Flights to Bali

Overview

Bali is a small island with a surprising variety of landscapes and moods. Its Hindu culture sets it apart from the rest of Indonesia: family compounds have their own shrines, daily offerings of flowers and rice line the pavements, and temple ceremonies with gamelan music can stop traffic. Pura Luhur Uluwatu, perched on a sea cliff in the south, hosts nightly kecak fire dances at sunset, while Tanah Lot sits on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the waves at high tide.

Inland, Ubud is the island's cultural heart, with the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, the royal palace, craft villages, yoga studios, and the rice terraces of Tegallalang and Jatiluwih, the latter part of Bali's UNESCO-listed subak irrigation landscape. Farther north, hikers climb Mount Batur in the dark to watch sunrise over the caldera lake, and the water temple of Tirta Empul draws pilgrims to its purification pools.

The coast has something for every kind of traveler. Seminyak and Canggu are known for beach clubs, cafés, and surf breaks; Nusa Dua has large resorts on calm, reef-protected beaches; and Sanur offers a slower pace and fast boats to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Traffic on the island is heavy, so choosing one or two bases rather than moving every night makes a trip far more relaxing.

Highlights of Bali

Where to stay

Airports and getting into town

There is no train or metro, so most travelers take an official airport taxi from the arrivals counter, a pre-booked hotel transfer, or a Grab or Gojek car from the designated pickup area. Typical drive times are 20 to 30 minutes to Kuta or Nusa Dua via the Bali Mandara toll road, 30 to 60 minutes to Seminyak or Canggu, and 90 minutes or more to Ubud, depending on traffic.

Best time to visit

The dry season, from about April to October, brings sunny days, lower humidity, and the best conditions for trekking, diving, and west-coast surfing, with July and August the busiest months. The wet season, from November to March, brings heavy tropical downpours, but also lush scenery and fewer visitors outside the holidays. Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence in March, shuts down the entire island, including the airport, for 24 hours.

Airlines flying to Bali

Popular routes to Bali

Travel tips from our desk

• If your trip overlaps Nyepi in March, expect no flights and no one allowed on the streets for 24 hours; hotels stay open but guests must remain on the property.
• Wear a sarong and sash to enter temples; many sites lend or rent them at the entrance.
• Only ride a scooter if you hold a valid motorcycle license and an International Driving Permit, and always wear a helmet; hiring a car with a driver is often easier.
• Drink bottled or filtered water, and check current entry requirements and any tourist levy before you fly.