6 Attractions To Avoid in Bali (+ Alternatives)

After spending the last few years exploring every corner of Bali, we've quickly come to realise that not every popular attraction lives up to the hype. With over-tourism, long lines, and rising prices, some well-known spots can end up wasting valuable time on your itinerary.

In this guide, we’ll break down 6 overrated attractions in Bali that are often crowded or disappointing, along with better alternatives to have a more enjoyable trip.

1. The Gates of Heaven

Pura Lempuyang is a large temple complex in East Bali with breathtaking views of Mount Agung. Even if you’ve not heard of the temple, you’ll likely recognise photos of its candi bentar (Balinese split gates). The gates have become one of the most iconic Bali photo spots, known as the "Gates of Heaven."

But the reality of visiting Pura Lempuyang is not quite what you see on Instagram.

Firstly, the famous reflection is actually created with a mirror and clever camera angles. There’s no lake in front of the gates.

Secondly, you'll only get the iconic backdrop of Mount Agung in the background if it's a super clear day. Clouds and fog often obstruct the view of the volcano.

And lastly, the temple is not quite the peaceful oasis it appears online. Pura Lempuyang is one of Bali’s busiest and most overcrowded tourist spots. Most people have to wait 1-3 hours to take a photo here.

The gates have become so popular that the temple had to implement a ticket system. As you arrive, you're handed a numbered ticket. You then need to wait closeby until your number is called. Unfortunately, you can’t spend this time exploring the temple itself as tourists have limited access.

What To Do Instead?

Our alternative recommendations depend on the reason you are visiting Pura Lempuyang in the first place.

If you want to explore a beautiful Balinese temple, consider Pura Besakih instead. Known as the "Mother Temple," Pura Besakih sits on the opposite side of Mount Agung to Lempuyang and is the largest and most important temple in Balinese Hinduism. And yes, it also has split gates.

But if you want that iconic photo, plenty of other places offer a similar photo op without the huge crowds and long wait time.

Handra Gate in Bedegul is one of the most popular alternatives, with its imposing stone gates (which lead into a luxury golf resort). But it has become a little busier recently, with wait times of 30 mins to 1 hour for a photo.

Lahangan Sweet in East Bali is our favourite alternative, with an equally impressive view of Mount Agung in the background and several other great photo spots nearby.

We have an entire article with other great alternatives to the Gates Of Heaven.

2. Penglipuran Traditional Village

Penglipuran is the largest and most famous of Bali’s cultural villages that aims to give tourists a glimpse at traditional local life.

Now don’t get us wrong, the village is a beautiful example of Balinese architecture. It’s full of traditional thatched-roof houses with unique carvings around the entrance and small shrines inside. The whole place is very photogenic.

But photogenic is about all it is. Penglipuran is far from what a traditional Balinese village is actually like. Most houses are souvenir shops, selling gifts similar to those in tourist markets at highly inflated prices.

As far as we could see, there were no talks, workshops, information, or exhibitions to learn about Balinese culture. The only things to do here are dressing up in the traditional Balinese costume for photos, shopping, and eating, but you don’t need to visit Penglipuran for any of these.

Then there’s the crowds. When we visited, it was so busy that we could barely walk down the main street. The attraction draws in many large tour groups, especially coach-loads of children from other parts of Indonesia. And even they seemed more interested in taking photos with us foreigners than around the village itself.

What To Do Instead?

Instead of visiting a tourist trap like Penglipuran, visit a real local village where you can spend an entire day learning about Balinese life and culture with locals.

Emily visited Rumah Desa during her first month in Bali, a local home complex between Ubud and Bedegul that offers many different cultural experiences for visitors (pictured above).

Her visit included a tour of a family home and temple, a lesson in Balinese medicine and scripts, an offering-making class, coconut oil-making, and even a short cooking class.

You can also check out this tour of Sangeh village or the Samsara Living World Museum near Sidemen, both of which offer similar cultural experiences.

3. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Sitting on the shore of Bedugul’s Lake Beratan, Ulun Danu Beratan is one of Bali’s most famous and most photographed Hindu temples.

It’s known by many as “the floating temple” due to the way its pagodas appear to float on the lake's edge (at high tide). Ceremonies and offerings to the Balinese water and river Goddess Dewi Danu often take place here.

However, the temple’s fame has also become its downfall. Ulun Danu has turned from a peaceful temple to somewhat of a tourist trap in recent years.

The temple grounds are now full of tacky photo spots and bizarre children’s attractions. There’s a rabbit petting zoo, large cartoon-like fish and frogs hovering above the lake, and a dinosaur head containing a cacti garden.

