South Bali181 guides
Bali
Plan Bali by area, not by checklist: 8 top experiences, temple etiquette, 3-, 5- and 7-day pacing, transport trade-offs and who should skip what.
INDONESIA TOWN AND ISLAND GUIDES — UPDATED FOR 2026
Pick a town or island.
Know what to see and do.
Plan the days around it.
Place-by-place guides to Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu, Lombok, the Gili Islands, Yogyakarta, Labuan Bajo and more: temples, markets, warungs, beaches and getting around, with sources you can check.
Explore Places Towns and islands. Temples and warungs. Sources you can check.
ISLAND BY ISLAND01 / Illustration, not a photograph.
34 towns & islandsFrom Bali, Lombok and the Gilis to Java, Flores and Raja Ampat
663 guidesThings to do, food, nightlife, fast boats and when to go
89 temple, culture & market guidesTemples, dance, museums, night markets and art markets
147 sight & neighborhood pagesOne page per temple, palace, museum, beach or area
CHOOSE A TOWN OR ISLAND
34 towns and islands, from Bali to Raja Ampat
Start with a place guide, then open its temples, beaches, places to eat, day trips and the best time to go.
South Bali
The island-wide Bali guide, then Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Denpasar
South Bali19 guides
Canggu
Plan your Canggu days with 8 picks by area: surf, sunsets, markets, massage and Tanah Lot, plus costs, hours and getting-around tips.
South Bali23 guides
Uluwatu
Temple sunsets, Kecak, cliff beaches and surf. Compare 8 of the best things to do in Uluwatu by time, access and cost tier, with a sample route.
South Bali21 guides
Seminyak
Plan Seminyak with 10 ranked picks, a 1-, 2–3- and 5-day mix of beach, food, shopping and spa, plus getting-around and rainy-day trade-offs.
South Bali13 guides
Jimbaran
Plan Jimbaran with 8 picks: beach seafood dinners, sunset cliffs, GWK culture and Balangan, plus cost bands, trip-type picks and access tips.
South Bali19 guides
Kuta
Plan Kuta, Bali by area, time of day and trip type, with beach, Legian Street, mall and market picks, plus what to skip and mistakes to avoid.
South Bali16 guides
Nusa Dua
Plan things to do in Nusa Dua: 7 in-area sights, which day trips are worth it, transfer times, costs and mistakes to avoid.
South Bali20 guides
Sanur
Plan Sanur with 8 picks: beach path, museum, temple, markets, water sports, spas, shopping and day trips, with timing and access trade-offs for each.
Ubud, east & north Bali
Ubud and its craft villages, Sidemen and Amed in the east, Munduk and Lovina in the north
Ubud, east & north Bali44 guides
Ubud
Plan Ubud with 10 top picks, half-day to 3-day routes, temple etiquette, ticket checks and rainy-day backups, grouped by area to save time.
Ubud, east & north Bali9 guides
Amed
Plan things to do in Amed, Bali: reef snorkeling, diving, Mount Agung sunrise spots, costs, getting around and how many days to stay.
Ubud, east & north Bali9 guides
Lovina
Plan things to do in Lovina with 6 picks grouped by traveler type, who each option suits, what to skip, and how to fit them into a short North Bali stay.
Ubud, east & north Bali5 guides
Munduk
Plan Munduk with 8 waterfalls, lakes and viewpoints, plus travel times, access trade-offs and how many days you need.
Ubud, east & north Bali6 guides
Sidemen
Rice terraces, a waterfall, rafting, weaving and silver workshops: 7 things to do in Sidemen, plus a Sidemen vs Ubud table and cost notes.
The Nusa islands, Lombok & the Gilis
Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan off Bali, Lombok and Kuta Lombok, and Gili Trawangan and Gili Air
The Nusa islands, Lombok & the Gilis16 guides
Nusa Penida
What to do in Nusa Penida, organized by region, with route tips, access and safety notes, and how to choose between a day trip and an overnight stay.
