Two Months in Bali Itinerary 

For those seeking sun, sand and surf, Bali has long been a popular destination. With its stunning beaches, lush rice paddies and vibrant culture, Bali has something to offer everyone! No matter whether you want to explore ancient temples and traditional villages or lie horizontally on a beach, Bali will not disappoint! In this Bali Travel Guide, we’ll outline all the places you must visit during your two months in Bali itinerary so you can come away knowing you’ve seen and experienced everything there is to do!

Make sure to check out our Ultimate Bali Bucket List so you know all the island’s highlights before you get there!

Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.

Do you need a visa to spend 2 months in Bali? 

Yes you do.

Firstly, you will need to obtain a single 30-day visa to enter Indonesia. This can be secured in advance by applying on the Indonesian Immigration website and costs 750,000 IDR per person ($50). Alternatively, if you’re a citizen from one of the 80+ countries listed, you can receive a visa on arrival which costs 500,000 IDR per person ($35) which is cash only.

How to extend your Indonesian Visa?

You will need to visit an immigration centre in Bali at least seven days before your existing visa is due to expire. The visa extension costs 350,000 IDR per person ($24) as well as additional fees for fingerprints and processing. Your visa will be extended for an additional 30 days and can only be done so once if you’re on a single-entry visa.

If you don’t want to do it yourself, you can always pay a company to extend your visa for you. All that’s required of you is to hand over your passport to the company and then attend the relevant immigration centre on the day you’re required. Whilst this did cost us more money than doing it ourselves, it was far less stressful and did allow us more time to explore Ubud. However, if we were to do it again, we’d definitely have a crack at extending the visa ourselves.

No matter which method you use, make sure to get there as early as you can and we’d advise to completely write off your whole day because it can take the full day. You’ll realise just how many people are in the waiting room when you get there!

What to pack for 2 months in Bali 

Whether you’re visiting Bali as part of your visit to South East Asia or for that idyllic holiday, you’re going to need to know what to pack!

Luggage 

Travelling around Bali is far easier if you have a backpack. You don’t want to be walking along the streets of Bali with a wheelie suitcase as you’ll stick out like a sore thumb. By far the most practical and roomie backpack we’ve found is the 55L Osprey Farpoint Backpacking Backpack. This evenly distributes the weight across your body so your shoulders aren’t constantly aching. It also opens like a suitcase which is incredibly helpful for finding items that could be at the bottom of your bag.

If you’re looking for a women-specific backpack, we swear by this 70L Osprey Fairview Backpack. It’s designed specifically for smaller shoulders and keeps straps away from your chest area. It also has a detachable 13L day bag which is perfect to take on hikes or keeping your dirty laundry separate! The 70L Osprey Fairview Backpack is also available for men.

Clothing 

Light layers with some cover-ups for temples and walking around the streets

Given the tropical, high humidity of Bali’s climate, you’re going to need a lot of light layers to stay cool in the heat. Obviously, you’ll need to bring a range of swimwear if you plan on spending the majority of your time on the beach!! However, make sure you have some longer lengthened clothes as you’ll need to cover up when visiting temples or walking around the streets in the evening.

Don’t worry if you’re planning a wider South East Asia trip as these clothes will be suitable pretty much wherever you visit.

Other stuff

If you take away one thing from this guide then it should be to buy packing cubes. This bit of kit was so helpful whilst we were travelling and kept us organised throughout. Why not check out our dedicated guide to all the Backpacking Must Haves you need whilst travelling!!

We also found that having everything you need at the tip of your fingers made our lives so much easier and far less stressful. That is why we recommend having an array of Gadgets whilst Travelling makes your time travelling that much more enjoyable and a lot easier!

How to get around Bali 

Even though Bali is a small island, it has so different loads of places within it that you absolutely must visit. That is why knowing How to Get Around Bali is so important.

One of the best starting points is having the 21 Must Have Apps for Travelling which allows you to have everything at the touch of your fingertips!

