How to get to Bali

Located in the coral triangle in South-East Asia, Bali is undoubtly the most famous island of Indonesia. The island of Gods is known for its lush rice field valleys, stunning black or white sand beaches and rich Balinese culture. It is an idyllic tropical destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. When planning a trip to Bali, knowing how to get there, which airlines go there, from which airport to the best season to book to avoid expensive fares, is maybe the first thing you must know about how to get to Bali.

How to fly to Bali?

As Bali is an island, the best and almost only way to travel to Bali is by flight. Bali has one international airport allowing people to fly from all over the world. Denpasar-Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is located in the Kuta area, in the south of Bali. It is 30 minutes away driving from Sanur, 1h30 from Ubudand 3 hours from Amed.

Here are the most direct routes to fly to Bali:

• From the United States, you can fly to Bali via Singapore (SIN), Seoul (ICN) or Hong Kong (HKG). The shortest is to board in Los Angeles (LAX), but you can also do the same routes with only one stopover from New York City (JFK).
• From Europe, you can fly to Bali with one stopover only via Istanbul (IST), Singapore (SIN), or Kuala Lumpur (KUL) from cities like London (LHR), Amsterdam (AMS) or Paris (CDG). My favourite route is via Singapore.
• From Australia, lucky you, there are numerous direct flights from Adelaide (ADL), Brisbane (BNE), Cairns(CNS), Darwin (DRW), Melbourne (MEL), Perth (PER), and Sydney (SYD).
• From Japan, you can also fly direct, but only from Tokyo-Narita (NRT).

Alternatively, you can fly through Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, but I rarely see interesting fares on that route. Lowest fares are often found by flying through Dubai or Doha but expect a much longer travel time and increased carbon footprint. To find affordable flight offers, compare prices on trip.com.

The main airline companies flying to Bali are

• From Europe, you can take KLM, Turkish Airlines or Malaysia Airlines with a stopover in Singapore, Istanbul or Kuala Lumpur.
• From the United States, you can fly with Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, or Cathay Pacific, with a stopover in Singapore, Seoul, or Hong Kong, respectively.
• From Australia, you can fly direct with Jetstar, Qantas or Garuda Indonesia.
• From Japan, only Garuda Indonesia offers a direct flight from Tokyo-Narita.

How much does it cost to fly to Bali?

The prices usually rise up when booking late or during the peak tourist season. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid the main holiday periods of the UK, Europe (July-August), Australia (December-January), China (February) and Japan (April-May). You may find a cheaper flight if you book during the low season (November-March) and book 3 to 4 months in advance. Here are the average prices of return flights to Bali:

From Europe

• London to Bali: £600 – £1,200
• Amsterdam to Bali: 800€ – 1400€

From the USA

• New York City to Bali: 1100 – 1700 USD
• Los Angeles to Bali: 1000 – 1400 USD

From Asia-Pacific

• Sydney to Bali: 700 -1000 AUD
• Tokyo to Bali: 50,000 – 100,000 JPY
• Singapore to Bali: 170 – 360 SGD

What is the best time to go to Bali?

The best time to explore Bali is during its dry season from May to October. My favourite time of the year is September since it’s shoulder season, so not as crowded at the peak touristic season in July and August. During that month, the air temperature is usually between 24 and 29°C, and the water temperature is about 27°C. But above all, it’s the peak of the Mola-Mola season in Nusa Penida, which attracts scuba divers from all over the world.

Although January is often considered the worst season to visit Bali because it’s in the heart of the rainy season, this is when you can get the best flight deal. The first time I visited Bali, I went in January, and it was mostly only raining at night. Besides, Bali is diveable all year long (but strong currents around Nusa Penida at that time of the year), so why not if you are on a budget?

What visa do you need for Indonesia?

At last, don’t forget you will need a passport and a visa to fly to Bali, which belongs to Indonesia. Make sure your passport is at least valid for 6 months after your return date.

The Southeast Asian country currently offers a visa on arrival for 75 countries, which is valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days. The visa-on-arrival fee is 500,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about 30 USD / £26).

You can now ask and pay for an e-VOA (electronic visa on arrival) directly online with the official e-visa website for Indonesia. It is usually granted almost instantaneously, and you receive a PDF with a QR code by email. The price for the e-visa (also called B213), including the fees, is currently 519,000 IDR, and you can now renew it online should you wish to stay longer (you have to pay the same fee again).

After passing the immigration, you are likely to see a crowd a bit stuck as they are either struggling to connect their phone to the internet or lining up to access one of the few computers available. To make your arrival as smooth as possible, be aware the customs form is now also electronic and you can prefill it here. So make your life easy and get your QR code before flying to Indonesia!

[Update Jan 2024]