Spending your holiday in Bali can get pretty expensive despite the
island being part of Indonesia. Luckily there are still many great
things you can do to discover the beauties of the island without
spending one single Dollar or Rupiah.
Here we have listed 10 free things to do in Bali which you can use to fill up a couple of days of your holiday.
Witness a temple ceremony:
Ceremonies and religious festivals are a big happening in Bali especially if it's an important one.
If you happen to be in Bali during for example Kuningan,
Gulungan or during a temple ceremony then you will be in for a treat
which is totally free.
Hundreds of beautifully dressed Balinese carrying amazing
offerings will gather at a temple throughout the day. On these days you
don't even need to enter the temple grounds as you will be able to view
typical Balinese scenes right at the entrance.
Admire the arts and crafts of Bali:
Bali is famous for its works of art such as paintings, stone
and wood carving, textile and jewelry. Around Ubud you can find many
little villages that specialize in a specific form of art.
You can either visit their workshops along the road and
many side roads where the art is made. Here they love to tell you how
it's made and which tools they use.
Walk through the rice fields of Ubud:
This is one of the best of the free things to do in Bali. We
can't get enough of it and we always go for a stroll whenever we are
there.
There is a small trail in Campuhan Ubud taking you right
through the wonderful green rice fields. Walk till the end of Jalan
Kajeng and from there just keep to the most obvious trail and you won't
get lost.
The walk takes about an 1 to 1,5 hour and is best done in
the morning or before sunset. Don't forget to order a refreshing drink
at the Organic Restaurant. O wait that will cost you...
Gaze at the sunset at the Bali beaches:
Nature offers the best free things to do in Bali such
as the amazing sunsets that attract hundreds of people everyday to the
beaches.
From Kuta beach all the way to Seminyak is probably the most popular place to watch the Bali sunsets.
Everyday you can expect different colors and patterns.
If you want a bit of more romance and prefer to have
the feeling of owning the entire beach then head to Lovina beach in the
North, Candidasa in the East or go to Nusa Lembongan.
For the early risers or the ones suffering from jet leg you
can wake up to a beautiful sunrise at Sanur or Nusa Dua beach...
Tour aimlessly through the countryside:
Technically this is one of the few free things to do in Bali that is
not entirely for nothing since you'll need to rent a bike or motorbike
for this.
But if you already have one on hand then it is fun to drive
through the little village hamlets of Ubud. Here you can still find
scenes from decades ago, as if time has stood still.
If you have the entire day then driving around East Bali is the best way to explore the real Bali. Check out one of our favorite routes from Candidasa to Ubud.
Hiking around the mountains and fields:
Hiking in Bali can be done without a guide if it doesn't involve
hiking up a mountain such as Gunung Agung and Gunung Batur. For these
hikes it is essential to have a knowledgeable guide as the trails are
not always that obvious.
But many accommodations such as those in Munduk, near Batu Karu, Tirta Gangga or Candidasa offer detailed maps with trails.
They will take you along rivers, through local villages and
their rice fields. Leave early in the day and take enough water and
food with you just in case you do get a bit lost...
Go snorkeling:
The best snorkeling sites are reached by boat such as those
in Menjangan island and Nusa Lembongan. But there are a couple of
snorkeling sites in Bali which you can reach from the beach. So there is
no need for renting a boat....
In Padangbai you have the Bloo Lagoon beach where you can
jump straight into the water with your gear on. Other sites are the
Japanese wreck at Aas beach in Amed and from Pemuteran you have good
access from the resorts especially Taman Sari Resort and Spa.
Stroll along the beach:
If you want to be a bit more active on your Bali holiday then you can walk miles on end along several beaches.
Sanur has a paved walk-way that takes you along its beach
and along many shops, restaurants and resorts. If you are lucky you even
have a view of Gunung Agung.
On the other side of the island you can start off your walk
at Tuban beach and continue along Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and ending in
Canggu beach. It's a wonderful way to watch people surf, flying kites,
swim and having fun on the beach....
Watch surfers tackle the Bali waves:
As you can tell many free things to do in Bali involve around
the beach like watching great surfers riding big waves. If you don't
surf it is still great fun to watch especially if its from a beautiful
Bali beach.
Head to Uluwatu beach to witness the best waves or go to
the laid-back Padang Padang, Bingin or Balangan beach to enjoy the
tropical setting while checking out the moves of beginners and advanced
surfers.
Join the fishermen at Jimbaran beach:
Early in the morning fishermen in traditional fishing
boats head into sea to catch their share of fresh fish which is then
sold to thousands of hotels and restaurants in Bali.
At Jimbaran beach you can see them come back in with nets
full of fish and how the catch is then packed in ice to be brought to
the fish market. It's another great place to witness how things are
done in Bali. If you are coming from Europe, Australia or U.S.A. it is
likely to be done differently then at home...;-)
If you want more tips on cheap Bali holidays
have a look on what we recommend checking out so you can save some
extra money for something else during your time on the island.
