Bali is a province of Indonesia and operates under Indonesian national transport law. See the Indonesia transport page for the full national framework [1]. This page covers practical aspects specific to getting around Bali.
Public transport
Bali has essentially no scheduled public transport. The options are:
- Private motorbike (the default mode for most expats).
- Private car.
- Ride-hailing apps.
- Rental car with driver.
- Bicycle (limited to short distances in certain areas).
- Trans Sarbagita BRT: government bus system connecting Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Tabanan. Limited coverage and irregular frequency. Not practical as primary transport.
Ride-hailing in Bali
- Gojek [2] and Grab [3]: both operate widely in South Bali (Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur, Jimbaran, Uluwatu). Slightly less coverage in Ubud. Motorbike (GoRide/ GrabBike) is the standard option.
- Not available at the airport: Ngurah Rai International Airport prohibits ride-hailing pickups at the arrivals terminal. The airport taxi coupon system is mandatory for arrivals (50,000-100,000 IDR to Kuta/Seminyak, 150,000-250,000 IDR to Canggu/Ubud).
- Bali-specific pricing: Gojek and Grab in Bali are more expensive than in Jakarta due to the tourist-oriented pricing model.
- Blue Bird Taxi: operates in Bali. The only metered taxi company you can hail on the street. App: MyBlueBird.
- Private driver: very common for day trips. 400,000-700,000 IDR for 8 hours of car with driver (25-45 EUR). This is the recommended way to explore the island.
Motorbike in Bali
The motorbike is the default transport for most expat residents. Key points:
- Leasing vs buying: many expats lease long-term (3-12 months) rather than buying. Monthly lease: 300,000-800,000 IDR including service. Buying new: 18-35 million IDR for a Honda Vario or similar.
- Helmet law: police enforce it. Both rider and pillion must wear a SNI-certified helmet. Non-SNI helmets are illegal. Fines up to 250,000 IDR.
- Driving licence: you need a valid Indonesian SIM C (motorcycle licence). Many expats ride without one; checkpoints occur frequently around Canggu/Seminyak, particularly during peak tourist season. The fine for riding without a SIM is about 250,000-1,000,000 IDR, and the motorbike may be impounded.
- Ride at night: poorly lit roads, potholes, and dogs on the road make night riding significantly more dangerous.
- Traffic in Canggu: notorious, especially at the Batu Bolong/berawa junction. Allow extra time.
Car in Bali
- Traffic: significant and growing in South Bali and the main route from Denpasar to the Bukit Peninsula. The main bottlenecks are: Canggu intersection, Jimbaran (Uluwatu St), Airport bypass Ngurah Rai.
- Parking: many older villas in Canggu/Seminyak lack car parking. Check before renting. Street parking requires paying a local attendant (2,000-5,000 IDR).
- Rental car with driver: 400,000-700,000 IDR/8 hours (25-45 EUR). Affordable and removes the stress of Bali traffic.
- Driving licence: you need SIM A (car). Same rules as id/transport.md.
- Bali Toll Road: the Bali Mandara Toll connects Benoa port and the airport to Nusa Dua. 10,000-20,000 IDR.
Cycling in Bali
- Ubud and the surrounding rice field paths are good for cycling.
- Bukit Peninsula roads have steep hills and are not recommended for casual cycling.
- A few cycling groups exist in Sanur (flat coastal path) and Ubud.
- Electric bikes are increasingly popular.
- Cyclists should be very cautious on main roads. Drivers are not accustomed to sharing the road.
Regional transport
- Ferries: Padang Bai (East Bali) to Lembar (Lombok), 4-6 hours, 50,000-100,000 IDR per passenger, 150,000-400,000 IDR per car. Gilimanuk (West Bali) to Ketapang (Java), 30 minutes, 10,000-30,000 IDR. Fast boats to the Gili Islands and Nusa Lembongan from Padang Bai, Serangan, and Sanur.
- Domestic flights: Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) connects to Jakarta (1.5 hours), Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Labuan Bajo, Komodo, and many other Indonesian destinations. Also has direct flights to Singapore, KL, Bangkok, Sydney, and many other international cities.
- Tourist shuttles: Perama, Kura-Kura Bus. Connect major tourist destinations (airport-Ubud, airport-Padang Bai, Ubud-Canggu). 50,000-150,000 IDR.
This page is not legal advice. Verify current requirements with Korlantas.