Getting around · Bali · Indonesia
Getting around Bali
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Bali has no rail and limited public transport, so visitors rely on private drivers, ride-hailing apps, taxis and scooters. Traffic in the south and around Ubud is heavy, and a 30 km journey can take 90 minutes, so group sights by area. A self-drive car is not recommended because of traffic and narrow roads, but a car with a driver is the easiest way to explore beyond your base.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Car
- Airports
- DPS
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Car
Hiring a car with a driver for the day is common and good value for touring temples and terraces; most hotels can arrange one.
Agree on the price, hours and itinerary in advance; fuel and parking are usually included.
Ride-hailing
Grab and Gojek offer cars and motorbike taxis in the south and Ubud; some villages post signs banning app pick-ups, where you will need a local taxi.
Taxi
Metered Bluebird taxis are reliable in the south; insist on the meter with other companies or agree on a fare first.
Scooter
Scooters are the local way to get around and are easy to rent, but roads are chaotic and accidents are the most common cause of injury to visitors.
Police check for a valid motorcycle licence, and riding without one usually voids travel insurance; always wear a helmet.
Ferry
Fast boats run from Sanur to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, and from Padang Bai and Serangan to the Gili Islands and Lombok; public ferries cross to Lombok and Java.
Walking
Central Ubud, Sanur's seafront path and the beachfronts of Seminyak and Kuta are walkable, but footpaths are uneven or missing on most roads.
From the airport
Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar) is in Tuban, just south of Kuta. Taxis from the official counter and pre-booked drivers take about 20–30 minutes to Kuta, 30–60 minutes to Seminyak, 30–45 minutes to Nusa Dua via the toll road and 1.5–2 hours to Ubud, depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
A self-drive car is not recommended because of traffic and narrow roads, but a car with a driver is the easiest way to explore beyond your base.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Nusa Penida | About 45 minutes by fast boat | Fast boat from Sanur |
| Nusa Lembongan | About 30–40 minutes by fast boat | Fast boat from Sanur |
| Munduk and Sekumpul waterfalls | About 2.5–3 hours by car | Private driver |
| Sidemen valley | About 1.5–2 hours by car | Private driver |
| Menjangan Island | About 3.5–4 hours by car, then boat | Private driver to Labuhan Lalang, then boat |
| Gili Islands | About 1.5–2.5 hours by fast boat | Fast boat from Padang Bai or Serangan |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Bali?
A self-drive car is not recommended because of traffic and narrow roads, but a car with a driver is the easiest way to explore beyond your base.
+How do you get from the airport to Bali?
Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar) is in Tuban, just south of Kuta. Taxis from the official counter and pre-booked drivers take about 20–30 minutes to Kuta, 30–60 minutes to Seminyak, 30–45 minutes to Nusa Dua via the toll road and 1.5–2 hours to Ubud, depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Bali?
Car: Hiring a car with a driver for the day is common and good value for touring temples and terraces; most hotels can arrange one.