Where to Stay in Bali: The Best Areas for First-Timers (2026 Guide)

Where should you stay in Bali?

Okay, this is where things can get very overwhelming.

You open Instagram and suddenly Bali looks like 37 completely different countries.

One person is in a jungle villa in Ubud.

Someone else is partying in Canggu.

Another person is swimming under a waterfall.

Then you see a couple having the most romantic sunset you've ever seen in Uluwatu.

And you're sitting there thinking:

"Okay... but where the hell am I supposed to stay?" 😂

We've lived here for three years, so we've tried a LOT of places.

But here's the thing:

We're not going to tell you "this is the best area in Bali."

Because it isn't.

It depends on what you want your Bali to look like.

So instead, here's the shortcut we'd give a friend.

Canggu : if you want people, cafés & nightlife

If you want to wake up, grab a coffee, go to the gym, work from a café, meet people, surf, eat somewhere nice and then somehow end up at a party...

Canggu.

There's always something happening.

And that's exactly why people love it.

You'll probably love it if:

You might hate it if:

And yes...

Canggu is busy.

Very busy.

It's also much more expensive in many places than the "cheap Bali" you may have seen online.

Our POV:

We'd still recommend experiencing Canggu at least once if it's your first trip.

Just don't book your entire Bali holiday there because you saw one beautiful café on TikTok.

Ubud : if you want jungle, culture & wellness

This is probably the Bali you've seen in all those dreamy videos.

Rice fields, Jungles , Temples , Yoga , Welness , Beautiful Villas ..

Tempes.

And yes it really can look like that.

But there's a little trick:

Don't assume staying in the middle of Ubud gives you the peaceful jungle experience you're imagining.

The centre can get busy.

So if you're looking for that "wake up surrounded by green and hear absolutely nothing" feeling, look a little outside the centre.

Great for:

Not ideal if:

Our POV:

Definitely worth experiencing.

Just choose your exact location carefully.

Ubud on Instagram and Ubud on Google Maps can feel like two different places. 😂

Sidemen : if you want the Bali that social media forgot

Okay, this one is for you if you're already feeling overwhelmed by the crowds.

Sidemen is greener, slower and much quieter.

Think:

Rice fields.

Mountains.

Little roads.

Villages.

Morning walks.

And actually hearing yourself think.

Great for:

Not for:

Our POV:

If you're looking at Bali online and thinking:

"This looks beautiful but... where are all the people?"

Try Sidemen.

Uluwatu : if your Bali dream involves beaches & sunsets.

If your saved folder is basically:

cliffs + beaches + bikinis + sunsets + cocktails

...you probably want Uluwatu.

😂

The coastline is beautiful, and there's plenty to do between beaches, surfing, restaurants and beach clubs.

Great for:

The reality:

It's popular.

And popular places in Bali aren't necessarily cheap anymore.

Our POV:

We'd absolutely include Uluwatu in a first Bali trip.

Especially if you're coming for those iconic beach days.

Amed: if you want to slow everything down

Now we're heading east.

Amed feels very different from Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu.

It's quieter.

More relaxed.

More local-feeling.

And the underwater world is a big reason to come.

Great for:

The catch:

It's not close to everything.

And that's exactly why you go.

Our POV:

Don't try to fit Amed into a crazy itinerary where you're changing hotels every night.

Give it time.

And then... the Gili Islands

Okay.

This is our "trust us" recommendation.

The Gili Islands aren't technically Bali — they're off the coast of Lombok — but they're an easy addition to a Bali trip, with fast boats from Bali generally taking around 1.5–2.5 hours depending on the port, operator and conditions.

And honestly?

If you have the time, GO.

We could tell you exactly what to expect.

We could show you the photos.

We could tell you which island to choose.

But...

we don't want to spoil it.

😂

Just trust us on this one.

It might end up being one of the best experiences of your entire Indonesia trip.

The Gilis are completely different from Bali.

No cars or scooters on the islands, beautiful water, snorkelling, diving, beach days and that little feeling of being properly away from everything.

And you've got three very different personalities:

Gili Trawangan

The social one.

More nightlife.

More people.

More energy.

Gili Air

Our pick if you want something more relaxed, romantic and easygoing.

Gili Meno

For when your dream holiday is basically:

"Can everyone please leave us alone?"

😂

Lombok : if you have more time

And if you're already thinking:

"Okay, we're going to the Gilis... should we just keep going?"

Maybe.

Lombok deserves more than a quick stop.

It's much bigger and gives you a completely different experience from Bali — especially around Kuta Lombok and the south coast, with beautiful beaches, surf and a much slower feeling.

You can reach Lombok by fast boat from Bali, with crossings commonly taking around 1.5–2.5 hours depending on the route.

We'd consider Lombok if:

Our POV:

Don't add Lombok just so you can say you've been to Lombok.

Add it because you actually want that type of trip.

Nusa Penida : yes, but know what you're signing up for

You've probably already seen it.

That cliff.

That famous Kelingking Beach photo.

The turquoise water.

The dramatic coastline.

Yep.

Nusa Penida is worth seeing.

But we're going to give you a warning:

Don't expect a relaxing island holiday.

Nusa Penida is more:

"OMG LOOK AT THAT VIEW."

followed by:

"OMG WHY IS THIS ROAD LIKE THIS?" 😂

It's popular for dramatic landscapes, beaches and snorkelling, and it's very easy to combine with other island stops; direct boat connections also operate between Nusa Penida, the Gilis and Lombok.

Our POV:

Go if you want the wow photos and adventure.

Don't go expecting to spend three days lying peacefully by a perfect beach.

And if you're short on time, you can consider doing it as a shorter trip rather than trying to squeeze another long stay into your itinerary.

But here's our most important advice...

Please don't read this list and think:

"Okay, so I have to visit ALL of these."

No.

Please don't.

😂

That's exactly how you end up spending your entire holiday:

hotel → suitcase → taxi → hotel → suitcase → taxi

And then you come home needing another holiday.

Your Bali doesn't have to look like someone else's Bali

This is probably the biggest thing we want you to take from this guide.

You might see someone having the time of their life in Canggu...

and hate it.

We might recommend Sidemen...

and you might find it boring.

Someone else might tell you Nusa Penida was the best day of their life...

and you might prefer sitting by the pool with a book.

And that's completely fine.

Don't travel Bali trying to recreate someone else's Instagram.

Use Instagram.

Use YouTube.

Use Google.

Type the location.

Watch a few videos.

Look at the map.

Read what people actually say.

Then decide:

"Does this fit MY trip?"

Because what works for us doesn't necessarily work for you.

And what works for another traveller doesn't necessarily fit us either.

We're not here to tell you what you should do.

We're here to give you the shortcut.

Three years of living here means we've already spent the time trying places, getting it wrong, finding better alternatives and figuring out what is actually worth your time.

So hopefully you don't have to.

And if you're still overwhelmed after all of this...

message us. Seriously.

You can find us on Instagram and YouTube at Soulmates on the Move.

Tell us what kind of trip you're planning, how long you're staying and what you actually enjoy.

We'll happily help you narrow it down.

Because the goal isn't to see everything.

It's to enjoy the Bali you came all this way for. ❤️

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Table Of Contents

• Canggu : if you want people, cafés & nightlife
• Ubud : if you want jungle, culture & wellness
• Sidemen : if you want the Bali that social media forgot
• Uluwatu : if your Bali dream involves beaches & sunsets.
• Amed: if you want to slow everything down
• And then... the Gili Islands
• Lombok : if you have more time
• Nusa Penida : yes, but know what you're signing up for
• But here's our most important advice...
• Your Bali doesn't have to look like someone else's Bali