Our 9 Favourite Day Trips From Seminyak, Bali

There's no shortage of fun things to do in Seminyak, with upscale beach clubs, luxury spas, and a lively nightlife scene. But no trip to Bali would be complete without getting out and seeing more of the island beyond this busy resort town.

While our preference would be to spend a few days based elsewhere, you can also see a lot of Bali's highlights on day trips from Seminyak. From the lush rice paddies around Ubud to the beautiful beaches of Uluwatu and the epic coastline of Nusa Penida, it's worth setting aside a few days to explore.

If you're not sure where to start, we've put together this guide with some of our favourite Seminyak day trips. We've done all of these trips ourselves, so we've shared plenty of tips based on our own experiences.

1. Go beach-hopping in Uluwatu

Seminyak’s beaches have a fun and lively atmosphere, especially around sunset, but I wouldn't say they're the best on the island. For a day of relaxing in the Bali sun, we much prefer the beautiful white sand bays of Uluwatu.

Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula's south coast is where you'll find most of our favourite beaches in Bali, from accessible, family-friendly stretches of coastline to hidden, picturesque bays. It's also where you'll find some of the most luxurious beach clubs in Bali.

To break up a day at the beach in Uluwatu, you can also visit the GWK Culture Park, home to Indonesia's tallest statue, or watch the famous Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple, performed around sunset.

These are some of our favourite beaches around Uluwatu:

How to get from Seminyak to Uluwatu:

We usually hire a scooter for a day of beach-hopping in Uluwatu. We don't particularly enjoy sitting on one beach all day (unless we're at a beach club), so a scooter gives us the freedom to move around to various spots. If you're like us, you can also book a private driver to take you around.

Another option is to book a Grab/Gojek (online taxi) to take you from Seminyak to one particular beach or beach club for the day. However, we've not been able to book an online taxi back from some beaches on the peninsula (due to the local taxi mafia), so it's important to do a little research in advance.

2. Visit the picturesque Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Bali is famous for its cascading rice terraces, but unfortunately, there are very few left around Seminyak and South Bali. This is why we'd recommend a day trip up to the incredible Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.

We’ve visited rice terraces all across Bali (Tegallalang, Sidemen, etc), but Jatiluwih is definitely the most impressive - they’re one of the most striking and unique landscapes we’ve ever seen.

While they're still working farmland, the terraces here are open to the public, with dedicated walking trails through the fields. We did the shorter 45-minute route, but the longest trek is 3-4 hours. You can also join a guided cycling or e-bike tour of the terraces.

How to get from Seminyak to Jatiluwih:

The drive from Seminyak to Jatiluwih takes around 2 hours, depending on traffic. It's best to hire a private driver for the day to take you to the terraces and back.

There are several other attractions you can add to a day trip from Seminyak to Jatiluwih too. We also visited Leke-Leke Waterfall on our last trip. There's also the Sangeh Monkey Forest, Beji Griya Park Waterfall, and Junglegold Chocolate Factory, all of which are on the same route.

3. Take the kids to Trans Studio Theme Park

One of the best family-friendly days out from Seminyak is to the nearby Trans Studio Theme Park. Hidden on the upper floors of a mall, this large indoor theme park has a full-sized go-karting track, motion-rides, river rapids, a Ferris wheel, and even a roller coaster sticking out of the roof.

There are some more unusual attractions too, including a Titanic Zone with a replica of the infamous ship, a Ninja Warrior-obstacle course, a zombie maze, and indoor skydiving. We also loved the shows which take place throughout the day - the stunt show was surprisingly impressive!

Trans Studio is a great option for spending a rainy day in Seminyak with kids. But even without kids, we still had a lot of fun here. Emily screamed her way around the zombie maze, and the rooftop roller coaster was seriously scary!

Ticket prices on the door start at 600,000 IDR ⓘ per adult (for foreigners), but are slightly cheaper online (book here). Go early and enjoy a full day of activities. We spent 6-7 hours here and just about managed to do most rides.

How to get from Seminyak to Trans Studio:

Trans Studio Mall is located just a 10-15 minute drive from central Seminyak. You can ask your hotel to book you a taxi or call an online taxi through the Grab app.

4. Explore the markets, temples, and jungles of Ubud

Ubud is Bali’s spiritual, artistic, and cultural hub, located right in the heart of the island. The popular tourist town is packed with local art markets, historic palaces, and craft studios, while dense jungles, lush rice terraces, and historic temples are just a short drive away.

There are so many great things to do around Ubud that we think it deserves a longer stay if your itinerary allows. But if you are limited on time, you can still see some of the highlights on a day trip from Seminyak.

