Things to Do in Bali

Widely recognized as one of Bali’s best, the shores of Serangan Beach rank among Indonesia’s top destinations. Stationed on the island of Serangan, the epic waves, stretches of white sand and easy access from the mainland are part of what makes this beach tops. Experienced travelers can ride the waves on their own, while novice visitors who want to hang ten can take their pick of the dozens of surf schools that have popped up on the island. 

Sandy shores are perfect for sunbathers and the family set will enjoy touring the Turtle Conservation and Education Center where local naturalists educate travelers on the importance of hatch turtles to the oceanic ecosystem and offer protected breeding grounds for these gentle giants. Numerous island hotels offer up plenty of options for accommodations and insure that regardless of budget, travelers are well covered on a visit to this beautiful island getaway. 

Sanur Beach offers travelers the chance to step back in time. Sure, this famed destination may not lead visitors into ancient history like nearby temples and archeological ruins, but these sandy shores still offer up a bit of old school flavor. That’s because Sanur Beach is one of Bali’s first beach resorts, and while some things have changed, its original laid-back vibe and surf-ready waves remain constant.

Middle-age travelers and the family set find this to be one of Bali’s best beaches, thanks to a slightly more-mature energy that’s perfect for relaxing. It avoids the wild shot-slinging feel of some of Bali’s other more party-hearty beaches and offers up the perfect setting for soaking up sun and absorbing local traditions. Cultural activities like the International Kite Festival and the Le Mayeur Museum, as well as historical sites like the Pura Blanjong temple mean there’s plenty for visitors to do away from the sand, too.

Like the better-known—and busier—Tirta Gangga Water Palace, this east Bali palace is an atmospheric reminder of the power the kings of Karangasem once held when they ruled much of Lombok. Highlights of Puri Agung Karangasem include the tiered entry gate, vintage photos, and tranquil fish ponds. Descendants of the last raja still use the space.

Once you’ve made it to the sleepy town of Amlapura, Puri Agung Karangasem is easy to explore independently. There’s a small ticket charge, and staff provide English-language information sheets. If you’re very lucky, a member of the royal family may be available to assist. That said, you’ll likely get more out of the experience if you travel with a guide who can provide transportation, cultural context, and historical details. (In general, due to heavy traffic, winding roads, and language barriers, booking a private guide or joining an organized tour can help you get the most out of your entire Bali trip.) Some east Bali tours bundle Puri Agung Karangasem with other Karangasem regal highlights, particularly Tirta Gangga Water Palace.

Set in Amlapura, just off Bali’s main east coast road, Puri Agung Karangasem is reasonably quick to reach with a private car and driver. Local buses operate from Batubulan, north of Denpasar, and Singaraja. Perama runs shuttle buses from popular tourist destinations including Amed, Ubud, and south Bali to Tirta Gangga, approximately 4.5 miles (7 kilometers) north of Puri Agung Karangasem.

Puri Agung Karangasem is open from morning until late afternoon daily and is blissfully uncrowded throughout the year, so there isn’t a bad time to visit. If visiting during Bali’s wet season (roughly October until March), consider coming in the morning for a slightly better chance of beating the rain.

The last raja (king) of Karangasem, Gusti Bagus Djelantik (Jelantik) ruled under the title Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem until 1966. Besides having a dozen wives, he was a master builder, expressing abstract meditations in architectural form. He built three water palaces: the Tirta Gangga Water Gardens, the Ujung Water Gardens (destroyed in a volcanic eruption), and the Puri Agung Karangasem.

Serene, spiritual, and off the beaten path, Pura Luhur Batukaru was the state temple for the kings of Tabanan. Batukaru Temple nestles high above sea level in the jungled foothills of west Bali. A series of tiered shrines, including a striking 7-roofed shrine, help create a mystic air, as does the general absence of tourists.

 

As the setting of Pura Luhur Batukaru Temple is reasonably remote, many visitors prefer the convenience of a tour or a private driver over self-drive. Many Pura Luhur Batukaru Temple tours include a trip to the Jatiluwih rice terrace, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Tanah Lot, the sea temple sacred to the Indonesians, not far from Tabanan.

 

Entrance tickets are affordable and include the rental of a sarong so that men and women can meet temple standards of decency.

 

 

There is no public transport to Pura Luhur Batukaru, so your options are self-drive to Penebel, a private driver, or an organized Bali tour. With patchy signposting and unreliable traffic signals adding to Bali’s roadway hassles, many will prefer to leave the driving to the professionals and opt for a Tabanan day tour with round-trip transport, which might also visit Tanah Lot and Jatiluwih.

