Best Bali Temples for Kids (Family-Friendly)
Bali’s temples are beautiful, powerful and deeply important to local life. This guide helps you choose the ones that work with kids — easy paths, clear expectations and meaningful moments — without turning the day into a “don’t touch that” marathon.
Quick Links for Planning Temple Days with Kids
Open these in new tabs so this guide stays open while you click around.How to Think About Bali Temples When You Have Kids
Temples are woven into daily life in Bali, not just a list of “must-see sights.” For families, that’s an opportunity and a responsibility: kids can watch ceremonies, see offerings and hear gamelan music, but they also need clear guidance on what’s respectful, where they can stand and when it’s time to step back.
The good news: you don’t need to see every famous temple. A handful of carefully chosen spots — with easy paths, strong visuals and clear boundaries — can give your kids a deep sense of place without dragging them through hours of “quiet voices, please” in the heat.
• Pick one calm daytime temple near Ubud.
• Add one “wow” sunset temple like Uluwatu or Tanah Lot.
• Optionally, layer in a water-temple experience for teens.
If you’re still choosing where to stay, keep the Ultimate Bali Neighborhoods Guide open while you read. It breaks down Ubud, Uluwatu, Sanur, Nusa Dua and the beach hubs in a kid-first way.
How to Read “Family-Friendly” for Bali Temples
“Family-friendly” can mean very different things. For temples, look at four key factors instead of just the headline name:
- Access: Are there many stairs? Is the path narrow or exposed?
- Heat: Is there shade, breeze, or are you fully exposed in the midday sun?
- Space: Is there room for kids to stand and look without blocking ceremonies?
- Sound: Can kids quietly whisper questions, or is a strict silence atmosphere?
This guide highlights temples where families regularly report clear routes, visual interest and room to breathe — then flags the ones that are better saved for older kids who can handle more intensity and more rules.
Easiest Bali Temples for Little Kids
With toddlers and younger kids, you’re looking for temples that feel calm, structured and not too stair-heavy. These make great first introductions to Balinese culture.
Taman Saraswati (Ubud)
Right in central Ubud, Taman Saraswati is famous for its lotus pond and ornate carvings. The layout is straightforward: a clear pathway, a photogenic pond and views toward the temple gates.
- Why it works: easy access, no long walk, café options nearby.
- Pair with: a gentle Ubud stroll and kid-friendly lunch. See the Ubud Family Travel Guide .
Tirta Empul (with Care)
Tirta Empul, the water temple near Ubud, can be magical for older kids and teens who want to participate respectfully in purification rituals. With smaller children, it may be more of a “look, learn and step back” experience rather than full participation.
- Why it works: very visual, clearly structured ritual spaces.
- Watch for: crowds and slippery surfaces near the pools.
Village Temples Near Your Stay
Many families find that a short, guided visit to a local village temple near their guesthouse or villa feels more relaxed than the biggest names. Kids may get to see daily offerings and hear gentle explanations at a slower pace.
- How to arrange: ask your host or driver if a local temple visit is appropriate.
For little kids, think short visits, big visuals, clear exits. Leave while it still feels special, not when everyone is overheating.
“Wow” Temples for Big Kids & Teens
Older kids and teens are usually ready for larger complexes, sunset timings and performances — as long as the day is structured thoughtfully around energy and expectations.
Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu)
Perched on a dramatic cliff edge, Uluwatu combines ocean views, temple architecture and the famous Kecak fire dance at sunset. It’s visually stunning, but also busy and exposed, so it’s best with kids who can handle crowds and follow clear instructions.
- Why it works: huge “wow” factor, memorable Kecak performance.
- Pair with: Uluwatu Family Guide and nearby beaches.
Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is one of Bali’s most iconic sea temples, sitting on a rock just offshore. It’s best timed for lower tides and softer light, ideally early morning or late afternoon, to avoid heat and peak crowds.
- Why it works: distinct shape, sea views, easy “this is Bali” photo for kids.
- Watch for: busy paths — keep a clear meeting point in case kids get distracted.
Ulun Danu Beratan (Lake Temple)
Up in the cooler highlands, Ulun Danu Beratan sits on a lake with misty mountains behind it. The setting feels calmer and cooler than some coastal temples, and the grounds offer room to explore.
- Why it works: cooler air, open spaces, very photogenic.
- Pair with: a scenic drive from Ubud, Munduk or Lovina.
For these bigger-name temples, consider a driver or small tour so one adult isn’t stuck interpreting maps, traffic and ticket queues while also managing everyone’s mood.
Best Temples by Where You’re Staying
Staying in Ubud
Ubud is the easiest base for temple days because so many sites sit within a short drive — and you can retreat to pools and shade afterwards.
- Good options: Taman Saraswati, Tirta Empul, Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave).
- Typical pattern: one temple + one terrace or waterfall + a long lunch break.
For where to stay and how to get around with kids, use the Ubud Family Travel Guide as your base.
