Bali Right Now
Air quality is affected by ongoing trash burning due to landfill restrictions and haze from regional wildfires.
ZAMNA · Savaya Bali, Uluwatu
Franky Wah · Savaya Bali, Uluwatu
Interest in travel to Bali fell 5% from a year ago, suggesting demand is cooling off.
Best time to visit Bali
Good time to visit
October offers warm weather with a moderate number of visitors. Expect about eight days of rain, so pack accordingly for potential showers.
Score by month
June to September is the dry season and the best of the year: lower humidity, calm water for diving, and reliable surf on the west coast. July and August are also the most crowded and expensive months. January and February are the wettest, with heavy afternoon downpours that flood the small roads in the south.
Visitor data: BPS-Statistics Bali, monthly foreign visitor arrivals (Jul-Dec 2025, Jan-Jun 2026)
Day-to-day in Bali
Walkability
36/100
Walking here means dodging motorbikes on narrow, often absent sidewalks, with drivers showing little patience. Reaching even basic amenities often requires a scooter or taxi due to poor pedestrian infrastructure.
Sidewalks are often broken, blocked by motorbikes and vendors, and disappear entirely on many main roads.
Basic services like food and groceries are often a significant walk away, requiring transport even in popular areas.
Motorbike density is extreme, drivers show little regard for pedestrians, and safe crossings are rare.
Climate works against walking for much of the year. Plan around weather windows.
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Monthly cost
$1,119 / month
AFFORDABLESolo mid-range stay including rent, daily eating out, groceries, and routine costs.
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Surf
Waves all year, but where you surf swaps with the season: the west coast from April to October, the east and the Nusa islands the rest of the year. Kuta and Canggu are the beginner beach breaks. Uluwatu is not.
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Coworking
$151 / month
AFFORDABLEHuge scene, mostly in Canggu, Uluwatu and Ubud. Over a dozen dedicated spaces make finding a desk easy any day of the week.
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Local gym
$23 / month
VERY AFFORDABLELocal gyms are cheap, but the gyms most visitors use in Canggu and Uluwatu charge close to Western prices. A top plan at a big recovery club like Omni or Body Factory costs about as much as a month's minimum wage in Badung, the highest in Bali.
Compare 95 gyms in Bali →
Need to Know
- Population
- 4,317,404 BPS · 2020 Census
- International visitors
- 6,948,754 (2025) +9.7% YoY BPS Bali · Last updated: May 2026
- Annual visitors per resident
- 1.6× Annual international visitors divided by the population
Top visitor markets
- Australia 23.4%
- India 8.2%
- China 7.7%
- South Korea 5.0%
- United Kingdom 4.6%
Show fewer Show 5 more
- France 4.0%
- United States 4.0%
- Malaysia 3.6%
- Singapore 3.0%
- Japan 3.0%
Source: BPS Bali · 2025
Annual visitor arrivals
- 2025 6,948,754 +9.7%
- 2024 6,333,360 +20.1%
- 2023 5,273,258 +144.6%
- 2022 2,155,747
- 2021 51 COVID
Show fewer Show 2 more
- 2020 1,069,473 COVID
- 2019 6,275,210
International visitor arrivals. COVID years (2020-2021) are included for completeness. Source: BPS Bali · Last updated: May 2026
- Currency
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
- Language
- Indonesian, widespread English in tourist zones
- Tap water
- Not safe to drink
- Time zone
- GMT+8 (WITA)
- Power plug
- Type C / F, 230V
- Dialing code
- +62
- Driving side
- left
- Tipping
- Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. A 5% tip is common if a service charge isn't included, or you can round up the bill.
- Internet
- 4G covers the whole island. 5G is limited to parts of Denpasar and the southern tourist strip.
- Emergency
- 112 (all services), 110 (police), 118 or 119 (ambulance), 113 (fire)
When not to go
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Nyepi closes the airport for a day
You cannot fly in or out on Nyepi: the airport is closed for 24 hours. We recommend being on the island for it, as long as you are happy to spend a day inside your hotel. If that sounds like a wasted vacation day, go to Lombok before Nyepi starts and come back the day after. Some years Nyepi falls in the same week as Lebaran (the holiday at the end of Ramadan), and then flights on the days around it are full and more expensive than usual.
Go here instead:
- Lombok A short flight or fast boat away, and Lombok does not shut down for Nyepi.