Scooters

Scooters are typically the go-to mode of transport for tourists as they have a lot of advantages. They’re probably the cheapest mode of transport and give you the freedom to go wherever you want when you want. The price of scooter rentals can vary depending on where you are so do shop around for the best bargain. Make sure that your travel insurance covers you riding a scooter as some don’t. We’d recommend to never hand over your passport and to always check the bike for defects before hiring.

Taxis

If you decide not to rely on scooters to travel around Bali then taking taxis are the next best option. In Bali, you can choose Bluebird Taxi which is the only authorised taxi company on the island. However, you do also have the option of using ride-hailing apps such as Grab or Gojek. These apps will be cheaper than Bluebirds so a great choice if you’re travelling on a budget.

Private Drivers

This is a great method of transport if you’re looking to take day trips out to specific places like the Tegalalang Rice Terraces or Kanto Lampo Waterfall. To secure your travel both to and from your activity, it is far better to rely on a private driver to take you around for the day. Otherwise, you’re stuck relying on a Grab or a Bluebird taxi that might not be available at the time you wish to go home. Whilst private drivers do cost more, we found they were always super friendly and gave us a great insight into the local culture.

Boats

If you’re wanting to visit any of the Gili Islands, Lombok or Nusa Penida, then the only way you’re able to get there by boat. We relied completely on 12go Asia and it didn’t let us down at all. It clearly set out everything we needed to know such as pick-up/drop-off times and locations which was very reassuring.

How much does two months in Bali cost? 

As cliche as it is, it’s true to say that you can make your Bali as cheap or as expensive as you wish. The three main factors for this are your accommodation, transport and food.

With food, for example, eating at local places, called Warungs, will significantly reduce the amount you spend on food as a typical meal only costs 50,000 IDR ($3.30). Conversely, more established restaurants serving Western-style food can result in a bill of nearly 200,000 IDR per person ($13.40). Whilst it depends entirely on your budget, it may be best to try a variety of foods so you’re not constantly eating the same curries! Beers on the other hand were incredibly affordable at just 25,000 IDR ($1.7) and we just couldn’t get enough of them!!

Transport contributes to a huge section of your budget. If you’re relying on taxis, like we did, to get you from place to place then it will increase the cost, especially compared to scooters. We personally erred on the side of caution as we’d never ridden a scooter before and didn’t want to end up covered in bandages like everyone else we saw in the hostels!

Whether you choose to stay in hostels or hotels will also have a massive impact on your budget. As we were travelling together, it sometimes worked out cheaper for us to get a hotel than pay for two separate dorm beds. By this point, we’d also been travelling a long while and had spent a lot of time in hostels so we enjoyed the hotel life. The average cost of our hotels per night was just under 370,000 IDR ($25) whilst hostels averaged at 220,000 IDR ($15) per person per night.

Where to start? 

No matter where you’re starting from before visiting Bali, it’s highly likely you’ll be flying into Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. We’d recommend booking your first accommodation that includes hotel pick-up. That way you’ll avoid all of the airport chaos and trying to scramble and secure a taxi. Naturally, airport taxis hike their prices so this method saves you money and stress!

Starting Point: Kuta

Known for being a resort town, Kuta is arguably the most developed region in Bali. As a result, don’t expect swaths of temples or quiet beaches. Nonetheless, it’s a great place to start your 8 weeks in Bali as it’ll allow you to acclimatise to the heat and life on the island.

One of Kuta’s highlights is the variety of places to eat. Even though there are a number of global chains, such as Hard Rock Cafe, there’s an abundance of independent cafes and restaurants that serve some unbelievable food. We absolutely loved breakfast/brunch at the Crumb and Coaster and couldn’t recommend it enough!! If you’re visiting with family then there’s no better place to visit than Waterbomb Bali. This 22-ride water park is a perfect opportunity to let the kids let off their energy whilst keeping cool in the water.

