Attractions in Bali

Many attractions & Must See in Bali

As a tropical island with just a few small towns, Bali’s main attractions lie in its natural beauty - waterfalls, mountains, forests and hot springs. There are a few man-made attractions like historic temples and museums chronicling the history of Bali’s native arts and crafts, as well, but most likely, your Bali experience will be one filled with stunning scenery, amazing sunsets and serene hikes.

Environment

Far and away, the biggest draw for visitors to the island and the main Bali attractions are the island’s natural surroundings. It is known for having some of the most pristine white sand beaches and turquoise blue sea waters in the world. As a fairly mountainous island, Bali is also home to volcanoes, peaks, jungles and waterfalls, all of which are accessible to visitors via hiking trails, jeep excursions and guided tours. Several of the volcanoes on the island are still active, while Mount Agung on the eastern part of the island has not erupted since the 1960s.

Art Museums

Bali has a surprising amount of art, both classical and modern, most of which is concentrated in a series of museums and galleries located in the town of Ubud. Among them, Agung Rai Museum of Art (Jl. Pengosekan; +62 361 975 742; www.armamuseum.com) is one of the best places to see works by Balinese artists, while Museum Rudana (Jl. Cok Rai Pudak 44; +62 361 975 779; www.senatorrudana.com) houses an interesting collection of modern Balinese art.

Temples

Surprisingly to many, Bali’s temples are largely Hindu, and there are plenty of temples to be seen throughout the island, as each village was required to construct its own temple for use by local residents. Everywhere you go in Bali, you are likely to run into black, tiered, square pagodas, which oftentimes come in a series of two or more. These unusually-shaped temples resemble fountains, and it is not hard to imagine a gush of water cascading down the many tiers. Among the most important temples in Bali are the nine directional temples that sit in key locales around the island as a defensive measure against evil spirits. Of these, the Uluwatu Temple on Bukit Peninsula in the south is one of the most accessible and, therefore, one of the most popular with visitors.

Hot Springs

Soaking in local hot springs and visiting spas for traditional Balinese massage are both popular Bali attractions. Perhaps the most unbelievable of the springs are the Air Panas springs at Banjar, where streams of hot spring water flow from the mouths of elaborately carved dragonheads into a large, blue pool surrounded by lush vegetation, flowers and garden. Traditional Balinese massage, which involves an herbal scrub followed by a lavish oil massage, can be procured from one of the dozens of spas around the island, many of which are located in resorts and upscale hotels.

Bali Bomb Memorial

In 2002, the deadliest terrorist attack in Indonesian history occurred when several extremists detonated bombs in the Balinese city of Kuta, killing more than 200 people, many of whom were expatriates enjoying the nightlife at a local pub, Paddy’s Pub on Legian Street. Standing on the site of the main bombing incident is an elaborate marble memorial that lists those who died on a plaque. The pub later reopened under a similar name a little ways down the same street.