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Skip Bali in January
January is one of the two wettest months in the south. Mornings are often clear, then it pours in the afternoon, and the wet-season currents wash plastic onto the west-coast beaches from Kuta to Seminyak. Fast boats to Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands get canceled when the sea is rough. February is still wet; the dry season is April to October.
Go here instead:
- Thailand Most of Thailand is in its dry season in January.
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The Lebaran exodus
In the days around Lebaran, the workers who came to Bali from Java go home for pulang kampung (the yearly trip back to the family village). The road to the Gilimanuk ferry to Java backs up for hours, flights to Java sell out, and some small warungs and shops close for several days because the staff have gone home. At the same time, domestic tourists arrive in Bali for the holiday. Stay where you are through the Lebaran rush, or travel before it starts.
Upcoming Events & Holidays in Bali
Upcoming events, next 30 days
Public holidays & observances, next 12 months
Dates are researched and checked, but events move. Always confirm with the official source before you book anything around them.
Getting To Bali
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Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
13 km south of Denpasar, serving all of Bali
DPS is Bali's only airport, so all international arrivals land here. Official airport taxis are available, but ride-hailing apps Grab and Gojek are also present, though you'll need to walk to a designated 'Online Taxi Lounge' in the parking area for pickup. Avoid unofficial drivers who approach you in the terminal. Every foreign visitor also pays the Bali tourist levy, 150,000 rupiah per person and children included, once per trip. Pay it at lovebali.baliprov.go.id before you fly and save the QR code; the airport counter is slower and the lookalike sites charge more.
Direct flights to Bali
Serves 58 direct destinations, 40 international and 18 domestic, about 208 flights a day.
International 40- Singapore SIN Singapore
Garuda Indonesia 
Jetstar 
KLM 
Saudi Arabian Airlines 
Scoot 
Singapore Airlines 
TransNusa 18/day - Kuala Lumpur KUL Malaysia
AirAsia 
Malaysia Airlines 
Malindo Air 15/day - Perth PER Australia Batik Air Indonesia AirAsia Jetstar Malindo Air TransNusa 12/day
- Melbourne MEL Australia Garuda Indonesia Jetstar Malindo Air
Qantas V Virgin Australia 9/day
- Sydney SYD Australia Garuda Indonesia Jetstar Malindo Air Qantas V Virgin Australia 6/day
- Brisbane BNE Australia Jetstar Malindo Air V Virgin Australia 4/day
- Hong Kong HKG Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific H Hong Kong Airlines 3/day - Seoul ICN South Korea
Jeju Air 
Korean Air 3/day - Ho Chi Minh City SGN Vietnam
VietJetAir 
Vietnam Airlines 3/day - Guangzhou CAN China
China Southern Airlines TransNusa 3/day - Manila MNL Philippines
Cebu Pacific Air 
Philippine Airlines 3/day - Bangkok BKK Thailand
Thai Airways International 1-2/day - Doha DOH Qatar
Qatar Airways 1-2/day - Dubai DXB United Arab Emirates
Emirates 1-2/day - Shanghai PVG China
China Eastern Airlines 
Juneyao Airlines 1-2/day - Taipei TPE Taiwan
China Airlines 
EVA Air 1-2/day - Abu Dhabi AUH United Arab Emirates
Etihad Airways 1-2/day - Adelaide ADL Australia Jetstar 1-2/day
- Dili DIL Timor-LesteA Angel Air
Citilink 1-2/day - Gold OOL Australia Jetstar V Virgin Australia 1-2/day
- Istanbul IST Türkiye
Turkish Airlines 1-2/day - New Delhi DEL India
Air India 1-2/day - Auckland AKL New ZealandA Air New Zealand1-2/day
- Phuket HKT Thailand Indonesia AirAsia ~1/day
- Tokyo NRT Japan Garuda Indonesia ~1/day
- Xiamen XMN China
Xiamen Airlines ~1/day - Bangalore BLR India
IndiGo ~1/day - Bangkok DMK Thailand Thai AirAsia
Thai Lion Air ~1/day - Hanoi HAN Vietnam VietJetAir ~1/day
- Port Darwin DRW Australia Jetstar 5/week
- Williamtown NTL Australia Jetstar 5/week
- Busan PUS South Korea
Air Busan 4/week - Cairns CNS Australia Jetstar 4/week
- Chengdu TFU ChinaS Sichuan Airlines4/week
- Maroochydore MCY Australia Jetstar 4/week
- Moscow SVO Russia
Aeroflot 4/week - Bhubaneswar BBI India IndiGo 3/week
- Canberra CBR AustraliaV Virgin Australia3/week
- Chennai MAA India IndiGo 3/week
- Cheongju CJJ South Korea
T'Way Air 2/week
Within Indonesia 18
- Jakarta CGK Batik Air F Fly Arystan Garuda Indonesia Indonesia AirAsia Lion Air
Nam Air 
