Although Bali, Indonesia, can sometimes have a reputation for being inundated with partygoers who run wild, there are plenty of areas where solo female travelers can kick back and enjoy some rest and relaxation.
Whether you’re into beach lounging, cultural experiences, surfing, yoga, or just unwinding at a luxe five-star resort, the island of Bali is an awesome destination for solo travelers. If it’s your first trip, check out my 10 Tips for Your First Trip to Bali.
I firmly believe that solo travel for women is one of the best ways to learn about yourself and the world. Taking a solo trip is a fantastic way to grow. And when it comes to solo travel destinations, Bali is one of the best places to travel solo!
Here’s my guide to Bali as a solo female traveler!
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Where to Stay in Bali
Bali is home to the most beautiful villas and resorts, available to the budget traveler and the luxury seeker—so there are a lot of accommodation options for solo travelers! I’ve compiled some of my top choices below, but you can find more amazing places to stay in Bali here.
Canggu/Seminyak Hotels and Hostels
Grandmas Plus Hotel Seminyak: Just a 2-minute walk from Seminyak Beach, this budget hotel offers modern, cozy rooms starting at $40 USD per night.
Black Pearl Hostel: Located in Canggu and within a short walk to Echo Beach, this hostel has a beautiful pool and offers a restaurant, free WiFi, an outdoor swimming pool, plus garden and pool view terraces. Beds start at $12 USD per night.
Kos One Hostel: This is a very trendy and design-centric hostel — it has a beautiful pool and a stunning buffet breakfast.
Ubud Hotels and Hostels
Run House B&B: A simple B&B with air-conditioned rooms and free WiFi, and close to the Ubud Palace and Monkey Forest. Double rooms start at $13 USD per night!
WW Backpackers: A high-rated hostel in Ubud, very central to all the sites.
Suka’s House B&B: Suka’s House Bed & Breakfast features an outdoor pool and private rooms starting at $25 USD. Daily breakfast is served on the private terrace overlooking the garden.
Helpful Tip:
If you have a bigger budget for this trip, my advice is to take advantage of the low price point of Bali and rent a private villa for yourself. Many resorts and villa rental companies offer villas with private pools, exquisite ocean or jungle views, spacious decks, minibars, and comfy couches.
These villas give you complete privacy—you can walk around naked without a care in the world… you’ll feel tucked away into nature.
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Top Things to Do in Bali
Chill Out at a Beach Club
A great way to relax in Bali is by spending time at one of the many luxurious beach clubs spread around the region. Popular clubs like Mrs. Sippy’s and Potato Head Beach Club are located in Seminyak and give you fun swim-up bars, infinity pools, a variety of day beds, and lots of DJs and entertainment.
Another top Seminyak beach club is La Plancha, the first in the area to introduce beanbags on the beach. La Plancha has quirky decor, a funky “Spanish meets surfer” style, and fantastic Mediterranean-inspired cuisine for those wanting something to nibble on.
On my most recent trip, I visited La Laguna in Canggu and was blown away by the beautiful beach, amazing sunset, and lively nightlife. So many fun things to do for solo trips!
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Located twenty minutes north of Seminyak, Canggu spans from just north of Seminyak to south of Tanah Lot. Here is my ultimate guide to Canggu!
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Nurture the Mind and Body
There are many ways to take care of your physical, spiritual, and mental health while in Bali. If you’d like to learn how to cook Balinese fare, there are a variety of tours you can participate in where you’ll learn about the local way of cooking and dining.
Visit Pura Taman Saraswati Temple
Built to honor Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and the arts, this beautiful temple is alive with lotus blossoms and water flows.
Monkey Forest in Ubud
Smack-dab in the jungle, Ubud has its fair share of monkeys.
But be careful! They are super aggressive.
Don’t make contact or interact with the monkeys unless you have bananas. I found the friendliest monkeys at the entrance to the forest, where they probably get the most food. For the best photos, walk a bit farther into the forest—you’ll get to a stunningly beautiful temple area.
Top Things to See and Do in Ubud, Bali
Whether you are looking for a traditional Balinese experience or a relaxing getaway, here is a list of the top things to see and do in Ubud!
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Practice Yoga
Also highly recommended in Ubud is The Yoga Barn, a place to stretch the body, clear the mind, and take in stunning scenery. The facility provides a large number of yoga classes (many of which are free) in styles such as Iyengar, Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Pranayama, Power, and Yin.
