Bali travel info

Sunset on Seminyak beach. Surfers walk out of the water with boards under their arms while beanbags get laid out in rows on the sand. One block back, a shopkeeper sets a little palm-leaf tray on her doorstep (a canang sari) and lights a stick of incense: a few petals, a pinch of rice, sometimes a sweet. These offerings go down on the pavement several times a day, so watch where you step.

In Bali, where you sleep is half the trip. Kuta and Seminyak, just north of the airport, are shopping and beach bars; Canggu, further up the coast, is surfers and brunch cafés; Ubud, in the middle of the island, is rice terraces, temples and yoga; Nusa Dua, Jimbaran and Uluwatu at the southern tip are resorts and sea below the cliffs. It all looks close on the map, but the roads are narrow and always jammed, so Ubud to the south takes one to two hours. Most people split their stay between two areas.

Before you land you need three things: the visa (for most visitors the e-VOA), the All Indonesia arrival card and the Bali tourist levy. Do all three online, save the QR codes on your phone, and the airport goes a lot faster. April to October is dry and bright; December to March brings a downpour most afternoons.

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar) (DPS)

• Grab or Gojek (from the airport lounges): Kuta 10–20 min, Seminyak 20–30, Nusa Dua 20–30, Canggu 35–60, Ubud 60–90 · Standard car, per mid-2026 guides: Kuta about IDR 70,000–120,000, Seminyak 90,000–150,000, Canggu 140,000–220,000, Ubud 220,000–350,000. Airport pickups cost more than in town, and more again at night, on holidays and in rain. The app's upfront price is final
• Official airport taxi counter (fixed fares): Same as Grab: Kuta 10–20 min, Ubud 60–90 · Fixed fares by destination zone, posted at the counter. Published figures vary a lot (Kuta about IDR 80,000–200,000, Seminyak 110,000–300,000, Nusa Dua 150,000–350,000, Ubud 300,000–650,000), so go by the board on the day
• Hotel pickup or private transfer: Kuta 10–15 min, Seminyak 15–25, Nusa Dua 20–30, Canggu 35–50, Ubud 60–90, with no waiting · From transfer companies (July 2026): Kuta about IDR 150,000–200,000, Seminyak 200,000–300,000, Nusa Dua 220,000–350,000, Canggu 350,000–500,000, Ubud 450,000–650,000. Hotel pickups are often pricier; confirm when booking

• Visa and entry forms: e-VOA IDR 500k + levy 150k
• Getting there by air: Ngurah Rai (DPS), south Bali
• Time zone: UTC+8, no daylight saving
• Currency: Rupiah; Rp100k ≈ US$6
• Paying: Cards OK; cash for warungs; watch '++'
• Power: 220V; type C/F sockets
• Language: Indonesian; English common in tourist areas
• Internet: Nothing blocked; eSIM easiest
• Emergencies: 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 118
• Best time: May–Sep dry; Dec–Mar wet