Pelita Air Sriwijaya Air TransNusa 35/day - Surabaya SUB Batik Air Citilink Garuda Indonesia Lion Air
Super Air Jet 14/day - Lombok LOP Lion Air TransNusa
Wings Air 11/day - Labuan Bajo LBJ Batik Air Indonesia AirAsia 7/day
- Makassar UPG Batik Air Citilink Lion Air Sriwijaya Air 5/day
- Yogyakarta YIA Garuda Indonesia Super Air Jet 4/day
- Sumba (west) TMC Batik Air Nam Air 1-2/day
- Kupang KOE Batik Air Super Air Jet 1-2/day
- Semarang SRG Super Air Jet 1-2/day
- Bima BMU TransNusa Wings Air 1-2/day
- Jakarta (Halim) HLP Citilink 1-2/day
- Banjarmasin BDJ Lion Air ~1/day
- Balikpapan BPN Lion Air ~1/day
- Solo SOC Super Air Jet ~1/day
- Sumbawa SWQ Wings Air ~1/day
- Manado MDC TransNusa ~1/day
- Timika TIMF Fly Arystan Garuda Indonesia ~1/day
- Pontianak PNK Super Air Jet 5/week
Nonstop routes only. Flights per day are an average, each way. Data: AeroDataBox, updated July 2026.
Staying longer or working remotely? See the full Bali visa guide, with the airport VOA, extensions and every visa's official cost. -
Safety Advice
Common Scams in Bali
Money & Payments
Cards work in most places tourists go in Bali, but you still need cash for markets, small warungs and drivers. Paying in rupiah and using the right ATM saves you more than the fees you can see.
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Cards, cash and QR payments
Most hotels, restaurants and supermarkets take Visa and Mastercard. Smaller businesses want cash, and more of them accept QRIS (Indonesia's national QR payment code) every year.
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Hidden exchange-rate costs
A poor exchange rate and dynamic currency conversion (the machine billing you in your home currency) cost you more than the ATM fee. Use the right ATM and always pay in rupiah to save several percent.
Sending money to Indonesia from abroad? These price one currency against a live rate:
Costs in Bali
Bali is still good value, but the days of ultra-budget travel are fading as demand from remote workers has driven up rental prices in popular areas. You can still eat cheap at local warungs for a few dollars, but imported goods and Western-style cafes can get expensive.
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SIM Cards & Data
Best option for most travelers: an eSIM you set up before you arrive. You'll be online the moment you land, with no airport line and no tourist pricing.
Travel eSIMs Connect the second you land. Zero hassle. Skip the airport line and paperwork. Activate before you fly and land connected. Find the best eSIM →Prefer a local SIM?
If you'd rather use a physical SIM instead of an eSIM, you can buy one at Ngurah Rai International Airport or at official mobile carrier stores across Bali. You'll need your passport for registration, and activation is usually done while you wait. Buy from a carrier store rather than a kiosk in the arrivals hall, where the markup is steep.
What Bali is Like
Most visitors see one corner of Bali: the south, within an hour's drive of the airport. Kuta is the cheap end, with loud bars, surf schools and a lot of Australians. Seminyak is the same beach with better restaurants and higher prices. Canggu is Byron Bay with more laptops. In the early 2000s it was rice fields and surf camps, and some of the fields are still there, between smoothie-bowl cafes and villa building sites. Uluwatu, on the limestone peninsula at the southern tip, has the cliffs, the famous breaks (Padang Padang, Bingin, Uluwatu itself) and some of the most expensive hotels on the island.
Distances on the map are misleading here. Canggu to Uluwatu is 30 kilometers (19 miles), and in heavy traffic that is a two-hour drive on narrow roads full of scooters. In parts of the south, hand-painted signs from local drivers' groups ban Grab and Gojek (the ride-hailing apps) from picking up, so you often have to walk out to the main road to get a cheap ride home. Pick one base, two at most, and do day trips from there.
Bali is a Hindu island in the country with more Muslims than any other, and you see it every morning. Women set out canang sari (small palm-leaf trays of flowers, rice and incense) on doorsteps, shop counters and the seats of parked scooters; don't step on or over the ones on the ground. Pork is on menus all over the island, which you will rarely see in Java. In the evening a gamelan (an orchestra of gongs and bronze percussion) rehearses in the banjar hall, the meeting place of the neighborhood council, and when a temple procession closes the road, the traffic stops until it has passed.
