How To Get To Bali

Planning a trip to Bali? Great decision! But now comes the important part - figuring out how to get there. We've travelled to Bali countless times over the past few years so we can explain how to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.

In this guide, we’ll give you a quick overview of the flight times, prices, and tips for getting a good deal. We'll also share some stopover schemes we’ve used ourselves that can help break up longer journeys.

Getting To Bali by Plane

Bali only has one airport - I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) which is located just outside Denpasar, the island’s capital city.

It's easier than ever to arrange flights yourself and avoid costly travel agent fees. We always use Skyscanner to find and book our flights to Bali. It lists most major airlines and routes with useful filters to find your perfect flight.

It's a myth that there are better days to book flights as the prices fluctuate with demand. But here are some other tips for getting the best flight deals on Skyscanner:

• Choose 'Flexible dates' to see the cheapest days to fly each month.

• Instead of choosing a specific departure airport, input your country to consider alternative flight routes. You can also select 'Add nearby airports' for a similar feature.

• If your flight is still over 6 months away, set up price alerts for notifications of fare changes.

Once you arrive in Bali, most popular tourist destinations are within an hour's drive of the airport, but some quieter areas are further. Our arrivals guide has tips on how to get from the airport to your accommodation.

Flying From the UK and Europe

There are no direct flights to Bali from the UK and Europe. Most routes have connections in Turkey, the Middle East, or China.

Flying From North America

Again, there are no direct flights to Bali from Canada or the United States. You’ll usually need to connect in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Manilla (Philippines). The shortest (and cheapest) flight routes are from the west coast.

Flying From Australia

There are daily direct flights to Bali from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. You can also fly direct from Cairns but not daily.

Flying From New Zealand

There are limited direct flights between Auckland and Bali, although more affordable flights tend to go via Eastern Australia.

Long Flight? Try a Stopover Scheme

A stopover scheme is a great way to break up longer journeys while allowing you to get out and explore a new city. Some even come with a free hotel room.

Here are a few airports offering stopover schemes enroute to Bali:

Istanbul

One of the most common connections when flying from Europe to Bali. Book direct with Turkish Airlines and select ‘Stopover in Istanbul’ to enjoy a free stay in the city at one of their 4* or 5* partner hotels. Find out more here.

Dubai

If you’re flying with Emirates via Dubai and have a connection longer than 10 hours, you can join the Dubai Connect scheme which provides a complimentary hotel and allows you to see some of the city. Find out more here.

Abu Dhabi

When flying with Etihad via Abu Dhabi, you can join their stopover scheme and enjoy up to 4 nights in Abu Dhabi. If you stay for 2 nights or less, a complimentary 4* hotel is included too. We’ve tried this one for ourselves and found 2 nights to be a perfect amount of time to enjoy the city. Find out more here.

Singapore

Singapore’s Changi Airport is our favourite transit airport. The incredible Jewel Mall next door has the famous rain vortex, plus more than enough activities to keep you busy all day.

For layovers between 5hr30 to 24 hours, you can take a free 3-hour city tour (regardless of which airline you use). To see more of Singapore, include a stopover using Singapore Airlines’ Holiday Before the Holiday scheme, although the hotel isn’t complimentary like the previous options.

When Is The Best Time To Fly?

The best time to visit Bali for the weather is during the dry season which is typically May to October.

However, July and August tend to be very busy and more expensive due to the school summer holidays in Europe and North America. So our favourite months to visit for a balance between weather and crowds are May, June, September, and October.

But Bali is a year-round destination so it’s never a “bad” time to visit. You can usually get great deals on flights and hotels during the low season which is November to April (excluding Christmas and New Year which is very busy).

Tips for Flying To Bali

1. Have proof of onward travel

If booking a one-way ticket, be sure to have proof of onward travel. It’s a legal requirement when entering the country.

A few airlines have asked us to show this before boarding. If you don’t know when you want to leave, don’t use an onward ticket service that can raise eyebrows (and isn’t always legit).

2. Get mobile data BEFORE you go

The Wi-Fi at Bali airport is notorious for not working. If you need immediate access to mobile data for booking transport or contacting friends/family, it’s a good idea to get an e-SIM and activate it before you take off.

Here are the two we recommend from our own experience:

• Maya Mobile - Cheapest option and uses the Telkomsel network which has the best coverage in Bali. They have highly customisable packages where you can choose the length and data allowance. Auto-recharge ensures you won't get caught short of data - check prices here.
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• Airalo - The most popular e-SIM provider which uses the Indotel network in Bali. They have an excellent app that makes it easy to monitor your data usage and top up your e-SIM. You get credits with every purchase which makes it a good choice for long-term travellers like us - check prices here.

If your phone doesn't accept e-SIMs, you can also order a regular SIM card for collection at the airport.

3. Skip the line by getting an e-VOA

Although you can get a visa-on-arrival (VOA) at the airport, during busy periods there can be a long wait of 30 minutes to 2 hours at the VOA counter.

We recommend getting an electronic visa-on-arrival which you can complete before you go and skip straight to the e-gates.

It’s also a good idea to complete all your other documents before you travel to save time at the airport. Find out about the e-VOA process and other documents you need to enter Bali here.

4. Leaving Bali late? Get a day pass

If your flight home is late in the evening, you can get a day pass for Holiday Inn Baruna, located near the airport.

This is perfect if you’re staying in a villa and need to check out in the morning. Take your luggage to Holiday Inn and they’ll store it while you use their facilities for the day.

The pass gives you access to their spa, swimming pool, and kids club, plus a transfer to the airport when it’s time to leave.