10 Most Photographed Places in Bali
Stunning Photo Opportunities in and Around Bali
Bali is a haven for photographers looking to capture touching memories of their journeys through the island’s fantastic landscapes, seascapes, and iconic landmarks. The monsoonal climate also offers great photo-taking opportunities year-round, with daily blue skies mid-year and dramatic cloud-streaked scarlet sunsets in between.
Stunning photo opportunities around Bali include famous spots such as the beautiful Tanah Lot sea temple and the flowing rice terraces of the island’s mid-western region. The most impressive panoramas are provided by the island’s natural features such as the Kintamani highlands, with its scenic volcano caldera lake, or the dramatic Campuhan Ridge in Ubud. Discover stunning backdrops with our compilation of picture-postcard spots in and around Bali.
1. Tanah Lot Temple
An iconic temple with ocean backdrop
Good for: Couples, History, Photo, Budget
A must-visit for travelers to Bali, the Tanah Lot sea temple is unmistakably a Balinese icon. It’s as impressive during the daytime as it is at sunset. The sunsets and panoramic views are one thing, while the many cultural offerings add much more to your temple shots. Pilgrimages and parades of devotees during the temple’s anniversary add even more stunning features to this exotic background.
Don’t be tempted to go too near the rocks as the crashing waves pose a great hazard. Even so, low tides allow for a striking foreground. Almost anywhere along the cliff offers great vantage points, including the cluster of bars and restaurants where you can relax while waiting for that picture-perfect moment. Read more
Location: Jalan Raya Tanah Lot, Beraban, Kediri, Tabanan, Bali 82121, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 6 am to 7 pm
Phone: +62 (0)361 880361
Tanah Lot Temple
2. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
A sea of green rice fields flowing down the hillside
Good for: Couples, Photo
The Jatiluwih rice terraces in the rice-producing Tabanan regency offer one of Bali’s most scenic panoramas. Like a flowing sea of green, the paddies cover the slopes of Mount Batukaru and run down the hillside as far as the eyes can see around the village of Wangaya.
You’ll be able to take in the largest and most picturesque expanse of rice paddies in Bali, and perhaps the whole of Indonesia, here. Some of the locally run restaurants nearby offer great spots to enjoy the views and take photos. Most have terraces where you can sip a hot cup of Bali coffee while you plan your next frames to shoot. Read more
Location: Jalan Jatiluwih, Penebel, Tabanan, Bali 82152, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 6 am to 7 pm
Phone: +62 (0)856 9238 1416
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
3. Ulun Danu Beratan
A temple “floating” on a serene lake
Good for: History, Photo
Ulun Danu Beratan is one of Bali’s most iconic temple landmarks, on par with Tanah Lot in terms of exotic appeal. The temple sits on the side of Beratan Lake, up in the central highlands of Bedugul. When water levels are high, the smooth reflective surface submerges most of the temple’s base, creating the dramatic illusion of a floating temple. Occasional thick mists descend from the nearby hills, adding to the magical views.
Though the small temple is the most photographed attraction, the name Ulun Danu Beratan actually applies to the larger temple complex nearby. You can get closer to the “floating temple” when water levels are low and paved footpaths make it easier to set up tripods. Read more
Location: Candikuning, Baturiti, Tabanan, Bali 82191, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 6 am to 7 pm
Phone: +62 (0)821 4612 9292
Ulun Danu Beratan
4. Jimbaran beaches
A stunning stretch of coastline to capture
Good for: Adventure, Couples, Photo
Jimbaran Bay has one of Bali’s most gorgeous and accessible seascapes, especially the main stretch of sand known locally as Muaya Beach. The bay is renowned for its collection of grilled seafood restaurants that have table setups spread out on the sand, overlooking the sunsets.
Further south from Jimbaran Bay is Tegalwangi Beach, where you can get great angles of the cliff from both the base on the sand and high up on top. Balangan and Dreamland are also beaches worth discovering while you’re in the area. The further south you go from the bay, the more “hidden” the beaches become, with each bordered by cliffs that are great for taking high-angle photos.
Location: Jimbaran, South Kuta, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Jimbaran beaches
5. Amed
Traditional boats and a scenic bay with mountain backdrop
Good for: Couples, Photo
While Bali’s western coasts, such as Jimbaran, offer great sunsets, Amed is the scenic viewpoint in East Bali where you can enjoy breathtaking sunrises. The seascape features a curved bay lined with colorful traditional fishing boats with the outline of Mount Agung in the immediate background. In the mornings and during certain times of the day, fishing boats and sailing cruises speckle the view.
