Cheap Flights to Bali

Bali is Indonesia's island of the gods -- where emerald rice terraces cascade down volcanic slopes in Ubud, world-class surf breaks crash along Canggu and Uluwatu's coastlines, and daily temple ceremonies fill the air with incense and gamelan music. It is simultaneously a wellness retreat destination, a surfer's paradise, and one of Asia's most affordable tropical escapes with warung meals costing 25,000 IDR. The Balinese Hindu culture with its 20,000 temples makes every day a ceremony, from offerings to the gods to dance performances at Ubud Palace.

April through October is the dry season with sunny skies and best surf on the west coast. July and August are peak season with highest prices. November through March is rainy season with afternoon downpours but cheapest flights and villas. May and September are ideal shoulder months. The dry season offers best diving visibility at Amed and Tulamben. January and February have the heaviest rainfall. Surfers prefer June-September for consistent swell.

Garuda Indonesia operates from Ngurah Rai with full-service routes. Indonesia AirAsia and Lion Air provide budget domestic connections. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Malaysia Airlines connect via hubs. Qantas and Jetstar serve Bali from multiple Australian cities. Qatar and Turkish Airlines connect via the Middle East. Emirates serves Bali from Dubai. Scoot and AirAsia offer budget regional connections from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Airports Serving Bali

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is in Tuban, 13 km from Kuta and 30 minutes from Seminyak. The airport has one main terminal with domestic and international sections, recently renovated. Official airport taxis have fixed rates to major areas. There is no rail network on Bali -- most visitors hire drivers or rent scooters. The airport is on the southern tip convenient for Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, and Nusa Dua. A new terminal expansion is under development.

Bali is remarkably affordable -- a meal at a local warung costs 25,000-50,000 IDR (1.50-3 USD). Hire a private driver for 500,000-600,000 IDR per day instead of organized tours. Stay in guesthouses for 200,000-400,000 IDR per night. Visit waterfalls and rice terraces for small donations of 10,000-50,000 IDR. Bargain at markets starting at 40% of asking price. Rent a scooter for 50,000-80,000 IDR per day. Use Gojek or Grab for short rides.

• Tegallalang Rice Terraces -- The iconic cascading rice paddies north of Ubud with swing rides and coffee tasting plantations.
• Uluwatu Temple -- A stunning clifftop sea temple at 70 meters above the Indian Ocean with Kecak fire dances at sunset.
• Sacred Monkey Forest -- A nature reserve in Ubud with 700+ long-tailed macaques, three Hindu temples, and mossy banyan trees.
• Tanah Lot -- A rock formation sea temple off the southwest coast, most photographed at sunset with dramatic wave spray.
• Ubud Art Market and Palace -- The central market for Balinese crafts and the traditional palace hosting dance performances nightly.

Bali has no public transport system beyond local bemos which are unpredictable. Most visitors hire a private driver for 500,000-600,000 IDR per day. Scooter rental is popular at 50,000-80,000 IDR per day but requires confidence in chaotic traffic. Gojek and Grab are widely available for short rides in the south. Traffic between Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu can be severe during peak hours. Private drivers know the best routes and cost by the day. The toll road between the airport and Nusa Dua bypasses the worst traffic. Walking is impractical between most destinations due to heat and lack of sidewalks.

Seminyak offers the best restaurants and sunset bars with mid-range villas from 400,000-1,000,000 IDR per night. Ubud provides cultural and wellness experiences with guesthouses from 200,000-600,000 IDR. Canggu is the hipster surf town with guesthouses from 250,000-700,000 IDR. Kuta is most budget-friendly with hostels from 100,000-300,000 IDR. Nusa Dua offers luxury resorts from 1,000,000-3,000,000 IDR per night.