Lounge Poolside (& Beachside!)
There’s no shortage of beautiful coastlines and villa pools to lounge around in Bali. It’s the perfect place to relax, chill, and soak up some of that wonderful Indonesian sunshine!
Lombok + The Gili Islands
If you have a few extra days during your trip, I highly recommend catching a ferry to the neighboring islands of Lombok and the Gili Islands—I visited both solo, for a few days of scuba diving, and it was paradise!
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Getting Around Bali
My recommendation is to avoid the traffic in Bali by renting a scooter—a fast way to zip through the streets and countryside. Renting a motorbike is the “way” of Bali and very cheap. However, if you’re not an experienced driver, it can be very dangerous. ALWAYS wear a helmet on these roads and stay alert.
If you don’t feel comfortable driving yourself, you can use the GO-JEK app for an Uber-type service but on the back of a motorbike.
Taxis are the most expensive option, and Uber is banned due to the local taxi monopoly. Instead, use the Blue Bird app for reliable cab rentals.
Where to Eat & Drink in Bali
If you’re interested in flying to Bali to sample the fantastic food, you’ll be pleased to know that it is home to an astounding number of amazing restaurants and cafes. Bali is also very vegetarian and vegan-friendly!
Café Organic
Café Organic is very popular with the breakfast crowd and offers amazing food, great coffee, friendly staff, and beautiful decor. I would say it’s my favorite breakfast spot in Bali!
Sundara
Food lovers can head to one of the region’s more recent hotspots, Sundara.Named after the Sanskrit word for “beautiful,” Sundara is situated in the luxurious Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay, which is very handy if you’re planning to stay at this five-star resort.
Patrons can listen to the sound of the ocean lapping on the nearby beach as they dine, as well as take in the spectacular view of Jimbaran Bay. The restaurant has a beach club vibe and serves up a variety of international dishes, with a special focus on fresh seafood.
Ginger Moon
For quality meals, make sure you visit the popular Seminyak venue, Ginger Moon. This modern restaurant is spread over two levels and produces dishes that are perfect for sharing.
Ayana Resort
For incredible seafood and a sunset that you’ll never forget, make reservations at Kisik at the Ayana Resort for a sunset dinner. Arrive early for a pre-dinner drink at the cliff-faced Rock Bar. There are often live music artists and DJs that perform here, making a fun atmosphere for meeting fellow travelers.
Cafe Bali
One of my favorite spots in Seminyak for a lazy brunch on a budget is Cafe Bali. Shabby chic decor and a delicious breakfast make the perfect setting for a fresh start to the day.
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Is a Bali drivers license needed to rent a scooter? Thanks!
Hey Annie, I’m actually working on a post all about this! It looks like the rules have changed a little over the years – sometimes you could get away without having a license, though I wouldn’t suggest it. “You need an international driving license which you have to apply for in your home country.” Check out this site that has more info: https://www.bali.com/traffic-driving-on-bali-license.html
Also, just a note, Bali roads can be QUITE crazy. If you haven’t operated a scooter before, I wouldn’t recommend doing so in Bali for the first time, especially as the traffic isn’t for the faint of heart. You might want to ask the ladies in the TBA Travel Tribe on FB about their experience as well! https://www.facebook.com/groups/947813952040668
Hi Kiki,
I am a female bachelor student and I would like to go to Bali this summer 2020, also as a solo traveler. It has been recommended to me to visit Bali with more people and loved ones to get the best out of your trip. But I was wondering, how did you experience Bali when traveled solo, would you recommend it? It makes me doubt to visit Bali on my own…
Hey Morgan! It really depends what you want out of your trip. I’ve visited Bali both solo and with friends and it’s been lovely both times. If you’re going solo, you can often meet people at hostels and local hangouts to go do things with and you also have the freedom to choose WHATEVER you want to do, WHENEVER you want to do.
If you haven’t traveled solo before—I find it’s one of the best ways to grow and learn and really figure out the things you love and how to spend time with yourself (I know this can kind of sound silly, but when we’re always on the go, sometimes we don’t really get to tune in to ourselves for long periods of time).
That said, Bali can be really fun with friends, too. But if you don’t have pals to join you on the trip, my vote is to not let that stop you—and GO! I hope that helps 🙂