The best (and worst) places to stay in Bali in 2026

Arriving in Bali…

Taxi fares from Ngurah Rai International Airport are capped based on your destination, which takes the guesswork out of it and helps you avoid scams. That said, the best way to get to your hotel is with a pre-arranged transfer. Most hotels offer them and it’s worth finding one that does.

If you plan to move around and explore more of Bali beyond where you’re staying, it’s worth looking into a service like Daytrip. They offer private, door-to-door transfers with friendly local drivers and the best part is you can stop off at scenic or cultural spots along the way, turning your travel day into a bit of an adventure. It’s a great option if the thought of navigating Bali’s roads has you breaking into a sweat. Be sure to double-check the visa requirements before you go. You can find more must-know tips here.

The airport has come a very long way from very humble beginnings. It received a much-needed facelift which has made the experience of arriving in Denpasar far less confronting. When you walk out of the safety of the airport and into the arrivals hall you’ll be greeted by a throng of vocal drivers all vying for your fare. They may follow you, try to grab your bags and repeatedly yell, “Transport! Transport! Where are you going?” If it’s your first time this is confronting. The truth is they’re harmless. Just say thank you and keep moving.

Ubud

Located up in the hills about an hour away from Kuta, Ubud provides a more leafy, earthy alternative to the beach scene. You’ll find it serves up an abundance of amazing health-conscious foods and activities for mind, body and spirit. Think activated lentil soups, round-the-clock yoga, arts and crafts, reiki sessions and more. We’re talking gorgeous little cafes with fairy lights, soft music and food so good you’ll think you’re in heaven.

I also love Ubud for its incredible temples, which you can visit by ripping around on a scooter if you feel confident enough. The way to stay here is in a low-key homestay with a pool you can float around in for a few hours each day. You can find a tonne more things to do in Ubud here. Beware the ravenous monkey temple. The bananas you will inevitably buy will turn all monkeys into heat-seeking missiles and your bananas and body will be the target. Be warned.

‘Best’ places to stay in Ubud

Budget — Tegal Sari (~$60–80/night). A consistently recommended value stay in Ubud, Tegal Sari is a family-run compound with traditional Balinese bungalows, a gorgeous garden and pool, and the kind of warmth you don’t get from larger resorts. It’s walkable to town and a perennial favourite with return visitors.

Mid — Bisma Eight (~$300–450/night) Bisma Eight is a standout mid-range pick and has earned a Michelin Key designation. It combines Bali’s artisanal charm with stylish modernity and a commitment to sustainability, with naturally lit suites and jungle valley views. The infinity pool is genuinely one of the best in Ubud.

Luxury — Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (~$1,500+/night). Mandapa is the ultra-luxury pick for Ubud. Set on the cusp of the Ayung River valley, the villas and restaurants are spread by the river, which cuts through Bali’s lush jungle. Private butlers, a world-class spa, and one of the most serene settings on the island. It’s worth every cent for a special occasion.

Find more places to stay in Ubud here

Kuta

Kuta is one of the most well-known spots in Bali. It’s a haven for backpackers and young holidaymakers keen to drink, dance and buy Bintang singlets en masse. It’s home to a huge number of nightclubs, bars, restaurants, shops and everything your party-loving mind could imagine. If you’re a young whipper-snapper keen to get on the party scene, there’s a good chance this is where you’ll want to base yourself. Quite a few people tend to avoid staying in Kuta itself, with the large nightclubs causing some safety concerns for various reasons.

If you aren’t a party-goer, it’s probably not advisable to stay in this area. Instead, consider popping in for a night on the town or spending a day exploring Poppies Lane 1 and 2, have a meal and some drinks then get the hell outta dodge. The best thing Kuta offers is some amazing sunsets on the beach. Wander down to the water, find a local selling cold beer out of an esky, pull up a plastic chair and make yourself at home for the next few hours. It’s unforgettable.

‘Best’ places to stay in Kuta

Budget — Kuta Central Park Hotel (~$40–60/night) A simple, clean, well-located option within walking distance of Kuta Beach and the main shopping strips. No surprises, no problems — exactly what a budget stay in Kuta should be.

Mid — Hard Rock Hotel Bali (~$200–320/night) A fun music-themed resort in central Kuta, popular with families and nightlife lovers. The pool complex is huge, the beach access is easy, and there’s enough on-site entertainment to keep families happy without venturing far. trip

Luxury — The Stones Hotel, Legian (~$350–550/night). Technically just over the border in Legian, The Stones sits at the top of what this area offers. Rooftop bar, great pool, proximity to the beach, and a polish that most Kuta properties don’t manage. If you’re going to splurge in this part of Bali, this is where to do it.

Find more places to stay in Kuta here

Seminyak

Seminyak is home to a range of sprawling beach resorts, gorgeous hotels and cool little boutique spots and homestays. It’s the perfect spot to still be in the action of Bali but take a bit of the over-the-top party edge off it. I’d probably recommend it for people who still want to be social, go out to dinner and bars, catch gorgeous beach sunsets and mingle with other travellers but not get so drunk their shirt gets ripped off in a nightclub each night. I stayed at a private villa in Seminyak, which you can read about here.