If you only have one day to see the best of Ubud, we'd recommend something like this:

• Take part in a traditional purification ceremony at Pura Tirta Empul

• Explore the iconic Tegallalang Rice Terraces

• See wild monkeys at Ubud Monkey Forest

• Wander Ubud town centre for the art markets, palace, and water temple

• Take a sunset stroll along the Campuhan Ridge Walk or Sweet Orange Trail

• Watch a traditional dance performance at Ubud Palace (book here)

How to get from Seminyak to Ubud:

If you only plan on visiting Ubud Town Centre and the Monkey Forest, you can get a taxi or Grab straight from Seminyak to Ubud, which takes around 1 to 1.5 hours. The town itself is fairly walkable.

But if you want to explore jungles, rice terraces, temples, or waterfalls around Ubud, it's best to hire a private driver to pick you up in Seminyak and take you around for the day.

5. Cool down at Bali's biggest waterpark

Just south of Seminyak is Bali's original tourist town, Kuta. While we're not huge fans of Kuta itself, there is one key reason it's worth a day trip, and that's Waterbom, Bali’s biggest water park.

Often voted the best in the world, Waterbom is far more than just a few pools and slides. The huge park is packed with adrenaline-pumping rides, from near-vertical drops to twisting tube slides that leave your heart racing.

Our favourite ride is Boomerang, a two-person tube slide that sends you flying down a steep drop before shooting you up an almost vertical wall and back again. The most thrilling ride has to be the Climax, an extreme drop slide where the floor disappears beneath you, but we've always been too scared to try it!

There’s also a winding lazy river surrounded by greenery, numerous kids’ slides and playgrounds, a large wave pool, and plenty of gazebos, sun loungers, and shaded areas to hang out. Plus, several restaurants and even a swim-up bar.

Whether you’re travelling as a family, couple, or group of friends, the park is great for everyone and every occasion. We even spent Christmas Day here a couple of years ago!

How to get from Seminyak to Waterbom:

It takes around 30-40 minutes to get to Waterbom from Seminyak, depending on traffic. It's easy to book a taxi through your hotel or order a Grab/Gojek.

The park closes at 6pm, so we'd suggest arriving in the morning and making the most of your tickets. We usually stick around all day - there are more than enough things to do.

6. Take a day trip to Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is one of Bali’s most luxurious resort areas, filled with amazing 5-star beachfront hotels. Unfortunately, many of these hotels are a little out of our budget, but we still enjoy visiting on a day trip.

It's easy to see the highlights of Nusa Dua in a day. The popular resort area has some stunning white sand beaches with gentle waves for swimming, a lovely promenade to walk or cycle along, and two “islands” (peninsulas) with gardens and parkland.

Our favourite activity in Nusa Dua is the Devdan Show, an amazing cultural performance that takes you through the diverse islands of Indonesia, with dance, acrobatics, and special effects. The show runs three days a week, so organise your day trip accordingly and buy tickets online for the best price.

Our perfect day trip to Nusa Dua would look something like this:

• See beautiful artworks from Asia Pacific at the Museum Pacifika

• Stroll around the gardens on Dharma Island and Peninsula Island

• Spend the afternoon relaxing on Nusa Dua's pristine beaches

• Enjoy shopping and dinner at The Bali Collection

• Watch the mesmerising Devdan Show

How to get from Seminyak to Nusa Dua:

Most attractions are located within the central ITDC district (tourist area) of Nusa Dua, near the beach. Use a taxi or Grab/Gojek to travel between Seminyak and Nusa Dua, then everything else is walkable.

7. Climb Mount Batur and enjoy epic volcano views in Kintamani

Most people only know Kintamani as the home of Mount Batur, the island's second-largest volcano. And while climbing the iconic peak is definitely one of the top things to do in Bali, there’s so much more to see and do in this stunning mountain region.

We love visiting Kintamani on a full-day trip, hopping between beautiful cafes on the crater edge and relaxing in the area's many natural hot springs, heated by magma deep below the surface.

For the best experience, we recommend a super early start and climbing Mount Batur for sunrise. The hike took us around 2 hours, so you need to leave Seminyak around 1:30am to get to the top in time. If hiking isn't for you, consider a 4WD sunrise jeep tour instead.

Many people head straight back to Seminyak after climbing Mount Batur. But if you’re not too tired, we really think it's worth sticking around for the day to enjoy some of Kintamani’s other highlights.