 

Open year-round, Pura Luhur Batukaru, like other temples, is particularly appealing during the key Balinese festivals, when worshippers come to bring offerings and the grounds are alive with colored cloth and bamboo decorations. When visiting during the rainy season, weather is generally more clement in the mornings.

 

It’s important to show respect at Balinese Hindu temples, such as Pura Luhur Batukaru: Both men and women should wear sarongs. The Balinese welcome visitors to the main sections of their temples, but areas they consider most sacred are typically reserved for worshippers.

One evening in 1965, thousands of herons and egrets descended upon the village of Petulu outside of Ubud for no apparent reason, and they’ve been coming back to roost each day ever since. Tens of thousands of these birds, mostly cattle egrets and Javan pond herons, participate in the nightly spectacle, and while that’s enough for most visitors, locals believe the white birds bring good luck with them too.

The show typically begins around 6 p.m., though you can head over early to grab a seat at one of the warung (cafes) in the area for a cold drink while you wait. Some of the birds show up early and begin roosting, so it’s a good idea to avoid standing beneath the trees. It's a pleasant bike ride from Ubud to Petulu, but if you plan to stay and see the birds, you’ll have to ride back in the dark.

Nestled at 700 meters above sea level between bamboo forests and coffee plantations, travelers can find one of Bali’s most traditional villages. Penglipuran is a Bali Aga town, whose inhabitants, contrary to the majority of the Balinese, aren’t Hindu but, instead, still practice their animistic faith. Accordingly, time has almost stood still in Penglipuran and even the village name itself roughly translates to “remembering ancestral lands.” In an attempt to conserve the village in its original state, Penglipuran has undergone a restoration program, the results of which are pristine streets and polished looking houses. It might look a bit too clean to be real, but the calm atmosphere and the long houses with their bamboo roofs are unique and the village manages to give a good insight into traditional Balinese life.

Along the central avenue Bale Agung, the village meeting house and the main temple form the most important buildings. While the smaller family temples are oriented towards Mount Agung to please the powerful god, the village in its entirety faces directly north towards Mount Batur, to not offend this holy mountain either and pay respect to both deities. Beyond the village lies the main source of income for the villagers: a 75-hectare bamboo forest. Each family gets to use exactly one hectare of woodland to make the delicate woven offering baskets – a trade for which Penglipuran is famous for across the country. Travelers can get a peek into these family businesses and homes and of course, purchase baskets as well. 

Formerly known as the Pejaten Mall, Pejaten Village is a shopping and entertainment center located in South Jakarta. While not the largest shopping mall by Southeast Asian standards, Pejaten Village nonetheless features a wide range of leisure, retail, and eating options. It’s also a pleasant, often uncrowded, place to visit.

Pejaten Village offers al fresco dining, a children's playground, a fitness center, and a cinema, along with a wide range of restaurants, department stores and smaller retail outlets. The large Hypermarket here is popular for grocery shopping among locals, with plenty of fresh vegetables, meats, and fish sold at reasonable prices.

Considered to be the Bali that time forgot for its unspoiled landscape, Penida Island (Nusa Penida) sits about 10 miles (15 kilometers) off the Bali coast, alongside the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Besides snorkeling and diving—the island is known for mantas and mola-molas (the world’s largest bony fish)—Penida offers unspoilt villages, rugged landscapes, and sacred temples.

Both slow boats and fast boats run from Bali to Penida Island. Some travelers opt to visit independently, rent motorbikes or hire a driver, and spend a few days touring. A guided tour allows for a more seamless experience, especially for those looking to spend just one day on Penida Island.

Many Penida Island tours focus on the island’s underwater attractions: snorkeling or diving with giant manta rays at Manta Point or Manta Bay, diving in search of the mola-mola (ocean sunfish) at Crystal Bay, and admiring the coral and marine life at a wealth of sites. Watersports are also an option, and a handful of tours highlight Penida’s serene charm, visiting its natural wonders, traditional villages, and temples.

Penida Island sits in the Lombok Strait, about 10 miles (15 kilometers) off the southeastern coast of Bali. Ferries and speed boats leave daily from Padang Bai, following a changing schedule, while speed boats run from Sanur Beach and Lembongan Island. Snorkeling and diving tours typically depart from Sanur, but often offer the convenience of transport direct from your door.

