If you want to enjoy Bali at your own pace, you're going to need some transport. But how do you get around the island cost-effectively and safely? 🛵💸
Our guide will walk you through each option and explain what the real situation is with each.
One thing we should be clear about is that there's not much public transportation in Bali, however, that doesn't mean that it's expensive to get around, either.
The 12 Main Transportation Options In Bali
Car Rental
You must have an international driver's permit (sometimes called an international license) and a current driving license from your own country to rent a car here 🚗
If you opt to drive yourself, you can get a slightly lower price on car rental than a private car but you will need to stay alert for the entire day as you drive around - the roads here in Bali are very challenging as is the standard of driving from other drivers on the road.
We find that most people like the idea of driving here until they experience their first rush hour and then they wish that they hadn't bothered.
Travelling around the large towns on the island in a car is further complicated by a lack of decent parking in many areas and you may end up having to walk from your hotel rather than driving in a lot of cases.
Rent Scooters
We don't recommend that people rent a scooter in Bali particularly if it's their first visit. Firstly, before you can start renting legally - you need the same documents as you need to hire a car AND you must have a motorbike endorsement on your driving license.
If you don't have these things, you can't ride a scooter legally and while someone will rent one to you if you have an accident during your trip, you won't be covered by insurance 🛵🛵
And sadly, accidents are all too common on Bali's roads. The level of road maintenance is poor and driving standards are non-existent.
You will find that it's much easier to reach your destination in one piece using a ride-share or a taxi.
Private Driver + Private Car Hire
Perhaps, the best deal, for getting around Bali is renting a private driver and car. For 500,000 IDR (that's about $35 USD or $50 AUD) you can get a driver, car and petrol for 8 hours 🧑💼🚙
They will visit every destination you can get to for that fixed cost and if you want to visit more places, a reasonable overtime rate is applied. It's common to also give the driver a lunch allowance for some cheap local food but it is not mandatory.
Grab App
Grab is Bali's Uber, quite literally as Uber owns shares in Grab, and it's one of the best forms of transportation in Bali.
You can download and install the app before you arrive in Bali and then summon cars at any time for a fixed price and you can even pay by card on the app rather than using cash.
They also offer services through the app such as delivery of local food and grocery purchases.
Gojek App
The Gojek App is Grab's biggest competitor and it works in almost exactly the same way. Given that prices can vary between the two apps, it's worth installing both and then comparing them before you book.
Bluebird Taxis (And App)
Taxis are problematic in Bali as they are often scammers who try and make life hard for you by overcharging when you reach your destination.
However, Blue Bird Taxis is a reputable company with its own app and you will find that you get a decent deal from this company 🚕
Unfortunately, because Blue Bird has a good reputation, there are now scammers out there driving fake Blue Bird Taxis and overcharging, etc. So, we'd recommend that you only use this company through its app and don't flag one down unless you're 100% confident you know what you're doing.
Other Taxis
We would recommend that you avoid all taxis except Bluebird taxis on the island. Unless you want to get ripped off.
Ferry/Fast Boat
Bali isn't just an island. It's also a province that includes the Nusa Islands - Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.
If you want to visit these islands then you will need to catch a fast boat or ferry to Nusa Penida from Sanur or Padang Bai ⛴️ 🛥️
Public Buses?
Sadly, there are no major bus routes in Bali. While you can get around by bus in other parts of Indonesia, here there are a couple of services running from Denpasar to Java and a few other destinations, but they're not for getting around the island.
We're not sure this is entirely a bad thing, either. Traffic here in Bali is bad already. If a bus was stopping every couple of minutes on the major highways, it would just create more congestion.
Train?
Indonesia has some of the best railways in the world and has a reputation for manufacturing great railway carriages. Sadly, none of these railways or carriages are in Bali.
There is a plan that has been bouncing around for several years to build a metro network in Bali. There is even some indication that work will commence on this network this year.
However, even if it does begin now, you're unlikely to be able to catch a train in Bali until about 2035. We'll update this article when that happens but until then, train is out of the question.
Bemos?
We can't get over the number of guides to Bali online that are still talking about bemos. There may be the occasional bemo still driving around a very remote part of the island but Bali's equivalent of the "tuk-tuk" is long gone from most places.
There are no bemos in the beach towns or in Denpasar and you cannot stand on a street corner waiting to wave one down for a day trip.
We think it's a little sad to have lost this part of the local transport culture, but we have to confess they were never very convenient or comfortable and the drivers often tried to inflate the fares for foreigners. So, it's not a great loss either.
