There are so many things to do in Bali with kids from cultural to culinary and adventure activities. This is a comprehensive list of what to do in Bali with kids; from toddlers to teens. We haven’t done all of these family activities ourselves, yet. But, we hope it gives you some inspiration for creating your own fun itinerary for your family trip to Bali.
Skye Gilkeson
The Hubby, Andrew, and our daughter enjoying our Bali hotel pool. © Skye Gilkeson
50+ of the Best Things to Do in Bali with Kids
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia for families, Bali promises an action-packed family holiday.
Kids of all ages will love their time on the island.
Whether they are spending the day at a beach, relaxing in the resort pool, or doing one of the many Bali adventure activities on offer, Bali is somewhere families return to again and again.
1. Spend the Morning at Waterbom Bali
One of the best things to do in Bali with kids, small children, and adults alike will love the water slides at Waterbom Bali in Kuta
Waterbom is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm (except Nyepi).
Try to set aside a full day for Waterbom, as there really is a lot to keep you entertained.
The best time to visit is of course from opening until lunchtime or during the afternoon to avoid the harsh midday sun.
Also, remember not to book a big night out with the kids after a visit to this water park as they should be pretty tired after a long day in the Bali heat.
Click to Buy Tickets to Waterbom Park Bali
2. Go to the Bali Bird Park
The Bali Bird Park is home to 1300 birds from 250 species. Wander the park, pose with a macaw, or watch a live show.
You may also get to see a Komodo Dragon during your visit.
The Bali Bird Park is about 25 minutes from Ubud, Sanur, or Denpasar and about 50 minutes from Seminyak, Canggu, or Nusa Dua.
The park is open daily from 9 am to 5 30 pm. Tickets are about AUD$42($US27.50 each) and you’ll need about 2 to 3 hours to explore.
Click to Buy Bali Bird Park Tickets
3. Try Some Fun Water Sports
Spending the day trying out different water sports is a fun activity for the whole family.
Nusa Dua Water Sports activities range from jet skiing to parasailing and snorkeling
Click to Book Your Water Sports Package
4. Visit the Kuta Art Market
No trip to the island is complete without a visit to at least one Bali market. The Kuta Art Market is pretty iconic.
It’s a great place to wander around and pick up some Bali souvenirs.
This is also the best way to practice your haggling skills and bargain the price down.
Open 7 am to 8 pm.
5. Do a Seminyak Eat Street Food Tour
Feast on Bali’s best street food with a Seminyak Eat Street tour.
Try a traditional Soto Ayam, Babi Guling, and Joss Milk (a local energy drink) among other local favorites while learning about Indonesian food traditions and the influences from the rest of the region.
This is a nighttime tour so would best suit families with older children or teens (children under 6 not permitted).
There are also no ‘kids meals’ provided so they will have to have an adventurous palette.
Click to Book a Seminyak Eat Street Tour
Capturing the sunset at Tanah Lot is a Bali must-do. Via Unsplash
6. Experience an Iconic Tanah Lot Sunset
You’ll need to plan your visit to Tanah Lot as it will take about half a day including the drive and exploring.
Tanah Lot is about an hour’s drive from Ubud or 1.5 hours from Kuta. You’ll want to spend 1 – 2 hours there.
Tanah Lot is open from 7 am to 5 pm ever y day. Foreigners cannot enter the temple itself. But, most enjoy visiting the temple at dusk to capture an iconic Tanah Lot sunset photo.
If you are doing a sunset tour or visit, book into one of these Canggu restaurants or a beach club for dinner afterward.
The sun sets at about 6 pm in Bali, so you should get the kids to dinner by about 7. 30 pm.
Click to Book a Tanah Lot Tour
7. Spend the Day at a Bali Day Spa
Day spas are synonymous with the relaxing family holidays offered in Bali.
No matter what part of the island you stay on you will be able to find a great Bali day spa to spend a morning.
We love booking into a day spa on a rainy afternoon. It’s a lovely way to spend some time relaxing and you don’t feel like you are missing any of the outdoor activities Bali has to offer.
Some popular Bali day spas are:
- Bodyworks in Seminyak (read our full guide on Things to do in Seminyak)
- Gold Dust, Tonic, and Amo Spa in Canggu (read more on things to do in Canggu)
- Spa at Fivelements in Ubud (read our full guide on things to do in Ubud Bali)
8. Do a Balinese Cooking Course
There are so many ways to do a cooking course in Bali. Most hotels offer adds ons like an onsite cooking course.