Scuba divers in search of the elusive mola mola (ocean sunfish) should visit between late June and October; mantas can be seen year-round. High waves are not uncommon in late July and August, which can island access difficult and snorkeling a challenge. Penida is drier than mainland Bali, so it’s a good choice for the rainy season (October to March), although in the rainy season, the ocean floods with plastic trash.

Also known as the oceanic sunfish, ocean sunfish, or giant sunfish, the mola mola is one of the largest known bony fish in the world: Adults can weigh a whopping 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms). Between late June and October, mola mola are often seen off Penida, particularly around Crystal Bay, as cold water upwells from the depths where these giants spend their time.

A Balinese Hindu site, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is populated by some 700 long-tailed Balinese macaques that live in and around the forest. The monkeys are believed to protect the area and the three Hindu temples within—Pura Dalem Agung, Pura Beji, and Pura Prajapati—from evil spirits. 

The sanctuary’s primate residents are its most popular attraction, along with ancient temples, dense forest, and over 186 tree species. Stroll through the sacred site to observe the monkeys in action and snap photos with them from a safe distance, then explore the ancient 14th-century temples, which are used as places of worship for the Hindu community. Most Ubud sightseeing tours include a stop at the forest sanctuary, along with other popular attractions such as the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Goa Gajah Temple, and Ubud Palace. For a personalized experience, opt for a private tour. 

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is located within walking distance of downtown Ubud, roughly one mile (1.6 kilometers) away. To get there from Raya Ubud, the town’s main street, turn south onto Monkey Forest Road and continue downhill to the sanctuary. 

The best time to visit Ubud’s monkey forest is during the dry, warm months of June, July, and August. The forest makes a pleasant escape from the afternoon heat, but expect crowds during this time of year. 

As you approach the forest, some Balinese vendors try to sell travelers bananas to feed to the monkeys. However, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to observe and photograph the animals without resorting to luring them with food, which can be dangerous.

Spilling down from dizzying heights of up to 260 feet (80 meters), Sekumpul Waterfall, a series of seven narrow cascades, is hidden away amid lush tropical foliage. Dirt paths lead to elevated viewpoints overlooking the falls and to rock pools at the foot, where visitors can cool off with a refreshing swim.

 

While visitors can trek to Sekumpul Waterfall independently, many go with a guide who can help navigate the paths, provide commentary about the area, and point them toward the best swimming spots. Part of the experience is trekking to the waterfalls; the trail leads through dense tropical foliage and features many rocky steps.

 

At the falls, most tours include free time so visitors can swim and relax. Some tours combine Sekumpul Waterfall with other sights in North Bali, such as Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Kintamani Highland, as well as a visit to a local coffee plantation.

 

 

The trek to the falls begins at the village of Sekumpul, which is situated in Buleleng, North Bali. The village of Sekumpul is around 17 miles (27 kilometers) from Lovina and about 13 miles (21 kilometers) from Singaraja. If you don’t have a car, it’s best to come as part of an organized tour. Tours often include pickup and drop-off from hotels in Denpasar, Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, and Nusa Dua.

 

Unlike other waterfalls in Bali, Sekumpul always flows, even during the dry season (May–September). In fact, during the dry season, the falls are often easier to reach as low water levels make the trek easier than in the wet season. Visiting during the wet season is still possible, though it’s best done with a guide.

 

For adventurous travelers who want to see more of this Indonesian isle’s hidden natural treasures, there are many more waterfalls to discover. Among the most well-known is the 115-foot (35-meter) Gitgit Waterfall in Singaraja, just outside Ubud, where you’re likely to see monkeys swinging around in the surrounding trees. Then, there is Niagara Munduk in Buleleng, which comprises a pair of falls (Munduk and Melanting) and features rocky wading pools amid verdant forest surroundings.

Padangbai is a picturesque town that serves as a port for the ferry connecting Bali with Lombok. While many simply pass through on their way to Lombok, many more stop in Padangbai long enough to appreciate just how much this small beach town has to offer in its own right.

Padangbai is situated within a small bay in eastern Bali and features a pretty strip of sand lapped by turquoise waters. Due to it becoming more popular with passing travelers, basic yet comfortable accommodation and friendly local cafes are the name of the game here, and the town has a definite beachy backpacker’s vibe to it.

