10 Best Views and Viewpoints of Bali
Where to Take the Best Photos of Bali?
Picking the best viewpoints in Bali is difficult as there are just so many to choose from. Among the most famous are the high vantage points in the central upland region, where you can capture stunning panoramas featuring expanses of lush green rice paddies flowing down hillsides or magical mountain ranges with an ancient Balinese Hindu temple gate in the foreground.
You get almost as many options along the coastline, from towering limestone clifftops to low-lying outcrops, where you can take in beautiful bird’s-eye views of the Indian Ocean against memorable sunsets. Though some of these elevated vantage points require some travel to get to, the prize views at the end are totally worth the effort.
1. Tanah Lot Temple
The silhouette of an offshore temple against the ocean
Good for: Adventure, History, Photo
As one of Bali’s most important temples, Tanah Lot is famous for its unique offshore setting. It’s also one of the best places for enjoying a dramatic Bali sunset. Try to reach Tanah Lot in the early afternoon to explore the different courtyards around the onshore site. You can admire the beauty of the main sea temple right from the coast.
Pura Batu Bolong Temple is another temple at the end of a hollow rock causeway nearby. Wait around the area for the magical moment as the sun sets over the temple. A variety of small restaurants and bars are in the area, so you can enjoy the views over dinner or drinks. Read more
Location: Jalan Raya Tanah Lot, Beraban, Kediri, Tabanan, Bali 82121, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 6 am to 7 pm
Phone: +62 (0)361 880361
Tanah Lot Temple
2. Jemeluk Viewpoint
Stunning coastal views with a mountain in the background
Good for: Photo, Adventure
The coastal area of Amed is also known as Jemeluk Bay and is famous for both its diving and its scenic viewpoint up in the hills, just above the bay. It provides one of the most beautiful panoramas in the lesser-traveled East Bali region.
From the top, you can take in the breathtaking seascape of the curving bay with fishing outriggers parked in neat rows along the coast. The verdant green cliff and the clear and calm blue waters off the shore are all framed together with the outlines of Bali’s highest peak, Mount Agung, looming majestically in the background. Read more
Location: Bunutan, Abang, Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia
Jemeluk Viewpoint
3. Mount Batur in Kintamani
A majestic volcano and accompanying lake
Good for: Photo, Adventure
Mount Batur and its caldera lake are truly stunning, with the villages of Kintamani and Penelokan being among the favorite vantage points. Penelokan actually means “outlook” in the local tongue. The restaurant and stall-lined main road runs above the rim of the crater lake.
The village of Kintamani sits on the western side of the lake. Floating restaurants here let you get closer to the scenery. Even so, panoramic views are best from the ridges and Mount Batur’s peak itself. Mountain trails usually take at least 3 hours to hike. Mount Batur is also a popular haunt for local mountain-biking communities. Read more
Location: Mount Batur, Kintamani, Bangli, Bali 80652, Indonesia
Mount Batur in Kintamani
4. Lempuyang Temple
An ancient and remote mountaintop temple
Good for: Adventure, History, Photo
The Pura Lempuyang Temple is one of Bali’s oldest and most remote temples. At 1,175 meters above sea level, the temple is at the peak of namesake Mount Lempuyang in East Bali. You can reach it via a steep staircase with over 1,700 steps. Along the way, you’ll pass several other temples and forested pathways inhabited by gray long-tailed macaques.
An easier-to-reach viewpoint is the large Pura Penataran Agung temple at the foot of the mountain. From here, you can see the neighboring peak of Mount Agung perfectly framed through ornate gates. The first sight in view on pilgrimages here is the temple’s towering dragon staircases. This is a perfect backdrop for impressive photos. Read more
Location: Jalan Pura Telaga Mas Lempuyang, Tri Buana, Abang, Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia
Lempuyang Temple
5. Balangan Beach
A beautiful beach with clifftop views
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
As one of Bali’s most scenic popular beaches, Balangan features a beautifully rugged seascape with a stretch of white sand bordered by seaweed-covered rock pools and blue waters. An outcrop known as Balangan Hill is just to the north of the strip.
