Shopping in Bali
High-end shoppers and bargain hunters alike will be pleased at the number of shopping options in Balinese shops, handicraft villages and markets. Antique and modern furniture, paintings, jewellery, batik fabrics and wood and stone carvings are just some of shopping you can find in Kuta, Legian, Sanur, the Sukawati market en route to Ubud, and in the town of Ubud itself.
Ceneva and Jalan Raya Kerobokan are well-known shopping centers in Seminyak where cheap handicrafts can be found. You could also visit Kuta Square for beachwear, clothing, trinkets, shoes and leather goods, or head down to Bali Galleria and Kartika Discovery Mall for luxury and branded goods.
Places to Visit In Bali
Catch some waves along Bali’s best beaches, like Kuta Beach, which is just a quick ride from the airport.
Seminyak, just to the north of Kuta, is where most of the Bali expat community resides. Trendy Seminyak is home to luxury villas, designer shops, international restaurants and swanky bars. Enjoy a laid back evening with live musical performances. Seminyak, along with Ubud, is also home to world-class yoga centres and retreats.
Bali’s rice paddies and quaint villages are a must-see. Stroll through the lush rice terraces at Ubud and Jatiluwih or go on a day trip to Teganan to discover the native Balinese way of living. Temple processions are a big deal in Bali, so you should definitely stop to watch if you chance upon a procession.
Explore the island’s rich heritage by making a trip down south to the Tanah Lot temple in Tabanan, one of the most popular spots in Bali and a main temple for the worship of Balinese gods. Casting a dramatic landscape on the ocean, the temple is guarded from evil spirits and harm by snakes. It looks the most surreal at sunset, a sight to be enjoyed at low tide or up on the cliffs.
Shutterbugs can also visit the Uluwatu Monkey Forest for another temple that makes for great photos. Be careful though, those mischievious monkeys are drawn to bright colours and the sight and smell of food. At night, catch a traditional Balinese kecak dance performance that uses no instruments, just vocals. Lose yourself in a cultural trance as actors chant and perform the Ramayana among the cliffs.
Spa treatments and massages are available everywhere at affordable prices (around Rp 70,000 to 1000,000 for a full body session). Traditional Balinese massage is done with aromatic oils, using long, deep strokes. The more adventurous can pay a visit to a fish spa, where small fish will nibble dead skin from your hands and feet.
Bali Surfing, Diving & Snorkelling
Bali is one of the world’s top surfing destinations, most notably along the southern coast at Kuta, Canggu, and Legian, as well as the Bukit Peninsula and Nusa Lembongan. The waves at Kuta and Legian break over sand rather than coral – this makes it less intimidating for newbies. Simply enrol for a one-day trip at surfing schools like Odyssey and Rip Curl School of Surf and you’ll be riding those waves in no time. Reef surfers can hit the hotspots in Uluwatu, Bingin and Balangan.
Thrill seekers can also try out other water sports like white-water rafting and parasailing in areas like Ubudand Nusa Dua.
As part of the Coral Triangle – an area with the highest concentration of marine biodiversity – Bali boasts a wide range of dive sites with beautiful variants of coral reefs that are rich in marine life. Keep a lookout for hawksbill turtles, manta rays, reef sharks and more at diving hotspots, such as Tulamben, Menjangan and Nusa Penida. You might even spy a dolphin or two near the coasts of Singaria and Lovina.