If you’ve only got seven days to backpack Bali, I recommend focusing on two main destinations (Canggu and Ubud) rather than trying to squeeze in too many places. Canggu and Ubud will give you a good mix of nightlife, beaches, rice terraces, cultural sights, jungle and surfing. Be warned; this is a jam-packed seven-day itinerary so you can make the most of your time in Bali. Are you spending more than seven days in Indonesia? Check out my 14-day itinerary, 21-day itinerary and 30-day itinerary.
Day 1- Canggu
After arriving at Denpasar International Airport, Canggu will be your first top. This is generally the first stop of most backpackers’ routes due to its proximity to the airport.
If you arrive during the day and want to get out and explore, head to Love Machine in the heart of Canggu to do some shopping and exercise your haggling skills. Walk around the nearby streets, a mix of brunch spots, cute boutiques and local shops filled with cheap sarongs, sun dresses and sunglasses.
In the evening, head to Lola’s for Mexican and Marg’s and the immaculate pre-drink vibes. Fancy a night out? Make your way to La Favela, a popular club with multiple levels catering to different music tastes. Want drunk food? Head to pitstop burgers on your way back from La Favela for a great drunken feed.
Day 2- Canggu
Wake up early in the morning for a surf lesson on Canggu beach. After your morning surf, head to one of Canggu’s top-tier brunch spots, such as Crate Cafe or Avocado Factory. Canggu has such a cafe and brunch culture that I wrote a whole post on my favourite cafes, which you can read here.
Enjoy a chill afternoon by the hostel pool, or treat yourself to a spa afternoon at one of Canggu’s affordable day spas.
At around 4 pm, go to Tanah Lot Temple to explore this significant Balinese temple. Before sunset, head to the beach next to Tanah Lot for one of the most phenomenal sunset views. Be prepared for crowds, so make sure you get there early!
In the evening, head to Black Sand Brewery for dinner and pre-drinks. Then head out to dance barefoot on the sand at Sandbar- an infamous beach-front club.
Day 3- Canggu
You’ll probably wake up feeling a little dusty after a late night in Canggu. But that’s nothing a morning swim in the hostel pool and some smashed avo on toast at a cute cafe can’t fix.
After you’re feeling moderately better, it’s time for more drinks. Head to one of Bali’s infamous day clubs for an afternoon of lounging in a cabana, swimming, drinking and maybe even having a cheeky dance. There are many day clubs, such as Finns, La Brisa and Potato Head, to suit different budgets and vibes.
For dinner, head to Luigi’s- an institution in Canggu known for being a great pizza place. It also doubles as a hectic club on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you end up at Luigi’s on a night that isn’t their club night, head to Havana Bar for cheap drinks and fun dance vibes.
Day 4- Canggu to Ubud
Enjoy one last hungover Canggu brunch before heading to a place to rest your liver and experience more Balinese culture: Ubud. For the full travel guide to Ubud, click here. To avoid peak traffic, try to leave Canggu no earlier than 10 am and no later than 2 pm. Otherwise, the journey between Canggu and Ubud can take 2-3 hours instead of 1 hour.
Either hire a driver for the afternoon or head out on a scooter to the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. Walk the breathtaking rice fields, take plenty of photos or even have a go at one of the infamous Bali Swings overlooking the terraces.
Next, head to Tenungan Waterfall to swim in one of Bali’s most famous waterfalls (and for a good reason!). After an afternoon dip, make it back to Ubud city centre to tick off another bucket-list item- the monkey forest. Spend as little or as much time watching the Macau monkeys eating, playing and stealing unsuspecting tourists’ belongings from their pockets.
After you’ve had your monkey adventure fill, treat yourself to some banging Italian food at L’osteria. After dinner, head to the Grand Palace and buy your tickets to see a traditional dance performance. While the performance doesn’t start until 7:30, get there at 7 pm. That way you can nab a front-row seat with unobstructed views (trust me, it’s worth it).
Day 5- Ubud
Wake up early (like 2 am early) to tick off one of the best experiences in Indonesia, a Mount Batur Sunrise Hike. After getting in a fair few steps and hopefully witnessing a clear insta-worthy sunrise, grab a hearty brunch in town at one of Ubud’s cafes.
Head to Cretya Day Club in the afternoon to relax in their infinity pools overlooking the rice terraces. Treat yourself to cocktails, delicious food and a sneaky nap on a poolside cabana after a long morning of hiking.
If you’re not tired from such a long day, head to CP Lounge in Ubud city centre for more drinks and dancing.
Day 6- Ubud
Another early wakeup, this time to take a morning tour of a traditional market as a part of a Balinese cooking class.
After a morning spent cooking and eating, grab your swimming suits and jump in a car or scooter. The next stop is to visit Tirta Empul. Here you can participate in a traditional Balinese ceremony and be blessed by the holy waters of this temple.
Head back into town in time for a sunset stroll along the Campuhan Ridge. This is the best time to complete the walk both humidity-wise and lighting-wise for photos. After the ridge walk, head to Sun Sun Warung. Sun Sun Warung is some of the best food you will eat in Indonesia; make sure you try the Nasi Campur. Enjoy your last night in Ubud with casual drinks and live music at Hideout Bar.
Day 7- Ubud
If you’re up for an early wakeup, book a half-day morning tour to learn traditional Balinese jewellery-making class in the silversmith village of Delodsema.
Otherwise, enjoy a much-needed relaxed morning, another great Ubud brunch, and maybe a yoga or meditation class at Yoga Barn.
Head to Oka for lunch to try the Babi Guling, a famous Balinese pork dish. Spend the afternoon exploring Ubud city centre. Here you can visit cultural sites such as the Grand Palace and Saraswati Temple, and shopping in Ubud Central Market.
Take one last car or scooter ride through the countryside of Bali before your flight out of Denpasar Airport.
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