Getting to Bali is easier than ever thanks to its well-connected transportation network. The island’s main entry point is the Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). The airport serves as a hub for international flights from cities around the world, as well as domestic connections from across Indonesia. For travelers already in the archipelago, options like ferries, domestic flights, and even long-distance buses provide multiple ways to reach this tropical paradise. No matter where you’re starting your journey, this guide will help you navigate the best ways to get to Bali, so you can focus on planning your dream island escape.
Flights to Bali
Can we fly to Bali now?
It is now very easy to to fly to Bali and to Indonesia. Indonesia has indeed reintroduced the tourist visa on arrival at 7 indonesian airports for travelers from 92 countries. Since June 14 2023 there is no more covid vaccination obligation.
The conditions to fly to Bali :
- Valid immigration documents : passport valid for 6 months after travel and return ticket.
- PCR test and vaccination is no longer required
- Peduli Lindungi app should be downloaded on your phone
- you can get an electronic visa (e-VOA) in advance on the following website : https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/
- it is also better to complete your customs declaration from 3 days before your arrival on the following website : https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/
Visa on Arrival (VOA)
- For flights landing at the following airports: Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Makassar, Manado, Yogyakarta
- With a return flight ticket of a one way ticket to another country
- Price of visa on arrival is IDR 500,000 per person (including children).
- Payable at the airport by MasterCard, Visa or cash in Indonesian Rupiah if you have not requested your e-VOA in advance
Get faster to Bali with an electronic visa (e-VOA)
You can find the necessary information to apply for your electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) in advance on the following website: https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/e-voa/.
Since January 2024, holders of an electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) and an electronic passport (including European passports) can pass through immigration controls via automatic gates. The current 30 gates will soon be supplemented by an additional 50 new gates. It is therefore now possible to pass through immigration in just a few minutes.
To save time upon arrival, it is also advisable to fill out your customs declaration starting from 3 days before your arrival on the following website: https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/.
Finally you can pay on-line the new tourist tax for Bali of 150,000 IDR through Love Bali website since February 14, 2024. However, as of now, no proof of payment of this tax is required at the airport or at any port.
Visa Exemption Arrangement (VEA)
- For holders of a passport issued by one of the following countries : Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
- the VEA is valid for 30 days and cannot be extended
How to extend your Bali 2023 tourist visa (VOA)
The Bali VOA can be extended for an additional 30 days, but it’s important to start the process in advance. You can request the extension by going directly to the nearest immigration office, but be aware that the process can be quite lengthy. It’s advisable to rely on an agent who will handle the formalities and make an appointment for you at the immigration office for the photo and fingerprinting. Agents generally offer two options. The standard option takes between 7 and 12 business days, with a typical price of 850,000 IDR. Alternatively, there’s a priority option for 1,250,000 IDR, which takes between 3 and 5 business days.
Keep in mind that the penalty for overstaying your visa’s validity upon leaving Bali is 1 million rupiahs per day. Therefore, it’s important to schedule your extension as early as possible. An alternative is to make a round trip to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, which would cost you less than the penalty if you fail to extend your Bali 2023 visa on time. The agent will ask for (and keep) your passport, a copy of your return ticket, and, for children under 17 years old, a birth certificate. Feel free to email me if you want the contact information of a reliable agent, although most agents offer similar services. If you plan to stay in Indonesia for more than 2 months, you can either make a round trip abroad or apply for a B211 visa.
e-VOA can be extended on line.
B211 visa
If you plan to stay in Bali and Indonesia for more than 2 months, you can apply for a B211 visa, which is valid for 2 months. The visa can be renewed twice for an additional 2 months each time, totaling 6 months. The price varies from 2.5 million to 5 million Indonesian rupiahs, depending on whether it is your first visa or a renewal, whether you choose the standard or expedited procedure, and whether you apply for the visa in person or from abroad. You will need to provide a scan of your passport, a copy of your bank account statement showing a positive balance of at least 2000 USD, a Covid vaccination certificate (all doses), and a photo.
How to leave Bali Airport
Once you’ve gone through immigration and customs formalities, and after a very long flight, arriving at Bali Airport can be a bit stressful with all the drivers vying for your attention to take you to your hotel. The easiest option is to arrange your transfer in advance from Bali Airport with a driver who will be waiting for you. But you can also take an official taxi. Alternatively, you can book a ride on Grab from the terminal or from the Grab stand just outside the terminal. Read also my article with my best tips for getting around in Bali.
Find the cheapest flight to Bali
To find the best prices, you can use a flight metasearch engine. My favorite metasearch engine is Trip.com. Unlike other engines, Skyscanner does not charge extra fees on top of the airline’s fares. If you are flexible with your travel dates, you can enter your departure airport (CDG) and arrival airport (DPS) and leave the dates open. The website will then display a calendar with the most favorable dates. In the following example Trip.com identifies a Paris Bali flight at 413 euros with a departure on May 13, 2025.
You may also choose to fly to Jakarta and to travel through Java to enjoy Borobudur, Bromo and Ijen on the way.
If you are already in Indonesia you have indeed several option to get to Bali by land, air or sea. You will find all the information in my article dedicated to get around Indonesia.
Going to Nusa Penida
Once in Bali it is still very easy to reach Nusa Penida. Fast boat connections resumed in June 2020, with the obligation to wear a mask. The quick test is not required and there are many daily connections between Bali and Nusa Penida.
Reach Bali with a domestic flight
Bali airport is connected to about twenty Indonesian airports. A domestic flight is clearly the best way to travel in Indonesia if you are going to cover a long distance. For example, to reach Bali from Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesia, Papua, Flores, Sumba or Sumbawa. From East Java or even from Jakarta or from Lombok, you may prefer to use land transport and then a boat.
The domestic airport is located right next to the international airport. There are no formalities to complete since you will have already cleared immigration beforehand.
To leave the domestic airport, I recommend that you go to the departure terminal, on the same level as the arrival terminal. All you have to do is wait for a BlueBird taxi to drop off its customers and get in. The journey will be much cheaper.
Arriving in Bali by boat
There are two main ports in Bali.
If you are coming from Java, there are many ferry boats connecting the port of Ketapang in Java and the port of Gilimanuk in Bali. The crossing takes a few dozen minutes but sometimes the ferry goes around in circles in the water waiting for a pier to become available on one side or the other. If you have bought a bus ticket you will not even have to get off the bus and if the crossing is at night you may not even realize that you have crossed.
If you are coming from Lombok you will arrive at the port of Padang Bai. You will have the choice between ferry boats from Lembar or fast boats from Bangsal and Senggigi.
What is the best time to go to Bali?
The temperature is around 29 to 32 degrees Celsius (85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round in Bali. And the humidity ranges from 78% during the dry season to 81 % during the wet season. The best time to go to Bali is during the dry season which normally starts in April and ends in October. The heart of the rainy season is in January February but it can start in November and last until March. However, it is rare that it rains all day. Therefore the rainy season can be a more economical alternative for the price of airfare and accommodation. July and August is indeed the very high season, especially for prices,. Because these months combine being summer for Americans and Europeans, winter for Australians and the driest season.
For scuba diving you can see Manta rays all year round and Mola Mola from July to October in Nusa Penida.