Bali
A Hindu-majority island in Indonesia, known for temples, rice terraces, volcanoes and a coast of beaches and surf breaks.
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Bali is an island and province of Indonesia, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying east of Java and west of Lombok. Denpasar, on the southern side, is the provincial capital. Ubud, in the upland centre, is regarded as the island's cultural centre, and Bali is also called the Island of the Gods.
Many trips combine temples, rice terraces, volcanoes and beaches. The rice terraces at Jatiluwih are part of Subak, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Mount Batur is an active volcano in the central highlands. Beaches in the south usually have white sand, while many in the north and west have black sand. Traffic jams are common in the south, so allow extra time for drives. The drier months run roughly from April to October, and the rainy season runs from October to April, with the heaviest rain from December to March.
Bali in five
- Pay the tourist levyA one-off levy for foreign visitors, paid online on the official Love Bali site or on arrival.
- Hire a driver for day tripsTraffic makes short distances slow. A driver for the day is the easiest way to see the temples of the north and east.
- Carry a sarongIt is required inside temples. Most lend or rent them at the gate.
- Plan around NyepiOn the Day of Silence, usually in March, the island stops for 24 hours: the airport closes and everyone stays indoors. Check the date for your year before booking flights.
- Check your licence before renting a scooterMany travel insurance policies exclude riders without the right licence. If you are unsure, hire a driver for the day or use ride-hailing in the south.Travel insurance
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Bali, the full guide
Ubud
- Best for: Culture, couples, slow trips
- To airport: About 1.5 hours by car
- Price band: $$
- Rice walks and temples nearby
- Cooler and greener than the coast
- Roads jam in the center
Skip if you want a beach at the door.
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Canggu
- Best for: Surfers, remote workers
- To airport: About 45 to 90 min by car
- Price band: $$
- Surf breaks and beach bars
- Strong café and coworking scene
- Scooter traffic on narrow lanes
Skip if you want quiet roads.
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Seminyak
- Best for: Couples, first visits
- To airport: About 30 to 60 min by car
- Price band: $$$
- Restaurants and spas on foot
- Sunset beach clubs
- Busy and pricey in high season
Skip if you want a village feel.
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Sanur
- Best for: Families, older travelers
- To airport: About 30 min by car
- Price band: $$
- Shallow, calm water
- Seafront walking path
- Fast boats to Nusa Penida
Skip if you want waves or nightlife.
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Things to do in Bali
See all attractions in Bali
Need to know
- Airport
- Ngurah Rai (DPS), south Bali
- Getting around
- Private driver, Grab and Gojek in the south, scooters
- Best base
- Ubud for culture, Sanur or Uluwatu for the coast
- Tourist levy
- Paid once per visit by foreign visitors
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, green riceJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 291 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, green rice
- FebruaryRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Heaviest rainFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 290 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heaviest rain
- MarchRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Showers easeMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 200 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers ease
- AprilRain22 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Drying outAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- MayRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Dry, long lightMayRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, long light
- JuneRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Dry, cooler nightsJuneRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler nights
- JulyRain19 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Dry, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustRain19 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Peak crowdsAugustRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- SeptemberRain17 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Dry, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calmer
- OctoberRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Warm, first rainOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, first rain
- NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Rains buildNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 237 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains build
- DecemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, holiday rushDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 270 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, holiday rush
Average daily high and low in Denpasar, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Mar Nyepi
Right now in Bali
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 86%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 97%
Kerobokan
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°24°97%Tuesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Wed30°25°89%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Thu31°25°72%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Fri32°24°53%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Sat31°25°90%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Sun30°23°94%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 94%.
Updated 01:49 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MarNyepiBali
Day trips by train
- UbudInland, in the upland centre of the islandThe Ubud monkey forest temples, where macaques are used to being fed by visitors, and nearby craft villages.Read the guide
- CandidasaEast coastAn east-coast beach town, close to Goa Lawah, the Temple of the Bats, a cave temple where bats are worshipped.Read the guide
- Nusa PenidaBy boat across the Badung StraitDive sites with turtles, manta rays and sunfish, and a day on the water.Read the guide
Before you go to Bali
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Rules for Bali, checked
- Check the entry rules for Indonesia on the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly.
- Check current visitor charges and how to pay them on official sources before you travel.
- Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, is a day of silence when everyone stays home and tourists are asked to stay in their hotels; confirm the date before you travel.
- Temples expect visitors to wear a sarong, and many also ask for a sash; keep your legs covered at every temple gate.
- Riding a motorbike needs your home licence plus an International Driving Permit, and a 2023 proposal to ban tourists from riding motorbikes drew public criticism, so check the current rule. Check that your travel insurance covers motorbike riding before you rent one.
All Bali guides
How toBali airport to Canggu: transfers, scooters and getting around
ItinerarySeminyak in 3 days: beach, spa, a driver day and sunsetWhere to stayWhere to stay in Seminyak: four bases, from Eat Street to Umalas
RulesBali entry: the tourist levy, the e-VOA and the All Indonesia form
How toNusa Penida day trip: west or east, tours, drivers and what to skipHead to headNusa Penida vs Nusa Lembongan: which island should you stay on?Head to headSeminyak vs Canggu vs Ubud: which Bali base is right for you?How toHow to get to Nusa Penida: fast boats, ferries and harbors comparedHead to headCanggu vs Seminyak vs Ubud: is Canggu the right Bali base?Where to stayWhere to stay in Canggu: Batu Bolong, Berawa, Pererenan or Echo Beach
ItineraryUbud in 3 days: temples, terraces and a slow dayHead to headUbud, Canggu or Seminyak: which Bali base is right for you?Where to stayWhere to stay in Ubud: four bases from the center to the terracesPlan around Bali
Islands, entry rules, transport and money
Read the guideUbudTemples, terraces and the cultural base
Read the guideCangguSurf cafés and rice-field villas
Read the guideNusa PenidaCliffs and snorkel stops by fast boat
Read the guideeSIM and dataMaps and ride-hailing in traffic
Read the guideTravel insuranceScooter licence and cover rules
Read the guideBali FAQ
How many days do you need in Bali?
A week suits one or two bases, and ten days to two weeks adds Nusa Penida or the north and east. Moving every two days costs hours in traffic.
Where should I stay in Bali for the first time?
Ubud for culture and rice terraces, Seminyak for beaches and restaurants, Canggu for surf cafés, and Sanur for calm water and families. Many trips split time between two.
Do I need to pay the Bali tourist levy?
Foreign visitors pay a one-off levy per visit, online on the official Love Bali site or at the airport. The entry guide covers the steps; use only official sites.
Is it easy to get around Bali without a scooter?
Yes, with a driver. Hire a car and driver by the day for temples and the north, use Grab and Gojek in the south where allowed, and walk within Ubud and Sanur.
When is the best time to visit Bali?
April to October is dry, and May, June and September balance good weather with lighter crowds. July and August are busiest, and the wet season runs roughly from November to March.