Where to go in Bali: Ubud, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Sanur and the islands nearby (Lombok, Gili)
Published on 12 November 2026 · Nreservi team"Where to go in Bali?", "best place in Bali", "islands around Bali": the question comes up for everyone planning a first trip. Bali is not a city but an island, and the atmosphere changes a lot from one area to the next. Here is how to choose according to what you want, followed by the neighbouring islands and, if you want to go further, Java.
Ubud: rice fields and Balinese culture
In the heart of the island, Ubud is regarded as Bali's cultural centre. People come for the traditional dance performances, the monkey forest and, close by, the Tegallalang rice terraces. There is no beach: allow about an hour's drive to reach the sea. Higher inland, the Kintamani area looks out over Batur, an active volcano, and its lake.
Best for: couples and travellers looking for calm, nature and culture.
Seminyak and Canggu: beach clubs and surf
On the south-west coast, Seminyak extends Kuta's beach in a more upmarket style, with beach clubs, boutiques and villas. Canggu has become a surfers' hub, with cafés, bars and a lively nightlife. Traffic in this area is often heavy.
Best for: couples and groups of friends who like going out.
Kuta: the liveliest resort
Kuta is the most touristy resort on the island: big hotels, nightlife and a long sandy beach popular with surfers. Handy for an arrival night, less so if you want peace and quiet.
Nusa Dua, Jimbaran and Uluwatu: the south
South of the airport, the Bukit peninsula brings together three different moods. Nusa Dua is an area of large international seafront hotels where the water is usually calm, a common choice for families. Jimbaran, around a bay, is known for grilled fish and seafood served on the beach. Uluwatu is the land of cliffs and surf, with a temple perched on top of a cliff above the ocean.
Sanur: calm sea and boats to the islands
On the east coast, near Denpasar, Sanur is known as calm and family-friendly, with beaches sheltered by the reef. Most fast boats to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida also leave from Sanur, for a crossing of roughly half an hour to three quarters of an hour.
Amed and Lovina: away from the crowds
In the east, Amed is a group of quiet fishing villages known for diving and snorkelling, with views of Mount Agung. In the north, Lovina has very calm black-sand beaches. Both are far from the airport, so expect long drives.
The islands around Bali
Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. South-east of Bali and reached by boat from Sanur, these islands are less developed than southern Bali. They deserve more than a day trip: plan at least one night there.
Lombok. Bali's neighbour to the east is home to the Sasak, who make up most of the island's population and are mostly Muslim. The north is dominated by Rinjani, Indonesia's second-highest volcano (3,726 m), whose ascent is a demanding trek. In the south, around Kuta (not to be confused with Bali's Kuta), the Mandalika area is growing around its international racing circuit.
The Gili Islands. Off the north-west coast of Lombok, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air have no motor vehicles: you get around on foot, by bike or by horse-drawn cart. Trawangan is the largest and liveliest, Meno the quietest.
And Java: Jakarta and Yogyakarta
Bali is only a small part of Indonesia. In Jakarta, the Istiqlal Mosque, near Merdeka Square, is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. In central Java, around Yogyakarta, you can visit the great Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the Hindu sanctuary of Prambanan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Which area should you choose?
- Honeymoon: a few nights in Ubud for peace and rice fields, then a seafront hotel in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran or Uluwatu.
- Families: Sanur or Nusa Dua, where the sea is calmer.
- Friends: Seminyak or Canggu.
- Nature and diving: Amed, Nusa Lembongan or the Gili Islands.
- A Muslim-majority island: Lombok.
Before you go
Visa, Bali's tourist levy, season and halal food are all covered in our article on travelling to Bali from Algeria. Remember that the dry season roughly runs from May to October. For the visa, check the current conditions with the consulate or the official website before you travel.
Book in dinars
On Nreservi you book your hotels in Bali, Lombok or Jakarta online. From Algeria, you pay in dinars without a bank card: BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our Telemly agency. Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment. To compare with another Asian destination, see our hotels in Malaysia.
Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.