If you’re planning on heading off to Bali with your best mates and are looking for some fun things to do with the girls, then the following is a fantastic list of things you can get up to without the boys tagging along.
OK, before you do anything, you have to get your accommodation sorted. If you are travelling with a group of girls, you are probably going to want to stay in a really central location and some seriously luxurious villa accommodation as well.
Let’s get the area over with; I recommend staying in Seminyak, Canggu, Umalas, Uluwatu or the Oberoi & Petitegnet areas. Read these Bali travel guides that will get you up to speed on whats popular and happening throughout the island.
Updated 11 Jan, 2025
Also read: Where to stay in Seminyak – Oberoi, Petitenget, Double Six or Dhyana Pura?
Now, all these places are fairly close to each other, and the best part about them for a girls’ holiday is that they are all right in the heart of the best shopping, cool bars, day spas, yoga studios, some great cafes for the morning latte, and hip restaurants. My choice would be Seminyak, and it’s from here that you can venture out daily and do some serious damage to your credit card with all those fabulous shops nearby.
The next thing you need to do is get your villa sorted. Ideally, you need a fairly spacious villa where each girl can have their own room with their own private en suite bathroom. Make sure you browse our selection of divine Seminyak villas to find one that’s right for you and the rest of the crew.
We recommend villa accommodation over staying in a hotel because you don’t have to pay as much and you get all the benefits of privacy, location, having your own chef, butler and concierge to spoil you.
Plus, it’s so much more fun mixing those cocktails in your own luxurious pad before heading off to all those cool new beach bars.
Make sure you sort this part of the trip out well in advance, as villas in the area of Seminyak and its surroundings can get booked out very quickly during peak holiday periods.
So now you’re in Seminyak, what’s on the to-do list?
Firstly, you need to find the best bars for sunset drinks. These bars are a great way to watch the sunset with a cocktail and kick off the evening.
Our favourites are Cocoon at Double Six Beach (make sure you try this place—it’s fantastic), Potato Head, the world-famous Ku De Ta, Miss Sippy, and Mano Beach House. There are also loads of bars on the beach, such as 707 or Cafe Del Mar In Batu Belig which is a bout 15 minutes taxi ride from central Seminyak. You can even pop into the Cornerhouse on Jalan Kayu Aya, aka Eat Street for a few pre going out cocktails. Also, check out the Atlas Beach Fest in Berawa or the popular Finns, just a 20-minute taxi ride north of Seminyak.
This is enough to get you started. There are dozens of bars, but get a feel for these, chat with some people, and you will discover others. If you’re in Bali for a week, these bars are ample to get the party started.
Spend the afternoon at Cocoon in Seminyak.
Any one of these places is great, and they are awesome for a place to meet have a bite to eat; and if you’re into partying, hang there for a while and wait for things to get happening. Bring your bikinis as these venues have pools, so it’s awesome to chill out in the pool, cool down, people-watch, make new friends and take in the atmosphere.
Make sure the girls visit the many hip new day spas in Seminyak & Canggu. The spa treatments in Bali are world-class, and you can get body scrubs, body massages, and facial peels at a fraction of the cost of what you would be paying back home in Australia. It’s such great value over in Bali so make sure you set aside a day for a bit of pampering.
Also read: 9 best day spas in Canggu for the girls
As far as dining out with the girls is concerned, Seminyak is seriously fabulous with lots of dining options (both budget and hi-end cuisine) and is definitely the place to be and be seen. This is where the beautiful people come out at night and it’s worth it just for the atmosphere. There are so many restaurants here that it would be impossible for me to list them – but try Sardine, MamaSan, Si Jin, Buzo, Ku De Ta, Merah Putih, Da Maria, Sisterfields, Revolver and for a bit of outright fun, Motel Mexicola or Malverde…..this place is a must if you like your tequila shots, great music and party times.
Relaxing at a beach club for the day is a great way to relax, enjoy the beach views and perhaps make some friends.
La Favela – will have your partying till dawn.
Spend a quality afternoon with the girls over a long lunch overlooking the ocean. Again, the options here are endless, but try the W Hotel’s Starfish Bloo. Here, you can spend the afternoon sipping on wine and enjoying great cuisine as you continue bonding with your best girlfriends. The food here is divine (if you are into the freshest seafood), and the views, especially around 5 pm, are mind-blowing. There are also other venues like La Lucciola, which are on the beach and are known for their fantastic cuisine.
