The Ultimate Bali Honeymoon Guide [ Updated 2023 ]

The Ultimate Bali Honeymoon Guide [ Updated 2023 ]

Okay friends –  a ton of you have slid into my DM’s on instagram asking for honeymoon recommendations for Bali lately, so I figured it’s about time we write a post all about honeymooning in Bali on the blog!

If you’re still deciding where to honeymoon, I’m here to tell you to stop your search right here. When it comes to luxurious honeymoon destinations, Bali is quickly topping most of our short lists, and it’s easy to see why! It is BEAUTIFUL, exotic, relaxing, fun, and adventurous all at once — everything you could possibly want in a honeymoon. Did I mention it’s affordable? You can live like kings and queens for a week in Bali for a fraction of the price you’d spend in Europe or Bora Bora. Major win.

A honeymoon in Bali is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of trip, meaning there is something for every type of honeymooner. You can have the relaxing, beachfront vacation of your dreams in Uluwatu…. or you can wake up in a private villa or suite high above the jungle in zen Ubud. Or maybe you’re looking to blow of some wedding-stress steam in world-renowned party spots like the Gili Islands, Seminyak, and Canggu. Or maybe you guys want to get adventurous and dive with manta rays in Nusa Lembongan and hike the gorgeous coast of Nusa Penida. You can spend choose to spend your days sightseeing, adventuring, and soaking in the rich Bali culture, or you can simply lay back at a five-star Balinese resort and call it a (fantastic) day.

But – with so much to do and so many places to choose from comes a lot of questions – which is where I come in.

Let’s play a little Jetset Honeymoon Q&A…

Q: Christina – I’ve heard Bali is incredible! But there are so many different areas and it’s such a big island! What area of Bali is best for a honeymoon??

A: They’re all amazing in their own ways, so I would recommend traveling to at least 2 different areas of Bali during your trip here to get the ultimate Bali experience.

My personal favorite area of Bali is the epically stunning coast of Uluwatu, about 40 minutes from the airport. The aqua-blue waters and the relaxed, off-the-map vibe is just I would want in a honeymoon. Your days will be filled with rolling waves, cold tropical drinks, and epic sunsets that light the sky on fire.

About an hour away from the airport, Ubud is just what you think of when you think of Bali – lush jungle, beautiful waterfalls, and a zen calm unlike anywhere else in the world.  Ubud in my opinion is a must on any trip to Bali, and a perfect honeymoon location. Make sure to make a romantic dinner reservation at KUBU in a cocoon! Or at any of my other favorite Ubud restaurants. 

About 20 to 30 minutes from the airport lies the heart of Bali’s tourism and ex-pat community – Seminyak & Canggu.  Seminyak is busy and bustling, and hosts some of the best dining and nightlife on the island. Canggu (where I’m based) is a little further up the coast and has more of a hip-surfer vibe. Canggu is the land of chic sunset bars, instagram models, and avocado toast.

Just a short less-than-an-hour boat ride away from Bali, Nusa Lembongan is a perfect honeymoon destination. Nusa Lembongan is just one of the three Nusa islands (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Cenigan), but it’s the one with the most going on and best places to stay (Nusa Penida is gorgeous and well-worth a day trip – you can read more about that here –but there just aren’t many places to stay (and it’s a lot tougher to get around, etc). Nusa Lembongan is around 8km square in size and is easily the most popular of the three islands.  From Nusa Lembongan, you can dive or snorkel with manta rays (it’s known as one of the world’s best dive sites), do yoga, rent a bike, or just sit back and enjoy some cocktails and sunsets on the beach. For the best food on the island, check out The Deck, Lembongan Reef Bar, and Blue Corner Dive.

Photo via The Trip Guru

Nusa Dua is a hotbed of luxury resorts in Southern Bali. The area is known for its white-sand beaches, sprawling golf courses, and beautiful resorts, and it’s often where people end up staying when they come to Bali. It’s full of gorgeous hotels and a great place to be based for a few relaxing resort days but I personally wouldn’t spend my whole trip here, since it’s a bit touristy and not as traditional Bali – plus it’s removed from the other areas of Bali.

Floating off of the coast of Indonesia are three little islands with white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, swaying palms, horse-drawn carraiges (yep, there are no cars or motorbikes on these islands!), and un-bali-evable sunsets. You can have a romantic, idyllic atmosphere on remote Gili Air, or take on the lively party scene on Gili T. The Gilis are your perfect blend of beaches, buzzes and bliss. They’re not easy to get to (a 2+ hour drive and then an hour boat ride), but, they’re worth it.

A: If you’re anything like me, a great villa or hotel means everything on a vacation – and especially on your honeymoon!  Luckily, thanks to a huge surge in tourism in the last decade, the island of Bali is blessed with some of the most incredible accommodation options in the world – at every budget. Here are some of my favorites: