Comparison · Bali vs Zanzibar · Indonesia / Tanzania
Bali vs Zanzibar
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Bali for Hindu temples, Rice terraces and lower day-to-day costs; choose Zanzibar for Stone Town, Beaches and a short break. Bali is generally less expensive, and the two are about 8,372 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 8,372 km
- Less expensive
- Bali
- Best time for Bali
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Zanzibar
- January–February and June–September
Side by side
| Bali | Zanzibar | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Tanzania |
| Known for | Hindu temples, Rice terraces and Surfing | Stone Town, Beaches and Spices |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | January–February and June–September |
| Ideal stay | 10 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$180 | $120–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | January, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | June, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 3 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | Seminyak and Double Six Beach | Nungwi |
| Airports | DPS | ZNZ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bali for…
Hindu temples, Rice terraces and lower day-to-day costs. Bali is a Hindu island in mostly Muslim Indonesia, about 140 km across, where daily offerings sit on doorsteps and temple ceremonies close roads. The south — Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua — has the beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs, while…
Choose Zanzibar for…
Stone Town, Beaches and a short break. Zanzibar's main island, Unguja, lies about 35 km off the Tanzanian mainland and combines Stone Town — a UNESCO-listed Swahili trading town of coral-stone houses, carved wooden doors and narrow lanes — with a coastline of white-sand beaches and coral reefs…
Top sights compared
| # | Bali | Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | Stone Town |
| 2 | Tanah Lot | Forodhani Gardens night market |
| 3 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) |
| 4 | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | Former slave market and Christ Church |
| 5 | Tirta Empul | Darajani Market |
Food compared
| Bali | Zanzibar |
|---|---|
| Babi guling | Zanzibar pizza |
| Bebek betutu | Urojo |
| Nasi campur Bali | Pilau |
| Sate lilit | Biryani |
Which is cheaper?
Bali is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$180 per person there, against $120–$250 in Zanzibar (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bali on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 8,372 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 18 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bali or Zanzibar cheaper?
Bali is usually less expensive: about $80–$180 a day mid-range against $120–$250 (estimates).
+Is Bali or Zanzibar better for a first trip?
Pick Bali for Hindu temples, Rice terraces and lower day-to-day costs, or Zanzibar for Stone Town, Beaches and a short break.
+How far is Bali from Zanzibar?
About 8,372 km in a straight line.