Overview & visitor information
December 25:everything is closed and people celebrate by eating out and spending time with their families.
Festival
Christmas
December 25:everything is closed and people celebrate by eating out and spending time with their families.
City guide
More festivals in Bali
Keep exploring Bali.
baliNew Year’s Day
Activity
Much of the previous night’s festivities continue into the next day. Things quiet down towards mid-afternoon, but ringing in the New Year is a cause for much celebration throughout Bali.
baliPagerwesi
Activity
This day is special for Hindus where they celebrate the birth of Sang Yang, the creator of the universe with celebrations across the island.
baliKuningan Ceremony
Activity
This marks the end of the new year holiday and the ceremony lasts about 10 days. If you visit during this time, you’ll notice that the temples are decorated and yellow rice is handed to all visitors.
baliGood Friday
Activity
A public holiday and celebrated by the Christian population, the Friday before Easter.
baliBalispirit Festival
Activity
A celebration of dance, music and yoga – this four-day festival brings together artists and yogis from across Indonesia as well as from around the world. The festival includes workshops, concerts and much more. Tickets vary according to day passes, workshop only passes and weekend passes. http://www.balispiritfestival.com
baliMelasti
Activity
A religious festival, it is extremely loud and flamboyant. Villagers hand out flowers and garlands.
baliNyepi
Activity
This marks the end of Melasti and silence is observed throughout the island. Lighting must be kept low and no fires can be lit throughout the day. Even the airport is also closed on this day.
baliGalungan
Activity
This is also a 10-day event that occurs every 210 days. This celebrates the visit of the gods to earth. The gods then leave on Kunningan. Offerings are made to the deified ancestors and dead family members.
baliKartini Day
Activity
The founder of women’s rights in Bali, Raden Ajeng Kartini, is remembered with the local women dressing up in traditional clothing.
baliNational Awakening Day
Activity
May 20 - This is a pubic holiday all across Indonesia which celebrates the Indonesian state philosophy.
More places in Bali
Keep exploring Bali.
baliWhat to do with Children in Tow
Activity
Bali Safari & Marine Park Hop on to a jungle safari with your children and witness lions, tigers, elephants and zebras in their natural habitat. The Marine park is currently under construction and should be up and running soon. You can either make a day trip or stay overnight in the safari area.
baliNeka Art Museum
Museum
For an introduction to Balinese art and history, the museum should be part of your itinerary. All artwork is displayed and organised according to international standards. It was founded in 1982 by a patron of the arts, Suteja Neka.
baliMt. Batur
Town
This is an active volcano and tour operators will take you all the way up to the crater. But that is time-consuming and extremely challenging. You can also take the hour-long drive to Panelokan which is a small town on the outer edge of thee crater where you have stunning views. Be sure to visit Lake Batur. However, the trek up the volcano is recommended by all those who have tried it. Overnight stays are also available.
baliTegallalang Rice Terrace
Town
Bali is famous for its rice paddy fields and a visit to Bali would be incomplete without a tour of one. The Tegallalang Rice Terrace is located about 5 kilometres to the north of Ubud, and from the highest point you can take in the breathtaking views of the paddy fields. There are more than one tour operators; you can ask your hotel reception for a brochure on the different operators for a better deal.
baliMonkey Forest:
Fortress
Home to these playful, naughty critters the forest has become very popular with tourists. Be sure not to wear anything sparkly or shiny and do not carry food with you since the monkeys can smell it on you. Some of the locals there sell bananas and other kinds of fruit to feed the monkeys. You can do that but do not tease the monkeys since they might attack you. In the forest is a small temple and a pathway that leads to the Nyuhkuning which is a woodcarving village.
