The best time to visit Bali

With awe-inspiring scenery, dense layers of culture, plenty of sun, surf and sand, and balmy temperatures year-round, Bali calls out like a beacon to adventurers, sun-seekers and travelers who like to truly immerse themselves in the countries they visit. Whatever your travel tastes, you’ll find rewarding things to see and do in Bali at any time of year.

The dry season, from April to September, is the most enjoyable time of the year for outdoor activities, including basking on beaches, hiking, surfing, sailing, diving and canyoning. Visit during the wet season (November to March), and you’ll experience frequent downpours, but there’s good surf on the east coast, and you can still enjoy the outdoors, especially in drier areas in the east and north of the island. Temperatures in Bali don’t vary much from season to season, hovering between 28°C and 32°C (82°F to 90°F) year-round, though it’s often cooler in mountain areas. Whatever you’re searching for, let’s help you determine the best time to visit Bali.

The high season may be busier, but it’s the best time for outdoor activities © Knmata / Shutterstock

The high season (July–August and December) is the best time for festivals and partying

Bali’s July-August dry season overlaps with European and North American summer holiday breaks, as well as extended breaks in July given to Australia’s and New Zealand’s students. The increase in long-distance travelers makes it one of the busiest times of the year. If you’re looking to avoid crowds or expensive flights, this isn’t the best time to visit. That said, there are plenty of reasons why people come to Bali during this time of year. 

The high season in Bali coincides with the traditional summer vacation season in Europe, America, and Australia in July and August. It’s the height of the dry season and the peak time for surfing on the west coast at the breaks around Canggu and Seminyak. Bali’s original beach hub, Kuta, can be mobbed at this time of year, as many travelers come here specifically for the party season.

Most parts of Bali are inundated with visitors in summer, as tourists come to sample the island’s many delights and enjoy some of its most colorful festivals. Indonesia celebrates its independence from colonial powers on August 17 with plenty of pomp and fanfare. Expect entertaining parades and street parties in the bigger towns.

The period around Christmas and New Year also sees a large influx of travelers seeking a reprieve from cold northern winters. Many hotels, restaurants and other venues organize special dinners and entertainment to mark the festive season. New Year’s Eve is particularly memorable, with spectacular fireworks at midnight to help you rock in the new year in style. Key events to look out for are the Pemuteran Bay Festival, Penglipuran Village Festival and, of course, New Year’s Eve celebrations.

High season means high prices and pressing hordes in tightly packed tourist areas. For a quieter experience, look to more remote places like Nusa Penida and Pemuteran.

Surfing season is in full swing during the shoulder season © Westend61 / Getty Images

The shoulder season (April–June and September–October) is best for adventurous travelers

The shoulder season in Bali falls at either end of the dry season, when the weather is either improving after the rains or getting slowly wetter after the dry months. Things are quieter without the summertime crowds, and the weather is normally still dry enough for outdoor activities. However, the two-week Easter spring break can get very busy in tourist areas such as Kuta and Legian.

May marks the surfing season in full swing on the west and south coasts, and rafting, trekking and spelunking beckon adventure sports fans.

As rain showers in October are more frequent than in the dry summer months, plan to spend some time indoors visiting temples, museums and cultural institutions in Ubud, Denpasar, and other centers for Balinese culture. Top international events in October include the Ubud Village Jazz Festival and the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.

Bali is lush and green in the months following the rainy season © Pete Seaward / Lonely Planet

The low season (January–March and November) is best for budget travelers

Bali’s low season coincides with its rainy season, and this can be an unpredictable time for outdoor activities. The rain tends to scare most crowds back home, and the island has a more relaxed vibe. But if you’re hoping to catch good waves, there’s still decent surf on the east coast at legendary locations such as Padang Padang, and the weather is still warm. 

Of course, this makes the low season the best time to visit Bali for the lowest prices. Rainfall can get heavy at times, but Bali’s tropical rain usually doesn’t last all day. And though there’s always the risk of tropical cyclones reaching the island, Bali’s close enough to the equator to keep most fully formed cyclones away. As long as you don’t mind occasional rainfall and smaller crowds, the low season can be a good season to enjoy calmer vibes in Bali. 

Even during low season, Bali keeps busy with community festivals and activities. At the end of January or the start of February, Chinese New Year celebrations feature typical Balinese elements such as traditional percussion bands and dancers dressed as the mythological lion-like creature Barong. The festival of Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, moves with the lunar calendar but frequently falls in March. This is a culturally fascinating time to visit Bali, but after the colorful parades of ogoh-ogoh puppets the night before the festival, the Day of Silence itself can be a tricky time for visitors as everything closes, transport ceases, and nobody is allowed out on the streets.

Understanding the Balinese calendar

Note that religious festivals such as Galungan and Kuningan are scheduled according to the Balinese 210-day pawukon calendar. This means they happen roughly every seven months, according to the Western calendar. Dates for village festivals are not always set in stone either, and the timing of the Nyepi festival is dictated by the lunar saka calendar, meaning the date changes every year. If you’re planning a trip around a festival or event, check the precise dates before you book your flights.

More on when to visit Bali

How long should I visit Bali? 

With that said, you might feel extra rushed if you try to squeeze it all into a three-day weekend trip. In order to actually enjoy your trip and give yourself time to check all the essentials off your list, you probably need 5-7 days. A week should provide enough time for you to see and do everything you want

Of course, you can extend your trip longer to see and do even more. But if you need enough time to plan a beach day, check out the terraced rice fields at Jatiluwih, explore the incredible waterfalls at Banyu Wana Amertha, get spiritual at the Pura Besakih temple, and see everything else you consider essential, a week should do the trick. 

What month should I visit Bali? 

To know the best month for you to visit Bali, prioritize what you want to do. For lunar new year celebrations, plan a February trip for Chinese New Year, or a March trip for Nyepi. For more arts and cultural events, consider an October trip. And for the more hedonistic parties you might have heard about, you’ll probably want to visit during the peak season months of July and August. 

Then, there’s the matter of outdoor activities. For surfing, low season might work (depending on where you go), but you really want to come during peak season for the most consistent waves island-wide. For walking and hiking during the most pleasantly dry weather, you probably also want a trip during the peak season. But if you don’t mind the occasional showers and you prefer fewer crowds outside, the April-June and September-October shoulder seasons should work fine. 

When is the cheapest time to visit Bali? 

For the best bargains, aim for the January-March low season. Though the island’s wet season spans from October all the way to March, December has become a second high season due to the rush of tourists during Christmas and New Year’s.

For the best chance of scoring the cheapest rates, you probably want to look at the January-March low season. By this time, the holiday travelers are gone, and prices usually hit rock-bottom. Of course, these are also Bali’s rainiest months. But, as you can see above, these rainy months come with their own special charm as you enjoy the (relative) peace and quiet.