There are some cool places in Canggu that you probably know about, like Old Man’s (which is a great beer garden/restaurant at the end of Jalan Batu Bolong) or The Lawn, which is where the ultra-stylish people hang out. We haven’t even touched on the Uluwatu area, but make sure you visit Savaya and Single Fin at Suluban Beach for the most awesome sundowners and majestic views. Getting there from Seminyak can be a bit of a nightmare with the traffic so leave lots of time, especially if you plan on being there for sunset drinks.
La Lucciola – one of the best Italian restaurants on the beach in Petitenget/Seminyak
OK, it’s time for some serious shopping, and there is no better place to do this on the island of Bali than Seminyak. OMG…there are so many cool little boutiques and shops you will not be able to fit this into a day. TIP: try to space it out over a few days as it can get overwhelming as the range and variety of shops are mind-numbing. Start around 10 am, beak for brunch and do a few more hours. Make your way to Jalan Kayu Aya or Jalan Cendana as these are the two main shopping areas in Seminyak – see the video below to get an idea of where it is and what to expect.
I also suggest heading over to Canggu, a paradise for shopping enthusiasts. Here, you’ll find a plethora of great designer boutique shops offering clothing, jewellery, homewares and souvenirs. The variety is endless, and you can start your shopping spree in the Berawa area (southern Canggu) and then make your way through to the famous Jalan Batu Bolong area (you’ll have to take the Canggu shortcut to get there so use a Go Jek scooter) where you’ll find loads of shops to satisfy any shopaholic.
There are great clothing shops (check the famous designer Magali Pascal – she’s a must-visit), local markets and heaps of places where you can buy presents or Bali souvenirs such as the Seminyak Flea Market.
Beach time!
Seminyak’s waters are warm, tropical and patrolled by lifeguards, so grab a beach chair and spend the day topping up your tan and swimming in the ocean. If you fancy yourself as a surfer, then you can rent a board at any one of the dozen or so places on the beach. Prices are roughly $20 per hour. The sun can be very extreme in Bali, especially on the beach, so it’s a good idea to come here in the morning or late afternoon when the heat is less intense. But if you want to spend the day here then make sure you rent an umbrella with your lounge bed.
@balivillaescapes Early morning surf in Canggu beach, Bali. Great vibe, good waves, and fun times. #surfbali #balivilla #baliholiday #cangguvilla #canggusurf #balivillaescapes
Villa time!
If you have rented a holiday villa in Seminyak, the first thing you would have probably noticed is how gorgeous and peaceful it is. So please spend a day relaxing by the pool and doing absolutely nothing with the girls. Most villas come with a private pool so it’s a great way to chill out and recharge before you get back on the plane for home. Having a villa is all about chillaxing with your mates and letting the staff take care of everything. For our full selection of Bali holiday villa rentals please click here.
Pedicure or manicure!
Treat yourself & the girls to an afternoon of ‘me time’ at the many nail spas in Seminyak. Most of these also offer massages but there are a few dedicated places where you can pop in and come out looking fabulous. The most notable are Rob Peetoom, Sundari Day Spa, The Blow Bar & Think Pink Nails which is the go-to place. Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu all have lots of days spas to get pampered for the day. In fact, there are far too many to mention, but bear in mind you can go for the cheaper style options where a massage can go for as little as $10/hr or head to the upscale day spas with all the bells and whistles where you’ll end up paying considerably more.
Get your hair & nails done at Think Pink Nails.
Sunday Brunch with the girls
There are so many Sunday brunch offerings in Bali that you should definitely schedule one for your girls’ trip. Most brunches are in Seminyak, and bigger resorts in Nusa Dua or Sanur even offer a free-flow drinks package and free use of the pools, so it’s a great place to hang out for the day after a good brunch. Spend your Sunday indulging in all of the delicious food, sipping on bubbles or cocktails, and then diving in and enjoying the pools with your besties. We recommend Starfish Bloo at the W in Seminyak, Pala Brunchcation at The Apurva Kempinski Bali in Nusa Dua and Sunday Brunch at Sundara Beach Club in Jimbaran.
Sunday Brunch in Bali is all about bottomless Champagne and free-flow buffets. Chin chin!
Planning a girl’s trip to Bali? Make sure you book your holiday villa with Bali Villa Escapes. We are Australia’s largest villa management agency for all Villas throughout the island.
Also read: 10 villas in Seminyak for a fabulous girls week away
