For this section, we divide Bali into four geographical areas and will describe the principal attractions in each area separately, because that is the way in which you are likely to visit them. 
 

B. Sanur 
A few kilometers east of Denpasar, the seaside village of Sanur is the location of a great variety of tourist accommodations. Sanur is sedate and quiet compared to Denpasar and Kuta. The beach faces the rising sun and is cooler in the afternoon than beaches on the west cost. A coral reef that fringes the sea here provides for snorkeling within easy distance of most hotels, but prevents surfing. A large variety of stores await the shopper. 

C. Kuta 
This is the center for the young and more boisterous. Kuta has a fine, long beach that is great for surfing and plenty of entertainment for the surfers at night. It is also within easy access of other surfing areas to the south. Kuta boasts complete supermarkets, large department stores, excellent large and small restaurants, and a variety of accommodations, from luxury beach hotels to small rooms for those on a budget. 

D. Jimbaran and the Bukit 
Jimbaran lies just south of the International Airport, straddling the narrow sandy isthmus that connects the main part of Bali with the Bukit, the high limestone plateau that is the dot at the south end of Bali. The west coast of Jimbaran, extending several kilometers to the airport, is one of the finest beaches in Bali, and in recent years several luxury hotels have been built there. Jimbaran has an Art Market and a number of very popular warungs that sell grilled fresh fish. Just north of Jimbaran, at Kedonganan, there is a large fishing port where most of South Bali’s fish are unloaded and trucked off to market. 

Bukit Badung was until recently a wild, rocky, almost unknown place, with farming and cattle raising as its chief activities. It has now been "discovered" , meaning developed, and its rural atmosphere is rapidly changing into a complex of golf courses, hotels overlooking the sea from 50 meter high cliffs, and paved roads to what were not long ago remote, quiet, natural places. 

E. Nusa Dua 
Up until about 1980 the dry, flat, sandy area west of Bualu was nothing but a good place to grow root vegetables. Now it is the site of Bali’s densest concentration of five-star hotels. The thickets of seaside weeds and thorns have been turned into landscaped gardens and an 18 hole golf course, thanks to abundant irrigation. Nusa Dua is strictly a tourist resort. There is nothing Balinese about it. If you like large, comfortable hotels, this is a good place to stay. But, you won’t find much in the way of the real Bali there. 

F. Nusa Penida 
The small island of Nusa Penida is part of the Province of Bali. It is located south of Klungkung and west of Sanur, reachable by boat from either of these areas, as well as by daily tours from Benoa Harbor. Most tourists actually do not go to Nusa Penida, but, rather, to Nusa Lembongan, a small sandy strip that lies off the northwest coast of Nusa Penida. This area has been developed in recent years into a surfing and diving center. 

G. Lombok 
This is the next larger island east of Bali in the long chain of islands that make up that part of Indonesia called Nusa Tenggara. Lombok can be reached by high speed ferry service from Benoa Harbor, by slower ferry from Padang Bai, north of Klungkung, or by air from Bali International Airport. A number of fine hotels skirt the black sand beaches north of Mataram, the capital. And a large area on the south part of the island is being developed into a major tourist resort. The culture of West Lombok are closely tied to that of Bali. Central and East Lombok are inhabited mostly by Indonesians from other cultures and are quite different 

2. Central Bali 

A. Tabanan 
This is the name of both a Kabupaten of Bali, like a county, and a major village in that area. Tabanan is the rice growing center of Bali because it is favored by abundant streams and soil made fertile by millennia of volcanic ash fallout from Bali’s volcanoes. The coast south of Tabanan village is the home of a number of hew hotels as well as Pr. Tanah Lot, a small, picturesque temple perched on a rock just off the cliffed shore. North of the village of Tabanan is the second highest mountain in Bali, Gunung Batukaru, (elevation 2,276 m. = 7,467 ft. ) with spectacular, lush forests and spectacular views. 

B. Mengwi 
A short distance north of Denpasar, Mengwi is the home of the temple complex known as Pr. Taman Ayun, a large area surrounded by a moat. Nearby is Alas Kedaton temple, the home of a band of monkeys. 
Passing Mengwi, the road leads north near Margarana where there is a large national cemetery devoted to the heroes of the resistance to the dedicated reoccupation of Bali by the Dutch after World War II. I Gusti Ngurah Rai was the most famous leader of this resistance group, and he is buried here. Bali's International Airport is named after him. 
The road then ascends through interesting villages to Lake Bratan and its famous lake temple of the same name. Before you get to Bratan, a road leads off to the left to the Kebun Raya, the principal exhibition and study area for plants in Bali. Just after this road is Candi Kuning, a colorful market boasting delicious boiled corn and a variety of exotic plants, fruits, and vegetables. 
Beyond Lake Bratan is Bedugul, the high valley that produces most of Bali’s vegetables. At the northeast corner of this valley is Bali Handara Kosaido, the first golf course in Bali, located in an exotic mountain setting. Beyond Bedugul, the road twists up and over the mountain chain that separates North from South Bali and descends to the coastal plain at Singaraja. 

