Is Bali Worth Visiting? 7 Reasons It Belongs on Your Bucket List

From “hidden gem” and “best place in the world” to “too touristy” and “overcrowded,” you’ve likely heard the whole gamut of descriptors for Bali and are wondering for yourself… “is Bali worth visiting?” 🤔

I know I had the same question before I visited Bali, but the short answer is a definitive “YES!”.

From culture to budget, food to activities, and so much more, I think Bali deserves a spot on everyone’s bucket list. So let’s dive in and go over all the reasons why you’ll fall in love with Bali.

7 Reasons Bali is Worth Visiting

Every traveler has their own priorities, interests, and travel style, but I truly believe that Bali has something for everyone! These are the top 7 reasons I think Bali should be on YOUR travel bucket list, but once you go, you may find even more reasons as to why Bali is worth visiting. 😉

1 – Affordable For Every Budget

Coming from the USA, I found Bali to be a very affordable destination, and it can be done on so many different budgets.

If you’re trying to keep costs as low as possible, you can find hostel dorm beds for as low as $5-$15 USD and local meals for about $2 USD. Your money can definitely go far here! I’d say you could probably get away with $15-$50 USD a day depending on which activities you choose to do.

I went with a friend and we had a more mid-range budget: we didn’t skimp on food, didn’t limit our budget for activities, and we spent most nights in hotel rooms – often each in our own room.

Over a period of 2.5 weeks, we averaged about $150 USD per person per day – this included multiple days of scuba diving, a 4-day boat tour, splurging on food (both local and Western), and reasonably-priced, lovely hotels.

Read my post detailing my exact budget breakdown for more information to help you plan your own Bali Budget!

If you’re in the mood for a more luxe escape – Bali has those options too! There are several, beautiful 5-star resorts starting around $150 USD/night.

You can also hire private drivers for ~$30 USD, and fully customize your tour itineraries to really suite your style.

So, is Bali worth visiting from a budget perspective? Absolutely! You can experience Bali so many different ways without breaking the bank.

2 – Perfect For First-Time Visitors to South East Asia

Bali was my first trip to South East Asia, and it’s safe to say that, despite feeling well-traveled, I was nervous about how it would go.

I had previously only traveled in North America and Europe, and I was anxious about the shocking cultural differences, communicating with locals, safety, and being able to get around.

From my experience, there really wasn’t anything to worry about – in fact, Bali was an incredible first venture to South East Asia!

Note: I’ve got an entire guide to Bali for first timers – it’s filled with information so you’ll feel well-prepared for your own venture!

Yes, there are cultural differences, but as you’ll see in reason #5, that’s actually one of the beautiful things about this island! Plus, if you’re missing home, Bali is a digital nomad hotspot, meaning you can definitely find Western cuisines and culture interspersed with the Balinese culture.

This is also a plus for communication – due to the large digital nomad & Australian tourist communities, I found English was widely spoken and understood pretty much everywhere!

From a safety perspective, I felt very comfortable all around Bali and the surrounding islands; locals were friendly and helpful, but as with any trip, be aware of your surroundings and take your normal precautions.

This leads me into the final concern I had prior to my own trip: how to get around safely. There are a number of ways to get around Bali:

1. hiring a private driver
2. joining tour groups
3. using Grab or other ride share options
4. renting a scooter

I loved renting a scooter with my friend, but I wasn’t the one driving it, and he picked it up pretty quickly. That being said, there are accidents all the time from tourists, so make sure to fully understand the benefits and consequences of renting a scooter yourself.

In fact, we only really used the scooters in the quieter, more rural areas and took advantage of affordable Grab rides in the cities, as well as the convenient long distance transfers between the different regions of the island.

3 – Natural Beauty Beyond the Beaches

You may be thinking… “with such a long flight, is Bali worth really visiting? Isn’t it just a bunch of beaches?”

And while there are many beautiful beaches on this island (in fact, you can read my beach-hopping itinerary here), Bali is so much more than the beaches.

