The regency of Badung Bali extends in a narrow ribbon from the central uplands in the north of the island to the Nusa Dua Peninsula, also known as Bukit Badung, in the south. Kuta and Jimbaran are to the north and west of the peninsula, Sanur to the east.

Nusa Dua and nearby Tanjung Benoa are in a world of their own, where the idea of Balinese environment has been implemented. Some of the most famous hotels around the globe are to be found here, among them the Hilton, the Hyatt, and Club Med. The beach at Nusa Dua is sheltered by coral reef, creating an ideal family beach, while Tanjung Benoa specializes in water sports.

Bukit Badung is famous among surfers for its long, white rollers. The best surfing is at Suluban, Labuhan Sait and Bingin. For hikers, there are paths running along much of the cliff, while the inland region has many prehistoric caves including Gua Selonding.
The tallest statue in the world, The Garuda Wisnu Kencana (145m), is built in an ancient quarry at the highest point on the hillt. Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple was built in the 11th centuryand rebuilt in the 16 century into it's current state.

Jimbaran is renowned for the Barong (trance) dance. the Jimbaran bay area has one of the safest and most tranquil white beaches on the whole island. It also has Pura Ulun Siwi, a beautiful temple made of brick. To the north of the Bukit peninsula is the popular beach resort of Kuta.The beach front is now host to star hotels, except for Legian and Seminyak, where much of the social scene is now centered. The main shops are located along Legian street.

Beach bungalows first opened in Kuta in the 1930's. But mass tourism did not start here until the late 1960's, when it became known as a hippie haven. Kuta soon boomed. The bamboo beach bungalows were turned into losmen, then into hotels. The hippies either left or struck it rich, and Kuta has become one of the most dynamic places in Indonesia. Another resort to the south of Kuta is Tuban. Originally part of Kuta, To the west of Kuta are the new resorts of Peti Tenget Canggu and Seseh.

Further west is the little town of Mengwi, which has one of the grandest temples of the island, Taman Ayun. Until the end of the last century, Mengwi was one of the main island kingdoms, and this temple was built round 1740. Pura Taman Ayun is a water garden temple, symbolizing the cosmic union of sea and mountain. The architectural structure has three parts, duplicating the order of the cosmos - nista (impure/demonic); madia (middle/human); and utama (godly) - corresponding to the three successive courts. The most sacred is the inner court. The shrines are made and decorated in the finest traditions of Balinese carving. To the north of Mengwi is the famous Monkey Forest at Sangeh, set in the heart of the only primary forest in southern Bali. This forest consists entirely of pala (nutmeg) trees. The monkeys living here are considered sacred, an association from the Ramayana epic, wherein Prince Rama allied himself with the monkey hero Hanoman to attack Alengka.