Here’s a recommended Kintamani day trip itinerary:

• Watch the sunrise from Mount Batur (hiking or jeep tour)

• Relax in the rejuvenating waters of Toya Bungkah or Cinze Hot Springs

• Visit Kintamani's floating temple, Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur

• Learn about Bali's volcanic landscapes at the Batur Geopark Museum

• Enjoy lunch with a view at one of Kintamani's pretty crater-top cafes

How to get from Seminyak to Kintamani:

It takes around 2 to 2.5 hours to drive to Kintamani, making it one of the longest day trips from Seminyak on this list. We'd strongly recommend hiring a private driver for the day, or driving yourself by scooter (if you're an experienced driver).

If you do the sunrise hike on Mount Batur, you need to go with a local guide. Your driver can arrange this, or you can book online here. Even if you skip the sunrise trip up Mount Batur, Kintamani is definitely still worth visiting.

8. See the iconic sights of Nusa Penida

A beautiful island just off the coast of the mainland, Nusa Penida is one of Bali’s most famous and most photographed tourist destinations. Known for its pristine white sand bays and a dramatic, rugged coastline, it's also one of the most popular day trips from Seminyak.

However, most people don't realise just how big Penida actually is. It took us multiple days to explore the entire island. With just one day, it’s best to focus on either the East or the West side. If you try to see everything, you'll spend most of your day driving around on bumpy, uneven roads.

Here's what you can expect from each side of the island:

• East Penida – This is our favourite side as it’s a little quieter. It’s home to Goa Giri Putri (a huge underground temple) and several beautiful beaches such as Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach. You can also stop by the huge Cactus Beach Club - we recently had a lovely afternoon here.
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• West Penida – This is where most of the island's iconic sites are, including Kelingking Beach (the one that looks like a T.rex) and Angel's Billabong. You can find some hidden gems over here, but most day-trippers stick to the main highlights.

We'd also recommend adding a snorkelling tour to your day trip if you have the time. The Nusa Islands are home to some of the most incredible snorkelling spots we’ve ever visited, with huge schools of colourful fish and giant Manta Rays - we've seen them 3 times now!

How to get from Seminyak to Nusa Penida:

To get to Nusa Penida, you first need to drive from Seminyak to Sanur Harbour on Bali's east coast. This takes around 45 minutes, depending on traffic. You can then catch a 30-minute ferry over to Penida Island.

Most organised day trips to Nusa Penida include the option to add transfers from mainland Bali. An organised day trip is the most expensive option, but also the most convenient if you're limited on time.

Another option is to catch a taxi to the port, book your own ferry, then organise a private driver on Penida to meet you when you arrive. We usually make our own way to Penida, then hire a scooter from Doel Rental near the harbour to drive ourselves around.

9. Explore beaches and mangroves on Nusa Lembongan

Right next door to Penida is the smaller and more laid-back island of Nusa Lembongan. This little island is one of our favourite spots for a peaceful getaway, with its stunning white sand beaches, amazing marine life, and famous mangroves.

Our favourite area of Lembongan is Jungutbatu Beach, the island’s longest and most popular beach, which is lined with sun loungers, beachfront cafes, and chilled beach clubs. The area is super walkable and ideal for a relaxed day by the beach.

Lembongan is also the perfect size to explore in a day, with several picturesque bays and coastal formations to see. We love crossing over the iconic yellow bridge to neighbouring Nusa Ceningan (the third Nusa Island) to enjoy the Blue Lagoon, cliff jumping spots, and the brand-new ARNA Beach Lounge.

We'd suggest an itinerary like this:

• Take a boat trip through Lembongan's coastal mangrove forest

• Have lunch on the sand at Jungutbatu Beach

• See the crashing waves at Devils Tear

• Relax on the peaceful Dream Beach

• Cross the Yellow Bridge and see the many seaweed farms

• Snap a photo of the incredible Blue Lagoon

How to get from Seminyak to Nusa Lembongan:

To take a day trip from Seminyak to Lembongan, you'll need to drive 45 minutes to Sanur Harbour, then jump on a 30-minute ferry to the island. You can pre-book ferry tickets here. Most ferries drop off at Jungutbatu Beach, where there are plenty of beach bars and cafes within walking distance.

The best way to get around on Nusa Lembongan is to rent a scooter or buggy and drive yourself. The island is small and easy to navigate - even Emily is comfortable driving on Lembongan.

Hiring drivers in Lembongan is less common than in mainland Bali, as the roads aren’t made for cars. If you don’t want to drive yourself, it may be better to book a guided day trip. You can also flag down trucks that take people between the main areas, while some beach clubs offer free transfers.