If you prefer your water inland, Bali has so many waterfalls; some of them are super well-known and heavily visited, while others are lesser known and you may be able to experience them all to yourself!

My friend and I did a full day trip hopping to 7 different waterfalls and had so much fun cooling down, swimming, and just enjoying the incredible landscapes!

Read more: Ubud waterfalls roadtrip

Another great water activity around Bali is scuba diving or snorkeling. Indonesia has some of the richest marine life, and while you may not want to spend all of your time on the beach, I highly suggest spending some time under the water while you’re on the island.

It was a big highlight of our trip & I think Bali is worth it for the marine life alone!

Once you get tired of the water activities, you can walk through lush rice fields or take a guided tour to hike or drive up a volcano – there are many different ways to experience the inland nature in Bali.

4 – Something For Every Type of Traveler

I truly believe that there is something in Bali for any type of traveler, and I especially loved being able to mix-and-match different travel styles create the perfectly balanced trip.

For the Activity Lovers

If you love to go-go-go and try new things while traveling, Bali is definitely worth visiting! From thrilling scooter rides, incredible hikes, underwater adventures, surfing, and more, you can find a different adventure each day to get your heart racing!

For a Luxe Escape

We’ve already talked about how Bali is a great place to do a luxe resort on an affordable budget, but this goes deeper than your accommodation options.

You’ll find an abundance of locals offering massages for $8-$10 USD. I did one on my last night in Ubud, and wished I had gotten more… it was such a great way to relax! You can find affordable facials and beauty treatments as well, and go for a full spa experience. 🧖‍♀️

Outside of beauty treatments, you’ll find many private drivers so you can travel to attractions at your own pace without the stress of traffic or navigation.

If you’re wanting to stay in one place for the day, Bali has many options for pool and beach clubs. Some of these are geared more towards a party & vibrant atmosphere while others lean into more of a calm & relaxing vibe.

For Spiritual Reconnection

If you’re on your own “Eat, Pray, Love” journey, Bali is a great place to be! You’ll find a range of different retreats geared towards reconnection.

Many of these are yoga retreats, but you can also find options for meditation & breath work, massage and acupuncture, or just holistic wellness retreats.

I didn’t partake in any retreats, so don’t have a specific one I can recommend, but if this is something you’re interested in, definitely do some more research and read reviews to find the retreat that is best suited to you.

For Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventurers

“Bali? Off the beaten path? Doesn’t everyone talk about how it’s overcrowded?”

I know, I know, there definitely are areas of Bali that ARE overcrowded and can feel overwhelming. BUT, there are still areas that do offer a more quiet, local, and off-the-beaten-path feel.

Specifically, on the main island of Bali, Amed & North Bali would be great options to get away from the large crowds.

If you’re interested in shore and wreck diving, I highly recommend a few days Amed.

For a more local feel, head to North Bali where you’ll be surrounded by rice fields, coffee plantations, waterfalls, and nature.

Off the main island, I found Nusa Lembongan to be a great spot to both detox from the crowds & do more exploring. It’s worth spending a few days on the island, especially considering the easy access!

5 – A Warm and Welcoming Culture You’ll Remember Forever

As I mentioned earlier in this article, I was a bit nervous about the culture shock I would experience traveling to South East Asia for the first time. While I was super excited to experience the differences, I didn’t know if it would be too overwhelming.

I can confidently say that the culture is one of the things that absolutely makes Bali worth a trip!

The locals are all so warm and welcoming; I found them eager to share their culture and friendship.

The offerings that were put out on the sidewalk each morning were a gorgeous array of flowers and leaves, the traditional Kecak Fire Dance was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I absolutely adored visiting the local warungs for food (more about that next!) 😉.

I thought the Kecak Dance at Uluwatu Temple was a great first activity in Bali – I wrote a full review of my experience in this post!

6 – A Foodie Paradise

Oh, the food in Bali! It was so good – local, western… it didn’t matter. Everything we ate was incredible!

