Kuta
About 600 mi/965 km east of Jakarta, Kuta was one of Indonesia's first tourist towns, and the years have taken their toll. Kuta appeals to travelers whose main interest is good nightlife and an ample supply of bars. It is popular with young people who enjoy the round-the-clock action.
The beach still retains its beauty, and the waves and sunsets are impressive.
At night, there are plenty of bars to hop or crawl between, but on your way you'll pass all the trappings of urban squalor: drug sellers, prostitutes and beggars (seldom seen elsewhere on Bali).
The streets are choked with motorcycles and exhaust. A better idea is to skip Kuta and stay in nearby Legian or Seminyak (both are near the nightclubs, but away from most of the noise). Other quieter alternatives include Sanur and Nusa Dua.
If you do stay in Kuta, be sure to save some time to visit the countryside—day trips can be easily arranged by your hotel.
There are several temples near Kuta. One favorite is Ulu Watu, which is perched on a sheer cliff over the ocean on the island's southern coast. Other trips can be arranged to see temple dances or to visit the craft villages on the way to Ubud.
Tetebatu
Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are located off the coast of Indonesia. The islands are very relaxed and offer many beachside cafes and elaborate seafood buffets. There is reasonably good diving here, and visitors can see an impressive array of sea creatures and plant life, such as green and hawksbill turtles, manta rays, bumphead parrotfish, and reef sharks. With no cars on any of the islands, it is easy to relax into the slow pace of the islands, and there are several bungalow-style accommodations with verandas that overlook gardens and the ocean.
Kintamani
Munduk
Sanur
Sanur occupies a happy medium between other Bali beach towns—it's not as frantic as Kuta, and it's not as expensive (or insulated) as Nusa Dua. The white-sand beach, which is lined with outrigger canoes, fronts spacious hotel compounds.
The offshore reef makes the water calm for snorkeling, although the reef itself isn't all that spectacular. Rental shops lease sailboards, surfboards and paddleboards. There are a number of good shops and restaurants along Jalan Danau Tamblingan and Jalan Poso.
As with most places in Bali, day trips can be organized to visit nearby temples and craft villages. It is located 4 mi/6 km east of Denpasar.
Ngadas
Yogyakarta
Senggigi
Candidasa
Resting at the edge of a freshwater lagoon, Candidasa is a coastal village in eastern Bali. Discovered in the 12th century, this laidback town preserves the temple to the fertility goddess, Hariti.
Ubud
Hidden among the rice paddies, foothills, and steep ravines is Ubud, the cultural center of Bali renowned for its arts, dance and music. The town was an important source for medicinal herbs and plants wherein Balinese the word 'ubad' means medicine. It was a Javanese priest in the 8th century who discovered Ubud while meditating between two crossing rivers. Here, he discovered the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor which today, remains a pilgrim destination. Tranquil, visitors can find serenity in nature and inspiration in its ancient temples and palaces. Make friends at the Ubud Monkey Forest, but hold on to your belongings. Meditate at Anand Ashram or hike through the rice paddies.
Malang
What was once a historical city that held the seat of government in the 8th century, modern day Malang retained much of its Dutch colonial character and exceeds its growing population of 1.2 million people, the second largest city in East Java. Although urbanized, Hindu temples sits just outside of Malang attracting travelers to explore beyond the city.
Bandung
Bandung is Indonesia’s third largest city and is the capital of West Java. Bandung is cooler than many other Indonesian cities due to its elevation, but still enjoys a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons. A bustling city with lots to do, Bandung attracts visitors from all around to enjoy the restaurants and cafes, affordable shopping at the markets, museums and art deco architecture, and tea plantations and hot springs in the surrounding countryside.
Jakarta
For most travelers, Jakarta, Indonesia, is either part of a business trip or a pit stop on the way to more popular tourist destinations such as Bali and Yogyakarta. In truth, most find little that makes them want to linger in Indonesia's capital: A large, crowded city on the island of Java, Jakarta evokes few beautiful or memorable images. One exception is the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, the city's art building.
To appreciate this city, visitors need to seek out Jakarta's sights that invoke the historical heritage as a meeting place for East and West. These include the remnants of the Dutch colonial era and the old schooner harbor, Sunda Kelapa, still hard at work and looking much as it did in previous centuries.
Don't be surprised, though, if modern Jakarta begins to grow on you: Its jarring mix of trendy nightspots, teeming streets and occasional political demonstrations bespeaks a place where the present is unfolding in an exciting—if not always orderly—manner. The city's image is slowly changing, however, and Jakarta has many fine hotels, shopping malls and golf courses in and around the metropolitan area to entice visitors to stay a little longer.
Travelers to Indonesia should be aware that tsunamis and earthquakes are part of the travel equation. Both are unpredictable, but travel warnings from embassies come into force quickly in the unlikely event that they should occur.