C. Sangeh 
This area is reached by a road that leads north from Denpasar, east of the road to Bedugul and Singaraja. Here is another well known temple in the midst of a large stand of trees that are mistakenly called "nutmeg" by local guides. A troop of monkeys makes this temple its home. They won’t hurt you, but they do love to snatch glasses and head wear. So be careful. 

D. Batubulan 
This small village is on the main road to the north and east of Bali from the Denpasar-Sanur area. Most famous for its daily Barong dance performances, Batubulan is also the home of some of Bali’s best stone carvers, and you will see many shops along the main street that display these wares. The Barong dance is an adaptation for tourists of a sacred performance that is still given in some villages as a part of a ritual to protect the village and turn potentially harmful forces into milder, more helpful forms. 

E. Mas 
Just south of Ubud, this is one of the chief wood carving centers of Bali. You will find dozens of small and large shops featuring masks, statues, and panels of all shapes, sizes, and styles. 

F. Kemenuh 
Located north of the village of Gianyar, this is, like Mas, the home of a number of well known and skillful wordcarvers. 

G. Celuk 
This is the silverwork center of Bali, with hundreds of shops of various sizes displaying a large variety of souvenirs. Balinese people do not usually wear silver themselves. This is a craft that is almost exclusively made for tourists. 

H. Gianyar 
This is the name of both a Kabupaten (like a county) of Bali and a village. The village of Gianyar has many of the best textile producer on the island. Batik is not a native Balinese craft. The majority of batik comes from Java, although much of it is sold in Bali. The true native Balinese textile is called endek material. It is what is called a weft ikat fabric, meaning that the crosswise threads, the weft, are tie dyed before weaving with the warp threads. The resulting patterns are attractive and interesting. Shops in Gianyar village make and sell materials as well as garments made from them. 
East of Gianyar a road leads north to Bangli and its famous Pr. Sada. Bangli is the center for much of Bali’s bamboo basket industry. North of Bangli making a few important kinds of baskets is the principal occupation of most of the villagers because large groves of the proper kind of bamboo grow nearby. 

H. Blabatuh 
This village is interesting because it is the home of one of the best known makers of traditional Balinese bronze musical instruments. The foundry and workshop is located about one kilometer past Blahbatuh on the road to Gianyar, about 200 meters to the right (east) of the main road. The name of the factory is Kerajinan Gong/Gambelan Sida Karya. The originator and owner is I Made Gabeleran, a man who is well known everywhere in the world that Balinese music is played. 

Just east of Blabatuh is Bona, a village famed for the production of bamboo furniture. 

I. Ubud Area 
Ubud is the center of a number of small villages that are justly famous for being the art center of Bali. Here you will find the largest number of painters, dancers, musicians, and other artisans. Ubud is located in an attractive environment of picturesque irrigated rice fields, along the edges of deep river gorges. Next to the coastal areas of South Bali, the Ubud area is the second most popular tourist destination for those who want to see something of the rural environment, as well as explore the shops of the many famous artists who live here. 
East of Ubud the road leads a short distance to Gua Gajah, the Elephant Cave, a popular rock carved temple. And beyond lies the main road north to Lake Batur and Kintamani. 

J. Kintamani Area 
The road from the Elephant Cave passes through Pejeng, the location of a temple, Pr. Penataran Sasih, containing a huge cast bronze drum of ancient provenance and about which a number of legends exist. The road continues north to Tampak Siring: This is the location of the "Istana", the palatial home on a hill, built by former president Soekarno, overlooking the baths and structures in the well known Pr. Tirtha Empul below. A short distance south of the turnoff to the palace is Pr. Gunung Kawi, an ancient series of temples carved out of solid rock just above the bed of the stream that runs through Pr. Tirtha Empul. 

The road now gradually ascends to the lip of an enormous caldera, a volcano that, at some unknown time in the past, exploded, leaving a crater that is more than 10 km. (6 miles) in diameter. At the bottom is Lake Batur, encircling part of Gunung Batur, (1,717 m. = 5,633 ft.) a still active volcano that periodically rumbles and emits smoke and ash. There are good viewpoints all the way along the rim of the caldera from Penelokan, where the road first meets the rim, to Kintamani, the principal village located on the northwest edge of the caldera. You can descend by road to Kedisan, a village on the edge of Lake Batur and from there take a boat to the isolated village of Trunyan, whose inhabitants have a culture that is unlike that of any other village in Bali. One can also drive to Air Panas hot springs below Mt. Batur. It is safe and not difficult to climb Mt. Batur if it is not in an erupting phase. The hike takes no more than an hour. 

