Are you planning a trip to the Island of the Gods and wondering how to get around in Bali ? Here’s my first piece of advice : don’t believe what you read on most websites ! I’ve read a lot about public transport in Bali… when in fact there’s basically none ! So how do tourists get around in Bali ? Let’s find out together. Here’s a hint : get your 🛵 out !
Sommaire
The different ways of getting around Bali
Let’s get straight into the details, shall we ? Here are the different ways of traveling around Bali, starting with the most common :
1. The motorbike (or moped)
If you’re wondering “is it hard to travel around Bali?” and you already know how to ride a motorbike, the answer is NO. Motorbikes are in fact the most common means of transport in Bali and Indonesia in general.
Motorbikes have a lot of advantages : they’re cheap, they can get you anywhere (some roads in Bali are awful for cars) and they give you an incomparable feeling of freedom 🤩 I live in Bali and I personally do all my travelling by moped, whether it’s for my daily commute or for road trips with friends.
Renting a moped in Bali is relatively simple. Hotels usually have them on hand for their guests, and you’ll also find rental shops in most of the island’s touristy destinations. Prices range from $3 to $8 per day, depending on the location and your negotiating skills 😉
Want to travel with peace of mind?
If you are in the areas of Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, Legian or the airport, I recommend that you book your scooter in Bali now by contacting my trusted partner, Made (rate $4/day, please specify that you are coming on behalf of the Ayo Jalan Jalan blog, the price is the same for you but I get a small commission which provides me with an income for the work done on this blog😌).
I should point out, though, that driving a moped in Bali is not without risk, but I’ll come back to that topic at the end of the article with plenty of advice for you 😉
👍 Ideal if: you plan to make short trips, you’re comfortable on a 2-wheeler and you prefer having independence.
👎 Less practical if: you want to make a long journey, you have suitcases, you are travelling with your family.
2. cars with a driver
This is the second most popular way of getting around Bali. And if you’re wondering how to get around Bali with suitcases, or how to get around Bali with your family, here’s your answer !
Opting for a car with a driver in Bali is the perfect option for anyone looking for greater comfort. OR anyone who wants to avoid the stress of driving in an unfamiliar country. It’s also the option you should go for if you want to have a local guide with you, as some drivers also offer that service.
In terms of budget, hiring a driver in Bali will cost you around :
-
- $50/day for an English-speaking driver/guide
-
- very small amounts for short journeys !
Need a driver in bali ?
I’ll handle all the logistics for you with one of my local partners ! Just take 1 minute to fill in this form :
👍 Ideal if: you’re a larger group, you’re making a long journey, you’re loaded down with suitcases, you don’t want to risk driving yourself.
👎 Less practical if: you’re on a budget, you’re afraid of getting stuck in traffic for hours…
3. Taxis and motorbike taxis
Gojek and Grab, the Uber of South-East Asia !
Don’t these two names sound familiar ? Then you haven’t travelled to South East Asia yet ! People who arrive in Indonesia from a neighbouring country instantly ask me “is there Grab in Bali ?” – and the answer is YES!
For anyone who wants to get around Bali by motorbike but is afraid of driving, these apps will be your best friends ! Grab and Gojek are two very popular phone apps in Indonesia and they work just like Uber. Download them as soon as you arrive ! I personally always go for a Grab/Gojek ride in Bali whenever I know I won’t be sober enough to drive my scooter back by the end of the evening 😅
👍 Ideal if: you’re on a tight budget, you don’t want to drive yourself, you want to go faster than by car.
👎 Less practical if: you don’t feel comfortable sitting on the back of a moped… understandably. In fact, I don’t recommend this for longer rides !
"Traditional" taxis in Bali
Of course, there are also taxis that don’t rely on these applications to get around Bali. Be careful, though, as the price is not fixed (there are taxis with meters, but they are becoming increasingly rare), so you’ll have to use your negotiating skills… and the Balinese are very good at this game.
It is very common that taxi drivers in Bali harass you as soon as you arrive at the airport, with quite exuberant fare proposals… That’s why, for peace of mind, I strongly recommend that you hire a driver in Bali to pick you up at the airport !
