Travel tips for Bali

Bali rewards a bit of practical preparation before arrival, and most of what trips up first-time visitors falls into a handful of categories. Entry requirements matter first: many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa for short stays, and it's worth confirming the current rules against your own passport before flying, since they change and vary by nationality.

Money is straightforward once you know the basics: the currency is the Indonesian rupiah, ATMs are widely available in the south and in Ubud but scarcer in East Bali and on the smaller islands, and ATM skimming has been enough of a problem that using machines attached to banks rather than standalone street units is a common precaution.

Transport is where Bali differs most from a typical city break: there's no metro or train system, so getting around means renting a scooter, if you're comfortable with the fairly chaotic road conditions and a valid licence, hiring a private driver for the day, which is the more relaxed option for longer routes, or using ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek, which work well in the south but have patchy pickup rules in some tourist zones. Distances that look short on a map can take far longer than expected because of traffic, especially between South Bali and Ubud, so it's worth building buffer time into any day with more than one stop.

Culturally, Bali is a Hindu island in a majority-Muslim country, and that shapes daily life visibly: canang sari offerings appear on pavements and shop counters every morning, ceremonies close roads or temple courtyards without much notice, and a sarong is required at temple entrances, usually available to rent or borrow on-site. Nyepi, the Day of Silence that falls once a year on the Balinese lunar calendar, is the most distinctive thing to plan around: the entire island stops for 24 hours, the airport closes, streets empty, and even hotel guests are expected to stay indoors and keep lights low.

Timing the trip matters too: the dry season, roughly April to October, brings the most reliable weather and the biggest crowds, especially around July, August and the New Year period, while the rainy season, November to March, brings short, heavy afternoon downpours rather than constant rain, lower prices, and a genuinely quieter island, at the cost of some cancelled boat crossings and hikes.