WHERE TO STAY IN BALI? FOR MINIMALISTS

Last Updated on March 30, 2024 by Golden Undertones

Wondering where to stay in Bali? What are the best areas to stay in Bali for your next trip? I am here to answer all of your questions about where to stay at Bali. Trust me, I understand how stressful this can be since the location of your stay is the most important part of having a good time. Staying in a good location is super important to me and makes a massive impact when traveling.

Even though Bali is a small island, there are many different options for where to go in Bali. Depending on the type of traveler you are, people might argue which are the best areas to stay in Bali. If you are interested in reading about a budget traveler who LOVES to walk, then you must keep reading to find out my favourite and in my opinion best place in Bali to stay.

When traveling to Bali, I made sure I did extensive research to find out the best area to stay in Bali, within walking distance to my favourite destinations. If you are a budget traveler and a walker like myself, don’t question yourself any more about where to go in Bali. This post will be very helpful to you!

Keep reading to find out where to stay in Bali for minimalists!

“I am a minimalist. I like saying the most with the least.” ~Bob Newhart

Where to Stay in Bali? Below are 5 of the Best Areas to Stay in Bali

1. Ubud

When booking Bali, you have to make a stop in Ubud. Even if you are asking the question “Where to go in Bali?”, Ubud is a MUST! Ubud is absolutely breathtaking everywhere you go. There is stunning greenery and a bustling city center mingled together beautifully. I recommend staying near Ubud Center. I am a HUGE walker, so I have to make sure that my accommodations work with that in mind.

If you are booking Bali and are a walker like me, I stayed on Jl. Sri Wedari at a homestay that I absolutely loved! Read more about my budget homestay here… This homestay is a walk up the road from Ubud center, and to be honest, I loved it! There’s nothing better than clean and budget friendly accommodation.

If you are heading there and are wondering what to do, make sure to check out my favourite 11 things to do in Ubud, Bali.

2. Canggu

Some people say, why go to a beach spot if you can’t swim in the water? Well… I am here to tell you that it is VERY worth the trip to stay in Canggu. It was one of the best places to stay in Bali. So to answer your question “Can you swim at Echo beach Bali?” The answer is complicated. The water is very choppy to swim in, but you can jump in close to the beach, or just put your feet in. Echo beach Bali is definitely tailored for surfing, however, it is super fun and amusing to watch those surfers do their thing!

I recommend staying in Batu Bolong if you are planning to stay in Canggu. I honestly could go back to Bali and stay in Canggu for a few weeks. This is where you should stay at Bali if you want a relaxing trip. For me, it was one of the best places to stay in Bali. It has a very relaxing vibe that you don’t want to end. Echo Beach Bali is a short walk as well as the infamous Canggu restaurants and bars. Check out my awesome Canggu pictures on my Instagram!

If you are wondering about what Canggu accommodations to book, read about my recommendations here. I was very hesitant about Canggu at first but I decided to take the chance at surfer heaven Bali, and I loved it! I actually left Canggu and came back because I enjoyed it so much. Canggu is at the top of my list for the best places to stay in Bali and I really loved the Echo Beach Bali area.

For those younger couples, who want that surfer vibe, I highly recommend you to stay in the Batu Bolong area around Echo Beach Bali. You will not be disappointed! I found because it was a younger crowd, people were dressing up for lunch and dinner. Canggu has some beautiful boutique shops to help you out with this if you didn’t come prepared.

I am going to be honest and tell you that I really wasn’t sure how I would like the surfer central vibe in Canggu, Bali. But, I absolutely loved Canggu, Bali.

If you have decided to stay in the Canggu area, and are wondering what to do in Canggu Bali, I have you covered! Read here for my list of 8 Fun Things to do in Canggu.

3. Nusa Lembongan

Beautiful, secluded, quiet. These three words sum up Nusa Lembongan in Bali for me. Nusa Lembongan island is connected to another island called Nusa Ceningan. There is actually quite a bit to do on these two islands.

First off, it is scooter central! There are not many vehicles on the island so I found it the safest place to drive a scooter. You have to cross Yellow Bridge to get to Nusa Cennigan, and only scooters are allowed. Your options are to either scooter around the islands or walk like me!

Lembongan island was a lot of fun to just walk and explore and spend time at Lembongan beach clubs. I spent 4 nights in a beautiful accommodation and I highly recommend staying in the Mushroom Beach area.

Many people choose to surf or go snorkeling on Lembongan Island. I chose to snorkel, and it was awesome! I went on a day tour to Manta Point where you get to see and swim with large Manta Rays.

4. Seminyak

Seminyak Bali has positive vibes all around. There are bright colours almost everywhere you go, good company and a beach close by. Seminyak beach is very close to the main strip in Seminyak. There are cute cafes with beautiful wall art, making this area an Instagram favourite!

The food in Seminyak is dynamite, great cafes everywhere you look in the main strip. Seminyak has awesome beach clubs right on Seminyak beach, playing great tunes all day. There are also many resorts along Seminyak beach where you can stay.

If you have decided to stay in the Seminyak area, and are wondering what amazing things you can do there, make sure to check out my list of 9 INCREDIBLE Things to do in Seminyak, Bali.

5. Sanur

I finished off my Bali vacation in Sanur and it was the perfect end to my trip. Sanur Bali is more family-oriented than other areas in Bali. Sanur beach is busy, swim approved, and there is an awesome boardwalk outlining the beach. If you really aren’t sure about where to stay in Bali, Sanur is your place because of the night market. I mean it when I say it is AMAZING!

There are beautiful Sanur villas at reasonable prices and they are generally within walking distance to the beach. There are also many Sanur restaurants with delicious food. The absolute best part about Sanur is the night market. I ate dinner at the Sanur Night Market every single night, the food is authentic, delicious, and VERY inexpensive.

If you are wondering where to stay in Sanur Bali, I recommend staying along the road named Jl. Danau Tamblingan.

When you are booking Bali next, and you want to experience the insanely amazing Sanur Night market, then Sanur Bali is one of the places to stay in Bali for you!

Stop worrying about where to stay in Bali, because these 5 places are the best places to stay in Bali! You can go on tours and visit the other areas around Bali by staying in these central locations.

Side note: On my adventure in Bali, I also stayed in the Legian/Kuta area. I did not list this location on my list of best places to stay in Bali because I did not enjoy it. It is a good location to visit for a day and engage in some activities (I have some great things for you to do in Kuta) However, I personally didn’t enjoy staying in Kuta. I know many people like Kuta for the nightlife, and there is definitely nightlife there!

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Golden Undertones | The Ultimate Travel Guide

Want to hear more about Canggu also known as “foodie heaven”? CLICK HERE!!

If you plan on going to Ubud,  the heart of Bali, check out my insight HERE. 

Find out all you need to know about releasing sea turtles in Kuta Bali