4. self-drive in a rental car
For those who want to get around Bali without a motorbike and still keep their freedom, it is of course possible to rent a self-driven car. I personally can’t see myself driving a car in Balinese traffic, but that’s just my point of view and I know that some people are up for the challenge ! If this is your case, I suggest you read the last part of this post, which has all my tips for driving in Bali !
The price of a car rental depends of course on the type of vehicle and its condition, but you can expect to pay around $20 per day.
Looking for a car in Bali?
Contact my trusted partner, Made (please specify that you are coming from the Ayo Jalan Jalan blog, the price is the same for you but I get a very small commission which provides me with an income for the work done on this blog 😌) :
👍 Ideal if: you’re not comfortable on 2 wheels, you’re in a group or have suitcases, you don’t want to depend on a driver.
👎 Less practical if: you’re not up for the crazy Balinese traffic and poorly maintained roads.
5. Bemos and buses in Bali
I’ll be very quick on this topic. I had to mention Bali’s buses and bemos because most websites do… Except that I’m going to tell you the truth about these forms of transport: no tourists use them ! And for simple reasons : unless you speak Indonesian, it’s very difficult to get clear, reliable information about how they work… Actually, they’re so unreliable that even locals rarely use them.
After several years living here I’ve only met one foreigner who told me she’d been on a bus in Bali – a trip that took her most of the day for a relatively short distance. As for “bemo” and other local mini vans, I’ve used them once but my local friend organised everything for me… I wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own, eventhough I speak Indonesian. There you go, that says it all 😅
👍 Ideal if: there’s not much left in your wallet or you want to mix with the local crowd.
👎 Less practical if: you don’t speak a word of Indonesian or you’re in a hurry.
How do you get to other islands around Bali ?
If you’re planning a trip to one of the neighbouring islands, here are the different ways to get to another island from Bali:
-
- to Java: by ferry (less than 1 hour’s journey for less than $1 !) from the port of Gilimanuk, in north-west Bali. There are several bus companies that offer rides between the 2 islands and board the ferry, or you can book a car with a driver.
-
- to Lombok: by ferry (around 4-5 hours for $5) or by fast boat (around 2 hours for around $40) from the port of Padang Bai, in East Bali. You can book your fast boat directly here.
-
- to the Gili Islands: by fast boat from Padang Bai (around 1hr30mins for $25). You can book your ticket here.
-
- to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida: by express ferry from Sanur (around 30 minutes for $10). You can book your ticket here.
Bonus : things to know before driving in Bali
If you’re planning to drive a motorbike or a car in Bali, you should know that it might be a little more complex than it sounds! The basics are :
-
- Carry your driving licence with you (international one if possible), even though most rental companies don’t actually ask for it…
-
-
- Wear a helmet on your moped (full-face if possible), even if many locals and foreigners don’t…
-
- Make sure you have the vehicle documents
-
- Make sure you’re comfortable driving on the left side of the road !
If the police catch you breaking the law, the fine can be very high. I can’t even give you an idea of how much, because of how corrupted the police is… and foreigners always pay a lot more !
Other things to know about driving in Bali:
-
- don’t be offended if people honk at you all the time : the horn is used in a “friendly” way to warn the driver in front of you that you’re going to overtake him.
-
-
- most of the time, you can turn left at a traffic light even if it’s red. If this is not the case, this will be indicated by a sign (often red).
-
- priority rules don’t apply. Priority goes to whoever is the boldest…!
-
- it’s normal to overtake someone on the left or right – there’s no choice when the traffic is so heavy… So be very careful and make a good assumption of the space available before overtaking – just because a local was able to do it doesn’t mean you are 😂
And if you’re travelling around Bali on a motorbike, always check that it’s in good shape before using it – scams are so common here !
- Take photos of any impacts
- Test the brakes, horn and headlights
- Check the fuel level and agree with the hire company on the level to be displayed when you return the scooter.
- Ask for a helmet for each passenger and check that it is of good quality.
And that’s the end of this article on getting around Bali ! I hope you’ll find it useful during your trip to the Island of the Gods. Feel free to ask me questions in the comments down below if you have any 😉
