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Transport in Bali

Last update: 14/01/2024 22:05

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Compared to developed countries, Bali only offers a few public transport alternatives. You won't find underground railways, trams, or trains. The only land-based option remains the classic road transport. Buses are a popular choice for those primarily looking for a cheap but relatively comfortable mode of transportation. In addition, public ferries can be used to move between the islands in Bali. This Guide focuses on what public transport in Bali is and how much it costs.

This Guide is divided into the following sections:

Buses

Ships

Buses

• Trans Sarbagita

Buses are Bali's most widely used form of public transport and the only land-based transport operated directly by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Indonesia. In addition to the state-owned carrier, there are also several private bus providers that you can use for your travels around the island. Of course, you can also use countless individual drivers and microcarriers, whose services you will encounter in almost every tourist spot.

Trans Sarbagita

Trans Sarbagita buses have been operated by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Indonesia since 2011. Currently, two routes out of the planned 17 are in operation. Two more routes have already been opened but have been canceled again due to low interest. Residents are primarily uncomfortable with the less frequent services with low service variability and reliability and thus still prefer personal transport by their cars or scooters.

Line TS1 runs between Denpasar and the GWK Cultural Park in the southern part of the island. Buses go seven days a week at hourly intervals. The first two buses are only 30 minutes apart from Monday to Friday.

Departures direction Denpasar -> GWK:

Monday - Friday: 6:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00

Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00

Departures direction GWK -> Denpasar:

Monday - Friday: 8:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00

Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00

Line TS2 connects Nusa Dua and Denpasar. Buses run seven days a week at hourly intervals.

Departures Denpasar -> Nusa Dua:

Monday - Friday: 6:45, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30

Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30

Departures Nusa Dua -> Denpasar:

Monday - Friday: 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30

Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30

Trans Sarbagita buses

Trans Sarbagita bus

You can find specific timetables for each station on the official Instagram.

The price for one ride is IDR 3,500 (approx. USD 0.2) and can be paid in cash or with an e-wallet such as BCA Flazz, BNI Tap Cash, Mandiri e-money, and BRI Brizzi.

💡 Tip: Bus arrival times are approximate, and you should expect buses to arrive outside the schedule due to the current traffic situation. Therefore, we do not recommend buses if you are in a hurry or need to get to connecting form of transport at a specific time.

Trans Metro Dewata

The primary private provider of public bus transport is Trans Metro Dewata, which is subsidized by the government and is part of an integrated public transport system to reduce the use of private cars, thereby reducing Bali's traffic congestion and eliminating traffic jams. The buses are also under the name Teman Bus.

• Trans Metro Dewata

Trans Metro Dewata bus

Trans Metro Dewata buses

Trans Metro Dewata currently operates five lines.

Line 1B connects Kuta and Tabanan. Buses run seven days a week at 30-minute intervals.

Operating hours Tabanan -> Kuta: 4:30 to 19:00

Operating hours direction Kuta -> Tabanan: 5:58 to 20:28

Line 2B connects Denpasar and the airport. Buses run seven days a week at 30-minute intervals.

Operating hours Denpasar -> Airport: 5:45 to 20:15

Hours of operation Airport -> Denpasar: 5:00 to 19:30

Line 3B connects Dalung and Sanur. Buses run seven days a week at 30-minute intervals.

Operating hours Dalung -> Sanur: 5:30 to 20:30

Hours of operation Sanur -> Dalung: 4:30 to 19:00

Line 4B connects Dalung and Ubud (Monkey Forest). Buses run seven days a week at 30-minute intervals.

Operating hours Dalung -> Ubud: 5:58 to 20:28

Operating hours Ubud -> Dalung: 4:30 to 19:00

Line 5B connects Dalung and Kuta via Sanur. Buses run seven days a week at 30-minute intervals.

Operating hours Dalung -> Kuta: 4:30 to 18:00

Operating hours Kuta -> Dalung: 6:05 to 20:05

Line 1

Line 2

Line 3

Line 4

Line 5

Specific timetables, stations, and changes can be found on the official Instagram.

The price for one ride is IDR 4,400 (approx. USD 0.3).

Fare payment is cashless only through cards such as BCA Flazz, BNI Tap Cash, Mandiri e-money, and BRI Brizzi. These cards can be obtained directly from the acquiring bank (BCA, BNI, Mandiri, and BRI) or Alfamaret and Indomaret shops. The card costs approximately IDR 40,000 (USD 2.7) and must be loaded in multiples of IDR 50,000 (USD 3.4). When you enter the bus, you scan the card, and the credit is deducted.

