Bali Guide: In which parts of the island should you live and relax?

After the start of direct flights between Moscow and Denpasar, a city in the south of Bali, the number of Russian tourists here increased rapidly. 13 hours in the sky – and you are on the Island of the Gods, the favorite destination of travelers from all over the world. Here you can forget about the existence of style, switch from a car to a bicycle and, if you are in a hurry somewhere, go to the beach, so that in the evening you can meet a fiery sunset that will break there. your heart with its beauty.

Bali is completely different, so we always recommend approaching the choice of place to live with special research. Therefore, in this material we decided to make your life easier and tell you how each of the popular neighborhoods differs and which one to choose based on your goals.

Perhaps the most popular region in Bali is Canggu. There’s absolutely everything here: from trendy cafes to beach clubs, Instagrammable* fitness studios and beauty salons. You cannot swim on the beaches here, the waves are too dangerous. But you can watch surfers all day long, who by the way look like they do in typical movies: bleached curly hair and burnt noses. Finding a place for breakfast in local cafes in the morning is an asterisk task. And it’s not a lack of choice. Just all the places are booked in advance so either do your research or wake up early.

Next up is Seminyak, which is a slightly busier area than Canggu. There seems to be no crowds here due to the large number of tourists. But there are more beaches suitable for swimming. There are also many local brands in Seminyak that island fashionistas will definitely appreciate, but don’t expect budget prices. It is better to do the best shopping at the Sunday markets that are held here every week.

The most fashionable place in Bali is Uluwatu. This is a mountainous region where snow-white beaches are hidden under high cliffs. The most popular places on the entire island are concentrated here: legendary nightclubs, beach clubs and many restaurants. The opposite of this is Ubud, Bali’s green area. It is located right in the heart of the island and has no access to the ocean. There are only foothills of rice fields and forests around. And all the people who are constantly talking about insights, flows and resources come to Ubud.

Jimbaran is the most comfortable area to relax in Bali, especially if you are not a party animal and do not plan to meditate during your holiday. This was once a small fishing village but now it is one of the most expensive areas.

One of the island’s finest hotels is located here – Raffles Bali, a quiet oasis on the mainland. On its territory there are 32 secluded villas with private pools and small gardens, various gastronomic projects and a spa center with traditional Balinese rituals. The project area is very large, so we recommend exploring it either with bikes or golf carts, which can be rented here. The friendly hotel team will be happy to inform you about all the features of the facility. For example, all the products used in local restaurants are local and some of them are grown within the hotel. Or that the beach below the hotel is the cleanest beach in Jimbaran because it is so hidden that only guests use it.

We’re a little jealous of everyone celebrating this New Year in Bali because Raffles has prepared a full program for all the holidays. On New Year’s Eve, a dinner will be held under the starry sky at Loloan restaurant. By the way, we can already imagine this picture, since fireworks are also included in the program: starry sky, the sound of the ocean and colorful fireworks. The next day there will also be a seafood brunch with fine wines. And from January 2 to January 6, the hotel’s restaurant projects host a series of themed dinners.

But the most interesting program is announced on Orthodox Christmas Day. On January 7, Rumari restaurant will offer a special tasting menu, with each dish telling a journey through the fascinating corners of Southeast Asia.

*Social networks Instagram and Facebook are prohibited in the Russian Federation. By court decision dated March 21, 2022, Meta was recognized as an extremist organization on the territory of the Russian Federation.