Bali's Best Attractions
The essentials: Uluwatu Temple's clifftop sunset Kecak fire dance; the Tegalalang and Jatiluwih rice terraces near Ubud; a genuinely photogenic (if unmistakably touristy) Bali Swing; and North Bali's less-crowded waterfalls. With extra days, Java's Borobudur temple and Mount Bromo volcano, or Komodo National Park's dragons, are real bucket-list add-ons — just budget a short flight and several extra days for either.
Bali does not have a shortage of things billed as 'must-see.' What it has a shortage of is honesty about which ones are genuinely worth a slot on your itinerary and which exist purely to get a photo out of you. Here's the honest version, plus what's actually a plane ride away in the rest of Indonesia.
Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak fire dance
A clifftop temple on Bali's southwestern tip, most famous for its sunset Kecak fire dance — a hypnotic, chant-based performance with zero instruments, just dozens of men in a circle. Genuinely one of Bali's best evening experiences. Entry runs roughly 50,000 rupiah (about $3); the dance performance is a separate ticket, around 100,000-150,000 rupiah (about $6-10).
Uluwatu's resident monkeys are notorious for snatching sunglasses, hats, and phones directly off tourists. Keep anything loose zipped away or in a bag, not in your hand or a shirt pocket.
The Bali Swing — worth it?
It's undeniably a tourist setup — a purpose-built swing rig strung over a jungle valley, engineered entirely for the photo. And the photos are genuinely great. Skip the overpriced all-day resort packages some tour operators bundle it with, and book a standalone swing park directly; expect to pay $15-25 for a set time slot.
Waterfalls
| Waterfall | Region | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tegenungan | Near Ubud | The easiest to reach, which also means the most crowded |
| Gitgit / Sekumpul | North Bali | Further out, but far less crowded and among the most beautiful on the island |
The Tegalalang and Jatiluwih rice terraces
Bali's two headline rice-terrace views both sit near Ubud — see our full Ubud destination guide for entry fees, timing, and how to avoid the tour-bus crush.
Beyond Bali — Java in a few extra days
Java isn't a day trip from Bali, but it's a genuinely worthwhile add-on with a short flight (roughly 1-1.5 hours to Yogyakarta) and 2-3 dedicated days: Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple, and Mount Bromo, an active volcano with one of Southeast Asia's most photographed sunrises.
Komodo National Park — for serious adventurers
Home to the Komodo dragon and some of Indonesia's best diving and island scenery, Komodo National Park (accessed via Labuan Bajo on Flores) is a genuine bucket-list trip, not an add-on — realistically it needs a short flight plus 3-4 days, often on a liveaboard boat, to do properly.
What to skip
- Any 'up-close animal selfie' attraction involving caged or restrained wildlife (civets, owls, slow lorises) — nearly all involve poor animal welfare behind the scenes.
- Overpriced 'VIP fast-track' tickets sold by touts outside major temples — buy directly at the official counter.
- Cramming a Java or Komodo side trip into a tight itinerary — both deserve dedicated days, not a rushed 24 hours.