Even by Bali standards, it all feels a little too much and has really taken away from the beauty of the temple itself.

You'll also have to contend with the temple's huge crowds. We've visited Ulun Danu on a few different occasions over the last several years and it's always been packed with large tour groups and hoards of schoolchildren.

What To Do Instead?

While we wouldn't recommend going inside the temple complex, we don’t think you should skip this iconic Bali temple altogether.

Rather than going inside the main tourist area, a better way to experience Ulun Danu Beratan is by heading out onto the lake in a traditional Balinese boat. From a boat, you can enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of the temple without the crowds.

You can hire a boat and a guide from a parking area just around the corner from the complex. We managed to negotiate a one-hour private boat ride for the two of us for just 300,000 IDR ⓘ - only a little more than the temple entry price of 75,000 IDR ⓘ per person.

4. Bali Safari Park, Bali Zoo, and Other Wildlife Entertainment Venues

Some of Bali’s most sought-after wildlife experiences include the night safari at Bali Safari & Marine Park and breakfast with orangutans at Bali Zoo.

Unfortunately, these attractions, along with several other wildlife entertainment venues across Bali, were highlighted in a recent report by World Animal Protection as offering "inadequate conditions," with some "[not even meeting] the most basic need of captive wild animals" (source).

Researchers last visited these Bali attractions in 2023 and still reported cases of elephant riding, tigers in overcrowded housing, turtles in small tanks without enough water, and other poor conditions. Some venues even promote themselves as "rescue centres," but haven’t rescued any animals in decades.

The report concludes that there are no wildlife entertainment venues in Bali that provide optimum conditions for captive animals. Until this changes, we think it’s best not to support them. The main venues listed in the report were:

• Bali Zoo

• Mason Elephant Park & Lodge

• Bakas Elephant Park (Bali Elephant Park)

• Bali Safari & Marine Park

• Bali Fantasi Benoa Bay (Turtle Island)

• Bali Bird Park

• Bali Reptile Park

• Bali Exotic Marine Park

• Tasta Zoo

What To Do Instead?

Just because you shouldn't visit the above venues, doesn't mean you have to miss out on wildlife in Bali altogether. There are plenty of opportunities to see local species in the wild all across the island.

5. Sekumpul Waterfall

Sekumpul, which roughly translates to "collection", is the name given to seven waterfalls in the Sekumpul Valley. Among them is the tallest waterfall in Bali, reaching a whopping 80m in height.

It’s possible to go all the way to the base of the waterfalls where you can swim in the pool at the bottom.

However, the operators running this waterfall are notorious for strong-arming visitors into purchasing guided packages at unreasonably high prices, even though this isn’t officially required. If you do refuse, they are known to get pushy and aggressive.

The government stepped in to try and stamp this out (as reported in the news), but we’re still hearing reports of it continuing. We hope this is resolved soon, but for now, we recommend avoiding Sekumpul.

What To Do Instead?

Don’t worry, Bali has many other amazing waterfalls you can visit instead.

Some other waterfalls in Bali will try to upsell you guided packages, but they will sell you a basic entrance ticket if you ask.

6. Padang Padang Beach, Uluwatu

On paper, Padang Padang Beach ticks a lot of boxes. It’s a beautiful white sand beach surrounded by greenery. The sea has a sandy bottom and small waves, which are great for swimming, and there’s a great surf break just offshore. It's also famous as a filming location from "Eat Pray Love" with Julia Roberts.

However, Padang Padang has become a victim of its own popularity. The tiny Uluwatu beach is extremely popular and gets overcrowded easily. Even when we last visited during wet season, there was hardly any space on the sand to lay down a towel.

It's also one of the most expensive beaches to visit in Uluwatu. Plus, you run the risk of having your belongings stolen by the local monkeys if you leave them unattended for more than a few seconds.

So, unless you’re coming for the surf spot or are a huge Eat Pray Love movie fan, we think it's better to avoid Padang Padang Beach. There are many better and quieter beaches nearby.

What To Do Instead?

The Bukit Peninsula has more than its fair share of beautiful beaches where you can enjoy fewer crowds than at Padang Padang.

Nearby Thomas Beach is much bigger and always relatively quiet, while Dreamland Beach and Balangan Beach are some of our favourites in the area.

If you’re looking to escape the crowds, head for the southern coast of the Bukit Peninsula, where Gunung Payung and Nunggalan are secluded white sand havens - although reaching these beaches is a little more challenging!