Bali: Cheap Flights & Best Hotels

Bali Travel Guide

Bali is an Indonesian island where daily life still revolves around Hindu ritual. Small palm-leaf offerings called canang sari appear on doorsteps every morning, temple festivals block village roads, and the rhythm of gamelan drifts out of community halls. Around that living culture sits a remarkably varied landscape: surf beaches and limestone cliffs in the south, emerald rice terraces and jungle gorges in the centre, volcanoes and crater lakes further north. It suits honeymooners, families, backpackers and digital nomads alike, which is why choosing the right area matters more here than almost anywhere.

Dry Season or Wet Season?

Bali sits just south of the equator and is warm all year, so the real choice is between two seasons.

Dry season (April–October) brings sunnier days, lower humidity and the best conditions for diving, hiking Mount Batur and west-coast surfing. July, August and the Christmas–New Year period are the busiest and most expensive times.

Wet season (November–March) means humid weather and heavy tropical downpours, often in the afternoon or overnight, with sunny spells in between. Rice fields are at their greenest and many hotels offer lower rates outside the holidays.

Note Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence in March or April (the date changes annually). The whole island shuts down for 24 hours, including the airport, and visitors must stay inside their hotels.

Top Things to See

1. Ubud and its rice terraces – The cultural heart of Bali, with the Tegallalang and Jatiluwih rice terraces nearby (Jatiluwih is a UNESCO-listed landscape).
2. Uluwatu Temple – A sea temple perched on a cliff on the Bukit Peninsula, famous for sunset Kecak fire dances. Watch your sunglasses around the monkeys.
3. Tanah Lot – A temple on a rock in the sea, most photographed at sunset; the tide decides how close you can get.
4. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary – A jungle temple complex in Ubud inhabited by long-tailed macaques.
5. Mount Batur sunrise trek – An early-morning hike up an active volcano for sunrise views over the caldera lake.
6. Tirta Empul – A water temple where Balinese Hindus bathe in holy springs; visitors can join respectfully with a sarong.
7. Seminyak and the southern beaches – Sunset beach clubs at Seminyak, surfing at Canggu, calm water at Sanur and Nusa Dua.
8. Nusa Penida – A rugged island across the strait, known for Kelingking Beach and manta-ray snorkelling; boat crossings can be rough.

What to Eat

Try nasi campur (rice with an assortment of small dishes), mie goreng and nasi goreng, sate lilit (minced seafood satay wrapped on lemongrass) and Bali's celebration dish, babi guling (spit-roasted pork). Bebek betutu is slow-cooked spiced duck. Local warungs serve cheap, tasty food, while Ubud and Canggu are among the easiest places in Asia to eat vegetarian or vegan, with smoothie bowls and plant-based cafés on almost every street. Drink bottled or filtered water.

Getting There and Around

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), often called Denpasar airport, is in the south near Kuta and Jimbaran, with flights from across Asia, Australia and the Middle East, and some direct and many one-stop options from Indian cities.

There is no rail network, and public buses are limited. Most visitors use ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek (sometimes restricted at certain pickup zones), hire a private driver for day trips, or rent a scooter. Only ride a scooter if you have an international driving permit valid for motorcycles, wear a helmet, and be cautious: traffic in the south is heavy. Fast boats run to the Nusa Islands and the Gili Islands.

Where to Stay

• Seminyak: Stylish villas, shopping and beach clubs. Mid-range to luxury.
• Canggu: Surf, cafés and co-working spaces; popular with younger travellers and nomads.
• Ubud: Jungle and rice-field views, yoga, culture and wellness retreats.
• Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula: Clifftop resorts, surf breaks and dramatic sunsets.
• Nusa Dua and Sanur: Calm beaches and large resorts, good for families.
• Kuta and Legian: Close to the airport, busy and budget-friendly.

Budget Tips

• Eat at local warungs rather than tourist restaurants.
• Base yourself in one or two areas instead of moving every night; traffic eats time.
• Share a private driver for day trips with fellow travellers.
• Many villas and guesthouses offer good-value pools and breakfast; rates are often lower in the wet season.
• Buy a local SIM or eSIM for maps and ride apps.
• Carry small notes for temple donations and sarong rental.

Practical Information

• Visa: Many nationalities, including Indian citizens, can get a visa on arrival or an e-VOA online; rules change, so check Indonesia's official immigration website. Bali also charges a tourist levy for foreign visitors, payable online or on arrival.
• Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Use bank ATMs and authorised money changers, and count your cash carefully.
• Language: Indonesian and Balinese; English is common in tourist areas.
• Safety: Bali is generally safe. Watch for strong ocean currents and swim between flags, protect against mosquitoes, and be cautious of bag snatching from scooters.
• Respect: Wear a sarong and sash in temples, do not step on offerings, and follow local rules on behaviour at sacred sites.

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