10 Creative Things to Do in Bali: A Canggu Guide from BI Design House

Looking for something a little different to do in Bali?

If you're staying in Canggu, it's easy to spend your days moving between cafés, beach clubs, restaurants and the beach. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if you're looking for a more memorable Bali experience, there is plenty more to discover.

From creative workshops and ceramics to surfing, perfume-making and Balinese cooking, there are plenty of creative activities in Canggu for travellers who want to experience a different side of Bali.

At BI Design House, our boutique hotel in Canggu, we see Bali as a place to slow down, get curious and try something new. Our five-room design hotel sits among the rice fields, just outside the busier parts of Canggu, giving guests a quieter base from which to explore. If you're wondering where to stay, BI Design House offers a quieter base in Babakan, surrounded by rice fields but still close to the beaches, restaurants and creative energy of Canggu.

Inside the house, creativity is a big part of everyday life, with workshops, yoga, meditation and spaces designed for guests to connect and create.

So, whether you're visiting Bali for the first time or you've been coming for years, here are 10 creative things to do in Bali that we'd recommend adding to your Canggu itinerary.

1. Join a Creative Workshop at BI Design House

You don't need to be an artist to enjoy making something.

One of the things that makes BI Design House different from a typical Canggu boutique hotel is that creativity is part of the experience. We regularly host in-house workshops and classes, including ceramics, painting and cooking, giving guests the chance to spend a few hours doing something with their hands rather than simply lying by the pool.

You might make a cup. Or a bowl. Or something that was definitely supposed to be a cup but ended up looking like something else! The journey is far more important than the destination!

It's deliberately relaxed. You don't need to arrive with a plan or any artistic experience. Just come along, have a chat, make something and see where it goes. For us, this is what a creative holiday in Bali should feel like.

2. Experience a Balinese Water Temple Ceremony

One of the most memorable things to do in Bali is experience something that belongs to Bali, rather than something simply designed for tourists. A traditional water purification ceremony, known as melukat, is an important Balinese Hindu ritual involving prayers, offerings and sacred water.

We can help guests at BI Design House arrange a guided water temple experience, giving you the opportunity to learn more about Balinese culture and traditions while staying at our boutique hotel in Canggu.

It's a chance to slow down, observe and experience a different side of Bali.

3. Make Your Own Perfume in Canggu

Bali has a scent. Incense drifting from temples. Frangipani in the gardens. Sandalwood, flowers, rain and the ocean.

So why not create your own version of it?

A perfume-making workshop is a fun creative activity in Canggu, particularly if you're looking for something a little more unusual than another afternoon at a beach club. You'll experiment with different fragrance notes and create your own one-of-a-kind scent to take home.

The best part is that, months later, you can put it on and instantly be reminded of your time in Bali.

4. Go Surfing in Canggu

You can't come to Canggu and not consider getting in the ocean.

Whether you're a complete beginner or already know your way around a surfboard, surfing is one of the classic things to do in Canggu.

If you've never surfed before, we can help you book a lesson and experience the fun for yourself. Give yourself permission to fall off the board a few times. We all do!

For experienced surfers, an early morning session is hard to beat. Get out before the day gets busy, catch a few waves and then head back for breakfast.

It's one of the simplest ways to experience why Canggu became such a popular place to stay in Bali in the first place.

5. Have a Balinese Massage

Sometimes a creative holiday needs a little less activity.

After surfing, exploring Canggu or heading off on day trips around Bali, there is nothing better than slowing down with a massage.

BI Design House has its own dedicated spa space, and guests can arrange treatments during their stay. A Balinese massage or hot stone massage is a great way to spend a quiet afternoon without leaving the house.

And because we're tucked away in Babakan, surrounded by rice fields, it feels a world away from the busier side of Canggu.

Our advice? Don't book anything afterwards. Have your massage, take a swim, sit somewhere in the shade and let the afternoon disappear.