PŘIPOJIT

Taman Bus App

PŘIPOJIT

3rd party App for Balinese buses

A map of Trans Sarbagita and Trans Metro Dewata connections can be found at s.id/TransitMapBali.

Map of Trans Sarbagita and Trans Metro Dewata routes

• Kura-Kura Bus

Kura-Kura Bus

Kura-Kura is a private carrier operating bus services in Bali. It currently offers one route connecting Kuta - Sanur - Singapadu - Tebongkang - Ubud and vice versa. It runs only once a day in each direction. It departs from Kuta in the morning and returns from Ubud in the afternoon.

Kura-Kura bus

Times and stops are as follows:

Route Kuta -> Ubud:

9:05 - Lippo Mall Kuta
9:07 - Discovery Shopping Mall
9:12 - Beachwalk
9:48 - Grand Lucky Sanur
10:03 - Coco Supermarket Batubulan
10:10 - Bali Bird Park
10:16 - Bali Zoo
10:36 - Coco Mart Tebongkang
10:46 - Coco Supermarket Ubud
10:56 - Puri Lukisan Museum

Route Ubud -> Kuta:

16:00 - Puri Lukisan Museum
16:12 - Coco Mart Tebongkang
16:32 - Bali Zoo
16:38 - Bali Bird Park
16:45 - Coco Supermarket Batubulan
17:00 - McDonalds Sanur
17:33 - Lippo Mall Kuta
17:35 - Discovery Shopping Mall
17:40 - Beachwalk

The price for one direction is IDR 100,000 (approx. USD 6.6) or both directions for IDR 160,000 (approx. USD 10.6). Tickets are bought directly from the driver on the bus. You can book your seat online here.

⚠️ Warning: You can only take luggage on the bus that does not exceed 81 cm x 56 cm x 36 cm. It is therefore not possible to carry, for example, a surfboard. The extra charge for luggage costs IDR 20,000 (approx. USD 1.3).

Kura-Kura routes

You can track your bus position in real-time via the official app.

PŘIPOJIT

Kura-Kura Bus App

• Perama Tour

Perama Tour

Perama Tour is a private company providing travel services throughout Indonesia, including two bus routes on the island of Bali.

The first line connects the areas of Kuta - Sanur - Ubud - Bedugul - Munduk - Lovina and back.

The second line connects the areas of Kuta - Sanur - Ubud - Padang Bai - Candidasa - Amed - Tulamben and back.

However, according to the company's website, it also offers transport from Canggu and Kintamani.

Prices of selected connections to give you an idea:

Kuta -> Lovina: IDR 250,000 (approx. USD 16.7)
Kuta -> Tulamben: IDR 200,000 (approx. USD 13.4)
Kuta -> Ubud: IDR 100,000 (approx. USD 6.7)
Kuta -> Padangbai: IDR 200,000 (approx. USD 13.4
Canggu -> Ubud: IDR 150,000 (approx. USD 10)

You can book your tickets her.e. After booking, you will receive a code to show at the Perama Tour office, where the bus stops. You pay on the spot and get your ticket.

⚠️ Warning: Some connections can be booked with at least two people. If traveling solo, try to contact the company via WhatsApp or e-mail or arrange with someone else.

Can't you see the map? Google can be stubborn. Try this link.

Ships

In addition to the bus service within the island, you can also take advantage of the public ships service that will help you with transportation to the nearby islands of Nusa Penida, Java, and Lombok.

Public ships are usually the slowest connections but can transport your scooter or car between islands. This is often the reason why tourists use public ferries. In addition, it is the cheapest form of boat transportation. Ferries can also go in bad weather when faster and smaller private boats cannot go out to sea because of the big waves.

⚠️ Warning: With ferries, the port in Padang Bai (or even the ports in Lombok and Java) may be full, and the boat will wait several hours to disembark. We have personal experience where the journey from Nusa Penida port took 11 hours instead of 1 hour. So definitely don't use the ferry crossings if you are in a hurry to get to the airport, for example. Always leave an extra day or so.

Padang Bai harbor

• Bali ↔️ Nusa Penida

Bali ↔️ Nusa Penida

The ferry from Bali to Nusa Penida sails from Padang Bai port, east of the island, and arrives at Roro port northeast of Nusa Penida. The journey usually takes about 1 hour.

