prefer to do this early morning, before 9 AM. You’ll see some of the village from the top of the trek, and there’s even a coffee shop at the end if you’re looking for a treat. Plan for about 40-50 minutes to get to the cafe and back.
Total Cost
= $0
Visit Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is a famous Hindu temple located on a rock formation in the sea, just a short 30-40 minute drive from Canggu. It's a beautiful spot to watch the sunset and take in traditional Balinese architecture. We went in the morning because we didn’t have any other choice. While it was still nice, we hear the evening here with sunset is beautiful. There is an area at the end of the coastal walk with lots of souvenir shops and restaurants. Treat yourself to a fresh juice with a spectacular view here, and for a snack try a ham and cheese or banana jaffle, which is like a simple panini.
Total cost
Entry fee: IDR60,000 / $4.10 USD / $5.40 CAD
Sandwich and fresh juice: IDR90.000 / $6.10 USD / $8.15 CAD
= IDR150,000 / $10.15 USD / $13.55 CAD
Loving all the hues of blue and green at Tanah Lot! This scenic spot made for a nice morning outing, but is apparently even better at sunset.
More activities we’d add to the itinerary
I look forward to going back, as there’s plenty more I’d love to experience in and around Bali! Here are more ideas for your Ubud itinerary:
Walk through Tellalang Rice Terrace
While we enjoyed many other rice fields (Cretya is inspired by them), we would still love to explore the Tellalang Rice Terrace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with rolling green paddies, situated next to the Pakudui Tegalalang and Uma Ceking fields.
Total Cost
Each of the three fields asks for a small entrance fee to support the cost of living for locals. The total amounts to:
= IRP85,000 / $5.75 USD / $7.75 CAD
Climb Mount Batur Volcano
Climbing Mount Batur is a beloved experience by visitors to Bali! It requires a very early morning wake-up call and a tough two-hour hike up the volcano, but you’re rewarded with incredible views and sunrise over Bali. Unfortunately, I was unable to climb due to an injury, but I look forward to this experience next time! It’s also possible to combine this with a visit to hot springs.
Visit Ubud Palace for a Balinese dance show
We were so tired by nighttime that we didn’t end up doing much in the evenings! However, if you manage to conserve some energy, you could check out this cultural experience. The Legong Ramayana Ballet is one of the most famous Balinese dances, and in Ubud you can watch it in the historical Ubud Palace. Get your tickets here.
Take a cooking class
We so enjoyed Balinese and Indonesian foods, and I’m sure it would be fun to take a Balinese cooking class! There were many advertisements for classes all over Ubud and hotels, or you can book one in advance:
Visit Nusa Penida
If you want to chill and swim at a beach, or to go snorkelling or diving, you should consider a day or overnight trip to Nusa Penida. While Bali island itself is stunning, it’s beaches are more for surfing that white sands and beach bumming. Visiting Nusa Penida is a viable option, you can get there in about one hour from Canggu, but it requires some planning because there are limited ferries going each day. If you can, consider including 1 night for Nusa Penida so you can enjoy some time in and on the water without rushing.
Enjoy your time in Bali!
The nice thing about Bali is that you don’t have to plan too much. The island is largely based on tourism, so there is never a lack of transportation or activity options. That said, the island is still quite big, so a bit of planning can help you prioritise your time there, especially if you only have a few days. Account for the time needed to get to different places of interest, and keep yourself based centrally if you’re short on time.
I’m sure I’ve given you a lot to think about! If ever you have questions about my suggestions or planning a trip, you can reach out to me by e-mail or just DM me on Instagram!
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