Cities

One of the great things about travel is exploring new cities. Even when modern cities have similarities, no two regions are exactly alike. The faces, food, buildings, and languages change. Explore the beauty and diversity of Indonesia when you explore this island paradise. One minute, you're in a luxury beach town, the next, you're passing local farmers working in their beautifully structured rice paddies. From simple villages to funky bohemian towns full of artisanal crafts, these are the Indonesian cities you don't want to miss!

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Singaraja

Singaraja—by locals also known as Buleleng, the same name as the district—has more than 125,000 people and is Bali's second-largest city. It’s located along the northern coast, about a 2-hour drive from Ubud or 2.5-hour drive from Kuta. Its name combines tow Bahasa Indonesia words: “Singa” (lion) and “Raja” (king), but it has nothing to do with Disney and Simba.

Amlapura

Amlapura was previously named Karangasem, but it was changed after the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963. Today, Amlapura is an important transportation hub in east Bali and has several beautiful palaces from the turn of the century. Despite its relatively small size, it's a busy and multicultural place, with Chinese shophouses and several mosques. To get here, you’ll travel about 2 hours by car from either Kuta or Ubud.

Kerobokan

Kerobokan is one of Bali’s up-and-coming destinations — a village that travelers have come to appreciate for its peaceful beach and increasingly upscale accommodations. Visitors here can look forward to sampling exciting dishes from local chefs at the many restaurants. Shoppers should come with room in their suitcases, as this area also has popular fine art galleries and antique shops to browse.

Negara

The name “Negara” often refers to West Bali as a whole—which is more correctly known as Jembrana—but it’s actually the name of a local town. All buses from Denpasar to Gilimanuk pass through here, as well as the commercial traffic, moving to and from Java—so the road can get pretty crowded. To get to Negara by car from Kuta or Ubud you’ll need about 3 hours and from Gilimanuk about it takes about minutes.

Klunkung

Klungkung is the smallest regency of Bali and one of its historically most important kingdoms, with a seat in the city of Semarapura. Klungklung’s modern name is technically also Semarapura, but locals still mostly refer to this area by its old name. It’s located on the east coast, located about a 1-hour drive from Kuta or Ubud. Some 60 percent of the land area is made up of the three islands: Nusa Penida, Ceningan, and Lembongan.

Padang Bai

Padang Bai is mainly known for the ferries to Lombok—but it has more to offer. If you’re not in a rush, it might worth carving out a day for this laid-back village. To get here you’ll travel about 1.5 hours from Ubud or nearly 2 hours from Kuta.

Denpasar

Bali’s capital city, Denpasar, is home to a little over one million residents and is a sprawling hub for business and industry on the island. Located around 30 minutes from the Denpasar airport, the city showcases how the Balinese culture and the modern world can blend together in a dynamic southeast Asian city. All roads seem to lead to Denpasar, which is located on the south side of the island. Many visitors and mistakenly assume that it has nothing to offer, so the culture here is undiluted by tourism.

Gilimanuk

Gilimanuk, also called "Bali's Western Gateway," is the port serving the ferries between Java (Banyuwangi town) and Bali. It’s located about a 3.5-hour drive from Ubud, a 4-hour drive from Kuta, and only 2 hours from Lovina.