Indonesia · top picks
Best hotels in Bali
The highest-rated, best-reviewed places to stay in Bali, Indonesia. We surface Expedia properties scoring 8+ out of 10 from real travelers, sorted by review density.
- ✓Only properties scoring 8.0+ in real Bali guest reviews
- ✓Sorted by review density — the more reviews, the more reliable the score
- ✓Refundable rates labelled per stay — book now, decide later
- ✓No booking fees · Powered by Expedia
What first-timers get wrong in Bali
Every foreign visitor owes a 150,000 rupiah tourist levy under the 2025 provincial regulation, paid online through the Love Bali platform and shown as a QR voucher on arrival. Riding a scooter without an international permit voids your insurance and invites roadside fines. Distances lie badly: Ubud to Uluwatu looks short and takes two to three hours. Grab and Gojek are blocked from collecting passengers in parts of Ubud and Canggu.
What's actually worth your time in Bali
Uluwatu earns the evening: a clifftop temple plus the kecak chant performed at sunset in the open amphitheatre, worth booking ahead. Tanah Lot is a sunset photograph reached through a long souvenir gauntlet. Tegallalang's rice terraces have become paid viewpoints and swings, while Jatiluwih in Tabanan is the wider UNESCO-listed version with a fraction of the people. Tirta Empul's purification spring wants a sarong and patience with the queue.
What to eat in Bali
Babi guling, the spit-roast suckling pig, is a morning dish that sells out by early afternoon at places like Ibu Oka in Ubud. Bebek betutu takes a day of slow steaming inside banana leaf and has to be ordered ahead. Sate lilit presses minced fish onto lemongrass stems instead of skewering cubes. At Jimbaran the beach grills sell fish by the kilo at sunset, with the price agreed before you sit.
When the weather turns in Bali
The wet season runs roughly November to March and delivers heavy afternoon rain rather than all-day drizzle, so mornings usually survive intact. Fill the afternoon with an Ubud cooking class that starts at the Payangan market, a two-hour massage for the price of a London coffee, or the Ubud art museums. Beachwalk in Kuta and Seminyak Village are the only real malls. Scooters and heavy rain do not mix.
What things cost in Bali
A warung plate of nasi campur costs 30,000 to 60,000 rupiah, while a Seminyak restaurant charges several times that plus service and tax. Scooter hire runs about 70,000 to 100,000 a day and a car with driver roughly 600,000 to 800,000 for eight hours. Temple entry is usually 50,000 including sarong hire. An hour-long Balinese massage in Ubud sits near 150,000.
When to go to Bali
| Best months for best-hotels | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| July | 18°C / 64°F | 21 days |
| June | 19°C / 66°F | 23 days |
| August | 19°C / 66°F | 23 days |
The month to avoid is January — around 19°C (66°F) with roughly 30 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: July is the sweet spot, January the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Layers — t-shirts under a light jacket or sweater, Rain gear is non-negotiable — expect rain on roughly 21 days, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Bali
- Seminyak — Beach clubs, boutiques, dining strip — touristy but polished.
- Ubud — Jungle, rice terraces, yoga retreats, spiritual heart of the island.
- Canggu — Surf breaks, café culture, the digital-nomad capital.
- Uluwatu — Cliffside temples, sunset bars, world-class surf.