The Nusa islands, Lombok & the Gilis14 guides
Gili Trawangan
Plan Gili Trawangan with 10 best things to do, who each suits, rough IDR costs, timing tips and trade-offs for snorkeling, diving, sunsets and nightlife.
The Nusa islands, Lombok & the Gilis13 guides
Gili Air
Best things to do in Gili Air with times, costs, booking tips and sample 1–3 day plans for couples, families and budget travelers.
The Nusa islands, Lombok & the Gilis11 guides
Kuta Lombok
Plan Kuta Lombok with beaches, surf by level, waterfalls and day trips, sorted by travel time, cost and season, plus itineraries and what to skip.
The Nusa islands, Lombok & the Gilis21 guides
Lombok
Plan Lombok by area: Rinjani, waterfalls, Gilis, south-coast beaches and Sasak culture, with time, cost and access trade-offs.
The Nusa islands, Lombok & the Gilis15 guides
Nusa Lembongan
8 best things to do in Nusa Lembongan, with sea-safety notes, how to get around, Ceningan and Penida add-ons, and what to skip if short on time.
Java
Jakarta and Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Malang and Surabaya
Java15 guides
Yogyakarta
Best things to do in Yogyakarta: 12 picks by area, with travel times, Borobudur sunrise tips, Kotagede, Merapi and 1-3 day plans.
Java14 guides
Bandung
Best things to do in Bandung by area, with transport, timing, rainy-day swaps and 1–4 day plans. Costs are flagged for checking.
Java6 guides
Bogor
Plan Bogor with 7 best things to do, reported costs, getting there from Jakarta, rainy-day options, and half-day to overnight itineraries.
Java27 guides
Jakarta
Plan Jakarta by area: Kota Tua, Monas, museums and markets, with time estimates, 2026 museum prices, transport tips and rainy-day swaps.
Java9 guides
Malang
Plan Malang by effort and time: city sights, Batu, waterfalls and Bromo, with itineraries, transport trade-offs and costs to check first.
Java8 guides
Semarang
Plan Semarang with 10 top sights grouped by area, 1-3 day routes, access notes and honest picks on what to skip.
Java14 guides
Surabaya
The 9 best things to do in Surabaya by trip length: heritage sights, Suramadu views, food, costs, hours and how to get around.
Sumatra & the Riau Islands
Medan in North Sumatra, and Batam and Bintan across the strait from Singapore
Sumatra & the Riau Islands13 guides
Batam
Plan Batam with 8 best things to do by area, plus transport, cost tiers, timing and sample routes for ferry visitors from Singapore.
Sumatra & the Riau Islands11 guides
Bintan
Plan the best things to do in Bintan, from beaches and spas to mangroves and day trips, with ferry times, costs, and who each pick suits.
Sumatra & the Riau Islands10 guides
Medan
Plan the 7 best things to do in Medan: top sights by area, a 1-day and 2-day route, food, getting around, rain plans and when to move on.
Flores, Sulawesi & Raja Ampat
Labuan Bajo for Komodo, Makassar and Manado on Sulawesi, and Raja Ampat off West Papua
Flores, Sulawesi & Raja Ampat25 guides
Labuan Bajo
Plan things to do in Labuan Bajo: Komodo boat trips, viewpoints, markets and no-boat options, with time, access and trade-off guidance.
TEMPLES & CULTURE
Temples, dance and museums, place by place
Which temples to visit in each place, the dress code and offerings etiquette, and where to see kecak, legong and barong dance.
01 Bali
02 Ubud
03 Jakarta
04 Yogyakarta
05 Uluwatu
06 Semarang
07 Sanur
08 Seminyak
09 Nusa Penida
10 Nusa Dua
11 Lombok
12 Kuta
BEACHES & SURF
Which beach, for swimming, snorkelling or surf
The beaches around each town and island, which ones suit swimming or snorkelling, and the surf breaks by level.