The Dutch took control of Bali late, long after most of Java. In 1906 and again in 1908, the royal courts of Badung and then Klungkung walked into Dutch rifle fire rather than surrender. The colonial government then promoted Bali as a "living museum" of traditional culture, and steamships started bringing tourists in the 1920s. The kecak, the chanting "monkey dance" performed at sunset at Uluwatu, took its modern form in the 1930s. Balinese dancers, among them Wayan Limbak, shaped it with the German painter Walter Spies for Western audiences. It is still worth an evening.
Eat Balinese food at least once a day. Much of it is home cooking, sold at a warung (a small family-run eatery) from a glass cabinet: nasi campur (rice with small helpings of the dishes cooked that morning), ayam betutu (chicken slow-cooked in spice paste and banana leaf), and sate lilit (minced fish or pork pressed onto lemongrass stalks and grilled). Babi guling (spit-roast suckling pig) is the one to plan a lunch around. Pak Malen in Seminyak has a line out the door around lunchtime, and the popular babi guling warungs sell out by early afternoon. At Jimbaran, the seafood grills put their tables on the sand at sunset, and you pick your fish from the ice.
Ubud, an hour inland, is where the Eat Pray Love crowd went, and it still has the yoga studios, the raw-food cafes and a Balinese dance performance every night at the palace or one of the temples. The center is crowded. Walk the Campuhan Ridge path early in the morning and it is almost empty. Keep your sunglasses in your bag at the Monkey Forest. The monkeys at Uluwatu Temple are worse: they steal phones and glasses and give them back for fruit.
Leave the south for a few nights. Sidemen, in the east, is a valley of rice terraces under Mount Agung with a handful of guesthouses. Amed has black-sand beaches and calm water for snorkeling and freediving. Munduk, in the northern hills, is cool enough for a sweater at night. At Lovina, on the north coast, a fleet of boats races out at sunrise to chase the same pod of dolphins, and we would skip the trip for the dolphins' sake.
Bali makes more rubbish than it can collect. What the trucks miss gets burned in yards and empty lots or washed down the rivers to the sea, and after the rice harvest farmers burn the straw left in the fields. On a still evening the smoke hangs over the villages, and in the south it mixes with traffic fumes. If you have asthma, bring your inhaler and pick a place with air conditioning you can close up at night.
Hotels and villas in the south pump groundwater, and some wells there have run dry or turned salty. The rice fields that made Bali famous, watered by the subak (a cooperative irrigation system run through the water temples, listed by UNESCO in 2012), are being sold one plot at a time for more villas. We still think it is one of the best islands in Asia to spend a month on. To avoid adding to the plastic problem, buy a galon (a 19-liter refillable water jug that most warungs and minimarts swap for a full one) instead of cases of small bottles.
Nyepi, the day Bali shuts down
Nyepi is one of the few public holidays anywhere in the world that closes an international airport. For 24 hours, from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m., nothing lands or takes off, the ferries stop, the roads empty and the shops close, including the 24-hour convenience stores. Visitors have to follow the same rules as everyone else. You stay inside your hotel, and the pecalang (village security volunteers) will walk you back if you head for the beach. If your flight is on Nyepi, move it. The date follows the Balinese calendar and changes every year, usually falling in March.
The day before Nyepi, supermarkets are packed with people stocking up. If you are staying in a villa, buy food, water and any medicine you need before the day starts, because shops and restaurants close and lights are kept low after dark. Hotels stay open for their guests, serve meals and draw the curtains at night. In recent years mobile data has been switched off across the island too, while calls, texts and wifi kept working.
The night before is the loudest night of the year. Banjar youth groups spend weeks building an ogoh ogoh, a giant demon figure on a bamboo frame that often mocks greed or corruption, and they carry it through the streets with gongs, drums and firecrackers, turning it around at the intersections. The noise is on purpose: it drives the evil spirits out, and the silence the next day convinces them the island is empty. Most of the figures are burned afterwards. Roads close in the late afternoon, so get to your spot early and plan to walk home.
On the day you hear roosters, dogs and the sea, and not a single scooter. There is nothing to do but swim in the hotel pool, read and sleep. Some people plan a whole trip around it, and hotels in the south fill up well ahead. On a clear night the south gets dark enough to see the Milky Way. We think it is the best night of the year to be on the island, as long as you got there the day before.
