Bali guide › Organise your stay
How to spend 7 days in Bali?
This 7-day plan suits first-time visitors who want culture, rice fields and a bit of coast without living in a taxi. It uses two bases, Ubud for 3 nights and the south coast for 3 nights, because each change of hotel costs half a day. The distances are short on the map and long on the road: Ubud to Uluwatu is about 60 km (37 miles) and routinely takes 2 to 3 hours.
- Day 1: arrive and settle in Ubud. Transfer from the airport takes 1 to 1.5 hours (see "How do I get from Bali airport to my hotel?"). Keep the evening for a walk and a warung dinner.
- Day 2: Ubud town. Go early to the Monkey Forest (see "What should you know before visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest?"), then the market and the royal palace in the heat of the day. In the evening, a dance show (see "Which Balinese dance should you see: Legong, Barong or Kecak?").
- Day 3: around Ubud. Rice terraces first thing, then a temple of purification and craft workshops (see "When should you visit the Tegalalang rice terraces?", "Can you join the Tirta Empul purification ritual (melukat)?"). Each is about 20 to 40 minutes from Ubud by car.
- Day 4: move to the south coast. Allow 1.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic, so leave after breakfast. Beach in the afternoon, then sunset at Uluwatu Temple (see "What is Uluwatu Temple, and how do you visit respectfully?").
- Day 5: south beaches. Padang Padang, Bingin or a surf lesson, then a seafood dinner (see "How do you reach Padang Padang and Bingin, and can you swim?").
- Day 6: Nusa Penida for the day. Leave Uluwatu around 6am: Sanur harbour is about 1 hour away, then the boat takes 40 to 45 minutes (see "How do I get to Nusa Penida, and how many days do I need?"). It is a long day, so keep to the west coast sights.
- Day 7: slow morning and flight. Reach the airport at least 3 hours before an international flight, and allow extra time for traffic.
Variants:
- With children: swap Uluwatu for a calmer base such as Sanur, which has gentle beaches and no steep cliff stairs.
- Surf: stay in Canggu or Uluwatu for 4 nights and drop Ubud to 2.
- Culture: add a day around the craft villages and museums in Ubud.
- Rainy season (roughly November to March): keep mornings for sights, afternoons loose, and treat the Nusa Penida day as flexible (see "When is the best time to visit Bali?").
Common mistakes: packing three sights into one day, underestimating drive times, and booking a Nusa Penida day trip on your last day, when a cancelled boat will cost you a flight.
Verdict: pick two bases, Ubud plus Uluwatu if you want coast and cliffs, or Ubud plus Canggu if you want surf cafes and an easier drive back to the airport. Do not try a third.
Tip: leave your Nusa Penida day for the middle of the trip, not the end, so a rough sea moves it to the next day instead of ruining your flight home.
- See places to stay in Ubud, with reviews and availabilitypartner link · Stay22 (opens in a new tab)
- See places to stay in Uluwatu, with reviews and availabilitypartner link · Stay22 (opens in a new tab)
- See places to stay in Canggu, with reviews and availabilitypartner link · Stay22 (opens in a new tab)
Checked in October 2026. Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic and weather.