Bali, also known as the Land Of Gods, is commonly acknowledged as the king of tourism destinations because it offers a variety of activities to travelers in a way that no other place in the world can. Those of us who are lucky enough to have this opportunity should avail it properly and enjoy everything this magical land has to offer.

What makes Bali so special? Beautiful waterfalls, lush green rice paddies, turquoise water and amazing Hindu traditions are the top attractions that draw thousands of people from around the world to Bali each year. This is a place that offers both spirituality and fun – a place where you can go see a healer during daytime and enjoy a beach party at dawn.

To save you the bother, we have compiled the top places you should see while you’re in Bali to make sure you don’t fall into the classic tourist traps – the overrated places that don’t capture the real beauty of this heavenly place.

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Situated in a small village in Tabanan, Bali, Jatiluwih is a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering amazingly green views over the rice terraces that are irrigated using a communal water system developed by Balinese farmers. Compared to the most famous rice terrace in Bali called Tegallalang, Jatiluwih is less known yet far more beautiful. Not only because it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but it also covers over 600Ha of rice fields, compared to Tegallalang, which covers around 4-5 ha. You need a day in order to capture all the beauty of the place and wonder through the immense rice paddies. Keep in mind that Jatiluwih is situated at the foot of Batukaru Mountain, so it might be a bit cooler and you might need to bring a jacket with you.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is most probably the best trek in Ubud. Its lush green scenery that you see all around and the magical swing facing the jungle make this place a must-see in Bali. The walk takes around 45 minutes, and you can end it drinking a cold coconut at the end of the road. The walk starts at the temple, continues the beautiful ridge and ends with a village surrounded by villas and cafes. This is a lovely walk starting with a temple that continues along a beautiful ridge and finishing in a village of villas, shops, and cafes. Remember to take a bottle of water with you and since it can get very hot and there is not much shade around.

Sanctuary of Grey Macaques in Ubud (Monkey Forrest)

The Sanctuary of Grey Macaques in Ubud, most commonly known as the Monkey Forrest, is Ubud’s most popular attraction. This is not a zoo, not an actual natural forest sanctuary that has grey long-tailed macaques walking freely around the forest. Being placed right in the center of Ubud, it’s situated at a walking distance from the most popular accommodations in town. Here you can watch the playful monkeys in their natural habitat, feed them bananas and enjoy the beautiful forest with its jungle magic and beautiful mystic temples.

Ulun Danu Temple

The Ulun Danu temple is the most iconic symbol of Bali, known by everyone stepping foot on this magical island. Situated on the lake and surrounded by pristine gardens, this place must be on the bucket list of every well-respected traveler. With its crisp air and calm sceneries, the Ulun Danu Temple is the best place to go and just sit back and relax. It’s a little over an hour drive from Ubud considering the traffic, and you can go during the weekdays as it can become more crowded during the weekend, for us. The entry ticket is around US $3 (42.000 IDR) per person.

Green Bowl Beach

The Green Bowl Beach is a hidden paradise that is not known by many tourists, as it takes a walk down around 326 stairs in order to discover the sparkling turquoise water by the white sand. It’s not exactly a swimming beach, but you can watch the surfers and have a dip for sure. Needless to say will definitely not regret the effort of going up and down when you’ll see this secluded oasis.

Ubud Art Market

Located in the center of Ubud, the Ubud Art Market, locally referred to as 'Pasar Seni Ubud' is the best place to find souvenirs to bring back home for you and your loved ones - beautiful silk scarves, handmade bags, baskets, coconut bowls and many other hand-crafted goods that make Balinese handcrafts so unique. It’s hard not to leave this place with tons of souvenirs that you’ll want to have back home with you.

Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu Temple, also known as Pura Luhur Uluwatu, is one of the six temples that are known to be Bali’s spiritual pillars. Very famous for its sunset view that can be admired from a cliff at around 70 meters above sea level over the Indian Ocean, Uluwatu Temple is most tourists’ favorite sunset place in Bali. Surrounded by beautiful Balinese architecture and sculptures, the magic of this place can be felt as soon as you get here.

Tegenungan Waterfall

Bali is most commonly known for its greenery landscapes, beautiful temples, and traditions that can take by surprise everyone coming here for the first time. Situated between Ubud and Denpasar, the falls can be admired after a few minutes’ walks down the trail beyond the shops, where you’ll enjoy the impressively green valley panorama with cascading water as the main view. It’s important to know that during the rainy season the water can have a brownish color and you are not allowed to swim, a reason why it’s recommended to visit this place during the dry season, so you can enjoy it properly.

Bali’s must-see list can go on with thousands of wonderful places to admire, but if your trip is short and you want to make sure you will enjoy it and won’t let yourself be influenced by the tours that are trying to convince you to go with them, this list will definitely come in handy and fun will be guaranteed.