Where to Stay in Bali
- Mountains, waterfalls, cool weather
Munduk
Munduk is high in the mountains, surrounded by coffee plantations, waterfalls and winding roads instead of beaches. Mornings are often cool enough for a light jacket and afternoons are best spent hiking rather than sitting by a pool. It can rain at a moment's notice. The roads can be steep, so rent a scooter only if you are an experienced rider.
Good for: Waterfalls, hiking, mountain scenery.
Skip if: You are looking for a beach holiday. There is no beach.
- Surfing, sunsets, quiet
Kedungu
Past Tanah Lot, Kedungu has long beaches, rice fields and uncrowded surf breaks in place of the constant movement of Canggu. Development has accelerated, but the area still feels far more open than the west coast hotspots. Restaurants are scattered and evenings are quiet, so you will drive for dinner most nights.
Good for: Surfing, sunsets, peaceful stays.
Skip if: You want shopping, nightlife or easy walking.
- Surfing, cliffs, beach clubs
Uluwatu
Uluwatu stretches across the Bukit Peninsula rather than one compact town, with surf breaks, cliffside temples and beach clubs scattered between hotels, villas and building sites. Distances are longer than they look and walking is rarely practical. Surfers love having famous breaks close together. Everyone else needs to enjoy driving.
Good for: Advanced surfing, clifftop views, beach hopping.
Skip if: You want a walkable base without renting transport.
- Surfing, quiet, villas
Seseh
Seseh is one of the last stretches of coastline near Canggu where village life still outweighs tourism, although development is moving in quickly. The beach is popular with surfers and sunset walkers rather than beach clubs, and evenings stay remarkably quiet. Shops and restaurants are limited, so you'll drive almost everywhere.
Good for: Quiet villas, surfing, slower pace.
Skip if: You want nightlife and lots of dining within walking distance.
- Surfing, cafes, new villas
Pererenan
Immediately west of Canggu, Pererenan is calmer than Canggu once you leave the main roads, but it is not the village it was. Development has caught up: most of the rice fields have gone to villas and cafes, and the crowd on Pererenan Beach at sunrise is mostly foreign. Traffic is lighter than central Canggu, and the gap narrows every year.
Good for: Surfing, cafes, quieter long stays.
Skip if: You want to walk to busy nightlife every evening.
- Surfing, cafes, nightlife
Canggu
Canggu has become Bali's social center, where surf breaks, coworking spaces, fitness studios and late nights all compete for the same narrow roads. Walking only works within your immediate neighborhood because the area sprawls between Berawa, Batu Bolong and Pererenan. Traffic is part of daily life here. Expect to use a scooter or ride-hailing app constantly.
Good for: Surfing, cafes, nightlife, digital nomad stays.
Skip if: You dislike traffic, noise or heavily touristed areas.
- Dining, shopping, beach clubs
Seminyak
Seminyak is between Kuta's chaos and Canggu's constant hype, with restaurants, boutiques and beach clubs packed into a relatively compact area. Jalan Kayu Aya stays walkable until traffic builds later in the day, when even short taxi rides become slow. The beach is best for sunset rather than swimming. Stay a few streets inland if you value quiet nights.
Good for: Restaurants, shopping, sunset beach walks.
Skip if: You want a quiet village or traditional Balinese atmosphere.
- Seafood, beaches, families
Jimbaran
Jimbaran centers around a broad sheltered bay where mornings are quiet and evenings revolve around seafood restaurants on the sand. Swimming is easier here than along much of the west coast because the surf stays calmer. Outside the beachfront everything spreads out quickly, so you'll need transport most days.
Good for: Seafood dinners, swimming, relaxed beach stays.
Skip if: You want nightlife within walking distance.
- Beginner surfing, nightlife, cheap
Kuta
Kuta is still popular with first-time surfers and travelers who care more about value than atmosphere. The wide sandy beach is one of the easiest places on the island to learn, while Legian Street stays busy long after dark. Parts of the area feel tired and relentlessly commercial. That is unlikely to change.
Good for: Learning to surf, nightlife, cheap stays.
Skip if: You want boutique hotels or peaceful evenings.
- Resorts, beaches, families
Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is Bali's purpose-built resort enclave, where gated hotels, wide sidewalks and well-kept beaches create a very different experience from the rest of the south. The reef takes the swell out, so the swimming is the calmest in the south, and it is quieter than Seminyak or Canggu. It can also feel sealed off from everyday Balinese life. Most people leave the resort zone only for day trips.
