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 worldwide, 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.
It is now very easy to fly to Bali and Indonesia. Indonesia has indeed reintroduced the tourist visa on arrival at 7 Indonesian airports for travelers from 92 countries. Since June 14, 2023, there has been no more COVID-19 vaccination obligation.
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. An additional 50 new gates will soon supplement the current 30 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 on the following website: https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/ starting 3 days before your arrival.
Finally, since February 14, 2024, you can pay the new tourist tax for Bali of 150,000 IDR online through the Love Bali website. However, as of now, no proof of payment of this tax is required at the airport or at any port.
The Bali VOA can be extended for 30 days, but it’s essential to start the process in advance. You can now extend on line your VOA,, the same way you can extend your e-VOA. But start the process 2 weeks after your arrival, as the process can take some time.
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.
If you plan to stay in Bali and Indonesia for over 2 months, you can apply for a B211 visa, valid for 2 months. The visa can be renewed twice for another 2 months, 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 abroad. You must provide a scan of your passport, a copy of your bank account statement showing a positive balance of at least 2000 USD, and a photo.
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 the Grab stand just outside. Read my article with my best tips for getting around 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 several options for getting to Bali by land, air, or sea. My article dedicated to getting around Indonesia provides all the information.
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.
Bali airport is connected to about twenty Indonesian airports. A domestic flight is clearly the best way to travel in Indonesia if you 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.
There are two main ports in Bali.
If you are coming from Java, many ferry boats connect the port of Ketapang and 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 can choose between ferry boats from Lembar or fast boats from Bangsal and Senggigi.
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 usually starts in April and ends in October. The heart of the rainy season is in January and February, but it can start in November and last until March. However, it rarely 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.
Scuba diving in Nusa Penida allows you to see Manta rays all year round and Mola Mola from July to October.
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