There are some fantastic diving and snorkeling opportunities to be had in the waters around the bay, with a number of operators set up to cater for this demand. Other than that, the pace of life is slow, with most visitors opting for a simple life of soaking up the sun, enjoying the beach, and feasting on delicious fresh seafood.

Set on the shores of Lake Bratan (Danau Bratan), close to the town of Bedugul, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is one of Bali’s most photographed temples. Built, like Taman Ayun Temple, by the king of Mengwi, the combination of multi-roofed shrines with mountains and reflecting lake is incredibly photogenic—one reason it’s so popular with tourists.

 

Made up of five separate shrines, including one that’s actually in the lake and accessible by canoe, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan dates back to the 17th century. Around 4,065 feet (1,239 meters) above sea level, it’s a highlight of the misty Bedugul Highlands on the road to north Bali. Tours typically combine Pura Ulun Danu Bratan with other Balinese water temples, such as Tanah Lot and Taman Ayun, or with north Bali attractions, such as waterfalls and dolphins.

 

 

Ulun Danu Bratan temple is in Bedugul on the main road north to Singaraja. The most convenient way for non-Indonesians to reach Bedugul independently is via the Perama shuttle bus from Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, Lovina, Padang Bai, or Candidasa. Some opt to self-drive, but the winding road can be tiring for a day trip, so many prefer a driver or an organized Bali tour.

 

Bedugul’s highland climate can turn surprisingly cold, particularly during the rainy season (roughly October through March). (Bedugul is cool and damp enough for strawberries to grow.) Arrive early in the morning to beat the worst of the crowds and have the best chance at a rain-free visit to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.

 

Around 1,000 years old, Bali’s “subak” system of cooperative rice cultivation has been recognized with UNESCO World Heritage status. Water temples, such as Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, and the lake goddess Dewi Danu, play a major part in keeping the rice terraces growing—one reason you’ll see so many pilgrims here.

One of Ubud’s big three art galleries, Museum Puri Lukisan sits slap-bang in the heart of downtown Ubud. Collections cover not only Balinese paintings and drawings but also wood carvings and work by foreign artists. The Puri Lukisan gallery is also Ubud’s oldest art museum, founded in 1956 by a foundation established in 1936.

 

Set on Ubud’s main street, Jalan Raya Ubud, Museum Puri Lukisan is easy enough to visit independently—the collection is well-labeled and easy to navigate. The east building features classical Ubud art, including 16th-century cloth paintings, ink drawings by the master I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, and art by 1930s expats star in the north building. Colorful contemporary paintings adorn the west building, including works by Dutch-born Indonesian artist Arie Smit. The south building is mainly used for exhibitions.

 

Museum Puri Lukisan is a popular stop on Ubud coach tours. To get the most out of the gallery, though, it’s worth choosing a dedicated art or cultural tour.

 

 

Set in the heart of downtown Ubud, the Puri Lukisan museum is walkable from most Ubud accommodations. The Kura-Kura Bus from Sanur stops literally at the door. Rather than brave the hectic traffic and limited parking in Ubud, many travelers from Kuta and south Bali choose to join a tour or hire a private driver for the day.

 

Open year-round, with the exception of the Nyepi "Day of Silence" holiday, Puri Lukisan Museum is generally best visited in the mornings. It’s a popular afternoon stop for large coach parties. As some of the charm is in the garden, it’s best visited on a dry day, which are more frequent during Bali’s dry season (roughly March to September).

 

From commercial art galleries to large-scale institutions and, of course, the traditional art market, Ubud is known as Bali’s art capital for a reason. The three Balinese art galleries that culturally minded visitors won’t want to miss are the Puri Lukisan Museum, the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA), and the Neka Art Museum.

Dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning, wisdom, music, and art, Ubud’s Saraswati Temple is a beautiful spot for worshippers and visitors alike. Water gardens and lotus ponds flow up to the elegant structure, which is enriched with ornate carvings. The temple makes an atmospheric setting for Balinese dance performances.

Set bang in the heart of Ubud, Saraswati Temple is easy enough to visit independently. It’s also one of the most magical venues at which to watch Balinese dance. Kecak dance-drama performances are held every Tuesday and Thursday evening, and the plastic chairs don’t detract from the majesty of the setting. Most visitors arrive independently, but some Ubud tours stop here for brief photo ops, and private guides with a focus on history and culture can explain the meanings of the elaborate temple carvings.

