6 Days in Bali: Ubud, Sanur and a Nusa Penida Day Trip

🚗 Airport to Ubud: about 1–2.5 hours by car, depending on traffic

• AfternoonPura Taman Saraswati, reached by a path across its lotus pond
• AfternoonUbud Palace, a short walk along the same main road; visit its front courtyards in daylight
• EveningDinner at Maluku, contemporary Asian cooking on Monkey Forest Road
• EveningA nightcap at Whisper Cove, a speakeasy cocktail bar open from 6 PM

Tip: Pura Taman Saraswati and Ubud Palace stand a few minutes apart on foot on Ubud's main road, so have your driver drop you at the palace and walk between the two.

🚗 Ubud to Tirta Empul: about 25–40 minutes by car

• MorningTirta Empul as soon as it opens, for the holy-spring purification pools
• MorningGunung Kawi, ten shrines cut into the cliffs overlooking the Pakerisan River, a few minutes' drive away
• AfternoonTegallalang Rice Terrace on the drive back to Ubud

Tip: Gunung Kawi sits below the road down hundreds of steps, so save some energy for the climb back up.

🚗 Ubud to Goa Gajah: about 10–20 minutes by car

• MorningGoa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, known for its ancient rock carvings
• MorningTegenungan Waterfall, about 15–25 minutes' drive south
• AfternoonARMA on Pengosekan Road, from classical Kamasan painting to Walter Spies
• EveningDinner at Carbón, fire-cooked Latin American food at Alaya Suites Ubud

Tip: ARMA and Carbón are both in Pengosekan, so the afternoon and evening need no long drives.

🚗 Ubud to Sanur: about 1–1.75 hours by car

• MorningAn early walk on the Campuhan Ridge before you check out
• AfternoonWalk or cycle the path along Sanur Beach
• EveningDinner at Massimo, southern Italian cooking on Danau Tamblingan Road

Tip: Book tomorrow's fast boat today and ask the operator what time to check in; Sanur Harbour, at Matahari Terbit on the north side of Sanur, is about 15–25 minutes by car from the centre.

🚗 Sanur Harbour to Nusa Penida: about 30–45 minutes by fast boat; Banjar Nyuh to Kelingking: about 45–60 minutes by car

• MorningFast boat from Sanur Harbour to Banjar Nyuh on Nusa Penida; some operators dock at Buyuk or Sampalan, further east, so check when you book
• MorningKelingking Beach and its T-Rex headland, seen from the clifftop
• AfternoonBroken Beach and neighbouring Angel's Billabong
• AfternoonCrystal Bay on the west coast, before the boat back to Sanur

Tip: Swimming is banned at Kelingking and Angel's Billabong, so treat both as viewpoints.

🚗 Sanur to the airport: about 30–60 minutes by car

• MorningSunrise over the sea from Sanur Beach
• MorningBreakfast at Soul on the Beach, above Sindhu Beach

Tip: For sunrise, be on the sand between about 5:30 and 7 AM; Soul on the Beach opens at 7 AM.