Where to Stay in Bali: Best Areas and Hotels

The Most Beautiful Regions to Stay in Bali on a Map

The best places to stay in Bali are in the south, north, east, center, or on the neighboring island of Nusa Penida. Each region is completely different.

Here’s a quick overview of what we consider the best areas to stay in Bali:

• Bukit Peninsula: stunning beaches for surfing and swimming
• Ubud: the best base for waterfalls, temples, and rice terraces
• Nusa Penida: a small island next to Bali with great beaches and attractions
• Lovina: few tourists and lots of dolphins
• Amed: very quiet and authentic, with great snorkeling spots
• Canggu: laid-back surfing and hip cafés

Because the regions are so different, we recommend doing a road trip around Bali. If you’re short on time, the Bukit Peninsula and Ubud are your best bet — you’ll get to see the most the island has to offer. Depending on what else catches your interest, you can always extend your Bali trip to include the other regions.

Surfing and Swimming: Staying on the Bukit Peninsula

The Bukit Peninsula is perfect for a beach vacation — whether you’re a surfer, traveling with kids, or just looking for a few gorgeous beach days.

The south of Bali is a peninsula, and it’s home to many of the most beautiful beaches in Bali — making it the perfect place to book a beach hotel in Bali. The coastlines of the peninsula are totally different from one another.

The west coast, where Uluwatu is located, is mostly cliffs. Uluwatu is one of the best surf spots in the world. No surprise, then, that we’d point surfers and those who want to learn straight to this coastline. The whole area has a very relaxed and cool vibe — making it also perfect for backpackers who love that kind of atmosphere.

That said, the west coast can get really crowded. Things are quieter on the east coast and especially on the south coast. The south coast also has many hotels with wellness offerings and large villas to rent for your Bali trip. The east coast is perfect for families, with wide beaches and gentle waves.

The Bukit Peninsula is close to the airport. If you’re doing a road trip, it’s best to schedule this stop at the beginning or end.

Advantages of staying on the Bukit Peninsula:

• Lots of beautiful beaches
• Perfect surf conditions
• Plenty of accommodation and restaurants
• Close to the airport

Disadvantages of staying on the Bukit Peninsula:

• Hotels are more expensive than in other areas
• The west coast in particular is very touristy

Our Hotel Recommendations for the Bukit Peninsula

The Room is one of the coolest beach hotels in Bali, in our opinion. The exterior walls are all bright orange, while the rooms inside are bright and minimalist. At the beach, you can snorkel, surf, and swim.

The Sama Sama Villa is a fantastic option for families. It has two double rooms, a private pool, and is located on the east coast.

Nature and Culture: Staying in Ubud

Ubud is the perfect base for day trips to waterfalls, rice fields, and temples.

The center of Bali is pure jungle. Here you’ll find beautiful waterfalls, temples, and Bali’s rice terraces. The best place to stay in this part of the island is Ubud. If you rent a scooter in Bali, you can reach most of the natural highlights from Ubud in about half an hour to an hour and a half.

The town also has a few highlights of its own. The most famous is the Monkey Forest, home to over 600 free-roaming monkeys.

For Ubud, we’d suggest not necessarily staying in the center. If you stay in the Peliatan district or in the neighborhood around the Monkey Forest, you’ll avoid the chaotic traffic in Ubud’s center on your way to day-trip destinations — and you’re still only a ten-minute taxi ride from the action.

Advantages of staying in Ubud:

• Best base for day trips
• Surrounded by nature

Disadvantages of staying in Ubud:

• No beach
• Taxi ride to the airport takes about two hours

Our Hotel Recommendations for Ubud

The Studios is one of our favorite jungle hotels in Bali. It has four modern apartments, each with its own pool. From your terrace, you look straight out into the jungle near Ubud — yet you’re still super centrally located.

The Lasamana Villas are set not in the jungle but right in the middle of the rice fields of Ubud. Each villa has its own pool.

Island Vibes: Staying on Nusa Penida

The neighboring island of Nusa Penida is perfect for sightseeing and swimming.

Nusa Penida is a small island to the east of Bali — the boat ride takes about 30 minutes. Officially, it’s still part of Bali.

Bali barely feels like an island anymore because it’s so large. Nusa Penida, on the other hand, is much smaller — and you really get that true sense of island life there.

We love Nusa Penida above all for its dream beaches, cool sights, and snorkeling. The waters around the island are home to massive reefs with largely intact corals, colorful fish, and even manta rays.

Unfortunately, Nusa Penida is no longer an off-the-beaten-path spot in Bali. There are huge numbers of day-trippers on the island between 9 AM and 4 PM. That’s why we recommend staying two to three days. In the mornings and evenings, you’ll practically have the island to yourself.

