Things to do in Bali.

What to book in advance

Most Bali sights sell tickets at the gate, but three things reward advance booking: the Mount Batur sunrise trek, which needs a guide and a roughly 2am pickup; the sunset kecak dance at Uluwatu, which sells out in dry-season weeks; and Waterbom Bali on holiday dates. Everything else, including the major temples and rice terraces, works as a walk-up.

Guided Batur treks run about US$35 to US$60 per person including pickup and breakfast, as of August 2026. Activity platforms such as Klook and Viator list the trek, kecak tickets and day tours; our Klook vs Viator comparison covers how the two differ for Bali bookings.

What an activity day costs

Temple and rice-terrace days are cheap: entry donations and fees typically total under US$10 per person, with a driver as the main cost. Committed days run more: Waterbom Bali is around US$40 for a day pass and the Batur trek US$35 to US$60, as of August 2026. Most itineraries average US$10 to US$60 per person per activity day.

A private driver for a full sightseeing day costs US$35 to US$50 and covers the practical gap left by Bali’s lack of public transit; ride-hailing works for single hops between nearby areas.

Grouping sights by area

Group by geography to beat traffic: Uluwatu Temple with the Bukit beaches for a sunset day; Tanah Lot as a half-day from Canggu or Seminyak; Tegallalang, the Monkey Forest and Ubud’s palace and markets as one inland day; Mount Batur as its own pre-dawn outing paired with hot springs or coffee plantations on the drive back.

Attractions covered

• Uluwatu Temple. Clifftop sea temple on the Bukit peninsula; sunset kecak dance performances sell out in peak season.
• Tanah Lot. Offshore rock temple northwest of Canggu, best at low tide and sunset.
• Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Terraced valley north of Ubud; earliest morning light and fewest crowds before 8am.
• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Forested temple complex in central Ubud with several hundred long-tailed macaques.
• Mount Batur sunrise trek. Pre-dawn volcano hike with sunrise over Lake Batur; guided treks depart around 2am from most bases.
• Waterbom Bali. Waterpark in Kuta, consistently ranked among Asia’s best; full-day family anchor.

What are the best things to do in Bali?

The consensus first-trip list: sunset at Uluwatu Temple with the kecak dance, Tanah Lot, the Tegallalang rice terraces, Ubud’s Monkey Forest and markets, and the Mount Batur sunrise trek for early risers.

Which Bali activities need advance booking?

The Mount Batur sunrise trek (guide plus roughly 2am pickup), Uluwatu kecak dance tickets in dry-season weeks, and Waterbom Bali on holiday dates. Temples and terraces are walk-ups.

How much does the Mount Batur sunrise trek cost?

About US$35 to US$60 per person for a guided trek including hotel pickup and a simple breakfast, as of August 2026. The hike itself takes around two hours up at a steady pace.

How much should I budget for activities per day in Bali?

US$10 to US$60 per person, as of August 2026. Temple days total under US$10 in fees, while trek or waterpark days sit at the top of the band.

Is Waterbom Bali worth it?

For families and slide enthusiasts, yes; it is consistently rated among Asia’s best waterparks. A day pass runs around US$40 as of August 2026, and online tickets skip the gate queue.

When should I visit the rice terraces?

Before 8am. Tegallalang catches its best light early, tour buses arrive mid-morning, and the terraces are hot and crowded by midday.

How do I get between attractions in Bali?

A private driver for full sightseeing days, US$35 to US$50 as of August 2026, or ride-hailing apps for single hops. There is no public transit that serves the sights.

Where do I buy tickets for Bali activities?

At the gate for temples and terraces, and through activity platforms such as Klook and Viator for treks, the kecak dance and waterpark passes. Both platforms run on the ShopBack network, with live cashback rates on their store pages.