Getting to Bali

As overland travel in Indonesia involves huge distances, most people choose to fly.  Those arriving from further afield than Asia will generally fly directly into Bali, or alternatively, use a regional hub such as Singapore or Jakarta before continuing onto Bali on a regional flight. Bus and car travel can be arduous, with journeys from Jakarta to Bali taking up to 30 hours to complete.

By car

Road conditions have improved, but driving can be hazardous. Trucks, buses and large vehicles dominate the traffic, and vehicles contend with horse drawn carts, bicycles and reckless driving. However, it’s possible to rent a car at any of the major cities across the region, and combine driving and the ferry to arrive in Bali. The ferry service to Ketapang in Java operates 24 hours from Gilimanuk on the west coast, and the ferry to Lombok on the east coast operates out of Padangbai.

By rail

Due to the mountainous terrain, there are no railway lines on the island; however, a first-class Bima night train departs from Jakarta in the afternoon and reaches Surabaya in the early morning. From there, you can transfer to a Mutiara train to Banyuwangi as far as the eastern tip of Java and then take a bus and ferry to Denpasar; the trip can take over 30 hours to complete.

By bus

Direct bus services are available to Bali from all the major cities in Java and Lombok. The fare includes the ferry crossing to Bali, and it presents a cheap though tiring way of travelling in the region. The Bali night express buses leave Jakarta in the late afternoon and travels all night to arrive in Bali; journeys can take over 24 hours.

Bus seats can be reserved in advance at the bus terminal or alternatively, through travel agents or hotels. The bus leaves from Pulo Gadung terminal in Jakarta at 15:00 and arrives at the Ubung terminal in Denpasar at around 18:00 the following day. Similar services are available from Surabaya's Bungurasih terminal as well as from Yogyakarta.

By air

Denpasar's Ngurah Rai is located at the southern tip of the island, eight miles from Denpasar. The airport receives many direct international flights from Asia and Australia as well as numerous domestic flights from other parts of Indonesia. A number of low-cost airlines are now operating in the region and revolutionising transport throughout Asia-Pacific. These budget airlines include Jetstar Asia, which operates from Singapore; AirAsia, which offers connections to Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta; and Mandala Airlines, which flies to Taipei and Hong Kong.

Some passengers choose to fly to nearby airports such as Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta Airport (CGK) or Singapore’s Changi Airport, and then take an onward flight to Bali. When leaving Bali, you should be aware that a departure tax is currently being imposed on all international flights, and payment must be made before departure.

By ferry

The ferries cross from Gilimanuk in the west of Bali to Ketapang on Java every 15 minutes, 24 hours, and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes. Services are also available from Padangbai to Lembar, on Lombok, every few hours and crossings take just over 3 hours.

Bali Airport

Bali's airport, Ngurah Rai (DPS), is located eight miles southwest of the island’s capital, Denpasar, near the southern tip of the island between Kuta and Sanur. Many passengers fly directly to Bali from Asia or Australia, or alternatively, they use regional connecting flights from the main international gateways of Jakarta or Singapore.

The airport is modern and clean, and offers the essential facilities that travellers will require. Two separate terminals are available for international and domestic flights, but it’s possible to transfer between the two terminals on foot. Banks and bureaux de change are available in both terminals, as are telephones, bars and restaurants. Duty free is offered at the Plaza Bali outlet in the International Departures area, while passengers will find a pharmacy on the third floor. A left luggage service is available at the terminal entrance to International Departures.

Bali airport transportation

Many hotels provide cars or minivans to meet arriving passengers and guests can arrange pick ups at the airport by requesting this service in advance. Alternatively, you can order a taxi at the counter just outside Customs. You should use the pre-paid Airport Taxi Service, as the prices are fixed, and coupons can be paid for at the desk in Arrivals.

Buses also operate frequently between the airport and Tegal bus station in Denpasar, with journeys taking approximately 50 minutes. Another alternative is to travel via bemo, which is a chartered vehicle that can carry up to 10 people.