Good for: Resort stays, swimming, family trips.
Skip if: You want local restaurants and neighborhood atmosphere.
- Culture, wellness, rice terraces
Ubud
Ubud remains the island's cultural center, although the middle of town feels busy for much of the day. Around Monkey Forest Road you'll find yoga studios, galleries and restaurants, while villages only a few minutes away are noticeably quieter. Beach access is not part of the deal. Stay a few minutes outside the center and you get the same access without the main-road traffic.
Good for: Balinese culture, yoga, scenic walks.
Skip if: You want beach access or late-night nightlife.
- Beach, cycling, families
Sanur
Sanur faces the sunrise instead of the sunset and moves at a slower pace than the west coast. The beachfront path is excellent for walking and cycling, while the reef keeps the water calmer for swimming. Evenings stay quiet and restaurants wind down early.
Good for: Cycling, calm beaches, family stays.
Skip if: You want beach clubs and late nights.
- Rice terraces, hiking, quiet
Sidemen
Sidemen feels like the version of inland Bali that many people expect Ubud to be. Small valleys, rice terraces and village roads replace shopping streets, and evenings are remarkably quiet. There is very little nightlife or shopping.
Good for: Hiking, rice terraces, peaceful stays.
Skip if: You want restaurants and nightlife within walking distance.
- Island, snorkeling, diving
Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan offers a slower island atmosphere only a short boat ride from Bali, with clear water, reef breaks and easy access to snorkeling trips. Most people move around by scooter because the island is small. Roads are narrow but quiet.
Good for: Snorkeling, diving, island escape.
Skip if: You want shopping or nightlife.
- Cliffs, viewpoints, adventure
Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida attracts travelers willing to trade comfort for dramatic scenery, rough roads and some of the island's most photographed viewpoints. Day trippers crowd the famous spots during the middle of the day, but staying overnight changes the experience completely. Getting around takes longer than the map suggests, and the run out to Kelingking Beach is about an hour each way from the harbor.
Good for: Clifftop viewpoints, adventure, overnight island trips.
Skip if: You want easy transport or smooth roads.
- Diving, snorkeling, quiet
Amed
Amed strings together several fishing villages along Bali's northeast coast, where traditional jukung boats still line the black sand beaches each morning. Divers and freedivers base themselves here for the Liberty wreck and nearby reefs rather than nightlife. The drive from the airport takes about three hours.
Good for: Diving, snorkeling, relaxed coastal stays.
Skip if: You want nightlife or quick access to the south.
Living in Bali
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning & moving around
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How many days do I need in Bali?
Seven days at least, split between the coast and Ubud. With fewer than five, much of the trip goes on traffic and airport transfers. With ten to fourteen days you can add a quiet base such as Sidemen or Amed.
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Is the trash problem in Bali as bad as people say?
Yes, on the west-coast beaches in the rainy season. From November to March, plastic from the rivers and the sea piles up on Kuta and Seminyak. Resorts in Nusa Dua clean their own beaches every morning. Roadsides and rivers inland are littered all year.
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What are the essential ride-hailing apps for getting around Bali?
Grab and Gojek, the two ride-hailing apps used across Indonesia. Install both before you land and compare the price and wait time for each ride. Both have official pickup points at Ngurah Rai Airport.
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Is Bali a good place for digital nomads to settle?
For a stay of a few months, yes, especially in Canggu and Ubud. Both have plenty of coworking spaces and laptop-friendly cafes. Monthly villa rentals exist at every budget, but demand has pushed up prices in central Canggu. Heavy rain sometimes cuts the power for a short time, so keep a phone hotspot as a backup.
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Are Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida actually part of Bali?
Yes. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida are part of Klungkung Regency, so they belong to Bali, but you reach them by fast boat from Sanur: about 30 minutes to Lembongan and 45 to Penida. Boats are canceled when the sea is rough, so stay at least one night instead of making it a day trip.
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What are the best day trips in Bali?
Jatiluwih, Nusa Penida and Sidemen. Jatiluwih's rice terraces are UNESCO-listed and much less crowded than Tegalalang, but tour buses arrive mid-morning. The Nusa Penida viewpoints are packed by midday, so take the first boat or stay the night. Sidemen, in the east, has rice fields and very few visitors.
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Which markets in Bali are worth visiting?
