How To Get Around in Bali

Booked your flights and got your accommodation sorted? Now it's time to start thinking about how to get around in Bali.

While you don’t need to arrange transport in Bali too far in advance, it’s a good idea to think about your itinerary and how you plan on travelling around the island.

Public transportation in Bali is very limited and not particularly tourist-friendly at the moment (this might change soon with the new LRT being built), so most people will either hire a scooter, hire a private driver, or book online taxis.

With experience using each of these methods, we’ve created this complete guide to getting around in Bali so you can plan a hassle-free trip.

1. Private Driver

Private drivers are the most common way for tourists to get around in Bali. This option is best for day trips where you plan on visiting multiple destinations in one day.

Local drivers are surprisingly affordable, costing between ⓘto ⓘ ⓘ for a full day. If you fill a vehicle, the per-person price is super reasonable.

Drivers are knowledgeable about the island so you can learn a lot from them during the trip. Give them a list of places you want to visit and they’ll help plan your day to minimise traffic and driving times.

How To Find a Driver

You can usually book a driver the day before you need them, but it’s best to book a little earlier if possible. When hiring a private driver, only book licensed drivers with good reviews.

Here are some reputable sources you can use to find a driver in Bali:

2. Rent a Scooter

While renting a car in Bali is a bad idea due to the small roads and chaotic traffic, renting a scooter is more manageable and gives you the freedom to explore the island by yourself. We usually use scooters to get around in Bali.

Scooters also tend to be the cheapest option, with a basic model such as a Honda Vario or Scoopy costing between ⓘ– 100,000 IDR ⓘ per day. Fuel and parking costs are a small extra.

But you should only choose this option if you’re an experienced driver and have an International Drivers Permit (IDP). We explain how to get one here.

Although It’s unlikely that you’ll be asked to show any documents when renting, if you have an accident and don’t have the correct license, it will invalidate any claims on your travel insurance.

Where To Rent a Scooter

Here are some places you can rent a scooter from:

3. Online Taxis (Grab/Gojek)

For simple A-to-B journeys, such as moving accommodation or travelling to one specific attraction, we prefer taking a taxi.

Flagging down a taxi from the side of the road isn't a great idea as they'll likely overcharge you. Instead, we recommend using online taxis such as Grab or Gojek (similar concept to Uber), which are much cheaper and more reliable.

Both car taxis and scooter/motorbike taxis (aka "ojeks") are available to book through the apps.

Download the app, create an account, and order a ride from most places on the island. You’ll see the price before you confirm the booking. Both cash and card payments are accepted.

Be aware of no-Gojek zones - Local taxi drivers don’t like online taxis. In some areas where local drivers have control (we call them the ‘taxi mafia’), they have banned online taxis from picking up, although drop-offs are usually still allowed. These are called no-Gojek zones, but it applies to Grab too. In this case, you may need to walk a little further to another area or try to negotiate with a local driver.

4. Kura Kura Shuttle Bus

The Kura Kura bus is a shuttle connecting the three tourist areas of Kuta, Sanur, and Ubud.

It’s one of the cheaper travel options in Bali, but only runs twice per day in each direction, so you’ll need to plan your journey to a tee.

The Kura Kura shuttle bus can drop off at the airport on request (make sure to inform them in advance). But it can’t pick up from the airport due to local rules.

The bus has a fixed ticket price of 100,000 IDR ⓘ one-way, or 160,000 IDR ⓘ for a same-day return. You can book tickets for the shuttle on their website, but it can be cheaper and easier to purchase online here.

5. Public Transport

Given how affordable private transport is in Bali, it’s rare for tourists to use local public transport. But if you’re feeling adventurous and are on a super tight budget, you can get the public Taman Bus which operates in South Bali.

Buses run from 4.30am until 10pm with 6 lines as follows:

• 1 – Kuta to Terminal Persiapan (Tabanan)

• 2 – Terminal Ubung (North Denpasar) to Bali Airport

• 3 - Terminal Ubung to Icon Shopping Mall (Sanur)

• 4 – Terminal Ubung to Monkey Forest (Ubud)

• 5 – Kuta to Bali Polytechnic (Jimbaran)

• 6 – Kuta to Nusa Dua

• S1 – GOR Ngurah Rai (Cental Denpasar) to GWK Culture Park (Jimbaran)

• S2 – GOR Ngurah Rai to Terminal Batubulan (Northeast Denpasar)

You can download a copy of all the route maps with stops in full here.

There’s an app with live tracking of all the buses called MitraDarat (Apple | Android).

However, the app is only in Indonesian so here are some tips. When you open it, ensure you are on the tab labelled “Beranda”, then select “Teman Bus” followed by “Trans Metro Dewata.”

Buses in Bali charge a flat ticket price of 4,400 IDR ⓘ .

We have never used the bus service so we cannot share first-hand experience of how they work. We do know that cash is not accepted on the bus so payment may be difficult if you don’t have a local bank account. We're trying to find more information on this and will update when we do.