Christmas in Bali: Shopping, Dinners & Events (2025)

When most people picture Christmas, they imagine snowy streets, warm fireplaces, and winter comforts, not relaxing on tropical beaches and sipping cocktails under palm trees. But Christmas in Bali is a magical time in its own right.

We've spent the last few Christmases in Bali, and we've grown to love its unique brand of holiday cheer. With its big expat population, decorations go up across the island, restaurants put on special holiday menus, and the atmosphere is relaxed but still fun and festive.

If you're thinking about spending Christmas in Bali this year, here is everything you need to know based on our own experience, including the best Christmas dinners and events for 2025.

Do They Celebrate Christmas in Bali?

Being a predominantly Hindu island within a Muslim country, Balinese people generally do not celebrate Christmas.

However, given the number of Western expats and tourists on the island, you will find lots of Christmas decorations and festive events during December, especially in the major tourist areas of the south like Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, and Canggu.

As Christmas is not a public holiday in Bali, the majority of shops, restaurants, and bars stay open over the entire Christmas period, including Christmas Day itself.

What's it Like Spending Christmas in Bali?

We’ve celebrated Christmas in Bali for the last few years and love spending it here. We've managed to find delicious roast dinners, mulled wine, Christmas shops, and even festive markets, so we never fail to get into the holiday mood.

Over Christmas Day, we usually rent a villa with friends, get a caterer to cook us a huge feast (last year we had a catered BBQ), play some festive games, and watch Christmas movies together.

However, there are a couple of important things to know about visiting Bali at Christmas...

Firstly, Christmas falls right in the middle of wet season in Bali, so rain and storms are likely. We had one Christmas where there were huge thunderstorms all day, and another where it was so sunny we spent the day at the waterpark. It's best to be prepared for either situation.

Secondly, the Christmas and New Year period is one of the busiest times to visit Bali. It's summer holidays in Australia, so it's a popular vacation time. There are also some incredible New Year's Eve parties in Bali, with top international DJs, drawing in even more people.

When visiting Bali over Christmas and NYE, it's important to book your flights and hotels well in advance, and expect bigger crowds and heavier traffic than usual.

Where to Go Christmas Shopping in Bali

There are loads of great places to go Christmas shopping in Bali, where you can get everything from festive decorations to affordable gifts.

Most of the island's malls go all out over the Christmas period, with elaborate decorations and family-friendly events. The Icon in Sanur, Beachwalk in Kuta, and Living World Denpasar have the biggest festive celebrations. Plus, there are plenty of shops to pick up gifts and goodies.

You can also find dedicated Christmas shops popping up across South Bali over December, selling artificial trees, decorations, cards, crackers, wrapping paper, and more. Here's where to find them for Christmas 2025 (incl. map links):

• Bali Christmas Shop Canggu Shortcut

• The Christmas Shop Berawa

• Xmas Shop Ubud

Or for somewhere more affordable, many of Bali's supermarkets, department stores, and homeware stores also now stock basic Christmas decorations, including Mr DIY (our fave!), Azko, Pepitos, and Transmart. The selection isn't as good, but they're a fraction of the price.

Christmas Dinners & Events in Bali (2025)

December in Bali is packed with fun festive events, with many restaurants and hotels across the island hosting Christmas brunches and dinners.

Note: While many of the big festive events in Bali are held at hotels and resorts, most are also open to outside guests. Just make sure to book in advance, as the best ones fill up quickly.

Christmas events in Kuta:

Christmas events in Seminyak:

Christmas events in Canggu:

Christmas events in Sanur:

Christmas events in Uluwatu:

Christmas events in Ubud:

Christmas Parties in Bali (2025)

For a less traditional Christmas experience, many of Bali's best beach clubs and bars also host big Christmas parties, both on Christmas Day and in the lead up to the holidays.

Christmas in Bali: FAQS

Are shops and restaurants open in Bali over Christmas?

Yes, the majority of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars stay open in Bali over the entire Christmas period, including Christmas Day.

Are there any Christmas church services in Bali?

For a more traditional Christmas experience, several churches in Bali have Christmas masses. These are often held in both Bahasa Indonesia and English language, but you'd need to do some deeper research to find out more.

Bali Chruches with Christmas Masses in 2025:

• New Tribe Bali, Kuta & Canggu

• Hillsong, Kuta & Sanur

• GMS Denpasar

• Bali Protestant Church, Denpasar

• St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Kuta

Can you buy the ingredients for a Christmas dinner in Bali?

While a little challenging, it's not impossible to find the ingredients to make your own Christmas dinner in Bali.

Several big supermarket chains in South Bali now sell turkeys over the holiday period, including Pepito and Bintang. In previous years, The Meat Emporium in Umalas has also had imported turkeys and traditional Christmas hams. Just make sure to pre-order far in advance, as they often sell out early.

What's the weather like in Bali at Christmas?

Christmas in Bali falls during the wet season, so there is a higher chance of rain. However, even during the wet season, days are mostly hot and sunny. Heavy rainstorms usually only last a few hours. So you can definitely still enjoy a trip to Bali over this period.