5 Day Bali Itinerary

Arrive in Bali and install yourself at the airport. Some great places to stay are Kuta, Legian, or Seminyak, especially if you want to be around other tourists and commercial areas. For this itinerary, I stayed in Kuta. Wander around the area you're staying in to get a lay of the land and find a place for dinner.

Day 1

Start the day at Kuta beach, and make your way up. You'll be able to stop at the Beachwalk Shopping Centre for a bit of aircon too if the weather is sweltering hot. 

Keep walking past Legian Beach all the way up until Double Six Beach. You can make the decision to walk further, but it is similar all the way up. Then enjoy the shops and street scenes as you make your way back through the streets of Legian. Once you're back, stop to have lunch.

Recommendation: Don Juan Mexican Restaurant

Walk down past Kuta to Baruna Disaster Shelter, passing by Pantai Segara and the Bali Sea Turtle Society before heading back to the hotel to have dinner.

Day 2

Start your day around 7-8am, making your first stop at Yan Yan Silver. They give you an immersive experience on how they make their jewelry and you can even buy their items in-store. This is on the way to the Tegallang Rice Terraces. Don't forget to put mosquito repellent on!

The rice terraces are scenic and grand but no need to spend too much time (or money) here. After a nice wander and taking in the terraces, you can head nearby to the Kumulilir Coffee Plantation to try Lewak coffee amongst other tea and coffee types. The Lewak coffee is less than $5 and definitely worth trying at least once. 

Purta Tirta Empul is your next stop, to see people getting blessed and going through purifying rituals. Even if you don't do the ritual, it's a great place to look around. 

Recommendation for lunch: Bali Resto and Agrotourism

The next temple is Pura Gunung Kawi, a different layout from the first and has an amazing story. 

From here, you can go to UC Silver Gold to seem more of the jewelry and ornaments that are made locally, featuring jewels and precious stones.

Recommendation for dinner: Dulang Kafe Kuta Square

Day 3

Another early day starting at Ulundanu Temple along the lake, a great place to visit in the sun and take photos. There's also a nice cafe there that you can sit and look at the temple gardens near a little animal photo opportunity booth. 

You'll pass Handara Gate, where you can stop and take photos but take care, there's almost always a line of tourists.

The next stop is Wanagiri Hidden Hill. It's $10 per person to enter for a nice view and some photo opportunities. The only advice I have is to make sure the weather is clear and take as many photos as you can. 

Following this, we went to the Banyu Wala Amertha Waterfall(s), which was a bit of a hike but rewarding, even in the rain. There are 4 waterfalls that you can see on this path and if you have time, I recommend seeing all of them. If you don't want to walk, they also offer paid scooter rides. 

Recommendation for lunch: Pacung Indah (& Papi Durian for desert)

On the way back to the hotel, visit the Sangeh Monkey forest. This is not the most popular forest however the monkeys are much nicer here and there are less tourists so it was definitely the better choice. 

Recommendation for dinner: Little Italy

Day 4

By now, you're probably a bit exhausted, I promise the days are worth it. Today will start by going to GWK Cultural Park. You'll spend some time here with the theatre, the art museum, the traditional shows, and of course, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. You will be provided with the map, but I definitely recommend water and sunscreen for a hot day as there is not much shade. 

If you're looking for a beach bar, Singlefin is a great cliffside beach bar and is on the way to your next place. Grab lunch and have a swim here to cool off from the tropical season.

The next stop is Uluwatu Cliff Temple. You'll be doing a bit of walking here but the views are great and you can even see the white monkey that is kept separate from the others for its safety. Make sure to say hi so it's not too lonely.

Padang Padang Beach is down a few steps and great to have a lay on the sand and drink a coconut. They also offer surfing lessons and have a few stalls and a bar on the sand.

Stop at Agung Bali Pusat Oleh-Oleh Khas Bali gift shop on the way back to the hotel to make sure you bring back those souvenirs that you know your friends and family will be asking for on your return.

Recommendation for dinner: Hard Rock Cafe Bali

Day 5

This is your last full day in Bali, don't let it go to waste!

First stop is Taman Ayun Temple, to explore the grounds and learn a bit about Balinese history and beliefs. There is a small room here where you can enjoy the aircon and watch a video about the temple. 

The Jatiluwuh Rice Terraces are next and, by far, my favourite part of this itinerary. There are multiple walking trails that you can choose from but if you're tired or short on time, there is a 1.5km trail that you can do that still lets you see a lot of scenery. Once you've finished walking, you can enjoy your lunch at Jatiluwuh Resto which is affordable and delicious. You can also have a view of the rice terraces as you eat.

Tanah Lot is the final temple on this itinerary. Walk through the stalls to the floating temple that you can only reach at low tide. Take some pictures and enjoy the ocean view before making your way back to the hotel for the night. 

Bonus

If you're heading to the airport later in the day, there are still some places you can go to along the way and nearby. I have noted a few below:

- Bajra Sandi Monument

- Patung Triratna Amreta Bhuwana (Pantai Jerman)

- Satria Gatotkaca Park

A special mention to @dewa_best_bali on Instagram for being the tour guide of this trip and helping me formulate this amazing itinerary. Hope you all enjoy your time on the island.