From Nusa Penida, a day trip to Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan is also well worth it. These islands lie between Nusa Penida and Bali, are connected by a bridge, and are far less crowded than Nusa Penida.

Advantages of staying on Bali’s neighboring island Nusa Penida:

• Beautiful small island
• Cool sights and attractions
• You get to experience the island without day-trippers

Disadvantages of staying on Bali’s neighboring island Nusa Penida:

• Very touristy during the day
• At least three hours from the airport

Our Hotel Recommendations for Bali's Neighboring Island Nusa Penida

One of the best boutique hotels in Bali, in our opinion: the Pramana Natura. From the hotel, you have a stunning view of the ocean. You can choose between a suite and a villa. The hotel is located in the west, close to the main sights.

The Alana Penida is a real steal on the east coast of Nusa Penida and is definitely one of our favorite hotels in Bali. It opened not long ago, sits right on the beach, and offers outstanding value for money.

Dolphins and Waterfalls: Staying in Lovina

Lovina is the perfect place to stay in Bali if you prefer a quieter pace and have always wanted to see dolphins.

Lovina is located in the north of Bali. It doesn’t draw as many tourists as places like Uluwatu. The beaches here tend to be darker and not as beautiful as those in the south or on Nusa Penida.

But Lovina’s highlight is something else entirely: you can swim with dolphins in the ocean! Unfortunately, dolphin tourism here is often exploitative. Be sure to read our article on the best activities in Bali, where we share tips on how to book a tour that doesn’t harm the dolphins.

Beyond the dolphins, a hotel in Lovina is also a great base for day trips to the natural highlights of northern Bali. You’ll find some of the tallest waterfalls in Bali here, for example.

Advantages of staying in Lovina:

• Less tourism than in the center and south
• You can see dolphins
• Affordable hotels

Disadvantages of staying in Lovina:

• At least three hours from the airport
• Few nice sandy beaches
• Limited hotel selection

Our Hotel Recommendations for Lovina

The highlight of The Edicha is its own bakery. The breakfast is seriously unbeatable! You get delicious croissants, fresh rolls, and pastries — something you won’t find at many hotels in Bali.

Peaceful Setting: Staying in Amed

Amed is our top pick for where to stay in Bali if you want to enjoy the island in peace and love to snorkel.

The east of Bali is still very authentic. Tourism hasn’t really arrived here yet. It’s incredibly peaceful and our under-the-radar recommendation for experiencing traditional Bali.

The best place to stay in eastern Bali is Amed — a small fishing village on the coast. The coastline is lined with black sand beaches. You don’t really go to these beaches to sunbathe, though — you go to snorkel or dive. And it’s excellent for that, because the waves are very calm.

Right along the coast is a massive, intact coral reef. You only need to swim 10–20 meters from the beach to reach it. If you want to go further out, you can also book a snorkeling boat tour. You might even spot a sea turtle swimming by. You can rent snorkel sets at many hotels and restaurants for just $1–2.

Otherwise, the place is simply very relaxed and there’s not a whole lot else to do. You can, of course, head inland and go hiking through the rice fields.

Advantages of staying in Amed:

• Very quiet and authentic
• Excellent snorkeling conditions
• Everything is still very affordable

Disadvantages of staying in Amed:

• Many black sand beaches, often rocky
• Fewer hotels and restaurants than in touristy areas

Our Hotel Recommendations for Amed

The MATHIS Lodge isn’t located directly in Amed, but rather up in the hills. From the pool, you still have ocean views. The hotel is very luxurious, which means it costs a bit more than other places to stay in Amed.

The Kura Kura Divers Lodge, on the other hand, is a real bargain. The hotel sits right on the water, has a nautical feel, and even has its own dive school.

Hip and Lively: Staying in Canggu

Canggu is the perfect mix of relaxation, great food, and surfing.

Canggu is a hotspot in the southwest of Bali and has become THE neighborhood for digital nomads.

As a result, there are now some truly excellent cafés and restaurants serving the best food in Bali. There’s also a cool nightlife scene with live music at beach bars. On top of that, Canggu is a great surf spot with waves for every skill level. And if you’re looking to get a massage, this is a great place for that too.

Even though Canggu has become really popular, it’s still no comparison to the chaotic and crowded Kuta or Seminyak.

Advantages of staying in Canggu:

• Relaxed but not boring atmosphere
• Hip cafés and restaurants
• Popular surf beaches
• Nightlife

Disadvantages of staying in Canggu:

• Has become very touristy
• Heavy traffic

Our Hotel Recommendations for Canggu

The Leafy Home Canggu features rustic concrete walls and a very cool design. The beach is about 900 meters away.

Frequently Asked Questions about Where to Stay in Bali