Overview
Transportation in Bali can seem chaotic and without rules for many visitors. This comes only from the fact that people often compare it with what they already know and what they consider "normal," i.e., mainly with transport in developed countries in the USA and Europe. Even traffic in Bali has its own rules, many of which are "unwritten," but knowing them will help you to "tune in" to the local traffic faster and blend in with the flow of the locals and enjoy your holiday more. This Guide will not only help you to navigate the transport itself better. Still, it will also give you an idea of what forms of transportation are available in Bali and refer you to other Guides with additional information you may need when traveling around the island.
This Guide is divided into the following sections:
General Info
In Bali, ground transportation is primarily available by cars, buses, motorbikes, and scooters. Since it is an island, maritime and air transport are common.
Conversely, you won't find subways, trolleybuses, trams, and trains in Bali.
💡 Interesting fact: On the southern peninsula in the Uluwatu area, you can even find a cable car that will take you down the cliff to Karma Beach for a fee.
Karma Beach cable car. Source: Karma Beach Bali Facebook
Ground Transport
Ground transport in Bali offers several ways to get around the island.
Walking
Walking in Bali is, of course, possible, but not very comfortable. Walking on foot is rare in Bali; the locals ride mainly scooters and cars, sometimes bicycles. In the hot sun, walking is not very comfy, and the sidewalks, if they exist, are mostly in poor condition with missing utility hole covers and protruding wires from the concrete. Moreover, you have to compete for space with scooter drivers who consider the sidewalks an extension of the road. Walking is recommended only outside the main tourist areas or in the small streets where you can often find beautiful places, for example, among the rice fields. Beautiful paths around Ubud are suitable for long walks, and selected beaches on the island are ideal for walking. Beautiful trails near the mountains inland where hiking or trekking can be practiced are recommended for walkers.
Cycling
In the tourist areas of Bali, you can rent a bicycle in many places for about IDR 35,000 per day (about USD 2.3). Alternatively, the bike can be used for short journeys in units of kilometers, for example, from the hotel to the beach, if you don't have to cross a busy main street. For cycling enthusiasts, we again recommend more remote areas with less traffic, where you can avoid heavy traffic.
Scooters / Motorbikes
The primary way of transport in Bali is the scooter. It has low consumption, good power, and storage space; you can get everywhere with it, and, unlike a car, you can park it anywhere. On the roads, you will find hundreds of scooters weaving between cars, in the opposite direction, on the sidewalks, and just about anywhere they can fit. For example, shopping centers and airports have special parking and entrances for scooters only, the toll motorway has dedicated lanes, and the whole infrastructure is more or less subordinate to them. You can find more information in our Vehicles Rental Guide if you plan to rent a scooter or motorbike.
Cars
Car transport in Bali is the second most common way of transport. The advantages of car transport are air conditioning, a certain degree of comfort, safety and a large transport capacity (for example for suitcases). However, you can't get around traffic jams by car, and often, the same route takes twice as long or longer than by scooter. You also don't get into narrow streets. So it's up to you which way is more convenient for you. If you plan to rent a car (alone or with a driver), visit the Vehicles Rental Guide for more information.
Buses
Buses in Bali are primarily for commercial transport (moving tourists between hotels and sights etc.) and, to a smaller extent, as public transport. Tourists do not use buses widely due to inflexible service, low availability in remote parts of the island, and irregular service. The comfort and speed of buses are also lower than other alternative modes of transport. For more information on public bus transport, visit the Public Transport Guide.
Traffic Situation in Bali
Transportation in Bali varies greatly depending on the specific area. The busiest areas are Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Denpasar, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, downtown Ubud and then the main roads from Bali to Lombok (Denpasar - Padang Bai road) and Java (Denpasar - Gilimanuk road) and then Denpasar - Singaraja (the 2nd largest city in Bali in the north of the island). The rest of the island is passable all year round, with smooth driving without regular traffic jams.
In areas with heavy traffic (see above), driving a few kilometers for an hour or more is quite common.
The situation may change during certain ceremonies when locals have no problem closing the main road for the whole day. Local floods, landslides, fallen trees, etc., may also restrict traffic.
If you plan your travel itinerary, expect an average travel speed of about 30 km per hour. Driving is also slower here than in Western countries due to narrow roads, traffic jams, and restrictions. Travel planning estimates on Google Maps are reasonably accurate and can be used as a guide when planning.
💡 Tip: When navigating around Bali, we recommend choosing a car route in the app. The motorcycle route is often challenging to navigate and dangerous.
Alcohol and Driving
Although Indonesia is one of the few countries in the world where driving under the influence of alcohol is not legally prohibited/regulated, any behavior that potentially endangers road safety, including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is not permitted. So, in THEORY, you can drive a vehicle under the influence of alcohol as long as you don't cause an accident. However, in the event of an accident, the insurance company may not pay for the damages you have caused if the presence of alcohol in the accident is discovered. We appeal to everyone; you should not drink when you drive; you are putting yourself and others at risk. Please don't get on a scooter under the influence of alcohol, even as a passenger to a seemingly "sober" driver. Taxis in Bali are cheap and run almost everywhere.