However, it is admittedly not the nicest of areas and we’d strongly warn against straying off the main road after dark.

How long to stay in Kuta: 

2-3 nights 

Where to stay in Kuta: 

• Hostel: Cara Cara Inn
• Mid-range: La Walon 
• Luxury: Aloft Bali Kuta at Beachwalk

Stop 2: Seminyak 

How to get there? 

The best way to get here is either via the ride-hailing apps or by scooter. This depends entirely on how much luggage you have and whether you’re relying on a motorbike long-term in Bali. A taxi will cost you roughly 60,000 IDR ($4) and it can take around 15 minutes. Do bear in mind that traffic in Kuta is a nightmare so give yourself some extra time to get to your next accommodation.

The Town

We absolutely loved the vibe in Seminyak and wish we had time to stay longer! It was full of bars and clubs if you fancy a boogie and have the budget to enjoy yourself that little bit more. We found the town also had some of the best places on the whole island to eat, especially some amazing breakfast spots!! One of our favourite activities was relaxing at one of the many beach clubs along the front including Potato Head Beach Club.

How long to stay in Seminyak:

4 nights 

Where to stay in Seminyak: 

• Hostel: My Capsule Bali
• Mid-range: The Taman Ayu  
• Luxury: Blue Karma Dijiwa Seminyak

Stop 3: Canggu 

How to get there?

Canguu is just a stone’s throw away from Seminyak so even if you’ve hired a scooter by now, getting here is really accessible. The drive will only take you 20 minutes and it’ll be a lot less congested than in Kuta. Having said that, always be careful when driving on the roads in Bali as there really are no rules and you must always be sensible! If you don’t have access to a scooter then ride-hailing a Grab or Gojek will work too!

The Village

The highlight of Canggu has to be Finns Beach Club. Famous for its luxurious pools and partying until the early hours, Finns is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you absolutely must visit!! However, there are tons of other beach clubs situated along the coast if you prefer something a bit more low-key. Canggu also has a huge surfing community and Batu Bolong Beach is the place to be to ride the waves! If you love surfing and enjoying a few cold ones, Canggu is the place for you!

How long to stay in Canggu 

3 nights

Where to stay in Canggu

• Hostel: Tribal Bali
• Mid-range: Ecosfera Hotel 
• Luxury: Kirana Hotel

Stop 4: Ubud

How to get there?

Getting from Canggu to Ubud can be rather difficult if you’re not using a scooter. However, as it’ll take over an hour by motorbike and 28km, it may not be the most viable option. One option you do have is by calling a Grab or Gojek but do be wary about the “taxi mafia”, which actually exists. Essentially, the mafia prevents people from using ride-hailing apps through intimidation of the driver and will just force you into a car operated by one of their drivers at an inflated price. Whilst it is still possible to get a Grab/Gojek without getting caught, you just have to be discreet about it and tell the driver to get away quickly.

The Town

We absolutely loved Ubud and thought it was one of our favourite places in the whole of Bali. It’s completely different to Canggu and Seminyak as it definitely had a more relaxed atmosphere. We also really enjoyed the fact there were many more things to do and a lot more culture to enjoy. Whether you’re hiking Mount Batur at 3am, enjoying the Tegalalang Rice Terrances or taking an authentic Balinese cooking class, you will absolutely fall in love with Ubud. What topped off our visit was just the amount of amazing places to in eat in Ubud!

How long to stay in Ubud

4-6 nights

Where to stay in Ubud

• Hostel: Puji Hostel
• Mid-range: Ubud Village Hotel
• Luxury: Capella Ubud Bali

Stop 5: Lovina 

How to get there?

To make this journey manageable, you’re going to need to set off from Ubud. This journey takes nearly two hours and covers over 70km in distance. That is why taking a taxi or hiring a private driver for the journey is the best option. Whilst it is doable, I can’t envisage anyone wanting to spend over two hours on a scooter. But then again, it does give you freedom when you get to Lovina.