baliBatuan Village
Village
When visiting Bali it is essential to take back a piece of art as a keepsake. Here in the Batuan Village you will see artists at work, using the traditional Balinese style of painting called batuan. If you visit on the 1st or the 15th of the month, you can enjoy the dance sequence Gambuh. Jalan Raya Sakah Batuan Ubud Phone: +62 361 23 5600 (Toursit helpline)
baliUbud Palace (Puri Saren)
Palace
Known as the heart and soul of Ubud, a trip to Bali would be incomplete without a tour of the palace. Originally home of the King of Ubud, it now features traditional Balinese houses and an art market selling local handicrafts. Here you can also witness the Barong dance which is a choreographed fight scene.
baliAmed
Town
A small town, Amed is the perfect place if you’re looking to get away from the crowds. You can either shop of relax at one of the beachfront restaurants watch the dolphins or snorkel. There is also a small dive centre in the town if you’re interested in going deep sea diving.
baliNusa Penida
island
This is a small island located off the coast of Bali, perfect for snorkeling, diving and sailing. You can purchase a tour for an entire day or spend a couple of days there. The following are just a few of the tour companies offering tours, you may be able to find better options through your hotel or by asking the locals.
baliBali Orchid Garden
Garden
A private garden about a hectare in size, it is open to the pubic for individual or group tours. Here you can tour the beautiful gardens full of different varieties of orchids as well as buy souvenirs flower boxes to take home, flower arrangements and cut flowers. A must-visit for all horticulture aficionados
More restaurants in Bali
Keep exploring Bali.
baliGado Gado
In Bali, it is all about location. Gado Gado is located on Seminyak beach, providing phenomenal views for customers as they eat. The food here is excellent and the quality never differs. The restaurant also offers cooking classes for those interested. Cuisines: Asian fusion Jalan Dhyana Pura No.99, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 62 361 736966 | www.gadogadorestaurant.com/index.html
baliKu De Ta
For upscale dining and a trendy spot in town, head over to Ku De Ta. Serving fusion cuisine, the restaurant is extremely popular with the tourists. Located right on the beach, it is perfect for a night out. The restaurant also includes a cigar lounge.
baliRaja's Table
When eating here expect to get an exotic array of food. From ginger pepper lobster to crispy shrimp with Vietnamese mint sauce, the food here is delicious. Reservations are required. Views from the restaurant are of the ocean providing the perfect backdrop to a romantic evening. Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, Nusa Dua 361-771-210 ext. 626
baliMozaic
Owned by an American trained in French cuisine, the restaurant offers the best of fusion food. The ingredients used are fresh and local, proving that fusion cuisine is best done with a local flare. Be sure to make reservations before heading over for dinner. Jalan Raya Sanggingan 361/975768 www.mozaic-bali.com
baliLa Lucciola
The views are fantastic, food is excellent and the servers, attentive – what more could you want? The granita served here is a must-have especially on a hot, summer day. The menu changes every couple of days so be sure to try something new each time. Jl Kayu Ayu, Seminyak 361/ 730 838
baliCafe Wayan & Bakery
The price range here varies, so you can pick and eat a moderately-priced meal, which is absolutely delicious. The items on the menu are mostly Italian and Indonesian. The restaurant also offers a cooking class for those who are interested in learning new cuisines.
baliLotus Seaview
A visit to Bali is incomplete without sampling some of the scrumptious seafood it offers. At the Lotus you can enjoy garlic sautéed shrimp served with Balinese veggies or the fish satay. Even the location is great since it is located on a beachfront property.
baliTeraZo
Cool off from the tropical heat by having the refreshing tomato gazpacho served at TeraZo. The bistro is hip and trendy without putting a dent in your travel budget. Breakfast is also served at the bistro.
baliChandi
For a taste of Asian fusion, head over to Chandi where delicious food is served everyday. All vegetables and fruit served at the restaurant are organic and fresh, while the meat is imported from New Zealand and Australia. Jl. Laksmana no 72, Seminyak 62 0361 731060 www.chandibali.com/
baliKafe Warisan
Here you can sample raw oysters to meat imported from Australia in an open courtyard filled with frangipani trees. After your meal you can stop by the boutique and buy antiques, batik dresses and local jewelry.