On your trip, definitely check out the warungs. These are local, open air restaurants with generous servings, great prices, and such flavorful, fresh food!

We loved these options, and especially loved all of the fresh drinks! One thing about Bali is that it is HOT and HUMID… I often felt desperate for a smoothie, juice, or iced coffee & Bali did not disappoint on any of them.

Seriously, on your own trip, make sure you are trying all the different types of juices, I tried so many flavors I’d never heard of or even imagined! 🥤

And don’t worry if you want some comforts from home as well. Due to the large digital nomad population (and all the tourists from Australia), you can find many Western options in Bali.

While most of our hotels included a large and delicious breakfast, we often opted to have a second breakfast at a Western cafe. We were super active in the mornings on our trip and needed the extra food!

My friend was in charge of figuring out our food options and relied heavily on Google Maps & Reviews. I’m compiling a list of the top apps you need for a Bali trip and will be sharing that soon!

The one thing I couldn’t really find in Bali was good cheese… one night I was craving a pizza, and while it was enough to hit the spot, it definitely wasn’t something to write home about… but there are so many other incredible options, that I was okay foregoing the cheese for a few weeks.

7 – Easy Access to Nearby Islands

If you have more than a week for your Bali trip, I definitely recommend hopping over to a nearby island, and the great thing is that there are so many options!

The Nusa Islands

The closest islands would be Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida; these are about 30 minutes by ferry and very easy to get to. I’ll break down the differences between these three islands in an upcoming post, but I’d suggest spending a few days in Nusa Lembongan and do day trips to the other islands from there.

Nusa Lembongan specifically felt quiet, but local, while still having ample opportunity to explore and adventure – a perfect balance if you ask me!

I loved spending a few days in the Nusas at the start of our trip – here’s a list of 14 things to do in Nusa Lembongan so you can decide if the hop over is right for you!

The Gili Islands

Technically a part of Lombok island, the Gili Islands are a popular spot for Bali travelers. 

• Gili Trawangen for an island that is more built up and has a good nightlife scene
• Gili Meno for a secluded or romantic getaway
• Gili Air for a chill, but social, experience

We stayed on both Gili Air and Gili Meno and liked both of them.

Gili Air is a great place for walking and biking, as well as getting in some scuba diving or snorkeling.

Our night on Gili Meno fell right in the center of our trip and was the perfect spot to just relax, do a short snorkel, and recoup for the remaining portion of our travels!

Lombok and Java

I didn’t get to visit either of these two islands, but have heard great things about both places!

If you’re craving a bustling city, head over to Jakarta in Java — the large island just west of Bali.

For a more local feel, head to the island to the east, Lombok. Other folks we met described it as “what Bali felt like 10 years ago,” and it doesn’t seem as well-known to the large crowds. Plus if you like surfing, there are several surf camps you can take part in!

Komodo National Park

Now while this isn’t quite as close to Bali — you’ll need to hop on a 1.5hr flight or take a 4D/3N boat tour — it was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Not only is this is the only place in the world to see Komodo Dragons, the largest lizards in the world, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen! Lush islands, stunning sunrises and sunsets, and some of the most diverse marine life in the world. If you are a nature lover, it’s a must!

The other cool thing is that Komodo National Park sits on the other side of the Wallace Line from Bali, so if you do make the journey over, you’ll see animal and plant species that look completely different… truly a unique experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on Whether Bali Is Worth Visiting

While I understand that everyone has a different travel style and priorities for their trips, I truly believe that Bali has something for every traveler.

From heart-racing adventures, to peaceful retreats, to cultural immersion and luxe escapes, there are so many reasons that make Bali worth visiting.

Yes, there can be a lot of people at certain spots, but for each of the overcrowded tourist hotspots, we were able to find quieter, lesser-known areas with just as much beauty.

If you’ve added Bali to your bucket list, and are ready to start dreaming up your perfect trip, read my ultimate guide for first timers in Bali!