The Town

Even though it’s a little off the beaten tourist path, it is still well worth visiting. It still oozes Balinese culture but without the crowds meaning you can enjoy the black sandy beaches a little bit more! If you’re also a fan of wildlife then you absolutely must visit Lovina. The northern shores are famous for spinner, spotted and bottle-nosed dolphins which are truly beautiful creatures. Make sure to take a tour so you can enjoy them close up and they’re known for putting on a show.

How long to stay in Lovina 

2 nights

Where to stay in Lovina 

• Hostel: Lovina Loca
• Mid-range: Lovina Beach Hotel
• Luxury: The Lovina

Stop 6: Amed

How to get there?

This is another hefty trip as it takes nearly 2.5 hours and covers over 90km. Again, this is probably the journey you want to be spending in an air-conditioned vehicle rather than rigidly sitting on a scooter. A taxi will cost you 750,000 IDR ($50) for the journey so you might want to try to make some friends to split the journey with.

The Villages

Amed is actually a strip of villages stretched along Bali’s east coast and is famous for being one of the best areas in Bali to stay in if you are interested in snorkelling and scuba diving. The offshore coral reefs are full of amazing wildlife, including sharks and turtles, and an absolute must-do if you visit the region. Similarly, there’s a Japanese shipwreck from WW2 located just 10 metres off the beach and is a perfect scuba diving spot that is well worth visiting! Due to the make-up of the region, you’ll experience nothing but authentic Balinese culture and nothing epitomises it more than Pura Lempuyang Temple!

How long to stay in Amed: 

2 nights

Where to stay in Amed: 

• Hostel: Ocean Prana Hostel
• Mid-range: Ocean Resort Amed
• Luxury: Aquamarine Beach Villas

Stop 7: Gili Islands

How to get there?

No matter where you’re coming from, in order to get to the Gili Islands you’re going to have to get there by ferry. The majority of ferries will leave from Padang Bai port and will go directly to Gili Trawangan. Whilst there are ferries to Gili Air and Gili Meno, Gili T is the most popular island out of the three. We relied completely on 12go Asia for all of our ferry bookings as it had everything we needed. It clearly set out where to pick our tickets from, how much it cost and how long it’d take. It cost us 370,000 IDR per person ($25) and took roughly two hours from Padang Bai.

The Islands

Gili Trawangan was by far our most favourite place in the whole of Bali and we’d visit it again in a heartbeat. We did venture to Gili Meno and Gili Air but it’s apparently never been the same since the 2018 earthquake which cause a tsunami to devastate the islands. As such, we spent the vast majority of our time on Gili T and absolutely loved it!!

There is an abundance of things to do in Gili Trawangan no matter what you enjoy doing. For days on end we’d spend it on a day lounger reading our Kindles and it was so peaceful. Other days were full of activities, such as taking a Jewellery Class, snorkelling with Turtles or biking around the island! What made our stay more enjoyable was the variety of food places we ate at. Despite being a small island, there was loads of different restaurants to try and even though we spent two weeks here, we didn’t try them all!

How long to stay in the Gili Islands

7+ nights

Where to stay in the Gili Islands 

• Hostel: My Mates Place
• Mid Range: My Gili Paradise
• Luxury: Pondok Santi Beach Club

Stop 8: Sanur 

How to get there?

Coming from the Gili Islands you’ll need to get a boat back to the island of Bali before grabbing a Grab or Gojek to your Sanur accommodation. The reason we recommend taking a Grab or Gojek so much is that its the cheapest method of transport for yourself and you’ll get to know more drivers that can give you tips whilst in Bali!

The Town

It’s not on the radar of most tourists but it’s definitely another place to check out if you have the time. Sanur has some beautiful beaches to relax on and tons of foods places locally. Our highlight however was stumbling across a turtle sanctuary on the beachfront which hatch, raised and (re)released turtles into the wild. We could’ve spent hours looking around the small centre and they were doing an amazing project. The owner was really friendly and spoke to us about what they did, he even let us feed them which alot of fun!