Ubud Art Market, Badung Market in Denpasar and the design markets in Canggu. At Ubud Art Market, bargain firmly for woven bags and crafts, because first prices are high. Badung Market is where locals buy fresh produce, spices and flowers for offerings. Canggu's smaller markets, such as Love Anchor, sell clothes and accessories from independent designers.
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Where can I store my luggage in Bali between checkout and my flight?
At your hotel: almost every hotel and villa holds bags at reception for free after checkout. If yours won't, Bounce has partner drop-off points in Canggu, Seminyak and near the airport.
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What is the most common mistake first-time visitors make in Bali?
Staying only in Canggu or Seminyak. Both are crowded and built up, and traffic takes hours out of every day. Spend part of the trip in Ubud or Sidemen.
Safety & medical
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Is it safe to swim at Bali's beaches?
Not everywhere. On the west coast, including Canggu and Uluwatu, strong currents and rip tides pull swimmers out to sea. Swim between the flags where there are lifeguards, and stay out when the red flag is up. Sanur and Nusa Dua are calmer because the reef breaks the waves.
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Are reports of violent crime against foreigners in Bali something to worry about?
For most visitors, no. The violent cases in the news are mostly disputes between foreigners who know each other, not random attacks on tourists. The crimes tourists actually meet are petty theft and phone or bag snatching by thieves on scooters. Carry your bag on the side away from the road.
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What happens if I get sick in Bali?
Go to a private hospital. BIMC Hospital in Kuta and Siloam Hospitals Denpasar are the two most foreigners use, and both have English-speaking staff. Guardian and Kimia Farma pharmacies sell most everyday medicines over the counter. Serious trauma or complex surgery often means a medical evacuation to Singapore, so buy travel insurance that covers evacuation.
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What is Bali Belly and how do you avoid it?
Bali belly is traveler's diarrhea, caused by bacteria in food or water that your gut is not used to. Don't drink the tap water, and brush your teeth with bottled water. Skip ice at roadside stalls and eat where there is a line, because busy kitchens cook food fresh. Pack oral rehydration salts, and see a clinic if it lasts more than two days.
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Is it true that travelers face lethal risks from drinking arak in Bali?
The risk is real, but it comes from methanol, not from arak (the local palm or rice spirit) itself. The deaths come from home-brewed or tampered batches mixed into cheap cocktails at low-end bars. Drink beer, or spirits poured from a sealed bottle.
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Is it safe to walk around Bali at night?
Yes, on the main tourist streets. The bigger danger is the broken sidewalks and open drains, so use your phone light. On dark side streets, thieves on scooters snatch phones, so keep yours in your pocket.
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Are stray dogs in Bali something to worry about?
Mostly no, but don't touch them: Bali has rabies. Most street dogs are territorial and ignore people walking past. If one bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and get to a clinic the same day for rabies shots.
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How bad is the air quality from burning trash in Bali?
Bad in patches, not across the island. Smoke from burning trash and rice straw hangs over villages on still evenings. The coast clears with the sea breeze, while inland valleys hold the smoke during dry spells.
Laws & local norms
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What are the drug laws in Bali?
Very strict. Possession of drugs can mean years in prison, and trafficking carries the death penalty. The law covers cannabis and CBD products, even ones that are legal where you live. Customs at the airport search bags thoroughly.
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Can you legally ride a scooter without a license in Bali?
No. You need a motorcycle license from home and an International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles. Rental shops hand over scooters without checking, but if you crash without a license your insurer can refuse the claim. Police run license checks in Canggu and Seminyak.
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What is the dress code for temples in Bali?
Wear a sarong and sash at every temple, and cover your shoulders. The big temples lend or rent both at the entrance, so you don't need to buy your own. Village temples are less strict, but dress modestly there too.
Money & costs
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Do I have to pay the Bali tourist levy?
Yes. Every foreign visitor pays Rp 150,000 once per trip, children included, on top of any visa fee. Pay it on the official Love Bali site, lovebali.baliprov.go.id, before you fly and save the QR code; the airport counter is slower and lookalike sites charge more. Holders of a KITAS or KITAP (temporary and permanent stay permits), student visas and diplomatic visas are exempt. Officers check the code at the big attractions.
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How much money do you need for a week in Bali?
About $30 a day on a tight budget and $100 a day mid-range, so roughly $200 to $700 for the week before flights. Warung meals and guesthouses are cheap on any budget. Western cafes and daily Grab rides are what make a trip expensive.
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What are the typical ATM fees and payment norms in Bali?
