Bali Travel Guide

Yes, most travelers coming to Indonesia need a Visa.

Visa on Arrival (B1 / eVoA) — 90+ nationalities
Travelers from most western countries can get a simple Visit Visa online or on arrival. USD 35, valid 30 days, extendable once to 60 days.

C-Type Visit Visa (B211A) — all other nationalities
If your country is not on the Visa on Arrival list, or you plan to stay longer than 60 days, you need to apply for a C-Type Visit Visa before you arrive. It cannot be purchased at the airport.

Check your nationality and full visa requirements

Every traveler entering Indonesia must meet a combination of visa requirements (based on nationality) and general entry requirements that apply to everyone.

All travelers must: hold a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond their stay, have a return or onward ticket, complete the All Indonesia customs declaration app before landing, and pay the IDR 150,000 Bali Tourist Tax on arrival.

Full Bali entry requirements and travel regulations

Yes. Every international traveler to Bali must pay IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 9) since February 2024.

You can pay online before you arrive via the Love Bali website, or pay on arrival. It applies to all foreign visitors, regardless of nationality or visa type. Keep your receipt — you may be asked to show it at immigration.

How and where to pay the Bali Tourist Tax

The best months to visit Bali are May, June, and September.

Bali has two seasons: dry (April to October) and wet (November to March). The dry season is the most popular — sunny, warm, and ideal for beaches and outdoor activities. If you skip the peak months of July and August, you also avoid the busiest crowds and highest prices. May, June, and September offer the best balance of good weather and fewer tourists.

Bali weather by month, seasons and best time to visit

Yes. The BaliCard gives you discounts at 200+ restaurants, hotels, spas, and activities across Bali.

One card, valid for up to 5 people. Discounts include: accommodation, rafting, canyoning, cooking classes, jewellery making, car rental with driver, scooter rental, SIM cards, jetski, trekking, scuba, tours, escape rooms and more. Digital delivery — no waiting, no pickup.

Get your BaliCard — Bali's discount card for travelers

The best destination in Bali depends on your travel style — and Bali genuinely offers something for everyone.

The most popular areas each have a distinct character: Canggu and Berawa for surf culture and digital nomads | Ubud for culture, rice terraces, and wellness | Seminyak for upscale restaurants and beach clubs | Sanur for families and a quieter pace | Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan for island life and diving | Nusa Dua for resort luxury.

Your holiday experience depends greatly on choosing the right area. Worth spending 10 minutes reading before you book.

Bali has a warm tropical climate year-round, with two distinct seasons: dry (April to October) and wet (November to March).

• During the dry season, temperatures range between 27–32°C (80–90°F) with low humidity and little rain. This is the most popular time to visit.
• During the wet season, temperatures stay warm but humidity rises and afternoon rain showers are common — usually short bursts of an hour or two, not all-day rain.
• The highlands around Ubud and the northern mountains are noticeably cooler than the coast.
• Best months: May, June, and September — good weather without peak-season crowds.
• Pack light clothing, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a light rain jacket.

Bali weather by month, temperatures, rainfall and seasons

As long as you can. But if you are coming from more than 6–8 hours away by plane, aim for at least 2 to 3 weeks.

That gives you time to adjust to any jetlag, explore properly, and still have days to just relax. Australians and travelers from Southeast Asia sometimes hop over for a long weekend — and that works too. But if you are flying from Europe or North America, anything less than 10 days feels rushed.

Bali offers exceptional value at every budget level — from backpacker to luxury.

Backpacker
Accommodation USD 15–30/night | Meal USD 2–4 | Scooter rental USD 3–6/day

Mid-range (3–4 star)
Accommodation USD 80–120/night | Meal USD 6–10 | Scooter USD 3–6/day | Car with driver USD 35–45/day

Luxury (5 star)
Accommodation USD 170–400/night | Meal USD 12–20 | Car with driver USD 60–100/day

The best of Bali
Accommodation USD 400+/night | Meal USD 30–60 | Car with driver USD 60–100/day

Full Bali price guide — hotels, food, transport and activities

Bali is regularly voted one of the world's top travel destinations — and there are good reasons for it.

1. Exceptional accommodation at every price point
2. Endless summer — warm weather year-round
3. The Balinese people — genuinely warm and welcoming
4. Beaches, surf, and coastal variety
5. Temples, rice terraces, and cultural sightseeing
6. Wellness, yoga, health retreats, and spirituality
7. Unique living art and Hindu culture
8. Family and kid-friendly options throughout
9. An extraordinary food and nightlife scene
10. Adventure — surfing, scuba, golf, trekking, rafting, and more

If you are comfortable on one, a scooter is the easiest and most flexible way to get around within a single area — but bring your international driving licence, it is mandatory.

The Gojek app (Android, Apple) is the Uber of Bali — affordable scooter taxis and car rides, easy to use once you have data on your phone.

For longer distances or day tours, a car with driver costs around USD 45 for a full day (8–10 hours) and is one of the best-value ways to see more of the island.

If you take a cab from the street, use Bluebird. Metered, reliable, honest drivers. Avoid unmarked taxis.

