One of the top tourist destinations in the world, Bali is renowned not only for its sun-bathed beaches and clear turquoise water, but also for the hospitality of the locals and its highly developed culture.

One of the 13,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali stands out through its varied landscape that includes mountains, hillsides, sandy beaches, rugged coastlines and picturesque, man-made rice terraces. It’s a place that offers its visitors pretty much everything they could ask for, and one can understand why it is Indonesia’s top tourist destination.

If you’re looking for a perfect sunny retreat, where you can relax and soak-up the sun on a flawless beach, then Bali’s Kuta Coast is the perfect choice. Fine sand, crystal-clear waters and world-class accommodations make this area the island’s most popular attraction. It’s filled with traditional restaurants, bars, boutiques and nightclubs, so it will take you a while to get bored.

Kuta Coast is also Bali’s top surfing spot, and ever since the first young surfers arrived, it has won a reputation as one of the best surfing destinations on Earth. Beginners can take lessons from the countless beach-instructors roaming the beach. Their services are very cheap, but they don’t offer any insurance and their teachings don’t compare to the comprehensive lessons offered by professional surfing instructors.

Thirty years ago Bali’s economy was based almost entirely on agriculture, but now tourism has become the island’s largest source of income. “The Island of Gods” draws in people from all over the world, with its exotic scenery and entertainment facilities. Bali’s hotels are top-class, offering their customers an impressive number of restaurants and cafés, private beaches and swimming pools, golf and tennis courts, all sorts of spas and massage centers, practically everything you would expect to find in a lavish paradise, and more.

Before being discovered by foreign tourists, Balinese culture was never appreciated as anything special, locals just used sculpting and painting as a way to pass the time, a part of their every day life. Nowadays Balinese art is thought to be finer, more complex than any other, in the world. The countless boutiques and galleries spread all over the island are proof of its success with the foreigners. Hardly anyone leaves the island without buying at least a batik (a traditional Indonesian painting) or a small statuette carved out of Tec wood.

Even the smallest village on Bali has at least three beautiful Hindu temples and the traditional rituals and dances are simply mesmerizing. Balinese cuisine is delicious for those than can appreciate it, but if you don’t feel like trying anything new, you can find McDonald’s, KFC or Pizza Hut restaurants in all the island’s major cities and resorts.

As a result of it increased popularity, Bali has been the target of terrorist attacks in 2002 and 2005, but it remains a magical place where tourists can find peace and tranquility.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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