What You Need to Drive in Bali
To drive in Bali, you need a valid driving license from your country and an international one. If you ride a scooter, you also need a stamp on your international driving license for Group A (motorbikes/scooters).
Check your local laws on how and where to get an international driving license. Lack of an international driving license is one of the main reasons tourists pay fines in Bali and why the insurance company might not pay any damages or medical expenses in the event of an accident.
Fuel
In Bali, the primary fuel is petrol. Diesel (Dexlite) is not available at regular petrol stations. It can only be purchased at selected petrol stations on the island and is mainly used for trucks and long-distance vehicles. The average tourist does not need to deal with it at all.
You can usually get two types of petrol: Pertalite, a cheaper 91-octane gasoline, and Pertamax, a more expensive 95-octane petrol. Usually, Pertalite is sufficient for most scooters and cars. Smaller private petrol stations often only offer the more expensive Pertamax. On the other hand, you will only find Pertalite (at the price of Pertamax ;-) ) at street vendors who sell petrol in alcohol bottles (usually 0.7l).
Current Petrol Prices in Bali:
Pertalite: IDR 10,000 / litre
Pertamax: IDR 14,000 / litre
Current petrol prices in Bali
Traffic Rules
Transportation in Bali is less chaotic than it first appears. Below are some basic "rules" that, if followed, will make driving easier and traffic seem a little less unpredictable.
-
Get left. On multi-lane roads, the left lane is the slower lane, and roundabouts are driven to the left. When turning right, give way to oncoming traffic.
-
Drive predictably. Locals (most of them) drive like this, and you are expected to do so. Avoid quick changes of direction or last-second turns. It's better to pass and come back.
-
What is in front of you is your concern. Very few people use mirrors here. The locals only deal with what they see in front of them. It's common practice for a driver to pull up next to you and slowly push in front of you. He is, in fact, already with his eyes "in front of you," and it is your responsibility to slow down if a collision is imminent.
-
At junctions, you can make a U-turn. Most of the time, unless expressly prohibited by a sign.
-
You can turn left at a red light. Again, usually, unless prohibited by a sign.
-
No one looks to the right when entering the main street on the left. You have to be prepared for this. If locals are entering the main road from a secondary left, they don't look right. They count on the fact that there is always room for a scooter, and you will somehow avoid it. Unfortunately, car drivers often do this too.
-
Honking is perfectly normal. Honking is not a sign of aggression; it means "watch out, I am going," not an aggressive "get out of the way ." This aggressive honking indicating "get out of the way" is virtually unheard of in Bali. At most, when someone does not immediately start at traffic lights.
-
Go slow. There are many pitfalls on Bali's roads, from cows, chickens, crows, dogs, cats, and snakes to gravel, sand, mud, children, cars, motorbikes in the opposite direction, ceremonies, parades, fallen trees, etc.
-
Don't trust the blinkers. Just because someone's flashing doesn't mean they're going to turn. Many locals and tourists either don't use their turn signals or don't turn them off. So please don't rely on them.
-
Drive as if no one can see you. This is a general rule for motorcyclists all over the world. Never rely on someone giving you the right of way, even if you're on the main road or letting you through.
Vehicles Rental
Renting vehicles in Bali is covered in the Vehicles Rental Guide.
Public Transport
Public transport in Bali is covered in the Public Transport Guide.
Air Transport
Bali has only one airport, the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS code) (https://bali-airport.com/en). It is located in the southern part of the island between Kuta and Jimbaran.
Due to its popularity, Bali can be flown with many international airlines from/to almost every corner of the world. Likewise, domestic flights can use the airport to travel around Indonesia.
Any photo ID (not necessarily a passport, but regular ID) for domestic travel within Indonesia will do. It might happen you don't have your passport with you as you have it with a visa extension agent, for example.
Airfares within Indonesia are relatively cheap. For example, a flight from Bali to Jakarta costs around IDR 700,000 (about USD 47), a flight from Bali to Lombok costs around IDR 1,100,000 (about USD 75), etc.
Bali International Airport (DPS). Source: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Facebook
Maritime Transport
Ocean transport in Bali is primarily used for travel between the nearby islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, Java, Lombok, etc., in the form of ferries and speedboats. Please refer to the Public Transport Guide for more information on public ship transport.
In 2022, Bali (Benoa port) became a new port for large ocean cruise ships, which can dock here and offer their customers an exciting destination during their cruise. In addition to Benoa, cruise, and ocean ferries can berth in the north of the island at the port of Celukan Bawang, Gerogkak.
The boats are also used as the primary source of income for local fishermen, who go out at night to the ocean and sea to catch fish for their consumption or eventual sale at markets.
Thank you for your feedback 🧡
We really appreciate it. You are helping us to make our service even better.
You already rated this Guide.
If you changed your mind, you can contact us, and we will remove your rating so you can rate the same Guide again.
