The Essential Bali Itinerary: 9 Days in Nusa Dua & Ubud

When you land in Bali, your body won’t know what time it is. You’ll likely have journeyed over 24 hours to make it to this incredible destination, so I recommend starting your trip in Nusa Dua, a laid-back beach area just south of the airport.

Check into the St. Regis Bali — one of my favorite hotels in the world — and begin acclimating to the time zone. This resort is the perfect place to relax on the pristine beach, enjoy the lagoons and indulge at the amazing on-property restaurants. The breakfast buffet at the St. Regis Bali is something my husband and I talk about to this day. The St. Regis is also well-known for their incredible butler service. Upon check-in, you will meet your butler who will assist you during your entire stay. The butlers at the St. Regis Bali are on another level — make sure you get recommendations from them as locals always know best.

Depending on when you wake up (5 am if you’re like me — thanks, jetlag!), you will likely want to enjoy the resort and take it easy. Have breakfast, walk the beach, order lunch poolside and swim in the lagoons. In the afternoon, take a much-needed nap, then head to dinner at Kayuputi.

Hire a private driver to take you around the southern part of Bali. They’ll recommend some places to visit, but make sure you hit Uluwatu Temple — an ancient Hindu temple perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. You also shouldn’t miss Dreamland Beach and Padang Padang Beach.

Five minutes from Uluwatu Temple is Single Fin, a cliffside restaurant overlooking the ocean in Uluwatu. From here, you can enjoy fantastic views while eating one of the island’s best açai bowls. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to spot surfers down below.

Head to the south side of the island for an afternoon at Sundays Beach Club. This vibey hangout offers food and live music and is right on a beautiful beach. This is a great spot to spend a few hours and enjoy a Bintang — Bali’s best beer.

If possible, have dinner and drinks one evening at Rock Bar — an amazing outdoor restaurant on top of the cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean. The best time to visit is sunset.

Uluwatu is beautiful, relaxing and fun. But Ubud is the soul of Bali, where rich culture and nature blend. A trip to Bali without a stay in Ubud is like not coming to Bali at all. Rice fields, temples, scooters, cafes, valleys and rivers — the pace is slower on this part of the island.

For extra luxe stays in Ubud, I recommend the Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, or Amandari.

For a beautiful, five-star resort at a less expensive price point, head to the Viceroy Bali. All of these hotels embrace the Balinese spirit in their hospitality and design.

Hot take: Ubud is best explored by scooter. The freedom of having your own transportation will elevate your experience significantly. You will be overwhelmed by the traffic when you first hop on, but trust me — you’ll get the hang of it quickly and you will be so glad you chose this mode of transportation. Inquire about renting a scooter through the hotel and have the main driver practice a bit before heading out on the main roads. My husband and I have rented a scooter in Ubud twice and swore it’s why we fell in love with Bali. We’d set out in the morning with no exact plans and wonder through the backroads of Ubud, stopping in cafes, temples, shops and rice terraces.

On your first day in Ubud, settle into your hotel — assuming you choose the Mandapa — and enjoy a romantic dinner at Kubu Mandapa in one of the their nine private bamboo cocoons overlooking the Ayung River.

Start your first full day in Ubud by heading to my favorite coffee shop, Seniman Coffee. We discovered this little gem on our first trip to Bali and went there nearly every morning for the remainder of our time in Ubud. It was also the first place we headed when we found ourselves back in Bali two years after our initial trip! The people are so friendly — as is everyone in Bali — and the coffee is incredible.

After you’ve had some caffeine, head to the Sacred Monkey Forest. The Sacred Monkey Forest is home to over 1,000 long-tailed macaques, who are considered sacred by the Balinese people. These mischievous monkeys are known for climbing up visitors hoping to find a snack, but beware because they’ll steal from you to barter for food (seriously!) — keep your flashy earrings at home.

Afterwards, head to one of my favorite restaurants in Ubud for lunch, KAFE.

In the afternoon, explore some of Ubud’s temples. In Bali, Hindu temples are known as pura, designed as open-air places of worship in walled compounds. Some of my favorite temples to visit in the heart of Ubud are Goa Gajah — which was built in the ninth century and translates to “Elephant Cave” — or Pura Tirta Empul, famous for its holy spring water. There are many temples in this region of Bali, and anyone is welcome to visit. Sarongs are available at the entrance of most temples, but still bring conservative clothing to respect the Balinese culture. On occasion, you will need to pay to enter a temple — typically around $3 USD.

Have dinner in the treetops at Ayung Terrace, located inside the Four Seasons hotel. Grab a drink before at Jati Bar. The Four Seasons at Sayan hotel is incredible, so it’s worth a visit for a drink and/or meal if you aren’t staying here while in Ubud.

20 minutes north of Ubud, you will find one of Bali’s most photographed and iconic destinations: the Tegalalang rice terraces. Spend an hour or so hiking the terraces and enjoying the view. (Note: pack bug spray!) This area becomes crowded, so get there before 9 am and explore freely. You’ll find several cafes in this region if you want to stop for a break.

Head back towards Ubud for lunch at Alchemy. This place has a great atmosphere and even better menu full of health-conscious options including smoothies, salads, soups and raw juices.

A 10-minute walk from Alchemy will put you at the base of the Campuhan Ridge Walk. This picturesque path takes you north and will drop you at one of my favorite places in Ubud: Karsa Spa. Karsa Spa is a tranquil, mostly outdoor spa offering massages, facials, body scrubs, reiki therapy, pedicures, manicures and more. This particular spa has a solid reputation, so make an appointment online in advance. I recommend the Intuitive Heart Massage or the Coffee Salt Scrub and Massage. Both of these treatments range from 90 to 120 minutes and cost less than $30 USD! If you’re traveling with your partner, request the outdoor couples' room, which includes a flower bath and has an outdoor shower — both feel amazing, especially if you’ve just finished the Ridge Walk.

Head to dinner at Sacred Rice.

An hour north of Ubud is Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, located on Lake Bratan. Chances are, if you’ve done any research about Bali, you’ve seen a picture of Pura Ulun Danu Beratan. It’s worth spending an hour or so here walking around and exploring the temple complex.

On the way home, stop for dinner at Indus Restaurant. Grab a seat on the patio overlooking Tjampuhan Ridge.

On your last day in Ubud, fit in anything you haven’t done yet that you’ve wanted to — go shop in town, head back to Karsa Spa (no one would blame you), relax at the hotel or just hop on your moped and explore. If you’re into yoga, Yoga Barn is it. Another place to enjoy your last day in Bali is Jungle Fish, a private club with an infinity pool overlooking the jungle and a great restaurant/bar. I recommend having a few Bintangs to forget it’s your last day!

Please reach out to me so I can help you plan a trip to this amazing place in the world!