As Aussies, we love Bali, and whilst love for it hasn’t changed over the years, Bali has.
Yes, you can still find budget losmen (local guesthouses) and old-school hotels in Bali, but now they sit alongside boutique hotels and luxurious resorts bigger than some Balinese villages. Deciding where to stay is a whole adventure – Bali’s neighbourhoods are all super different.
Let’s get into it!
Choose your tribe…and vibe
WHERE TO STAY IN BALI
Bali has a beach (or inland) scene and a wide range of hotels, resorts, and guesthouses to suit all tastes and budgets.
Party lovers on short holidays tend to head to Kuta and Legian for old-school clubs, cheap guesthouses, and busy beaches. Seminyak brings the sophisticated vibes with upmarket beach clubs, while Canggu has a village feel, attracting surfers, expats, and digital nomads.
Make your way over to the west side for a family retreat at Sanur or Nusa Dua. Enjoy the relaxed beach scene and water sports with the family. You’ll also find midrange or upmarket resorts with every amenity imaginable.
Head north to the highlands and shimmering green rice terraces and arrive in Ubud. It’s home to a thriving community of tourists, artists and long-stayers drawn by the Balinese culture and spirituality, as well as the strong artistic and culinary vibe this part of the island has become famous for.
Adventurous travellers head even further north to trek the volcano at Mt Batu, relax in the lake region around Bedugal or scuba dive the shipwreck at Tulamben.
South of the airport, the Bukit Peninsula attracts surfers and surf-watchers. It’s also ideal for backpackers and families enjoying the stunning clifftop accommodation and surfer cafes.
Anvaya Beach Resort
KUTA & LEGIAN
A short hop from the airport in South Kuta, Anvaya is a truly Balinese-inspired five-star resort. Easy beach access means the shore is a stroll away. As is the alfresco shore restaurant – it’s a real treat. A lagoon pool forms the centrepiece with luxurious rooms around a tropical garden.
Relax at the spa, let the kids loose at the kids’ club and dine in first-class restaurants specialising in Indonesian and international cuisine.
Anvaya Beach Resort
LV8 Resort
CANGGU
We’re talking prime Bali beachfront real estate. Lv8 is as fancy as it gets in laid-back Canggu.
Check out the sunset beach views from the Vue Beach Club pool area – they’re a thing of beauty. Stay in stylish suites, some with private pool, for luxury and privacy.
LV8 Resort
Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay
JIMBARAN
Only 15 minutes south of the airport, Four Seasons at Jimbaran features traditional Balinese-style villas at the southern end of a beach renowned for its seafood markets and restaurants.
As well as the usual pools, kids’ club, and surf school, you’ll find a cooking academy too. Discover, cook, and taste traditional Balinese dishes. And then do it all again the next day…
Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay
Tandjung Sari Hotel
SANUR
Beachfront bungalows, garden cottages. That’s the Bali many Australians remember.
You’ll find it at the boutique Tandjung Sari – still some of the best to be found on family-friendly Sanur Beach. Simple amenities include a gym, pool, library, beachfront restaurant, and intimate spaces such as the rooftop.
Tandjung Sari Hotel
Handara Golf & Resort Bali
BEDUGAL
Visit Bedugal for peace and tranquillity. At the heart of the lakes region of north-central Bali, you’ll find three lakes – Danau Beratan, Danau Buyan and Danau Tamblingan – that make a scenic alternative to the beaches of the south.
Test your golf swing at Handara Golf & Resort – it’s a world world-class 18-hole golf course. Just make sure you look up from your ball to drink in the mountain and lake views. They’re epic.
Stay the night in the stylish resort where you’ll find rooms and cottages. Plus, spa treatments, tennis courts, a driving range and golf lessons. Kids can take their first steps into the world of golf with pitch-and-putt. There’s bike riding, fish feeding and even in-room camping too.
Handara Golf & Resort Bali
The Legian Seminyak
SEMINYAK
Spectacularly located on the Seminyak beachfront, The Legian is one of Seminyak’s flashiest resorts.
Stay in an ocean front seat for sensational views. Or enjoy some quiet time in an intimate villa set back from the pool and garden area. There’s an in-house spa and world-class restaurant too.
The Legian Seminyak
Komaneka at Monkey Forest
UBUD
Yes, Bali is about the beach. There are waves, sand, and those dreamy sunsets. But everyone should stay in Ubud at least once. Sample the serene Balinese culture. Head to the cool surrounding highlands and rice farms. And mix it up with a vibrant expat café and arts scene.
Komaneka operates four luxury resorts around Ubud. At Komaneka at Monkey Forest, you’ll find light-filled timber rooms and pool villas designed in harmony with the forest location.
For ultimate relaxation, it’s all about the wellness centre, spa, and infinity pool.
Komaneka at Monkey Forest
Luxe Bali
ULUWATA REGION
World class surf breaks, a cliff-top temple and Padang Padang, Bingin and Balangan beaches on your doorstep. Uluwata encompasses the best of Bali.
And Bali today means five-star resorts mingling with surf camps and backpacker guesthouses. For a little of the former, head to Luxe Bali. It’s a four-room boutique beachfront villa. It’s got all the intimacy you need. Its first-class facilities and the views of Padang Padang beach aren’t bad either.
Luxe Bali
Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort
SANUR
Resort of your holiday dreams, yes please.
You need to see this sprawling beachfront Sofitel resort to believe it. Modern luxurious rooms. Check. Enormous meandering swimming pools and prime beachfront location. You bet.
Throw in a wellness centre, fitness centre and kids’ club, as well as Italian, Southeast Asian and grill restaurants. You’ll never want to leave.
Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua
Bali Dive Resort & Spa
TULAMBEN
Head to Tulamben on Bali’s northeast coast for scuba diving and snorkelling. It’s the place to dip underwater to the wreck of the US ship Liberty – it’s only 40m offshore.
If you’re diving or just want to experience a different side of Bali, Bali Dive Resort & Spa is the place to do it.
Right on the black-sand beach, you’ve got views of the active volcano Gunung Agung. The resort offers PADI dive courses and dive and snorkel tours. Or simply relax by the pool, savour the views, and get pampered in the spa centre. It’s a tough choice.
Bali Dive Resort & Spa
Now you’re dreaming of waking to soft Balinese sand and epic surf breaks. So, it’s time to explore Bali with our guides to the best surf spots in Bali, how to get around Bali and finding outdoor adventure opportunities.
Thinking of travelling to Bali? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals for your next trip.