Carry cash: warungs, markets, parking attendants and most drivers take cash only, while hotels, beach clubs and larger restaurants take cards. Use an ATM attached to a bank branch (BNI, BCA or Mandiri), because skimmers turn up in standalone machines at convenience stores. When an ATM or card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in rupiah; that conversion costs several percent more. Some places add 2 to 3 percent for card payments, so ask first.
Culture & etiquette
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Is Bali welcoming to LGBTQ+ travelers?
Yes, in the tourist areas of the south. Seminyak has a small strip of gay bars on Jalan Camplung Tanduk. Indonesia is socially conservative, and public displays of affection are frowned on for any couple, so be discreet in villages and at temples. Indonesia's criminal code, in force since January 2026, also makes sex outside marriage a crime for everyone, gay or straight. Police can only act on a complaint from a spouse, parent or child, so it is not something visitors run into.
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What language do people speak in Bali?
Bahasa Indonesia is the national language, and Balinese people speak Balinese among themselves. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and shops in the tourist areas. Halo (hello) and terima kasih (thank you) are worth learning.
Food & drink
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Where do locals actually eat in Bali?
At warungs, small family-run places that sell Indonesian dishes for a few dollars a plate. Pick one with the food on display behind glass: you point at what you want and they build a plate of rice around it. Choose the busy ones, because a steady crowd means the food is fresh.
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What are the best local foods to try in Bali?
Babi guling (spit-roast suckling pig), sate lilit (minced fish or pork grilled on lemongrass stalks) and ayam betutu (spiced chicken slow-cooked in banana leaf). Eat babi guling at lunch, because the popular warungs sell out by early afternoon.
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Is Bali vegan-friendly?
Yes. Canggu and Ubud have more vegan restaurants than anywhere else on the island. Balinese cooking already uses a lot of tempeh and tofu. At a warung, ask for no shrimp paste and no fish sauce, or both will be in your food.
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Where can I eat late at night in Bali?
Canggu, Seminyak and Kuta, where kitchens on the main roads stay open past midnight. Circle K convenience stores are open 24 hours. Ubud and the quieter coasts close early, though a few places on Monkey Forest Road serve until about 11 p.m.
Families & kids
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Is Bali a good place to travel with kids?
Yes. Balinese culture puts family first, and children are welcome in almost every restaurant. The hard parts are the heat, the traffic and the lack of sidewalks, so you will take Grab cars more than you walk. Plan each day around pool time.
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Is Bali manageable with a stroller?
Not really. High curbs, broken sidewalks and parked scooters block most footpaths. Resorts and malls such as Beachwalk in Kuta are fine, but bring a baby carrier for markets, temples and village roads.
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What type of accommodation works best for families in Bali?
A private villa with separate bedrooms and a kitchen works best for most families; ask whether the pool is fenced. For kids' clubs and shallow pools, stay at a family resort in Sanur or Nusa Dua. Either way, book away from the party strips of Kuta and Seminyak.
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What actually works for a half-day with young kids in Bali?
Waterbom Bali in Kuta, a water park with slides and splash pools for every age. Sanur beach is the other choice: the reef keeps the water calm for wading, so go in the morning before the midday heat. Skip long car rides and hot temple visits with small children.
Staying longer
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Which neighborhood in Bali should I stay in?
For a first trip, split your stay: three or four nights on the coast, then the same in Ubud. Pick Sanur with kids, Uluwatu for surfing, Amed for diving and Sidemen for quiet. Canggu is the most popular base, but Batu Bolong and its other main roads are jammed most of the day.
After dark
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Are there formal red-light districts in Bali?
No, Bali has no official red-light district. Adult venues and street prostitution are concentrated around Legian Street in Kuta after midnight. Some bars there advertise massage that is really sex work.
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Where do nights typically go wrong for travelers in Bali?
Most bad nights involve drinking and then riding a scooter, and insurers refuse claims for drunk-riding crashes. Thieves also target drunk tourists walking home, offering unofficial rides or crowding them to take wallets. Book a Grab or Gojek home and leave venues as a group.
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What are the best areas for nightlife in Bali?
Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu. Canggu has casual bars and beach clubs such as Finns. Seminyak has bigger clubs and cocktail bars, and Uluwatu has cliff-top venues such as Savaya that book international DJs. Ubud is quiet after dark, with live acoustic music and early closing.
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Which dating apps are most popular in Bali?
Tinder and Bumble, mostly in the southern tourist areas and among foreigners who live on the island. Some profiles belong to sex workers.