01 Uluwatu
02 Nusa Penida
03 Raja Ampat
04 Nusa Dua
05 Nusa Lembongan
06 Lombok
07 Kuta Lombok
08 Gili Air
09 Gili Trawangan
10 Canggu
11 Bali
12 Seminyak
FOOD & WARUNGS
What to eat, and where
The dishes you will meet across Indonesia, from nasi campur to babi guling, and the warungs and restaurants to eat them in each place.
- Indonesian Street FoodWhat to Eat, Where & How to Order (Bali Guide)
- Balinese FoodWhat to Eat in Bali & How to Order
- Babi Guling in BaliWhat It Is, How to Order, Where to Eat
- Nasi Padang in BaliWhat to Order & How It Works
- Nasi Campur in BaliWhat's on the Plate & How to Order
- Bebek BetutuBali Slow-Cooked Duck, How to Order It
Where to eat, place by place
- Amed
- Bali
- Bandung
- Batam
- Bintan
- Bogor
- Canggu
- Denpasar
- Flores
- Gili Air
- Gili Trawangan
- Jakarta
- Jimbaran
- Kerobokan
- Kuta
- Kuta Lombok
- Labuan Bajo
- Legian
- Lombok
- Lovina
- Malang
- Medan
- Munduk
- Nusa Dua
- Nusa Lembongan
- Nusa Penida
- Sanur
- Semarang
- Seminyak
- Sidemen
- Surabaya
- Ubud
- Uluwatu
- Yogyakarta
Also on the table: Yogyakarta Food · Uluwatu Cafes · Uluwatu Food Guide · Surabaya Food Guide · Sidemen Food Guide · Manado Food · Medan Food Guide · Makassar Food Guide · Malang Food Guide · Lombok Food Guide · 6 Meal Situations · 6 Picks for Where to Eat in Legian by Time of Day
MARKETS & SHOPPING
Night markets, art markets and where to shop
Where each market is, when it runs, what is sold there and what to eat while you browse.
01 Bali
02 Ubud
03 Seminyak
04 Sanur
05 Jakarta
06 Kuta
07 Uluwatu
08 Surabaya
09 Nusa Dua
10 Medan
11 Jimbaran
12 Canggu
ISLANDS & DAY TRIPS
Islands, boat trips and the day trips worth taking
Island hopping to Nusa Penida, the Gilis and Komodo, boat and land tours, and day trips from every base.
01 Bali
02 Ubud
03 Labuan Bajo
04 Lombok
05 Nusa Penida
06 Nusa Lembongan
07 Gili Trawangan
08 Yogyakarta
09 Uluwatu
10 Raja Ampat
11 Jakarta
12 Gili Air
SIGHTS WITH THEIR OWN PAGE
Temples, palaces, beaches and neighborhoods
One page per sight: what is there, how long to allow, how to get there and what to check before you go.
BaliTanah Lot TempleTanah Lot is a sea temple on an offshore rock in Beraban Village, Tabanan Regency, and most visitors see it from the shore rather than inside. Here is where it is, how to get there from south Bali or Ubud, how the tide affects your approach, and how much time to budget.
Nusa PenidaKelingking Beach, Nusa PenidaKelingking Beach is the T-Rex-shaped headland on Nusa Penida's southwest coast, and the clifftop view alone justifies the drive. This guide covers where it sits, how to reach it from Sanur or Nusa Lembongan, how long the viewpoint and the steep descent each take, what the entrance costs, and what is still unresolved about the lift.
YogyakartaPrambanan Temple GuidePrambanan Temple is Indonesia's largest Hindu temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Yogyakarta–Central Java border. Here is how the compound is laid out, how to reach it by train or private car, how much time the main temples and nearby Sewu deserve, and what to confirm before you go.
Labuan BajoPadar Island, Labuan BajoPadar Island is a viewpoint stop on a boat day out of Labuan Bajo, not a ticket-window attraction. Here is how the trip works, how hard the ridge climb is, and what else shares the day.