Staying in Seminyak / Canggu / Kuta / Legian
From Bali’s southwest coast, temple days usually look like “beach base + day trip.” You’ll spend more time in the car, so keep expectations realistic and days simple.
- Good options: Tanah Lot and some Ubud-area temples on a longer day trip.
- Tip: pair temples with either rice terraces or a short waterfall stop, not both.
You can shape these days around hubs like Seminyak and Canggu .
Staying in Sanur / Nusa Dua
From the calmer east/southeast coast, you can combine temple days with gentler logistics and shorter transfers to certain sites, depending on traffic and time of day.
- Good options: Ubud-area temples as day trips, or east-Bali temples on longer days.
- Base notes: Sanur and Nusa Dua are both good “soft landing” hubs.
Staying in Uluwatu or Jimbaran
If you’re based on the Bukit Peninsula, Uluwatu Temple naturally becomes your headline “local” temple, with the option to dip north for other sites on a separate day.
Dress Code & Temple Etiquette (Explained for Kids)
The easiest way to reduce stress on temple days is to set the tone before you arrive. Treat it like a cultural adventure with a few special “superpowers” your kids get to use:
- Clothing: shoulders covered, knees covered (saroongs are often provided).
- Shoes: comfortable, secure footwear that can handle steps and uneven ground.
- Voices: “library voices” near prayer areas; normal conversation in open spaces.
- Bodies: no climbing on statues, no sitting on temple walls or offerings.
- Photos: ask before photographing individuals; never pose with your back to a ceremony.
You can make this feel special by framing sarongs and sashes as “temple explorer gear” instead of extra rules. For a deeper look at dress code, seasons and heat, check the Bali Logistics Guide .
Pairing Temples with Other Attractions (So Kids Don’t Burn Out)
Temples are often at their best when they’re half of a day, not the whole thing. A few easy pairings:
- Temple + Rice Terrace: An Ubud-area temple in the morning, then a shaded rice terrace walk and lunch.
- Temple + Waterfall: One calm temple plus one gentle waterfall (see Best Bali Waterfalls With Kids ).
- Temple + Beach: Uluwatu or Tanah Lot at golden hour, anchored by a beach or pool day beforehand.
- Temple + Animal Day: One shorter temple, then zoo or safari experiences so kids get movement and interaction.
The idea is to alternate “quiet looking” with “active doing” so nobody spends hours being told to whisper and stand still.
Sample Ubud Temple Day That Feels Calm, Not Chaotic
Think of this as a template you can adjust up or down based on your kids’ ages and energy.
Morning — One Main Temple, One Clear Goal
- Breakfast at your Ubud stay, pack water, snacks and lightweight layers.
- Arrive at your chosen temple (for example, Tirta Empul or Goa Gajah) by 8:30–9:00 a.m.
- Walk slowly, point things out, let kids ask questions. Step back from ceremonies if you’re unsure.
- Decide ahead of time whether you’ll participate in water rituals or only observe.
Midday — Shade, Food, Cool-Down
- Head to a kid-friendly café with shade and simple menus soon after leaving the temple.
- Go back to your stay for pool time, naps and free play. No more “must-see” boxes to tick.
Afternoon — Optional Light Add-On
- If everyone has energy, add an easy stop like Taman Saraswati or a short rice-terrace viewpoint.
- If they don’t, keep it simple: early dinner, card games, early night.
When you’re ready to see how this kind of temple day plugs into 5, 7 or 10-day routes, use the sample itineraries in the Ultimate Bali Family Travel Guide .
How Many Temples You Actually Need in a Bali Family Trip
It’s easy to feel like you’re “supposed” to visit every famous temple: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Tirta Empul, Ulun Danu Beratan and more. With kids, that often leads to temple fatigue and short tempers.
A realistic sweet spot for most families:
- First-timers: 1–2 temples near Ubud + 1 sunset or lake temple.
- Culture-focused families: 3–4 temples, spread across at least a week.
- Temple lovers with teens: more is possible — but only if everyone truly wants it.
To keep the balance right:
- Use this guide to pick the few that resonate with your family’s story.
- Use the Attractions Guide to fill in animal days, waterfalls, swings and beaches.
- Use the Neighborhoods Guide to make sure your home bases make these days easy instead of exhausting.
Parent-Only Temple Tips That Quietly Change Everything
- Set the story first: tell kids they’re visiting “living places of prayer,” not “ruins.”
- Choose your “hero” temple: pick one temple that will be the main memory and build the day around that.
- Front-load the explanations: talk about offerings, gods and ceremonies in the car so on-site time can be more observation than lectures.
- Bring small anchors: a simple notebook for older kids, a “spot the detail” game for younger ones.
- Know your exit: decide in advance when you’ll leave, even if you haven’t “seen it all.” Culture lands better when nobody is burnt out.
Help Another Family Have a Calm Temple Day
If this guide helped you narrow down Bali’s temples to the ones that actually fit your kids, it will do the same for another parent staring at a long “must-see” list. Sharing this quietly keeps the whole family-first project going.