There are several hilly vantage points around the coast of Amed that provide you with the best angles over this beautiful bay and showcase the backdrop of Mount Agung. One of the spots most frequented by photographers is just a few minutes’ drive south of Jemeluk Bay. Read more
Location: Pantai Amed, Bali, Indonesia
Amed
6. Seminyak Beach
A tide with a mirror-like magic
Good for: Budget, Photo
Seminyak’s main beach, Petitenget, features a wonderful stretch of white sand that’s level and wide. During calmer low tides, the surf reaches far in over the flat sand, leaving a mesmerizing mirror-like effect. The scene is stunning with the blue sea, sky, and white clouds during the day and golden with silhouettes from the setting sun at dusk.
Petitenget is more secluded compared to its neighboring beaches, making it great for cleaner shots. Head to the bridge past Petitenget Temple, which leads you right onto the sand. From here, you can roam freely for your best angles. Sunset draws most of the crowds but you can often frame a clear shot with ease. Read more
Location: Seminyak, Kuta, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Seminyak Beach
7. Campuhan Ridge
Atmospheric shots in a hilly terrain
Good for: Families, Food, Group
Campuhan Ridge is one of the best spots for taking panoramic green-valley shots up in Ubud. Getting there involves a free and easy nature trek, with the majestic Gunung Lebah Temple welcoming you before the main pathways.
Midway along the 6-mile hill track, you’ll discover expansive views where you can easily capture stunning photos from up on the hillside. Being on the peak of the ridge provides you with 360-degree possibilities for the perfect panoramic shot. Halfway up the length of the route, facing north, the unique, hilly terrain and lone palm trees are great for creating an enigmatic atmosphere for your photography. Read more
Location: Jalan Raya Campuhan, Sayan, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Campuhan Ridge
8. Munduk
Swooping valleys and glittering waterfalls
Good for: Adventure, Photo
Munduk is a scenic yet remote village that’s worth reaching for the prize views on its panoramic ridge that runs down from the northern edge of the Bedugul highlands. The ridge overlooks 2 sides of a valley covered with verdant rice paddies and plantations. The sun setting over the distant hills also provides magical moments to capture in your shots.
Besides beautiful landscape vistas that you can take from most spots, Munduk also has a waterfall that’s surrounded by lush greenery, which is also a frequent pre-wedding shoot location. Treat yourself to a refreshing dip in the rock pools when you’re done taking photos. Read more
Location: Munduk, Banjar, Buleleng, Bali 81152, Indonesia
Munduk
9. Uluwatu Cliffs
Temple fire dancers in the setting sun
Good for: History, Photo
Uluwatu Temple forms part of the collection of Bali sea temples set in stunning locations. From the edge of the main temple complex, sheer ocean views are topped with the outline of tiered shrines. Just south, an open amphitheater is great for photo opportunities as Kecak fire dancers perform regularly as the sun sets over the horizon.
Gray long-tailed macaques roam freely around the complex, volunteering as photo models if you’re lucky. Great cliff shots are achieved from the temple’s wall near its exit, and you can book your seat at the amphitheater. Secure a high-up position in the middle to get the best angle, with dancers in the foreground and the setting sun behind. Read more
Location: Jalan Raya Uluwatu, Pecatu, Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Uluwatu Cliffs
10. Bali’s islands
Bali’s scenic sister islands
Good for: Adventure, Families, Photo
Bali’s offshore islands of Penida, Lembongan, and Ceningan lie south-east of the mainland and offer wonderful seascapes with shallow coasts and crystal-clear waters. Limestone cliffs provide vantage points over these dramatic views. Lembongan, the most popular among the islands, features exotic beaches like Mushroom Bay, Jungut Batu, Crystal Bay, and the aptly named Sunset Point, which provides unobstructed views over the sun setting into the ocean.
Lembongan’s Jungut Batu is a hilly area on the northwest coast where you’ll blue waters dotted with watercraft and traditional “jukung” fishing boats in the foreground, as well as the majestic Mount Agung on the horizon. Read more
Location: Nusa Penida, Klungkung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Bali's islands
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