About 600 mi/965 km east of Jakarta, Kuta was one of Indonesia's first tourist towns, and the years have taken their toll. Kuta appeals to travelers whose main interest is good nightlife and an ample supply of bars. It is popular with young people who enjoy the round-the-clock action.
The beach still retains its beauty, and the waves and sunsets are impressive.
At night, there are plenty of bars to hop or crawl between, but on your way you'll pass all the trappings of urban squalor: drug sellers, prostitutes and beggars (seldom seen elsewhere on Bali).
The streets are choked with motorcycles and exhaust. A better idea is to skip Kuta and stay in nearby Legian or Seminyak (both are near the nightclubs, but away from most of the noise). Other quieter alternatives include Sanur and Nusa Dua.
If you do stay in Kuta, be sure to save some time to visit the countryside—day trips can be easily arranged by your hotel.
There are several temples near Kuta. One favorite is Ulu Watu, which is perched on a sheer cliff over the ocean on the island's southern coast. Other trips can be arranged to see temple dances or to visit the craft villages on the way to Ubud.
The Gili Islands are located off the coast of Indonesia. The islands are very relaxed and offer many beachside cafes and elaborate seafood buffets. There is reasonably good diving here, and visitors can see an impressive array of sea creatures and plant life, such as green and hawksbill turtles, manta rays, bumphead parrotfish, and reef sharks. With no cars on any of the islands, it is easy to relax into the slow pace of the islands, and there are several bungalow-style accommodations with verandas that overlook gardens and the ocean.
Sanur occupies a happy medium between other Bali beach towns—it's not as frantic as Kuta, and it's not as expensive (or insulated) as Nusa Dua. The white-sand beach, which is lined with outrigger canoes, fronts spacious hotel compounds.
The offshore reef makes the water calm for snorkeling, although the reef itself isn't all that spectacular. Rental shops lease sailboards, surfboards and paddleboards. There are a number of good shops and restaurants along Jalan Danau Tamblingan and Jalan Poso.
As with most places in Bali, day trips can be organized to visit nearby temples and craft villages. It is located 4 mi/6 km east of Denpasar.
Resting at the edge of a freshwater lagoon, Candidasa is a coastal village in eastern Bali. Discovered in the 12th century, this laidback town preserves the temple to the fertility goddess, Hariti.
Hidden among the rice paddies, foothills, and steep ravines is Ubud, the cultural center of Bali renowned for its arts, dance and music. The town was an important source for medicinal herbs and plants wherein Balinese the word 'ubad' means medicine. It was a Javanese priest in the 8th century who discovered Ubud while meditating between two crossing rivers. Here, he discovered the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor which today, remains a pilgrim destination. Tranquil, visitors can find serenity in nature and inspiration in its ancient temples and palaces. Make friends at the Ubud Monkey Forest, but hold on to your belongings. Meditate at Anand Ashram or hike through the rice paddies.
What was once a historical city that held the seat of government in the 8th century, modern day Malang retained much of its Dutch colonial character and exceeds its growing population of 1.2 million people, the second largest city in East Java. Although urbanized, Hindu temples sits just outside of Malang attracting travelers to explore beyond the city.
Bandung is Indonesia’s third largest city and is the capital of West Java. Bandung is cooler than many other Indonesian cities due to its elevation, but still enjoys a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons. A bustling city with lots to do, Bandung attracts visitors from all around to enjoy the restaurants and cafes, affordable shopping at the markets, museums and art deco architecture, and tea plantations and hot springs in the surrounding countryside.
For most travelers, Jakarta, Indonesia, is either part of a business trip or a pit stop on the way to more popular tourist destinations such as Bali and Yogyakarta. In truth, most find little that makes them want to linger in Indonesia's capital: A large, crowded city on the island of Java, Jakarta evokes few beautiful or memorable images. One exception is the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, the city's art building.
To appreciate this city, visitors need to seek out Jakarta's sights that invoke the historical heritage as a meeting place for East and West. These include the remnants of the Dutch colonial era and the old schooner harbor, Sunda Kelapa, still hard at work and looking much as it did in previous centuries.
Don't be surprised, though, if modern Jakarta begins to grow on you: Its jarring mix of trendy nightspots, teeming streets and occasional political demonstrations bespeaks a place where the present is unfolding in an exciting—if not always orderly—manner. The city's image is slowly changing, however, and Jakarta has many fine hotels, shopping malls and golf courses in and around the metropolitan area to entice visitors to stay a little longer.
Travelers to Indonesia should be aware that tsunamis and earthquakes are part of the travel equation. Both are unpredictable, but travel warnings from embassies come into force quickly in the unlikely event that they should occur.
