10 Things to Do in Bali When it Rains

Bali is enjoyably sunny during the dry season, although occasional downpours can happen at any time of the year. Fortunately, even when the skies turn dark gray and the rain hammers down, Bali still offers plenty of things to see and do.

Discover Balinese cuisine, special spices and ingredients, and how to prepare them through fun cooking classes, or indulge in a soothing spa treatment. You can take your family or friends to see various shows that merge traditional tales with high-tech sound and lighting. The weather may turn dull, but with many choices, your vacation in Bali will never be boring.

Bali Hotels

1. Enjoy a spa treatment

Pampering for mind, body, soul

Good for: Couples, Luxury

Balinese spa treatments are world-famous and among the main reasons travelers come to the island. You can enjoy the unique Bali spa experience at many places around the island, from small establishments in town to high-end wellness centers that are often attached to hotels or resort complexes.

Most spa centers offer exotic treatments you won’t find back home which incorporate aromatic tropical ingredients and the skilled hands of Balinese therapists who use traditional techniques to deliver a range of massages, scrubs, and facials. Read more

2. Go shopping at Bali’s malls

International brands and Balinese favorites

Good for: Shoppers, Food

Shopping at Bali’s fantastic malls is a popular activity year-round, and a great activity to enjoy when rains prevents you from spending a day at the beach. Take a stroll inside any of the expansive shopping complexes in Bali’s tourist-friendly areas, such as the Kuta Beachwalk, the Discovery Mall Bali, and the Mal Bali Galeria in Kuta, or the Bali Collection in Nusa Dua.

These shopping malls are a fantastic place for a spot of window shopping or to pick up great souvenirs, antiques, fashion items, and accessories. Bali’s malls are also well equipped with a selection of eateries for when you need to refuel. Read more

3. Discover underwater wonders

Coral reefs, shipwrecks, and sculptures

Good for: Adventure

There are plenty of underwater activities to enjoy in Bali. Sea walking adventures enable even non-divers to experience the incredible beauty, so if snorkeling or diving isn’t your thing, then you can still interact with tropical fish and admire coral reef gardens. You get to discover Bali’s submerged wonders with the aid of a specially designed, air-supplied helmet.

There are even submarine tours available for those who want to remain dry throughout the trip. Bali is renowned for having incredible underwater worlds to explore, with everything from WWII shipwrecks to submerged statues, sculptures, and temples, with vibrant corals and exotic marine life galore.

4. Museum tours

Discovering Bali’s history, art, and culture

Good for: History, Photo

If you want to learn more about Bali’s rich history and view the vast collections of artworks by Balinese artists, the island has plenty of museums and galleries. Besides serving as a shelter on rainy days, these informative centers provide insights into the island’s past.

Many museums, like the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA), have scheduled highlights and special touring exhibitions that make for a convenient full daytrip in Bali. Many of Bali’s museums and galleries feature great onsite eateries, so there’s no need to head out into the rain when hunger calls. Read more

5. Yoga

A rejuvenating ancient practice to embrace

Good for: Adventure

Over time, Bali has grown into a world-renowned destination for natural health, wellbeing, and mindfulness training, with multiple yoga centers providing classes year-round. Most studios feature guest instructors from all over the world, providing different branches and forms of yoga.

Pair your choice of practice, whether it be Hatha, Ashtanga Vinyasa, or Iyengar, with healthy organic meals and you’ll have yourself a Bali vacation that heals and reinvigorates the body and mind despite the weather outside. Multi-day yoga retreats are also available, especially in Ubud and Canggu. Read more

6. Bali cooking classes

Traditional Balinese cuisine created by you

Good for: Couples, Food

Learn the exciting and delicious art of Balinese cooking and discover the art of mixing various exotic herbs and spices with meat, vegetables, and seafood. On one of Bali’s popular cooking school programs, you’ll by guided by experienced teachers who’ll help you prepare iconic local dishes, such as “sate lilit” (minced meat satay) and “sayur urap” (Balinese salad).

Most cooking classes start with a tour to a vibrant morning market to buy raw ingredients, which is a fantastic experience in itself. Some of the island’s most popular culinary schools are the Casa Luna Cooking School and Paon Bali Cooking Class. Read more

7. Jewelry and silver workshops

Designing and creating your very own accessories

Good for: History, Shoppers

There are many art forms and traditional crafts in Bali, many of which reflect age-old heritage and practices. Silver crafts and jewelry-making are among the most important Balinese heritage crafts.

You can gain insight into this ancient art and learn from the best Balinese silversmiths at notable jewelry crafting centers in the main villages of Celuk, Mas, and Ubud. Join a workshop to learn from the local artists. It’s a creative and highly enjoyable activity to spend on a rainy day and, what’s more, you’ll get to design and create your own jewelry to take home. Read more

8. Theater shows

Incredible displays of traditional performing arts

Good for: Couples, Families, Nightlife, Photo

Bali is a fantastic destination for lovers of theater and the performing arts. Throughout the island, numerous theaters, both indoors and outdoors, host regular shows featuring dramatic lighting and sound systems. Traditional dance forms are very much showcased with productions featuring large casts of talented dancers and choreographers.

The performances are often inspired by local legends and folklore. The Bali Agung Show at Bali Safari Park (every Tuesday to Sunday at 2.30 pm) draws inspiration from the tale of King Jayapangus and Barong Landung, while the Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre (Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 7.30 pm) takes the audience on a journey throughout the archipelago. Read more

9. Indoor fun and games

Museums, escape rooms, and an upside down house

Good for: Adventure, Families, Photo

Enjoy some fun and games sheltered from the weather at Bali’s indoor attractions. Strike whacky poses at Dream Museum Zone Bali, a museum with life-sized 3D paintings that visitors can step inside to create fun photos. There’s also the Upside Down World, where everything’s inverted for a disorientating, gravity-defying effect.

Alternatively, try escape room challenges, such as Pandora Experience Escape Room Bali which features games and puzzles that put your inner sleuth to the test. For something more active to keep energetic kids happy, check out the Clip ‘n Climb Bali rock climbing gym in Denpasar. Read more

10. Bali waterparks

When the weather’s wet, get even wetter

Good for: Adventure, Families

When the drizzle rains down on Bali, you might as well get wet in a more pleasant way and splash to your heart’s content at one of the island’s water parks. There are 3 main water parks on the island, as well as various smaller ones.

Most offer a good range of slides and rides that provide different levels of thrills, as well as lazy rivers and swimming pools. Waterbom Bali is located in the heart of Kuta, CitraLand Waterpark is in Denpasar, while Waterboom Bukit Jati can be found in Gianyar. Read more

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.