You’ll find this area home to a huge range of boutique shops and great bars and restaurants too. You’ll probably recognise names like Desa Potato Head and Cocoon. It offers a great mix of relaxation and luxury with fun and excitement too. You’ll also find a good mix of accommodation to suit all budgets, luxe right through to less.

‘Best’ places to stay in Seminyak

Budget — Grandmas Plus Hotel Seminyak (~$60–90/night). Grandmas Plus proves that style and affordability can go hand in hand in Seminyak. Modern design, clean rooms, a pool, and a central location that gives you easy access to the main restaurant strips without the resort price tag.

Mid — Amadea Resort & Villas (~$180–280/night) Located right on Eat Street, Amadea places you at the centre of Seminyak’s dining and nightlife, with a mix of hotel rooms and private villas making it versatile for different travel styles.

Luxury — The Legian Seminyak (~$800–1,400/night). Located directly on Seminyak Beach, The Legian offers spacious suites with panoramic sea views and one of the most photographed infinity pools in Bali. Understated, elegant, and genuinely beachfront in a way that few properties in this area can claim.

Find more places to stay in Seminyak here

Nusa Dua

My opinion of Nusa Dua has changed over the years. My first visit left me feeling a bit underwhelmed as I felt isolated from the soul of Bali. I was staying at a huge resort, which was lovely, but just felt like any big resort. I never really felt like I was in Bali; I felt like I could be anywhere in the world. On a later visit, I decided to give it another try. This time I stayed in a resort that gave me easier access to the streets and incorporated more elements of Balinese culture into its grounds, like restaurants serving authentic food, a beachfront bar serving cold Bintangs, a beachfront BBQ, and a few street stalls set up. You can read my full review of where we stayed here.

I think Nusa Dua is great for certain types of travellers. If you’re looking to get hands-on with Bali and have one of those real cultural experiences, Nusa Dua probably isn’t right for you. It isn’t the place to barter with vendors, try street food and visit different cocktail lounges and bars. That said, it’s a perfect destination for anyone looking for some real relaxation. If you want to go somewhere beautiful and spend your days unwinding by the pool, escaping from it all, then you cannot go past Nusa Dua. Just be sure you eat at least one meal at my favourite restaurant, Bumbu Bali. This place is definitely in my top 5 favourite restaurants in the world. Based on the great service, relaxed and beautiful restaurant, but most importantly, the incredible food, it is just that good. Sometimes I think I go back to Bali to eat here.

‘Best’ places to stay in Nusa Dua

Budget — Ayodya Resort Bali (~$120–180/night) A traditional Balinese-style beachfront resort with wide beach frontage in Nusa Dua. It punches above its price point with a large pool complex and direct beach access — strong value for the area.

Mid — Conrad Bali (~$350–500/night) An upscale Hilton beachfront property known for spacious rooms and relaxing lagoon pools. The service is consistently strong and the grounds are immaculate. A safe, reliable mid-range choice for Nusa Dua.

Luxury — The Apurva Kempinski Bali (~$800–1,800/night) An ultra-luxury cliffside beachfront resort famous for its grand architecture and infinity pools, The Apurva is one of the most visually striking properties in all of Bali. The staircase entrance alone is worth the Instagram real estate.

Find more places to stay in Nusa Dua here

Uluwatu

Uluwatu is a fantastic spot to stay along the stunning, jagged coastline of the Bukit Peninsula. A stay here takes you away from the throng of tourists living la Vida Loca in the main areas of Kuta and Seminyak. The best thing about this area is, of course, the views. It’s the place where you want to choose a seriously gorgeous resort with an outstanding infinity pool and spend all day, every day getting your chill on. Eat, swim, sleep, repeat.

Aside from all this, you’ll find plenty of cool cafes and bars tucked into cliff faces, some great day spas and amazing viewpoints offering views of the water unlike any other. It’s a haven for surfers, which means you can perch up high and watch them paddle out, catching wave after wave. I’d recommend Uluwatu as a great spot for just about anyone, provided you didn’t have your heart set on getting wasted each night. If that sounds like you, pack up and get back to Kuta or Seminyak, bro!

‘Best’ places to stay in Ultuwatu

Budget — The Warm Sun Bali (~$50–80/night). A recommended budget-friendly option for Uluwatu, this is your base for exploring the Bukit Peninsula by scooter without blowing your budget on accommodation. Garden pool, good vibes, no frills.

Mid — Dreamsea Surf Camp Uluwatu (~$150–250/night) A solid mid-range pick for Uluwatu, Dreamsea is well-suited to surfers and travellers who want community, quality surf access and a cool social atmosphere without paying clifftop luxury prices.

Luxury — The Ungasan Clifftop Resort (~$600–1,200/night). The Ungasan Clifftop Resort is the standout luxury option in Uluwatu. Perched above the ocean with private villa pools, dramatic ocean views and the kind of seclusion that makes it genuinely hard to leave. One of the best spots on the island for a honeymoon or special occasion.