There are also lots of half-day tours or full-day tours that include Balinese cooking courses.
Click to Book a Balinese Cooking Course
9. Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Visitors to the Ubud Monkey Forest walk a pathway through the 30-acre forest to view the four temples on-site.
They include Pura Dalem or a temple to worship Lord Shiva, Holy Water Temple, and Cremation Temples.
They also see the statues, and of course, see some of the more than 600 monkeys that live in the monkey forest.
The monkeys in the monkey forest are not shy. They will and do climb on visitors (one of the reasons this isn’t my favorite tourist activity).
There are specific guidelines outlined on the Sanctuary website to follow when interacting with the monkeys.
I wouldn’t recommend you to visit the park with young children.
Click to Book Tickets to the Ubud Monkey Forest
A cheeky star at the Ubud Monkey Sanctuary. © Skye Gilkeson
10. Visit the Ubud Art Market
The Ubud Art Market is a fun family activity in the Ubud town center. The permanent market is the perfect place to buy a few Bali souvenirs.
Visit one of Ubud’s great coffee shops or healthy cafes afterward for afternoon tea out of the humidity.
The Ubud Art Market is open from 10 am to 5 pm most days.
11. Watch an Ubud Palace Legong Dance Performance
Once the residence of the royal family, the Ubud Palace hosts dance performances on its grounds nightly.
A wonderful thing to do with kids in Ubud, the cultural performances are beautiful and entertaining.
Legong and Barong dances are held on different nights with all shows scheduled to start at around 7.30 pm.
Tickets are about IDR 100,000 each.
Make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes early to get a seat as they get very busy during peak season.
12. Try Some Tasty Babi Guling
Try traditional Babi Guling or suckling pig. One of the best-known Bali street food options, the slow-roasted pig is served at some street food restaurants and warungs.
It is also made by Balinese locals for special occasions or gatherings.
If you are in Ubud, the most convenient place to try Babi Guling is at Warung Ibu Oka on Jalan Tegal Sari.
This is not a fine dining experience. You will be eating outside with the locals. Expect a plate of suckling pork with vegetables, sides, and sauces.
Better yet, ask the locals where they recommend you try Babi Guling in a more traditional (less touristy) setting.
13. Go White Water Rafting in Ubud
Older children might like to go white water rafting. I was very pumped up to try white water rafting while visiting Ubud.
While it wasn’t completely still, there weren’t many rapids to speak of which could make it a great family activity in Ubud.
Spending the morning rafting down the famous Ayung River in Ubud is such a great way to experience Bali in a whole new and exciting way.
I went with Mega Rafting but there are a number of companies that offer white water rafting tours in Ubud.
Click to Book a White Water Rafting Tour in Ubud
White water rafting in Ubud is a super fun family activity in Bali. © Skye Gilkeson
14. Take a Bali VW Tour
A VW tour was a super fun way to get around Bali.
I was traveling with a group from Kuta to Bali, so we drove in convoy through the busy streets of Kuta and watched as the scenery changed, becoming awash with green as we made our way to the jungle in Ubud.
This is a super fun thing to do in Bali with kids who don’t need car seats (so about 7 years and up). Children under 2 aren’t permitted.
There are full-day tours that will take you up to Mount Batur and through local villages.
15. Do a Bali Yoga Class
Bali yoga classes are the stuff of yogi dreams. From the whimsical setting of Desa Seni in Seminyak to flows on the cliffs in Uluwatu, and classes at the iconic Yoga Barn in Ubud. There is a setting to roll out your mat that will suit any yoga starter.
While a Bali yoga class probably wouldn’t be suitable for young kids, older children would definitely enjoy the experience.
Make sure you call the studio you are hoping to drop into first to enquire about any age minimums.
For those staying at family-friendly Bali hotels, there are often very inclusive classes scheduled for the morning.
You could always consider booking a private yoga class for the whole family with a local instructor too.
Here are 5 Bali Yoga Studios We Love
16. Take a Scenic Bali Cycling Tour
A Bali cycling tour will be a highlight of any family trip to Bali.
We did a downhill bike tour in Bali from Ubud.
Starting our day by drinking coffee with a view over Mount Batur we wound our way around through local villages, and rice fields and enjoyed a traditional Balinese lunch.
This type of tour would suit families with kids from about 10 years and up.
The cycling itself is not difficult and mostly downhill.
But, there were sections (like winding through the dirt roads behind villages or navigating the rice paddies that were a little tricky.
Click to Book a Bali Downhill Cycling Tour
