How many days · Bali · Indonesia
How many days do you need in Bali?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: WikiSantaClaus, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
10 days is the sweet spot for Bali, and 5 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Five days allows three nights in Ubud for temples, rice terraces and Mount Batur and two in the south for beaches and Uluwatu. Ten days adds Nusa Penida or Lembongan, a stay in the quieter east around Amed or Sidemen, and the waterfalls of the north.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 10 days
- Minimum
- 5 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 11.6 h (Jun) to 12.6 h (Jan)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance, Tanah Lot, Tegallalang Rice Terraces and Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary |
| 2 days | Rushed | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tirta Empul and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple |
| 3 days | Rushed | Lempuyang Temple, Mount Batur sunrise trek and Besakih Temple |
| 5 days | Good | The highlights plus a day trip to Nusa Penida |
| 7 days | Good | A slow trip with day trips such as Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Bali add up to roughly 23–33 hours of visiting time — about 3–5 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Mount Batur sunrise trek (6–8 hours including transfers), Lempuyang Temple (2–5 hours) and Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | 2–3 hours | Uluwatu |
| Tanah Lot | 2 hours | Tabanan |
| Tegallalang Rice Terraces | 1–2 hours | Ubud |
| Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | 1–1.5 hours | Ubud |
| Tirta Empul | 1–1.5 hours | Tampaksiring |
| Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | 1–1.5 hours | Bedugul |
| Lempuyang Temple | 2–5 hours | Karangasem |
| Mount Batur sunrise trek | 6–8 hours including transfers | Kintamani |
| Besakih Temple | 2 hours | Karangasem |
| Jatiluwih rice terraces | 2–3 hours | Tabanan |
| Campuhan Ridge Walk | 1.5–2 hours | Ubud |
| Goa Gajah | 1 hour | Ubud |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 10 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 5 days | Focus on Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance and Tanah Lot |
| With children | 11 days | Slower days and time for Waterbom Bali |
| With day trips | 12 days | Add Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in June (about 11.6 hours of daylight) than in January (about 12.6 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Bali with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Yogyakarta | About 535 km | 4 days |
| Singapore | About 1,656 km | 4 days |
| Kuala Lumpur | About 1,972 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 5 days enough in Bali?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 10 days is more comfortable. Five days allows three nights in Ubud for temples, rice terraces and Mount Batur and two in the south for beaches and Uluwatu. Ten days adds Nusa Penida or Lembongan, a stay in the quieter east around Amed or Sidemen, and the waterfalls of the north.
+Is a week too long in Bali?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.