6. Make Your Own Silver Jewellery

Buying jewellery in Bali is easy. Making it yourself is much more memorable.

Around Canggu, you can find workshops where you can learn the basics of silversmithing and make your own ring, pendant or bracelet.

You start with a solid piece of silver and, with some guidance, slowly turn it into something you can actually wear. It's an interactive and immersive experience as you melt, shape, design and polish your own custom piece.

Don't worry about making it perfect. The little imperfections are usually what make a handmade piece special. And unlike a souvenir bought at the airport, you'll always remember the afternoon you spent making it yourself.

7. Explore Bali's Architecture and Interiors

If you're interested in design, Bali is almost impossible to ignore.

Take a drive around Canggu and you'll see an interesting mix of traditional Balinese architecture and contemporary tropical design.

Look at the materials. The stone. The timber. The woven details. The gardens. The way buildings open onto the outdoors.

Then look at how modern villas and boutique hotels in Canggu are interpreting those traditional ideas in completely different ways.

This is something we're naturally passionate about at BI Design House. The house was created by Bali Interiors as a place where architecture, interiors, art and hospitality come together.

If you're staying with us, take a little time to look around rather than rushing out the door. There are details everywhere. If you're searching for a design hotel in Bali, this is exactly the kind of experience we wanted BI Design House to offer.

8. Learn to Make a Balinese Offering (Canang Sari)

Once you know what you're looking for, you'll start seeing them everywhere. Small woven palm-leaf offerings decorated with flowers sit outside houses, shops, restaurants and temples across Bali. These are canang sari, daily offerings that are an important part of Balinese Hindu life.

Learning how to make one is a simple but lovely way to understand a little more about everyday Balinese culture. It's also a reminder that creativity in Bali isn't just something you find in galleries or design studios. It's part of daily life.

Sit down, work with your hands and take your time. You'll probably start noticing the little details in the offerings around you afterwards, too.

9. Learn to Cook Indonesian Food

Indonesian food is a big part of life here (and super delicious!), and a cooking class is a great way to get beyond simply ordering nasi goreng from a menu. Learn how local ingredients are used, try your hand at traditional techniques and cook a few dishes yourself before sitting down to enjoy what you've made.

At BI Design House, we love experiences that bring people together, and cooking is probably one of the easiest ways to do that.

You learn something, get your hands involved, share a meal and leave with a few recipes you can recreate when you get home.

A little piece of Bali for your own kitchen.

10. Explore Beyond Canggu — Then Come Home to BI Design House

Canggu is a great place to stay in Bali, but don't spend your entire trip in Canggu. One of the best things about staying at a boutique hotel in Canggu like BI Design House is having a relaxed place to come back to after a day of exploring.

Spend a morning heading inland, visit a craft village, take a class in a quiet workshop away from the crowds, wander through the rice fields, stop at a temple or explore some incredible design studios. Head off into the hills to chase waterfalls, or simply stop for lunch somewhere you've never heard of.

You don't need to plan every minute. In fact, we'd recommend leaving some space for getting a little bit lost. That's often when you find the most interesting places.

A Different Way to Experience Bali

There are plenty of places to stay in Canggu. But choosing where to stay in Canggu can make a big difference to the kind of Bali holiday you have. At BI Design House, we've created something a little different: a small boutique hotel in Bali where design, creativity, wellness and community are all part of the experience.

We're in Babakan, surrounded by rice fields but close enough to Canggu's beaches, restaurants, cafés and creative scene. The house has just five rooms, a swimming pool, workshop space, spa facilities and communal areas designed for guests to spend time together.

You can spend the morning surfing, the afternoon making ceramics, have a massage before dinner and then sit down with other guests for a communal meal. Or you can do absolutely none of those things. That's the beauty of Bali.

Come for the design. Stay for the creativity. And leave with a little more Bali than you arrived with.

Reserve Your Sanctuary