From Kintamani the road continues northward, descending to the narrow coastal plain of North Bali at Kubutambahan, east of Singaraja. The road takes you through the principal Arabica type coffee plantations of Bali. Arabica is the preferred type of coffee for export and grows well only in the higher elevations. The other main type of Bali coffee, Robusta, is grown mostly in the Pupuan area, between Tabanan and the north coast. 

3. East Bali 

A. Klungkung 
The area around this large village is famous for its metal smiths, pande, especially those skilled in forging bronze. There is a large basketry industry here. Just south of Klungkung is Gelgel, formerly an important royal capital and now a center for antique-style art. Kerta Ghosa, the restored "Hall of Justice", with its pictorial depictions of punishments for sinners, is right on the main square. East of Klungkung is a river gorge that descends from nearby Gunung Agung. It is one of the volcano’s main drainages to the south and was clogged with debris from the huge eruption of 1963. Black sand and gravel from this eruption are still mined here. 

North of Klungkung the road leads to Rendang and thence to Pr. Besakih, the enormous complex of temples that are of island-wide importance. Besakih is dominated by the hulk of nearby Gunung Agung, at 3,142 m. (10,308 ft.). the highest and most sacred mountain on the island. 

Turning east at Rendang one can drive through the small village of Selat, wiped out by the eruption of 1963, and take a scenic road down the river valley to Klungkung. Or, continuing toward the east, the road leads over the mountains to the Amlapura area of Northeast Bali. 

B. Candi Dasa 
The road that leads east and north from Klungkung passes along the coast north of Kusamba, a fishing village and the main point of embarkation of local people for Nusa Penida.There is an extensive salt making industry along the coast north of here. Candi Dasa is a bit farther along. This is a recently developed area, near the ancient village of Tenganan, whose inhabitants claim to be among the original inhabitants of Bali, before the exodus of Hindus from Java some 600 years ago. Tenganan has some interestingly different beliefs and crafts from most of the rest of Bali. Also nearby is Padang Bai, the only natural harbor in Bali, where ferries depart for Lombok and to which cruise ships from all over the world come. There is a beach at Candi Dasa, but it has largely eroded. There is good diving nearby. 

C. Amlapura 
The main road from Klungkung descends over the edge of the Gunung Agung plateau and down into a fertile valley that contains the large village of Amlapura, usually called Karangasem. From here a road leads south to the coast at Ujung, and along the coast to the well known Water Palace or Floating Palace. 

From Amlapura the road continues north to Tirtha Ayu, the location of former royal bathing ponds, and down to the arid northeast coastal plain of Bali, passing spectacular terraced rice fields along the way. A bit beyond the place where this road meets the sea is Tulamben, the location of a wreck of a World War II freighter, upon and around which has grown a profusion of tropical sea life, making it a favorite diving center. 

The road continues through dry areas containing pandanus and borassus palm and salt making villages to Singaraja, the principal city on Bali’s north coast. 

4. North Bali  

A. Singaraja 
This city was, until relatively recently, the capital of Bali and the main port of arrival. This was before the days of air travel, when most tourists came by ship from Surabaya and other cities along the north coast of Java. It is still a commercial center and the main trading area for coffee and cloves. The sea here is almost never rough and so boats could anchor near the shore and disembark passengers and cargo to small boats that would take them to shore. The old harbor area, with some Dutch buildings, is worth a visit. The main roads from South Bali meet the north coastal highway at Singaraja and Siririt, just west of Singaraja. This was once a mandarin orange growing area. But a virus devastated the trees in the 1980’s, from which the industry has never fully recovered. Grapes are now raised in abundance in this part of Bali. 

B. North Coast 
The main road continues westward along the black sand coast, which is quite narrow here. Centered around Lovina, there is a growing tourist business, with nice, small beach hotels. The road continues westward to Gilimanuk on the west tip of Bali. 

C. West Bali 
Gilimanuk is the Bali terminus of the ferry service that carries trucks, cars, passengers, and everything else between East Java and Bali. The ferries run day and night, but sometimes the wait is quite long at both ends. This village is also the location of the headquarters for West Bali (Bali Barat) National Park, a recently created area designed to protect a large, mostly wilderness area with wildlife and plants that are not found in abundance in other parts of Bali. Menjangan Island, just east of the northeast tip of Bali, and justly famous for its lovely undersea life, is under the administration of the Park, and permission to visit and dive in the area must be obtained from Government personnel at Park Headquarters near Gilimanuk; 
The main road that runs around the island leads south and east from Gilimanuk along the coast and along the south fringe of the National Park to Negara, the principal city on the Southeast coast of Bali. Negara is the center of coconut and banana growing. Just south of Negara is Perancak, with its large and important temple, and also the principal fishing villages of Bali. The road continues east along a mostly rocky coast, past Pr. Rambut Siwi, and on to near Payan, where the main highway bends abruptly northward and leaves the coast. At Antosari the main road leads east to Tabanan. Another principal road leads northward to the main Robusta coffee growing area at Pupuan and thence northward to the North Coast at Siririt.