With more than 11,000  inhabited islands scattered across the globe, the competition for the title of most beautiful is fierce. Travelers have no shortage of options, from remote specks of land where boats arrive once a week, to storied destinations that have inspired poets and painters. Yet when Trip.com analyzed search and booking data, traveler reviews, and user-generated content to identify the world’s most scenic islands, one destination rose to the top. Bali, known as the “Island of the Gods,” claimed the No. 1 spot.

Located in the western part of the Indonesian archipelago, Bali is surrounded by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the Bali Sea. It covers roughly 2,230 square miles of volcanic terrain, dense jungle, and coastline ranging from dramatic black sand to pale, sun-bleached coves. Ancient Hindu temples rise above the tree line, rice paddies cascade down hillsides in stacked emerald-green terraces, and rivers wind through gorges thick with ferns and flowering trees.

Ubud, the island’s spiritual center, is home to many of the island’s most iconic attractions, including the Tegallalang Rice Terrace, Goa Gajah cave temple, Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market, and the Sacred Monkey Forest, a temple complex inhabited by more than 1,200 long-tailed macaques. Active travelers can spend the day chasing waterfalls like Sekumpul and Tegenungan or take an early-morning hike to the summit of Mount Batur for magical sunrise views.

Thousands of temples are scattered across Bali, serving as centers for worship, religious ceremonies, traditional music, and dance. At Pura Luhur Uluwatu, a clifftop temple in the south, travelers can watch a Kecak dance, a fire-lit ritual accompanied by the chanting of dozens of performers, at sunset. Pura Tirta Empul is one of Bali’s most sacred temples, where natural spring water has been used in traditional purification rituals for centuries. Wherever you go on the island, vivid flower offerings wrapped in palm-leaf baskets, ornate temple gates, and the melodies of gamelan music provide a window into Balinese life.

Bali has more than 30 breathtaking beaches offering everything from world-class surf to tranquil white sands. Uluwatu Beach is a popular surfing spot with dramatic cliffs, Melasti Beach is a hotspot for day trippers, and Canggu Beach is known for its black-sand shores, lively bars and cafés, and beach clubs like FINNS Beach Club. Nusa Dua offers a classic beach experience, with a high concentration of upscale properties, including the St. Regis Bali Resort, whose architecture is inspired by ancient Balinese pavilions.

Bali’s luxury hospitality scene continues to expand, with recent openings such as the 85-room Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, a rainforest retreat featuring contemporary suites and private pool villas. The Waldorf Astoria Bali and Mandarin Oriental Bali are scheduled to debut in 2027.”

In 2016, we spent four wonderful months in Bali, and we enjoyed every moment of our time there. It is one of those places that left such a lasting impression on us that we continue to recommend it whenever someone mentions an island holiday, a special celebration, or even a destination wedding.

Bali offers so much more than beautiful beaches. There are lush rice terraces, charming villages, fascinating temples, wonderful restaurants, friendly people, and plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Of course, Bali is not perfect, and there are areas we would avoid, particularly some of the larger, busier cities where traffic, crowds, and commercialization can take away from the experience.

However, with some careful research, it is possible to find exactly the kind of Bali experience you are looking for. Whether you want a quiet villa surrounded by greenery, a beautiful beach location, a romantic setting, or a place with plenty of activities and restaurants nearby, Bali has something for almost everyone.

Our four months there gave us plenty of time to explore and appreciate the island, and we understand why so many people return year after year. For us, Bali remains a very special place and one we would happily visit again.

It’s raining today, for the first time since we arrived mid-June. It’s delightful.

Be well.