9 Best Things to Do in Bali

Creating a budget is perhaps one of the most important steps in any trip, especially, to a place like Bali. At one look, Bali may seem to be an expensive travel destination, with its luxurious resorts and fancy clubs. But Bali is more than that. It is a small lush green paradise on Earth and there are infinite ways to explore the island without spending a fortune. You can rent a bike, visit some of the most popular beaches, and go for a trek, all at stupendously cheap prices in Bali.

If you to know how to go for a budget-friendly trip to Bali, here are 9 best cheap things to do in Bali:

1. Take a stroll on the beaches: Bali is best known for it its pristine beaches and welcomes thousands of visitors every year to witness the ebb and flow of the tide against its lap. The best news is that the entrance to most of the amazing beaches in Bali is free making it one of the best cheap things to do in Bali. Even if there is an entrance fee at a couple of beaches, the charge would be negligible. Some of the most famous beaches to visit for free in Bali are Kuta beach, Sanur beach, Uluwatu beach, Blue Diamond beach, etc. You can just stroll around the beaches or spend your time building sand castles.

2. Take a walk in the Campuhan Ridge Walk: Go for a romantic stroll along the Campuhan Ridge completely for free. Located in Ubud, is a very simple trek that anybody can do. It is one of the best cheap things to do in Bali when you want to get out of the crowded beaches and markets of Bali. The Campuhan Ridge offers a mesmerizing view of the lush rice paddy fields of Ubud. You can also cross a small bridge along your trek to visit the Pura Gunung Lebah temple. While you can go for a walk in the Campuhan Ridge anytime, mornings and afternoons are ideal as the weather is perfect as well as the view.

3. Check out the vibrant marketplaces: While buying things come at a price, nobody has ever been asked to pay a price for visiting the legendary markets of Bali. You can visit some of the popular shopping markets in Bali like the Ubud Arts market, Kumbasari Arts market, and Sanur Arts market, and watch artists busily creating and selling a myriad of pretty souvenirs. Photographers visit these markets often to capture their vibrancy. Even if you do want to pick up a few things, do not worry. Since many of these are flea markets with the items locally produced in nearby villages, the prices are negligible, provided you know how to bargain.

4. Discover secrets and magical waterfalls: Everyone knows about Bali’s beaches, but who talks about the island’s magical and mysterious waterfalls? Bali has some of the most amazing waterfalls in the world with some falling from heights as tall as 260 meters. In fact, trekking is one of the best cheap things to do in Bali. The best news is that these waterfalls are spread across the country and can be accessed by most people provided they are comfortable with short treks. Aling-Aling, Banyumala, and Sekumpul are some of the best-known waterfalls in Bali. While there’s no entrance cost at many of the waterfalls, some may charge a very small price. For a few long and comparatively difficult waterfall treks, you might have to get a guide, but the charges are not too high.

5. Trek in the beautiful mountains and countryside: Your trip to Bali is incomplete without a hike to some of the mountainsides of the island. Bali has many mountains that you can trek to like Mount Ayung, Mount Batur, and Mount Catur. Apart from that, you can also trek in Candidasa, Munduk, and the Tegalalang rice fields. There’s no charge for trekking in any of these places. If, however, you want to use a guide (which might also be mandatory in some places), you would have to pay a small charge to the guide. Taking a guide is usually a good idea because they can describe the history of a place and are also of beautiful secret routes.

6. Visit ancient temples: If you want to explore the spiritual side of Bal, you should definitely visit some of the beautiful ancient temples on the island. The population in Bali is predominantly Hindu, hence there are many temples on the island that worship Hindu deities. Some of the most visited temples in Bali include the Uluwatu temple, Taman Ayun, Tanah Lot, Tirta Empul, and Goa Gajah. Most of the temples are open between 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. and are free to enter. Visiting a temple is definitely one of the best cheap things to do in Bali. You might have to pay a small ticket fee to enter Tanah Lot, but you also get the added advantage of witnessing a traditional dance performance, Kecak in the temple.

7. Savour some amazing street food: Since Bali is an international tourist destination, there are many places where you can eat a variety of food on the island. Unfortunately, the food at most of the fancy restaurants and clubs may be expensive. If, however, you are willing to explore some local food, you can get away with spending the least on food in Bali. There are many street food vendors in Bali that offer amazingly delicious and flavourful food in Bali. You can choose from local fish dishes, steamed rice, skewers, etc. The best part is that most of the food in the streets also comes at really cheap prices making this one of the top cheap things to do in Bali. If you want, you can also try tasting fruit from the many vendors lined up by the beaches and in the markets.

8. Go sightseeing on a motorbike: Travelling around Bali can be an expensive affair. First, the public transport system is hardly available everywhere, and second, the way to most places is through taxis that cost quite a bit of money, especially, when tourists are involved. If you know how to ride a bike or motorbike though, you can even cut down on this cost as renting a motorbike or scooter in Bali is cheaper compared to taking taxis everywhere. In most cases, the per day cost is around INR 300-500. Make sure you have the necessary license and permits to ride around in Bali first. It is best to consult with the bike renting company about the permits before renting a vehicle.

9. Visit a Balinese traditional festival: Festivals are the best part of every place, and Bali has many of them. Some of the most famous festivals in Bali are the Bali Kite festival, Bali Arts festival, Galungan, and Nusa Dua fiesta. The festivals in Bali are held across the year, and you are bound to witness at least one festival whenever you are on the island making this one of the top cheap things to do in Bali. The best part is that there is no fee to attend these festivals. Most of the festivals are held to celebrate the culture of the Balinese people and host people from across the world.