Walking?
The author of this piece does a lot of walking in Bali and it's not impossible to walk from one place to another on the island but it's not as convenient as it is in other countries 🚶♀️🚶🏿♀️🚶🏻♂️
The road surfaces are very poor and you need to keep a constant eye on the road to avoid tripping over and hurting yourself.
There are pavements/sidewalks but pedestrians need eyes on the backs of their heads as scooter drivers often choose to use these as shortcuts and bumping into tourists is nothing new.
On top of this, you will also find that Bali is home to a huge population of street dogs. Mostly, these dogs just bark and let you go on your way, but if you are bitten - rabies is a real risk here. So, you will need to be vaccinated.
Finally, while there's not much traffic if you're walking through rice fields at many times of day, there are simply too many cars and bikes to walk safely along the roads and at peak hours, you may find it impossible to go even a couple of hundred meters on foot.
If you want to walk, you will need to expect a bunch of challenges and pay constant attention to everything around you.
FAQs
How Do Tourists Get Around In Bali?
It depends on the tourist and where they are staying. Someone heading to Nusa Dua on a family holiday may only use airport transfers to and from Ngurah Rai International Airport and then spend the rest of their holiday on the beach at the resort 🏝️🏝️
Someone choosing to explore the whole island might rent a car and driver. And most people will probably just use ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek.
What Is The Best Transportation Around Bali?
We think that for most people, it's going to be the ride-sharing apps of Grab and Gojek. These are great value (and also do things like food delivery and shopping) and perfect for short journeys.
They are a hassle-free way of getting around Bali and ensure you have a confident driver who knows this part of South East Asia well.
Is There Uber Or Grab In Bali?
Yes, there's Grab in Bali, Indonesia. Uber used to be in the region but has since withdrawn and gone into a partnership deal with Grab (Uber holds shares in Grab and vice-versa).
There's also Gojek which is a top choice here in Indonesia as well as several other smaller players in the ride-share market.
Is It Hard To Travel Around Bali?
No, though you will find that this magical island often sees high levels of traffic and the local police aren't always able to manage this traffic very well 🏖️
So, you should be aware that whatever the distance is on Google Maps between two locations, the actual time to get between those points will often be much longer than you'd expect it to be based on the distance.
Is Grab Cheap In Bali?
It depends on where you come from. Australians will find that it's cheaper to use Grab than it is to use their own car at home (thanks to fuel prices, taxes, etc.) but someone coming from Vietnam might find it a little more expensive.
How Long Does It Take To Get From One Side Of Bali To The Other?
It very much depends on which sides you want to go between (North - South is a much shorter journey than East-West). It also depends on your starting points, as the majority of routes are coastal routes - so trying to go North-South from the centre of Bali, for example, is going to take a lot more time than going North-South from either edge.
However, you can get from South Bali to North Bali in around 3 hours (Kuta to Amed, for example) and from East Bali to West Bali (for example Amlapura to Gilimanuk) in around 4-5 hours depending on the route and traffic.
Does Bali Have Good Public Transportation?
No. In fact, there is almost no public transportation in Bali, Indonesia. If you've ever visited Bali you will know that there are no buses on every street corner.
What Is The Cheapest Mode Of Transport In Bali?
Walking would be the cheapest transport in Bali. However, assuming you want to ride, then hiring a scooter is going to be the cheapest, though most definitely not the safest, way to get around Bali.
Is It True Grab Is About Half The Price Of Any Other Transport To Explore Bali With?
No, Grab and Gojek are very similarly priced and you may find that if one is cheaper than the other, it won't be by very much.
So, if you want to go from the Apurva Kempinski Bali in South Nusa Dua to FINNS Beach Club, for example, the fare might be 10-20,000 IDR cheaper on one than the other. But you're unlikely to find much bigger differences in the numbers.
Interestingly, hiring a car and driver is often the most cost-effective way to get around safely if you have a long journey that you want to tackle at your own pace ✈️
Final Thoughts On Getting Around Bali, Indonesia
Getting around the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia in Southeast Asia isn't too much of a challenge and if you come from Western countries, you don't need to drive yourself to experience Bali in a safe and cost-effective manner.
First-time visitors would be well advised to read up on using the Grab and Gojek apps so that they can get to any destination without any hassle and for a fixed price for each trip 📲
Being able to order cars on an app is very convenient and most drivers are very helpful and kind.