The truth: Bali is far from Bali
Canggu to Ubud: 1.5 to 2 hours. Ubud to Uluwatu: easily 2.5 hours. There's no motorway and traffic is heavy. The takeaway: don't try to do everything from a single hotel — sleep in 2 or 3 bases and explore each zone while you're there.
How many days do you need in Bali?
- 7 days: two zones max (e.g. Ubud + the south).
- 10 days: three zones (e.g. Ubud + Uluwatu + Nusa Penida).
- 14 days or more: add the east (Amed, Sidemen) or the north (Munduk).
Simple rule: plan at least 3 nights per base.
Bali's main zones
- Ubud — culture, rice terraces, jungle, waterfalls. Great to start.
- The south (Canggu, Seminyak) — cafés, surf, nightlife, close to the airport.
- Bukit (Uluwatu) — dramatic cliffs and postcard beaches.
- Nusa islands (Penida, Lembongan) — the must-do trip; spend a night there.
- East and north (Amed, Sidemen, Munduk) — diving, volcanoes, quiet waterfalls.
My actual Bali map
Rather than a theoretical list, here are my own Bali favourites — the exact ones I use on the ground. Click a map to open it interactively, zoom in and see every spot.
My Bali favourites188 places, all categoriesOpen the map →
My Bali restaurants48 tested spotsOpen the map →
Bali nature spots29 waterfalls, volcanoes and rice fieldsOpen the map →
My Bali stays18 places I've slept inOpen the map →
My Bali cafés26 cafés and coffee shopsOpen the map →From scattered favourites to a clear itinerary
1. Get your favourites out of Google Maps
Grab your saved places — the raw material of your itinerary. Follow our guide to export your Google Maps favourites or paste your list onto a map.
2. Filter on Bali and look at the clusters
Isolate Bali and see where your places cluster: Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu, Nusa… Those clusters are your trip's structure.
3. Build your days by proximity
For each base, build days that stay in the same zone. You enjoy more and rush less.
With MyFavsMap, you import your favourites, filter by zone and create day-by-day itineraries that group nearby places automatically.
A sample 10-day itinerary
- Days 1-3 — Ubud. Rice terraces, waterfalls, temples, a spa.
- Days 4-6 — Uluwatu. Cliff beaches, surf, sunset at the temple.
- Days 7-8 — Nusa Penida. Kelingking, snorkeling, one night on the island.
- Days 9-10 — Canggu. Cafés, shopping, easy airport transfer.
Mistakes to avoid
- Trying to fit everything in: a favourite is an option, not an obligation.
- Underestimating travel time: double every quoted drive.
- One hotel for all of Bali: change your base.
- Planning a group trip alone: share a collaborative map. 🤝
In short
Planning a trip to Bali means grouping smartly: export your favourites, map them, spot the clusters, then build 2-3 bases by proximity.
