A Splendid Guide to the Island of Bali
An insider's guide to Bali after a year of being based here. Editor-in-Chief April Windsor on the hotels she returns to most, the restaurants she sends friends to.
2026-07-09
A Splendid Guide to
Bali is Splendid's home — and the island we cover most deeply. From Capella Ubud's tented camp in the jungle to the beachfront elegance of The Legian Seminyak, our Bali guides are based on first-hand stays and a year-round editorial presence on the island.
An insider's guide to Bali after a year of being based here. Editor-in-Chief April Windsor on the hotels she returns to most, the restaurants she sends friends to.
2026-07-09
Bali has quietly become one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling fashion destinations. Our edit of the island-made labels worth knowing now, across swimwear, resort linen, dresses and activewear.
2026-07-02
On a garden hillside above Jimbaran Bay, Raffles Bali keeps the house's 1887 tradition of service to just thirty-two private pool villas — each with its own pool and a personal butler.
2026-06-01
An insider's guide to Ubud — Capella Ubud's tented camp, Hoshinoya Bali's river pavilions, and destination restaurants (Room 4 Dessert, Api Jiwa) worth crossing the world for.
2026-02-27
Inside The Legian Seminyak — three decades of refined Balinese hospitality on Seminyak Beach. Jaya Ibrahim's masterclass in tropical modernism, with three infinity pools.
2025-08-08
Inside The Meru Sanur — the 15-hectare architectural sanctuary by Indonesian architects Yolodi Supie and Maria Rosantina, where Balinese craft meets museum-scale design.
2025-06-27
Capella Ubud, Four Seasons Sayan, Hoshinoya Bali, Mandapa a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Amandari, The Legian Seminyak, Bulgari Resort Uluwatu, Six Senses Uluwatu and The Meru Sanur rank among the island's most celebrated luxury properties.
Ubud suits travellers wanting jungle, culture and wellness. Seminyak and Canggu offer beach clubs and dining. Uluwatu delivers dramatic cliffside hotels and surf. Sanur is quieter and family-friendly. Most first visits combine two or three areas.
The dry season from April to October offers the most reliable weather. May, June and September are particularly lovely — warm, dry and less crowded than the July–August peak. The wet season (November–March) brings shorter rain showers, lush greenery and better hotel deals.