BaliTirta Empul TempleTirta Empul Temple near Ubud is a working Balinese Hindu water temple built around a holy spring, with two purification pools fed by a row of water spouts. This guide covers the courtyard layout, how melukat works, ticket and hours details, realistic timing, and how to arrange transport back from Tampaksiring.
UbudUbud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)Ubud Palace is a short, free daytime stop in the middle of Ubud: a walled royal compound with carved gates and pavilions, plus a separate evening dance in the courtyard. Plan 20 to 45 minutes for the grounds, and book the dance as its own outing.
JakartaMonas JakartaMonas is a 132-meter marble obelisk in the middle of Merdeka Square, and most visitors need an hour to ninety minutes. The catch is the lift: the deck holds about fifty people, tickets are sold only at the counter on the day, and the queue sets the pace of your morning.
Raja AmpatWayag Islands, Raja AmpatWayag is not a place you book a room on. It is a boat-access cluster of uninhabited karst islets in northern Raja Ampat, where the reward is a steep climb to Pindito Peak and time weaving between mushroom-shaped rocks. Here is how the crossing works and what to confirm before you commit.Sights and neighborhoods by place
- Bali sights 6
- Bandung sights 11
- Batam sights 5
- Bogor sights 8
- Denpasar sights 5
- Jakarta sights 8
- Labuan Bajo sights 4
- Makassar sights 4
- Malang sights 4
- Manado sights 4
- Medan sights 6
- Nusa Lembongan sights 4
- Nusa Penida sights 7
- Raja Ampat sights 4
- Semarang sights 7
- Surabaya sights 7
- Ubud sights 8
- Yogyakarta sights 6
- Bali neighborhoods 7
- Bandung neighborhoods 4
- Batam neighborhoods 4
- Jakarta neighborhoods 4
- Lombok neighborhoods 4
- Medan neighborhoods 6
- Semarang neighborhoods 4
- Surabaya neighborhoods 6
PLAN BY TOPIC
Browse Indonesia by subject
Every topic gathers the guides from all the towns and islands, from temples to fast boats.
195 guides
Things to do
Place-by-place guides, from Bali and Lombok to Java, Flores and Raja Ampat.
- 8 Things to Do in Bali
- 10 Best Things to Do in Ubud
- 12 Best Things to Do in Yogyakarta, Grouped by Area
35 guides
Temples & culture
Balinese temples, dance performances, museums and old towns, and the customs worth knowing before you go in.
All temples & culture guides100 guides
Food & warungs
Indonesian dishes, warungs, cafes and cooking classes, and where to eat in each place.
All food & warungs guides54 guides
Markets & shopping
Night markets, art markets, malls and craft shopping: where they are and what is sold there.
All markets & shopping guides35 guides
Beaches & surf
Which beach suits swimming, snorkelling or surfing, island by island.
All beaches & surf guides70 guides
Islands & day trips
Island hopping, boat trips to Nusa Penida and Komodo, and day trips from each base.
All islands & day trips guides49 guides
Nightlife & beach clubs
Beach clubs, bars and night streets, from Seminyak and Canggu to Gili Trawangan.
All nightlife & beach clubs guides73 guides
Getting around
Fast boats, ferries, flights, scooters and drivers, with routes and what to check before you book.
All getting around guides52 guides
When to go
The dry and rainy seasons, sea conditions for the boat crossings, and month-by-month notes.
All when to go guides✎
Sourced guides
Factual claims carry a link to the source beside them. Nusa Ways Editorial is a publication byline.
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Dated and updated
Each guide shows when it was published and last updated.
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Check before you book
Confirm current dates, prices and booking terms with the operator.
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Check the sources
Look for article-level citations beside descriptions, prices and practical details.
Planning FAQ
A few things you might be wondering.
How to use our Indonesia guides, check sources and make booking decisions.