3 days in Bali: a day-by-day itinerary

Three or four completely different trips sharing one island.

Trip length

3 full days

Best months

April, May, June, September, October

Rough daily budget

Mid-range: roughly $50–90 per person per day

This is a shape, not a schedule. Each day has two anchors and a lot of slack, because 3-day itineraries that book four things a day fall apart the first time lunch runs long. Move things around freely — the neighbourhoods are grouped so that walking between stops actually works.

Days 1–4 — Ubud and the interior

Arrival, transfer to Ubud, easy first evening

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3 days in Bali: a day-by-day itinerary

Three or four completely different trips sharing one island.

Trip length

3 full days

Best months

April, May, June, September, October

Rough daily budget

Mid-range: roughly $50–90 per person per day

Days 1–4 — Ubud and the interior

Arrival, transfer to Ubud, easy first evening

Days 5–8 — South coast

Transfer to Uluwatu or Canggu

Surf lesson or beach day; sunset at Uluwatu temple with the kecak dance

Overnight to Nusa Penida for Kelingking and Diamond Beach

Beach club day and a proper group dinner in Seminyak

Optional days 9–12 — Slow down

Amed for diving and a genuinely quiet few days

Or Sidemen for hiking and views of Agung

Or the Gili Islands by fast boat for no traffic at all

Buffer day before flying — Bali's airport queue is long

Go in April to June, and September to October if you have the choice
Skip January and February are the wettest months; July and August are dry but heavily booked
Grab and Gojek work in most areas but are restricted near some beaches and markets.
Book anything with timed entry as soon as your dates are fixed

Villas with a pool are the reason groups love Bali: splitting a four-bedroom villa costs less per head than hostels elsewhere. Decide the villa-versus-mobility trade-off early, because the nicest villas are the furthest from everything.

How many days do you need in Bali?

Ten days is the comfortable minimum for two bases plus an island trip. A week works if you pick one region and stay put.

What's the best area to stay in Bali?

Ubud for culture and green, Uluwatu for cliffs and surf, Canggu for cafés and nightlife, Sanur or Amed for quiet. Most good trips use two.

Is Bali cheap?

Food, drivers and massages are very cheap; villas, beach clubs and Western restaurants are not. It scales to almost any budget.

When is the rainy season in Bali?

Roughly November to March, peaking in January and February. Rain usually comes as heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day drizzle.

3 days in Bali: a day-by-day itinerary

3 days in Bali: a day-by-day itinerary

Before you go

Planning this with other people

Common questions