The top romantic things to do in Bali under SGD $40

This is your budget-friendly couple’s guide to living it up on the immensely popular island. Cos at the end of the day, it really is all about the company, right?

Delle Chan
February 2020

Forget fine-dining restaurants, posh spas and luxe hotels — you don’t have to break the bank to kindle some romance in Bali. Here are five affordable experiences you can enjoy with your other half.

1. Catch the sunset

Sunset in Bali — There is no shortage of magical sunset spots in Bali — and the best part is that many of them can be accessed entirely free of charge.

Escape the crowds at Seminyak Beach and head to Thomas Beach in Uluwatu instead; here, you can simply lay a blanket on the sand for front-row seats to the sunset.

If you don’t mind spending a little, Uluwatu Temple (entrance fee of approximately SGD $5) is another great vantage point thanks to its cliffside location. Or check out one of the many beach bars on the island: COMO Beach Club opens in new window in Canggu shakes up cocktails such as the Mexican Mocha (a delectable combination of vodka, coffee, chocolate fondue and shaved coconut) for around SGD $16 each.

2. Embark on a trek

For more adventurous travellers, try the Beji Guwang Hidden Canyon Trekking Experience (SGD $36.35) by Klook, where you will explore the gorge’s dramatic rocky landscapes.

Bali’s diverse landscapes are ripe for exploration. Online booking platform Klook offers various affordable tours; consider the Ubud Walking Tour opens in new window (SGD $28), a five-hour expedition that will see you and your other half traversing lush rice fields and dense forests, stopping at traditional Balinese houses and water temples along the way.

3. Enjoy a spa treatment

Theanna Eco Village and Spa — Thenna Eco Villa and Spa also offers a Bubble Indulgence for Two experience, where you can opt for a couple’s massage or bubble bath for two.

There are numerous luxury spas in Bali, but the treatments they offer are often eye-wateringly expensive. Fortunately, there are also smaller spas where you can enjoy some downtime without burning a hole in your pocket. Theanna Eco Villa and Spa opens in new window in Canggu offers a 30-minute “Flower Bath for Two” experience (around SGD $30), during which you and your partner will luxuriate in a tub filled with fragrant petals.

4. Seek out some waterfalls

The best time to visit Tukad Cepung Waterfall is between April and October — the cave tends to get flooded during the rainy season between December and February.

Bali is home to more than a dozen majestic waterfalls, including Nungnung in Petang, which plunges from a lofty height of 50m; Tukad Cepung Waterfall in Tembuku, which is unusually situated in a cave; and Aling-Aling Waterfall in Sambangan, which actually comprises four different cascades. The entrance fee for each of the aforementioned waterfalls is just SGD $1, making it a budget-friendly activity you can enjoy with your other half. All you need to do is rent a scooter to get around; rates vary, but should not exceed SGD $5 per day.

5. Wander through a field of flowers

The marigold fields in the low-key village of Desa Temukus in East Bali look straight out of a postcard, with bright yellow blossoms stretching for almost as far as the eye can see.

Just be sure to ask the locals for permission before traipsing through the fields; they will usually charge a token fee of around SGD $3, which is a small price to pay for a fabulous photo opportunity.