Is Bali Worth Visiting?

Bali is a beautiful tropical island in Indonesia that is a popular holiday destination.

This island is known for its incredible beaches, its stunning natural beauty, and the vibrant culture across the island.

Across the island of Bali, you will find many beautiful landscapes and ancient temples, with plenty of rice terraces in between.

However, if you are planning your next sun holiday, you might ask, is Bali worth visiting?

This island is home to plenty of luxury resorts and yoga retreats, as well as charming guest houses and beachfront villas.

If you are considering visiting Bali, you are probably wondering what are some things to know before going and questioning if Bali is worth visiting.

Here are a few things to know before visiting this beautiful Indonesian capital.

Are you heading to Indonesia soon? Read our guide to learn how to buy an Indonesia SIM card.

Reasons To Visit Bali: The Pros

Bali is known for its warm climate, rich culture, and friendly locals which means there are lots of pros when it comes to visiting the island for an unforgettable holiday experience.

Natural Beauty

The island of Bali is known worldwide for its stunning natural beauty. Here you can find a vast array of different landscapes including waterfalls, beaches, and rice fields.

Bali has several stunning beaches around the island with incredible views and crystal-clear water for snorkeling, swimming, and diving.

It is also a popular spot for surfing with many of the beaches around the island having the perfect conditions for both beginner and pro surfers.

A huge highlight of visiting Bali is the many rice terraces around the island. These are an iconic part of the Bali landscape and are truly a must-see when you’re here.

If you want to immerse yourself in nature, you can also visit one of the many waterfalls across the island which are nestled in the jungle and a great place for some swimming.

Bali’s landscape also includes 2 massive volcanic mountains, Mount Agung and Mount Batur.

You can hike up these volcanic mountains on organized tours for incredible views of the island from the top.

Culture And Tradition

Experience the culture and tradition of Bali is a truly unique experience. The local people are deeply religious and this leads to many rituals and ceremonies taking place across the island.

Balinese Hinduism is the main religion on the island and you can see temples dotted all across Bali in celebration of this.

Music and dance are also a big part of daily life in Bali and are integral to the culture of the local people living here.

This makes for a vibrant and lively atmosphere on the island and visitors can go to see traditional ceremonies to enjoy the culture and tradition firsthand.

Bali is also known for its traditional crafts such as silverwork and batik textiles. Both of these are made using traditional methods.

Delicious & Affordable Food

Bali has its own delicious cuisine that is a mix of influences from Indonesia, India, and China.

Some of the signature dishes on the island that visitors should definitely try are nasi goreng, mie goreng, and babi guling.

Nasi goreng is the most popular dish for visitors to try and is a fried rice dish served with meat or vegetables. Mie goreng is a similar tasty dish but served with noodles instead.

You can visit Warungs around the island which are restaurants selling local food for a very reasonable price.

If you want to experience something really traditional, you can try babi guling. This dish is made of a roasted pig that has been marinated and cooked for hours and is served with spicy peanut sauce.

There is also a huge variety of vegetarian meals in Bali so you won’t be stuck for a choice.

You can enjoy tempeh which is a popular soybean cake that is vegetarian and a high source of protein.

For the most part, you can expect to pay under USD 5 for dishes, especially local food.

Wellness And Relaxation

A big reason why lots of people visit Bali is for the wellness and spirituality on the island.

Bali has a huge amount of wellness retreats and yoga centers around the island, as well as day spas.

You can enjoy a variety of yoga retreats and yoga teacher training programs on the island of Bali.

There are also many fitness retreats here where you can work out every day while enjoying healthy food.

Friendly Locals

Bali is known throughout Asia and especially in Indonesia for its friendly locals. The Balinese people stand out for their welcoming nature and they make you feel right at home on this island.

If you are visiting Bali, you will see firsthand that the locals are respectful and very eager to help each other and visitors to their island.

The people of Bali are known for their polite and friendly manner in whatever setting you meet them in.

They have strong family and community values and often celebrate their religious and cultural traditions together.

This also leads to incredible customer service in Bali, especially when you go to a local Warung. They are happy to help and share their local customs and knowledge.

Reasons To Visit Bali: The Cons

Although the pros may seem to outweigh the cons, there are a couple of things to know when traveling to Bali, as these particular cons may influence your Indonesian travel plans.

It’s Overcrowded

Bali has become increasingly popular with digital nomads and holidaymakers each year.

This has been good for the local economy, however, it has led to a lot of overcrowding on the island.

Especially during peak season, there is a huge amount of traffic congestion in the main tourist areas across the island.

This congestion can lead to long driving times to reach your destination, especially in busy areas like Canggu, Kuta, and Seminyak. It can also make for dangerous driving conditions.

The crowds also mean that accommodation prices are always on the rise in Bali and it can often be difficult to find accommodation in the area you wish.

It is best to opt for local guest houses, as there is huge competition for finding villas across the island.

Safety Concerns

Bali is generally a safe holiday destination, however, you should exercise caution here as there are some safety concerns to be aware of.

As mentioned, the crowds in the high season lead to dangerous driving conditions on the island. If you don’t have experience driving a moped, it is best to order a taxi or book a moped through the Gojek app.

It is not a good place to learn how to drive a scooter as it is extremely busy and the infrastructure is poor.

In Bali, motorbike accidents are very common, so take care while driving or walking along busy roads.

While violent crime is something very rare in Bali, petty crime is common here like many other major tourist destinations worldwide.

You are advised not to walk or drive with your phone visible where it can be easily stolen and keep your valuables safe at all times.

The Final Verdict: So Is Bali Worth Visiting?

So is Bali nice, and is Bali worth visiting? Absolutely!

It is an island filled with natural beauty, friendly people, and lots of culture and tradition.

Imagine waking up and taking a stroll along the beach before heading to a yoga class and then chilling with a coconut by the pool.

Doesn’t that sound just perfect?

From unique temples to luxury resorts, there are plenty of things to see and do in Bali.

So is Bali worth visiting? Yes indeed.

It is the perfect spot for a week’s vacation to relax, explore and enjoy everything that this Indonesian island has to offer.

Visiting Indonesia soon? Read one of the following blog posts:

• How many days in Bali
• Living in Bali
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