Bali is one of the easiest places in Southeast Asia to visit — great tourist infrastructure, English widely spoken, cards accepted everywhere. But there are a few traps. Below the key facts.
Visa (most nationalities)
Visa on Arrival (VOA): buy at Denpasar airport (DPS) on landing, cost 500,000 IDR (~$30 USD / €30), valid 30 days with one extension for another 30. You can also buy online (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) before travel — skip the queue.
Requirements: passport valid at least 6 months from entry date, two blank pages, return or onward ticket.
Climate and best time to go
- Dry season (April–October) — the best travel period. Temperatures 27–32°C, little rain, lower humidity. Peak season: July–August + Christmas/New Year.
- Wet season (November–March) — cheaper and less crowded. Rains usually short afternoon showers. Very green. Watch for floods in Ubud and landslides.
October is the sweet spot: dry season still on, but prices dropped after July–August.
Currency and money
Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Rough rate: 1 USD ≈ 15,500 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,500 IDR (2026).
- ATMs everywhere, single withdrawal usually 1.5–2.5 million IDR (~$100–170 USD), local bank fee $2–4
- Cards accepted in tourist hotels and restaurants, but warungs and markets — cash only
- Beware of fake ATMs and skimming — use bank-based ATMs (BCA, Mandiri, BNI, BRI)
- Money change: NOT the „no commission" booths on Kuta (they usually cheat on the rate); use PT Central Kuta — the authorised chain
Power
230 V, type C and F sockets — same as Europe. US visitors need adapters.
Getting around the island
There is no mass public transport on Bali. Options:
- Scooter — 60,000–100,000 IDR/day. Requires an International Driving Permit. Beware — Bali has the highest scooter fatality rate in Asia.
- Grab / Gojek — Indonesian Uber, cheap: a 15 km ride is ~50,000 IDR ($3). BUT — some zones in Kuta/Ubud are „blocked" by taxi mafia, the driver may meet you 200 m away.
- Private driver with car — 600,000–900,000 IDR/day ($40–60) for 8–10 hours including petrol. The most comfortable way to sightsee.
- Blue Bird taxi — licensed metered cab, a safe alternative
Safety
- Scooter accidents (biggest risk!)
- Bag snatching by motorbikes — keep bags away from the street
- Bali Belly (traveller's diarrhoea) — for the first 2–3 days eat in hotels, avoid ice, drink bottled water (Aqua)
- Rip currents and sea urchins at Balangan, Padang Padang, Bingin — check the forecast
- Mount Agung volcano — status at magma.esdm.go.id
Emergency numbers
Police: 110 | Ambulance: 118 | Fire: 113 | International: 112
Language
Bahasa Indonesia — official, easy to pick up basics. Balinese people also speak their own Balinese language. English widely used in tourist zones.
Useful: selamat pagi (good morning), terima kasih (thank you), berapa (how much), enak (delicious).