Departure times:

Bali -> Nusa Penida: 9:00, 14:00 (Wednesday and Sunday only 9:00)

Nusa Penida -> Bali: 8:00, 12:00 (Wednesday and Sunday only 8:00)

Departure times are approximate. Often the ferry departs an hour (or more) later, and unfortunately, for various reasons, it happens that the ferry does not run at all on a particular day, for example, due to a breakdown. For instance, in October 2022, the ferry was shut down for repairs, and the service did not operate for over a month.

Please have your international driving license and at least a copy of the vehicle documents ready for transport. If you don't have either, the police officer will probably politely ask you for a "bribe." ;-)

Tickets for the cruise cannot be purchased at the harbor since 29 August 2023 and must be purchased in advance online at trip.ferizy.com.

Ferry price:

Adult: IDR 31,700 (USD 2.1)
Child: IDR 22,700 (USD 1.5)
Bike: IDR 28,200 (USD 1.9)
Scooter up to 500cc: IDR 56,200 (USD 3.8)
Motorbike over 500cc: IDR 90,300 (USD 6)
Car: IDR 328,000 (USD 22)

⚠️ Warning: Ferries and boats do not sail to/from Nusa Penida on Nyepi and Nyepi Segara.

Can't you see the map? Google can be stubborn. Try this link.

• Bali ↔️ Lombok

Bali ↔️ Lombok

The ferry from Bali to Lombok also runs from Padang Bai port to Lembar port (West Lombok) and back.

The ferry runs non-stop and departs approximately every 60 to 90 minutes. The journey usually takes 4 hours. During bad weather conditions, the journey can extend to 6 hours.

Please have your international driving license and the original documents for the vehicle ready. If you have a rental vehicle, please inform the rental company in advance that you intend to travel with the vehicle outside Bali. Many rental companies do not allow this. If they do, they must provide you with the original documents. Many people have driven off with the vehicle without the original for a small fee. However, we do not recommend relying on this. It depends on who you encounter; a strict worker may not let you on the boat.

Tickets for the cruise cannot be purchased at the harbor since 29 August 2023 and must be purchased in advance online at trip.ferizy.com.

Ferry price:

Adult: IDR 62,200 (USD 4.2)
Child: IDR 5,900 (USD 0.4)
Bike: IDR 77,700 (USD 5.2)
Scooter up to 500cc: IDR 160,600 (USD 10.8) (driver and passenger already included)
Motorbike over 500cc: IDR 313,800 (USD 21.2) (driver and passenger already included)
Car: IDR 1,127,300 (USD 76) (driver and passengers already included)

⚠️ Warning: Ferries and other boats do not sail to/from Lombok on Nyepi.

• Bali ↔️ Java

Bali ↔️ Java

The ferry from Bali to Java runs from Gilimanuk port (Northwest Bali) to Ketapang port (East Java) and back. During the cruise, the ship crosses the Bali Strait, the stretch separating Java and Bali and connecting the Indian Ocean and the Bali Sea. At its narrowest point, the strait is 2.4 kilometers wide.

The ferry runs non-stop and departs approximately every 45 minutes. The journey usually takes around 30 minutes. During bad weather conditions, the journey can extend to 45 to 60 minutes.

If you plan to bring your scooter or car, be at the port earlier. The boat may be full by the time you leave. You may have to wait for the next connection.

Please have your international driving license and the original documents for the vehicle ready. If you have a rental vehicle, please inform the rental company in advance that you intend to travel with the vehicle outside Bali. Many rental companies do not allow this. If they do, they must provide you with the original documents. Many people have driven off with the vehicle without the original for a small fee. However, we do not recommend relying on this. It depends on who you bump into; a strict worker may not let you on board.

Cruise tickets cannot be booked online in advance and must be purchased directly at the port.

Ferry price:

Adult: IDR 10,600 (USD 0.7)
Child: IDR 1,600 (USD 0.10)
Bike: IDR 11,000 (USD 0.70)
Scooter up to 500cc: IDR 31,600 (USD 2) (driver and passenger already included)
Motorbike over 500cc: IDR 45,000 (USD 3) (driver and passenger already included)
Car: IDR 213,400 (USD 14) (driver and passengers already included)

⚠️ Warning: Ferries and other ships do not sail to/from Java on Nyepi.

The above shipping services are operated directly by the Indonesian government. You can also use private providers with faster speedboat connections on the same and other routes. For more information on private boat services and connections between other islands (such as Nusa Lembongan), see the Nearby Islands Guide.