History · Bali · Indonesia
8 historic sites to see in Bali
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance, Tirta Empul and Lempuyang Temple. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 12–17 hours across 5 areas; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 12–17 hours
- Areas
- Uluwatu, Tampaksiring and Karangasem
Historic sites in Bali
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Religious site · Uluwatu
1.Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance
At sunset, an open-air amphitheatre stages the Kecak fire dance, in which a chanting male chorus tells episodes of the Ramayana.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- History
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Religious site · Tampaksiring
2.Tirta Empul
Visitors may join the ritual if they wear the proper sarong and follow the order of the fountains.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Religious site · Karangasem
3.Lempuyang Temple
Its lower split gate, framing Mount Agung, is known as the 'Gates of Heaven'; the much-photographed reflection is created by photographers holding a mirror under a phone. The full climb to the summit temple involves about 1,700 steps.
- Time needed
- 2–5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Active
- History
Religious site · Karangasem
4.Besakih Temple
It is the 'mother temple' of Balinese Hinduism and the focus of major ceremonies.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
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Historic site · Ubud
5.Goa Gajah
It is a short visit but shows Bali's mix of Hindu and Buddhist heritage.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
Palace · Karangasem
6.Tirta Gangga
Built in 1946 for the Raja of Karangasem, this water palace has ornamental ponds, stepping stones among koi carp, fountains and spring-fed bathing pools surrounded by rice terraces in East Bali.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Architecture
- History
Museum · Denpasar
7.Bali Museum
Bali's oldest museum, founded in the 1930s beside Puputan Square in Denpasar, displays masks, textiles, ritual objects and archaeological finds in pavilions built in traditional palace and temple styles.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Palace · Ubud
8.Ubud Palace and evening dance
In the evenings, its courtyard hosts Legong, Barong and other traditional dance performances with gamelan orchestras.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- History
- Art
- Couples
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Uluwatu | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | 2–3 hours |
| Tampaksiring | Tirta Empul | 1–1.5 hours |
| Karangasem | Lempuyang Temple, Besakih Temple and Tirta Gangga | 2–5 hours + 2 hours + 1 hour |
| Ubud | Goa Gajah and Ubud Palace and evening dance | 1 hour + 1.5 hours |
| Denpasar | Bali Museum | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 8 low cost. Book ahead for Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance. The longest visit is Lempuyang Temple; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance: Kecak tickets sell out in peak season; buy them early in the afternoon or online.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Uluwatu and Tampaksiring): Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance → Tirta Empul, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Karangasem): Lempuyang Temple, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Karangasem and Ubud): Besakih Temple → Tirta Gangga → Goa Gajah, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Ubud and Denpasar): Ubud Palace and evening dance → Bali Museum, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- November: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. The wet season starts, with afternoon storms and humid evenings, but lower prices and quieter sights.
- March: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. The rains ease; Nyepi shuts the island down for a day of silence, with ogoh-ogoh monster parades the night before.
- February: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 16 rainy days, quiet crowds. Rainy and humid, but green rice terraces and some of the year's lowest prices.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Ubud — Hill town of dance, crafts, yoga and rice terraces
- Uluwatu — Cliff-top villas, surf breaks and sunset temple on the Bukit Peninsula
- Amed — Black-sand fishing villages, snorkelling and views of Mount Agung
More of Bali
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Bali?
Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance. Pura Luhur Uluwatu, one of Bali's six key directional temples, stands on a cliff about 70 metres above the Indian Ocean at the island's south-western tip.