Saraswati Temple is centrally located within Ubud, right by the Ubud Palace, so it’s an easy walk from many downtown accommodations. If you’re coming from outside Ubud, Perama runs tourist shuttles from the airport, Kuta, Amed, Padang Bai, Sanur, and beyond, while the Kura Kura tourist bus has connections via Kuta from across south Bali.

Ubud is at its most appealing early in the morning before the big buses hit town—and that’s also a great time to soak up the lotus views at the Saraswati Temple. But Saraswati is the goddess of dance, so also make time to catch a dance performance one Tuesday or Thursday evening.

It was Ubud’s royal family who made Ubud the arts and cultural hub of Bali that it is today. As patrons, they spared no expense in honoring the goddess of the arts, Saraswati. The temple you see today was built by I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, famed for his ink drawings and paintings but also a court architect. Some believe he made it all the way to 115 years old before dying in 1978.

Bali’s Museum Gedung Arca, also known as Museum Arkeologi or the Pejeng Archaeological Museum, stands in the village of Pejeng, not far from Ubud. Established in the mid-20th century and renovated in 2016, the museum boasts an eclectic collection that covers archaeological finds from millennia of human occupation on Bali. 

At the small Museum Gedung Arca, on the outskirts of Ubud, entrance and tours are free. Guides lead visitors around the eclectic selection of Stone Age tools, Bronze Age relics, and mysterious sarcophagi. 

The museum is not a common stop on Bali tours. Those with a keen interest in prehistory or archaeology can arrange a visit with a private guide, perhaps combined with stops at historic temples such as Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul, and Yeh Pulu.

Not far from the water temple of Tirta Empul and the rock-cut shrines (candi) of Gunung Kawi, the village of Pejeng sits on the Tampaksiring road, around 4 miles (6 kilometers) east of Ubud in central Bali. Most visitors use a private driver or driver/guide, as public transport is not an option. If you’re confident facing Indonesia’s spirited drivers, there is plenty of parking. 

The Museum Gedung Arca is closed weekends, so visiting during the week is a must. The museum is never busy, but if you’d like to take advantage of the free guide service, avoid lunchtime and Balinese festival days.

Indonesian archaeology is in its infancy, relatively speaking, yet researchers are unfolding rich layers of human occupation across the archipelago’s many thousands of islands. From Stone Age tools to Chinese ceramics and Bronze Age drums, Bali’s archaeology reveals a sophisticated web of trading and migration.

A rare patch of quiet in Bali’s busy capital, Denpasar, Puputan Square commemorates the site of a mass suicide that occurred in 1906. The king of Badung, facing overwhelming opposition from Dutch colonial forces, led his court in committing suicide by keris dagger. A statue of a Balinese family stands in honor of the lives lost.

There is no charge to visit Puputan Square, which is a popular destination for local workers on their lunch breaks and for families during evenings and weekends. Most people visit on a Denpasar city tour, with either a private driver or an organized group. The Puputan mass suicide is an important event in the history of both Denpasar and Bali as a whole, so history completists will not want to miss the square.

 

Puputan Square (Lapangan Puputan Badung) sits in the heart of Denpasar, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northeast of the airport. Choked roads, dangerous traffic, and confusing one-way systems make Denpasar a risky choice for self-driving. Unless your Indonesian is good enough to piece together bemo minibuses, hiring a private driver or joining a tour is a must to get around Denpasar.

 

The square is most lively during weekends, when it becomes a gathering place for Denpasar locals, who feast on satay and other street snacks from the stalls. Children often meet here to fly traditional kites. You can visit pretty much any time during the day on Saturday or Sunday, but sunset is particularly popular.

 

First published in 1937, Vicki Baum’s classic novel Love and Death in Bali tells the story of a simple man who survives the Puputan mass suicide. The book also  depicts life in Bali before the Dutch arrived. Baum visited Bali in 1935 and stayed in Ubud with the painter Walter Spies, who also figures in the book in thin disguise.

Located north of Kuta Beach and Legian Beach, Seminyak Beach is a sweeping strip of sand that’s drawn those in-the-know to Bali for decades. More upscale than Kuta or Legian, Seminyak is home to some of the island’s most iconic beach clubs and restaurants, as well as fun surf breaks. Behind the shore, Seminyak proper is a shopping and dining mecca.

In addition to some of Bali’s most luxurious accommodation, Seminyak Beach hosts a world-class selection of beach clubs and restaurants, including KU DE TA, Potato Head Beach Club, La Lucciola, and Mejekawi (within KU DE TA). 