We strongly recommend getting an eSIM or local SIM card before you land — you will need data for maps, Gojek, and everything else.

Bali SIM cards and eSIMs — order before you fly | International Driving Permit for Bali

You need both your national driving licence AND an international driving licence (IDP). Both are now mandatory in Bali — the police check, and fines are issued.

Get your IDP before you travel — it cannot be issued in Bali.

Some experience matters. Traffic in Bali moves differently from most western countries, and roads can be narrow and unpredictable. Take it slow, especially in the first few days.

Choose a reputable rental service — scooter scams do happen, and a reliable rental gives you proper support if something goes wrong.

Get your International Driving Permit | Reliable scooter rental in Bali

Simply put, the Balinese are among the most wonderful people you will ever meet — and their reputation for warmth is not exaggerated.

It is difficult to find a more tolerant, easy-going, and welcoming culture anywhere in the world. Travelers feel it immediately — there is something special about the Balinese that has not been lost despite more than 50 years of tourism. Something unique and authentic that must be experienced.

More about Balinese people and culture

The main language is Bahasa Indonesia. With English you will have absolutely no problems anywhere in Bali.

The Balinese also speak their own local language (Bahasa Bali) among themselves. Bahasa Indonesia is one of the easier languages to pick up a few words of — and if you manage even a handful of phrases, you will open hearts and doors.

Basic Bahasa Indonesia vocabulary for travelers

Yes — and it is one of the most memorable things you can do in Bali.

Mount Batur (1,717m) is the most popular sunrise trek, taking around 2 hours to climb with a guide. Mount Agung (3,031m) is Bali's highest and most sacred peak — a serious full-day climb with rewarding views. Both require a local guide. Start times are typically 2–3am to reach the summit for sunrise.

You can also visit the stunning crater lakes and mountain temples around both volcanoes without climbing, making for excellent day tours from Ubud or the south.

The best itinerary depends on what you are looking for — but the most important decision is choosing the right destinations, because each area of Bali feels completely different.

A solid first-time itinerary that covers real variety:

• Days 1–3: Sanur, Jimbaran, or Nusa Dua — easy arrival, chill, get oriented.
• Days 4–7: Ubud — culture, rice terraces, temples, day tours into central and north Bali.
• Days 8–10: Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan — small islands, simpler life, great diving, a taste of Bali as it was 30 years ago.
• Days 11–14: Seminyak or Canggu — beach clubs, restaurants, sunset bars, nightlife, shopping.

With that route you will see a lot — and when you come back, there is more, much more. Travelers have been returning to Bali for decades and still discover new places.

The nightlife in Bali is extraordinary — wide variety, world-class DJs, and some of the most spectacular venues anywhere in Southeast Asia.

Kuta is legendary among younger travelers, especially Australians — loud, fun, and in high season it resembles a spring break. Seminyak has the widest range of options: upscale beach clubs, cocktail bars, and live music. Canggu has grown into a genuine nightlife destination with a strong surf-culture vibe. Uluwatu has some of the most dramatic cliff clubs in the world — open-air venues perched above the ocean with sunset views that are genuinely hard to beat.

Bali nightlife guide — clubbing, bars, and the party scene

Yes — Bali has issued an official tourist guideline, and it is worth reading before you arrive.

The guidelines came after a series of incidents where tourists disrespected local laws, culture, and sacred sites — incidents that went viral and pushed the tolerant Balinese people beyond what they were willing to accept. The key rules: dress modestly at temples, do not touch or climb sacred statues, respect ceremonies and offerings, do not ride a scooter drunk, and follow local regulations. Bali is welcoming — but it is someone's home, not a theme park.

Bali's official tourist etiquette and cultural guidelines

Depends on how you define paradise — and that is exactly the right question to ask.

Let's start with the honest part. Bali is not a postcard paradise like the Maldives or the Bahamas. The beaches from Kuta up to Canggu are wide and fun, but not the turquoise-white-sand variety many people picture. Mass tourism has left its mark on parts of the south — Kuta, Seminyak, and even Ubud carry that weight. Traffic can be genuinely difficult in dense areas, and in peak season around Christmas, it can be challenging across the whole south.

But in many ways, Bali is still a paradise — and one of the best destinations in the world. It is tolerant. It lets you be who you want to be. It has extraordinary variety: almost anything a traveler could want is here — culture, adventure, wellness, nightlife, nature, food, art. Great value for money at every budget. And a living Hindu culture that is unique in the world and has survived tourism with its authenticity intact.

If you want to leave the crowds behind, a short drive takes you to a Bali that has barely changed in decades — remote, quiet, and genuinely beautiful. The paradise is real. It just requires knowing where to look.

Yes — Bali is considered a very safe destination, safer than many places people travel to without a second thought. Solo women travel here freely and safely.

That said, common sense applies. Like anywhere with tourism, there are scams and petty crime. The biggest actual risk is road safety: inexperienced riders on scooters, underestimating traffic, overestimating their own skills. Take the roads seriously, wear a helmet, get an IDP, and go slowly until you know how it works.

Avoid unlicensed money changers, do not leave valuables visible on a scooter, and the usual travel sensibility applies everywhere else.

Bali safety, health, vaccines and hospitals