Find more places to stay in Uluwatu here

Canggu

Canggu has well and truly arrived. What started as a quiet alternative to the Seminyak scene has grown into one of Bali’s most exciting neighbourhoods, and it shows no signs of slowing down. You’ll find world-class cafes, a buzzing restaurant scene, great beach clubs and a social energy that makes it easy to fill a week without ever feeling like you’re running out of things to do.

That said, it still manages to hold onto something the more developed parts of Bali have lost. The streets are lined with surf shops and scooters, the sunsets at Echo Beach draw a crowd every single evening, and there’s a laid-back confidence to the place that feels earned rather than manufactured. It works equally well for surfers, digital nomads, first-timers and return visitors, which is hard to pull off.

My tip is to stay close to Batu Bolong or Berawa if you want to be in the thick of it, and don’t skip the beach clubs. This is one of the few places in Bali where they genuinely deliver on the hype.

‘Best’ places to stay in Canggu

Budget — Kanishka Villas (~$70–110/night) Kanishka Villas brings a touch of luxury into the affordable category, sitting right on Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong near the heart of Canggu’s action. Private pool access at a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere. Trip.com

Mid — Citadines Berawa Beach Bali (~$180–260/night) A modern serviced residence near Berawa Beach, well-suited to longer stays and ideal for anyone who wants space, a kitchen, and easy scooter access to the rest of Canggu without paying full resort rates. trip

Luxury — Alaya Resort Canggu (~$400–650/night) A boutique resort that gets the Canggu balance right — design-forward, pool-centric, and close to the best beach clubs and restaurants. It’s the kind of place that feels cool without trying too hard, which is exactly what Canggu is about.

Find more places to stay in Canggu here

Nusa Lembongan

Without a doubt, one of the best things to do is get off the mainland and onto one of the islands. While Nusa Lembongan used to be a quiet haven, it has quickly been unearthed by savvy travellers as a serene, gorgeous place to visit, and it now offers some fantastic accommodation, great restaurants and bars and a chilled-out vibe to boot.

You’ll find it an awesome location for water sports, things like parasailing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Not only this, it’s the best spot to hire a scooter and rip around the island like a modern adventurer should (helmets required!). I love visiting Nusa Lembongan for more of an island feel, an escape with great food and beautiful water to swim in. You’ll have to catch the boat over, but it’s well worth the trip.

‘Best’ places to stay in Nusa Lembongan

Budget — Hai Tide Huts (~$80–120/night) Rustic beach huts right on the water with that classic Lembongan laid-back energy. Nothing fancy, but the location is hard to beat and the vibe is exactly what you come to this island for.

Mid — Batu Karang Lembongan Resort (~$250–400/night) A cliff-edge boutique resort with stunning ocean views, a gorgeous infinity pool and easy access to the best snorkelling spots. It strikes the right balance between comfort and that island escape feeling.

Luxury — Nihiwatu-style seclusion at Villa Experience Lembongan (~$500–900/night) For a private villa experience on Lembongan, multi-bedroom villas with private pools are available through operators like Elite Havens. The island is small enough that nothing feels far, but a private villa makes the whole trip feel like it was made just for you.

Find more places to stay in Nusa Lembongan here

Jimbaran Bay

Famed for its sunsets and seafood, Jimbaran Bay is a must-try dinner spot for visitors. Choosing a restaurant is tough, and everyone in Bali knows someone who runs one of them. Once you’ve chosen a restaurant, you can contact them and arrange for them to pick you up from your hotel, drive you to Jimbaran, and then drive you back to your hotel after dinner. Seriously, it’s ridiculous.

I generally don’t recommend it as a great spot to stay. It can feel like you’re removed from the world, and, honestly, it feels a bit random for some reason. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I think it’s just one of those places that’s great to visit for a delicious meal and sunset, but then time to jump in a cab and head off again.

‘Best’ places to stay in Jimbaran Bay

Budget — Keraton Jimbaran Resort (~$80–130/night) Clean, comfortable and well-positioned for the beach and the famous seafood strip. A solid base if you want to experience Jimbaran without paying resort rates.

Mid — Belmond Jimbaran Puri (~$400–650/night) A beautifully designed collection of Balinese cottages set in lush gardens leading down to the beach. The cottages are elegant without being overdone, the service is genuinely warm, and it’s one of the more charming stays in south Bali.

Luxury — Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay (~$1,200–2,500/night) The benchmark for luxury in this part of Bali. Private villa compounds with plunge pools, sweeping bay views and service that sets the standard for the whole island. If you’re going to splurge anywhere in Bali, this is a serious contender.

Find more places to stay in Jimbaran Bay here

Best travel resources for your trip!

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Hotels, I use Agoda
Insurance: Cover-More
Rentals: Discover Cars
RVs: Motorhome Republic
Transfers: Welcome Pickups
Travel eSIM: Saily