From here, you can take in a fantastic bird’s-eye view of the beach. You’ll see the golden stretch of sand meeting the vast blue ocean. You can also watch surfers having fun on the breaks and people enjoying the pools and the sand. Linger on late into the afternoon for dramatic sunsets. Read more
Location: Jalan Pantai Balangan, Jimbaran, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Balangan Beach
6. Uluwatu Temple
A dramatic temple perched above the crashing waves
Good for: Adventure, History, Photo
Uluwatu sits on top of a steep cliff, with the waves of the Indian Ocean crashing at its base 70 meters below. This ancient Hindu temple features splendid sunset backdrops and stunning ocean views. There’s also an adjacent open-air amphitheater showing traditional Kecak dance performances daily.
The views are great at any time of the day and from many different angles. You can enjoy great seascapes from within the temple courtyard or from the wall-bordered cliff edges. Gray long-tailed macaques inhabiting the surrounding forests can serve as free models in your photos. Read more
Location: Jalan Raya Uluwatu, Pecatu, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Uluwatu Temple
7. Suluban Beach
A hidden-gem beach through a maze of cliffs
Good for: Adventure, Photo, Unusual
The short stretch of sand known as Suluban Beach has many unique natural features, making it a photographer’s paradise. The beach is hidden behind beautiful natural limestone formations. Access is via steps and log ramps through narrow gaps in the rock.
Canopied from the sun by a looming cliff face, this small beach may not be ideal for sunbathers but is popular with surfers. Among the great vantage points are several cafes right above the surf spot. You can also get great views over the rolling waves from the Balawista lifeguard tower. Read more
Location: Jalan Mamo, Uluwatu, Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Suluban Beach
8. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Terraced rice fields flowing down the mountainside
Good for: History, Photo
The Jatiluwih rice terraces in central-west Bali are officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area also showcases some of the most popular viewpoints in Bali. The terraces cover 2.5 square miles of fertile land that follows the flowing hillside topography of the Batukaru mountain range. The rice fields are well-maintained by a traditional water management cooperative that’s known as “subak”. The system itself dates back to the 9th century.
On entering the farming village, you’ll instantly discover lush, panoramic views. Restaurants serving international and local cuisine line the small road overlooking the rice terraces. From most, you can enjoy local selections and buffets, served together with the beautiful vistas. Read more
Location: Jalan Jatiluwih, Penebel, Tabanan, Bali 82152, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 6 am to 7 pm
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
9. Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Scenic rice fields popular with painters
Good for: Photo, Adventure
The Tegallalang Rice Terraces are just north of central Ubud. You can admire the famous views from various outlook points along the main village road that runs parallel to the valley. There are several restaurants, cafes, and locally run art shops that dot the area, all providing great panoramic views.
The high roadside location is cool and breezy. It’s a well-known spot for travelers to stop and take photos, especially on tours through central Bali. Painters and nature lovers enjoy visiting this scenic area and local artists offer their works at numerous kiosks along the ledge. Read more
Location: Jalan Raya Tegallalang, Tegallalang, Gianyar, Bali 80561, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 8 am to 6 pm
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
10. Tegalwangi Beach
A secret beach ideal for twilight photography
Good for: Photo, Adventure
Tegal Wangi Beach is named after the temple perched on top of the limestone cliff that overlooks the coast. You can find this unique, hidden beach along the Bukit Peninsula’s western coast. It’s just to the north of the glitzy AYANA Resort and Spa in Jimbaran. You can reach the beach along a paved road, then down a flight of rocky stairs south of the temple.
Be sure to take in the fantastic seascapes before you descend. Low tides and crimson sunsets reveal seaweed-covered stony barriers, which add an abstract border and foreground to the wider ocean views. The best time to head up here is during the twilight just after sunset (between 6 pm and 7 pm). Read more
Location: Jalan Tegal Wangi, Jimbaran, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Tegalwangi Beach
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