How long to stay in Sanur

2 nights

Where to stay in Sanur

• Hostel: Big Pineapple
• Mid-range: Klumpu Bali Resort
• Luxury: Hyatt Regency Bali

Stop 9: Nusa Lemongan, Nusa Ceningan & Nusa Penida

How to get there?

Getting to the Nusa Islands is incredibly easy from Sanur. Simply make your way to the Sanur Ferry terminal and you can get a direct ferry for just 130,000 IDR ($9) to Nusa Lembongan. The journey takes less than an hour but make sure to get the earliest possible boat as the sea is calmer in the morning.

The Islands

It’s hard to imagine but we found each of the Nusa Islands so different in some many ways, despite being directly next to each other. Nusa Ceningan was our favourite out of the three as it was just a beautiful place to relax and watch the world go by. The north-west facing part of the island, where most people stayed, had unrivalled views over the seaweed farm which were incredibly! Nusa Lembongan has incredibly beaches no matter where you stay and has an array of places you can visit. From the Devil’s Tears cove to Sunset Point, you won’t have a hard time having fun here!

We found Nusa Penida to be the explorers island as it has absolutely tons to see. We’d highly recommend hiring a scooter and just riding round the island seeing everything it has to offer. This also allows you to go at your own pace and stop off where you want, when you want.

How long to stay on the Nusa Islands

• Lembongan: 2 nights
• Ceningan: 2-3 nights
• Penida: 3 nights

Where to stay on the Nusa Islands

• Lembongan: Lembongan Hostel
• Ceningan: Ocean Brothers Ceningan
• Penida: Rumah Pohon Treehouse

Stop 10: Uluwatu

How to get there?

This again depends entirely on where you’ve been previously. If you’re following this guide and coming from the Nusa Islands then you’ll have to get the 12go Asia ferry back to the mainland. Once you’re off the ferry then you can always call a Grab or Gojek to your next accommodation. When you get there however, we highly recommend renting a scooter as this is the best way of seeing Uluwatu. As the region is quite spread out, this will help you make the most of your time here.

The Region

Uluwatu translates as “lands end” and “rock” and it’s clear to see why. This beautiful region is full of wildlife and really makes you feel like you’re on another planet! It is hugely popular with surfers because of how perfect and divine the waves are. People will come all across the world to surf at Padang Padang beach, amongst others, so definitely visit if you enjoy riding those waves. Not surprisingly its also a great place to immerse yourself into some local culture. The most famous of which is the Kecak Uluwatu temple dance that is aimed at repelling evil spirits. It really is a spectacular show and a must visit!

How long to stay in Uluwatu 

3-4 nights

Where to stay in Uluwatu 

• Hostel: Karma Backpacker
• Mid-range: Gravity Boutique Hotel
• Luxury: Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort

Where to finish your two months in Bali?

This entirely depends on whether you prefer to finish on a high or methodically explore the islands. If the latter, then you could find yourself on the Nusa Islands or in Uluwatu. However, if you want to finish on a high then there is no other place than Gili T! I know we’ve raved about it a lot in this guide but it really is the most relaxing place ever!

Two Months in Bali FAQs

One month in Bali

If you’re short on time or your budget doesn’t stretch far enough to spend two months in Bali, you can always spend one month in Bali. Despite spending half the time here, you will still be able to explore everything the island has to offer. We’d highly recommend focussing on visiting Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Gili Trawangan, Nusa Penida and Uluwatu.

…

There you have it, our guide for spending Two Months in Bali. Outlining all the best places to visit, where to stay and all the top things to do in each place! However, no matter where you visit in Bali, you’re going to have an amazing time and it will undoubtedly live up to expectations. Bali is one of our most cherished destinations out of all your travels and we hope it is for you too!

Have you recently visited Bali or is it at the top of your holiday list? Let us know in the comments below!

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Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.