A good Bali itinerary follows the geography so you don't backtrack. Below are two proven routes. Want your own version? The trip planner automatically puts your chosen places in the best order, with travel times and crossings.
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Add it in the trip planner →A nice balance of culture, beach and an island:
With three weeks you can add the Gilis and/or Lombok and travel at a gentler pace:
For the crossing to the Gilis/Lombok, count the drive to the harbour and the boat crossing separately.
Only have seven days? Keep it simple and don't try to see everything. A relaxed first-timer's week: Day 1–3 in the south (Canggu, Seminyak or Uluwatu) to land, surf and enjoy the beach clubs; Day 4–5 in Ubud for rice terraces, temples and waterfalls; and Day 6–7 either a day trip to Nusa Penida or a return to the coast for a final beach day. That gives you culture and beach without a single wasted transfer.
Ten days to two weeks is the sweet spot for a first trip — long enough for the south, Ubud and one island without rushing. The golden rule is to move less: three nights in each base beats a string of one-night stops, because Bali's short distances hide long, slow drives. Group nearby places together, put the islands (Nusa Penida, the Gilis) at the end so you finish on a high, and leave a buffer day for the spots you'll want to revisit.
Honeymooners can swap a night or two for a clifftop resort on the Bukit or a jungle villa in Ubud; families do best basing in calm Sanur or Nusa Dua with day trips out; and surfers should track the swell between Uluwatu, Canggu and Medewi. Whatever your style, the trip planner orders your chosen places for you and adds realistic travel and ferry times.