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Province in Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia
Photo: Riza Nugraha , CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bali, the famed "Island of the Gods", is the most visited part of Indonesia. Its diverse landscape of mountainous terrain, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides provide a picturesque backdrop to its colourful, spiritual and unique culture. Five rice terraces and their water temples are recognised as a as "Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy".
The most visited part of Bali by far, with Kuta Beach and chic Seminyak.
The island's cultural heart and includes the central mountain range.
Ferries to Java and West Bali National Park.
Quiet black sand beaches and the ancient capital city.
Laid-back coastal villages, an active volcano and the mighty Mount Agung.
Quiet offshore islands in the southeast, popular for diving activities.
By plane
See the Indonesia article for information about visa regulations.
By bus
There are direct bus services to Bali from all major cities on Java and Lombok that link with ferries for sea crossings. These are cheap and easy, but slow.
By boat
Java
Ferries cross from Ketapang on the island of Java to Gilimanuk in western Bali every 15 minutes, 24/7.
Lombok
If using any of the Gili Fast Boat services and you have legitimate concerns about either the vessel being used, the operator, overloading, or the prevailing weather conditions then do not board the…
Safety
Slow Ferry Services
Slow ferries run from Padang Bai (Bali) to Lembar (Lombok) approximately every hour, 24 hours a day:
Fast Boat Services
A number of speedboats and catamarans operate into Benoa Harbour near Kuta (~2 hr) and Padangbai (80 minutes) from the Gili Islands of Lombok.
Travel Tips
See the Gili Islands and Lombok articles for full details concerning travelling and arriving in Lombok and its nearby islands.
By car
It is also possible to access Bali by car from Java’s major cities, albeit a very long distance.
By bus
The Perama bus company serves the budget traveller well in Bali and beyond, and they have offices in several major tourist destinations on the island.
By taxi
Due to competition between taxi companies, scams abound with transport in Bali. Tourists could end up paying about 10 times the normal price.
By bemo
Bemos are minivans which serve as a flexible bus service and are Bali's "traditional" form of transportation. However they have largely given way to metered taxis in the south.
By car or motorbike
Many travellers seem to leave their brains at home when visiting Bali and think it's acceptable to ride a motorbike through extremely busy streets in a foreign land without wearing a helmet or drive…
By rental car with a driver
Rental car services owned by individuals or companies are easy to find in Bali and this is the best option for first time visitors.
By bicycle
Riding a bicycle in the chaotic heavy traffic of southern Bali is not recommended. Visitors will notice that, as of 2024, there is not a single road with a bicycle lane on the whole island.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Kuta, Badung · International · DPS
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Denpasar is the largest city and capital of Bali, with 725,000 residents in 2020. Denpasar is a bustling, multi-cultural city and although it can seem a little intimidating the first time you visit, just do not believe those travel guides which say it has nothing to offer.
Candidasa (or Candi Dasa, pron. "CHAHN-dee-dah-sah") is a coastal town in East Bali.
Kuta is the best known tourist resort area on the island of Bali, Indonesia. With a long broad Indian Ocean beach-front, Kuta was discovered by tourists as a surfing paradise.
Jimbaran is a small town in South Bali with many high-end resorts and villas.
Legian is a beachfront town in South Bali, north of Kuta and south of Seminyak. Stretching north from Kuta, Legian offers the same easy access to shops and bars but a slightly more relaxed and less chaotic feeling.
Lovina is a quiet coastal town on the North Bali coastline 5 km west of the city of Singaraja. The main street, Jalan Raya Singaraja, which crosses the town parallel to the coast, is noisy and congested.
Sanur is a town on the east coast of South Bali. Sanur is Bali's oldest upscale resort area and is a mature beach-side town.
Seminyak is a beach town in South Bali north of Legian and Kuta. The next town north of Legian, Seminyak is more upmarket with mostly luxury accommodation and fashionable high-end restaurants and bars.
Ubud, a town in central Bali of around 75,000 people (2020), is regarded as the cultural centre of Bali. It is famous as an arts and crafts hub, and much of the town and nearby villages seems to consist of artists' workshops and galleries.
For the city in Turkish Southeast Anatolia with the Kurdish name Amed, see Diyarbakir. Amed is a long coastal strip of fishing villages in East Bali running from the village of Culik about 14 km eastwards incorporating the seven villages of Amed, Jemeluk, Bunutan, Lipah, Selang, Banyuning and Aas.
Bedugul is a village and surrounding rural area in the mountain range of Central Bali.
The Bukit Peninsula is southernmost point of Bali, Indonesia. Bukit means hill, and the peninsula has a dramatic landscape that if anything exceeds the promise of its name.
Kintamani is a highland area in the north of East Bali.
Mount Agung (Gunung Agung) is an active volcano in East Bali, Indonesia.
Nusa Dua is a peninsula in South Bali, well known as an enclave of high end hotels. Nusa Dua host some of the best five star hotels in Bali and is home to the most popular golf course and a convention centre.
Nusa Lembongan is a small island off the southeast coast of the main island of Bali. Fast becoming one of Bali's most popular attractions, this island is a world away from the hassle and hectic pace of South Bali.
Nusa Penida is the largest of three islands off the south eastern coast of Bali, the others being Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. It is an island of outstanding natural rugged beauty.
West Bali National Park (Indonesian: Taman Nasional Bali Barat) is the only national park on the island of Bali.
Articles and travel topics about Bali and Indonesia.
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