Bali has been named the best place in the world for culture

 

According to Tripadvisor, you can soak up ‘a cultural dance performance, take a batik or silver-smithing workshop, or invigorate your mind and body’

Written byLiv KellyWriter, Time Out TravelFriday 10 January 2025

Bali is known as a brilliant spot for hiking, water sports, catching some rays and properly disconnecting thanks to its glorious natural landscape and bounty of wellness offerings, but according to Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards, it’s also the place to be for culture.

The review platform’s annual roundup named the Indonesian island as the best destination in the whole world for getting that culture fix, beating out the likes of Hanoi (a city of historic colonial architecture and more than 600 temples, which came in second) and London (famed for everything from top tier art galleries to world-class theatre, in third).

So, what’s Bali got to offer? Well, TripAdvisor describes Ubud as the island’s culture capital, where you can ‘see a cultural dance performance, take a batik or silver-smithing workshop, or invigorate your mind and body in a yoga class’.

Then there are the beautiful walks you can take through Sidemen Village, a part of east Bali known for its beautiful valleys and rice paddies, as well as the interactive art installations, light shows, craft shops and activities at the Art Academy in Bali’s new ‘mini city’, Naunu. Oh, and don’t forget the sea temples – Uluwatu and Tanah Lot are in particularly stunning coastal locations.

The best places in the world for culture

1. Bali
2. Hanoi
3. London
4. Marrakech
5. Rome
6. Cusco
7. Kathmandu
8. New Delhi
9. Crete
10. Siem Reap

Here’s our comprehensive guide to the best cities in the world for culture.

Did you see that the world’s top destinations for 2025 have been named by TripAdvisor?

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