The spectacular sunsets on Bali’s west coast are made for sundowners; in fact, some Seminyak beach tours duly focus on bars, nightclubs, and nightlife. However, there’s more than consumption to these sandy shores. Leisure activities include surfing, horseback riding, and kite-flying (popular with young families). Alternatively, simply pull up a beanbag at a beach bar and chill out.

There are limited public transport options in Seminyak, although the tourist Kura Kura Bus service stops in the general area of the beach. It’s easy for unqualified, inexperienced motorcyclists to hire scooters and ride them through the area’s hectic traffic, often drunk and without a helmet. If you’re bar hopping, hire a driver for the night, or haggle with taxi drivers: Blue Bird cabs are most likely to use the meter.

A sundowner overlooking those epic Seminyak sunsets is a must. Arrive between 6pm and 7pm, depending on the time of year. Like the rest of Bali, Seminyak Beach is at its busiest in August. During peak rainy season (December to February), avoid visiting early in the morning and wait until workers have removed the plastic trash that sweeps onshore. 

Indonesia has extremely high taxes on alcohol, both domestic and imported. This means spirits-based drinks are relatively extremely expensive. Illegal home-brew liquor, often sold in fake international-brand bottles, is hugely common, and kills scores of people every year in Indonesia. If a spirits-based drink seems suspiciously cheap, avoid it: It’s almost certainly fake.

In 1963 this picturesque village was covered in a layer of ash after nearby Gunung Agung, an active volcano, exploded, making it impossible to cultivate the land. Luckily, locals discovered the Salak-palm and it’s prized “snake fruit” could grow our of this destroyed land and it has since become a specialty in this tiny village known for its eco tourism, clean air and laid back vibe. 

Travelers who make their way to Sibetan can explore stunning mountain views and wander the forested trails with the help of friendly locals who are eager to share their culture, customs and way of life with visitors, which means outsiders are welcome to bear witness to traditional ceremonies when they take place. Woman can cook and prepare meals with the local matrons, and anyone can learn to harvest the popular “snake fruit” in the vast open fields. 

The Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets is a unique and fascinating museum that aims to preserve this important part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. The museum is home to a vast and eclectic collection of ceremonial masks and puppets from across the country, as well as other parts of Asia and the rest of the world.

The items here are all displayed within a courtyard of renovated Javanese wooden buildings known as joglo. The collection consists of more than 1200 masks and 4700 puppets. Highlights include wayang kulit, used for shadow puppetry, wayang golek (wooden puppets), masks used for topeng dances, and the striking Jero Luh mask.

The museum was established in this area due to it being famous for its woodcarvers, mask makers, and sculptors. Items have been collected, stored, and displayed for members of the public to view and appreciate since 2006. The museum buildings are set within vast grounds of tropical gardens filled with lotus ponds and banyan trees, and beyond this, undulating rice fields.

Pasar Badung (Badung Market) is Bali’s oldest and largest market, at the heart of the island’s capital, Denpasar. The 4-story structure burned down in 2016, and while a replacement is underway, most stallholders are housed in and around a converted supermarket. Besides being Bali’s number-one fruit and vegetable market, it’s great for street food.

There is no charge to visit Pasar Badung, and, as fruit and vegetable prices are checked daily by the government, haggling is not required. It’s fascinating and rewarding to stroll through the different sections, which sell everything from flowers and live animals to traditional herbal medicines.

Many visitors choose to visit Pasar Badung as part of a Bali food tour or street-food tour. Pasar Badung is an essential stop on Denpasar city tours and Denpasar shopping excursions.

Currently, the new Pasar Badung (Pasar Badung Baru) is on Jalan Cokroaminoto, in a converted Tiara supermarket. Denpasar traffic is even more challenging than the rest of Bali’s traffic, and collisions are a real possibility. Unless you’re a veteran of Southeast Asian roads, joining a tour or booking a private driver are firmly recommended. A purpose-built replacement market has been under construction since 2017.

Pasar Badung operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round, with the exception of Nyepi (Balinese New Year). The best produce is available very early in the morning—before dawn—and in general the market is at its liveliest in the morning. There is also a vibrant street-food scene here throughout the day and into the night.

The overwhelming majority of visitors to Bali come and go without so much as setting foot in Denpasar, a vibrant, grimy, thoroughly Indonesian city that’s far from the tropical beaches seen on postcards. To get a taste of Denpasar life, and indeed life across the Indonesian archipelago, Pasar Badung is a great place to start.