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While we mostly travel together these days, Kieren and I have both experienced Bali as solo travellers and would put it among the top destinations in the world for anyone travelling alone.
The locals are welcoming and the island’s popularity with all types of solo travellers makes it easy to find like-minded adventurers to share your journey with.
In this article, we have lots of practical tips based on our experiences, including the best areas to stay by yourself, our favourite accommodation for solo travellers, communities and events for socialising, and advice to keep safe while travelling alone in Bali.
Want a ready-made group to travel with? Consider joining a small-group trip such as this "Classic Bali" in 8 days or this 9-day "Wellness Bali" trip.
Is Bali Good for Solo Travellers?
Yes, Bali is one of the best destinations in the world for solo travellers, in our experience at least. Not only is it one of the places we feel safest while travelling, but the excellent tourist infrastructure and low language barrier make it incredibly easy to navigate by yourself.
Add to this its affordability and many ways to connect with locals and other travellers, and Bali becomes the perfect destination, whether you're embarking on your first solo trip or your hundredth.
Bali appeals to a wide range of solo travellers, including:
- Backpackers – Bali’s affordability and great hostel scene have earned it a rightful place on the classic Southeast Asia backpacker itinerary. If you’re not comfortable going completely alone, there are plenty of group trips you can join too (some shared below).
- Digital Nomads – With an excellent range of coworking spaces, laptop-friendly cafes, and some amazing nomad communities, Bali (particularly Canggu) has become one of the best-known nomad destinations.
- Solo Vacationers – Whether you’re 25 or 75, Bali is a fantastic escape for some solo R&R. Treat yourself to a luxury accommodation and spend a week or two exploring Bali’s natural beauty, enjoying leisurely beach days, or indulging in affordable spa treatments.
- Wellness Seekers – If you’re using your alone time to go on a journey of self-improvement, Bali has an excellent selection of yoga retreats, meditation workshops, detox programs, surf camps, diver training programs, and other transformational experiences. Plus each experience comes with a built-in group of like-minded travellers.
Is Bali Safe For Solo Female Travellers?
Bali is a very safe destination for solo female travellers. The island has a low crime rate, the locals are lovely, and it’s super easy to meet other solo travellers.
I’ve spent time in Bali as a solo female traveller and never felt unsafe. I quickly connected with an amazing group of friends through hostels/meetups and always had other people to hang out with. I was regularly wandering around and taking bike taxis at night, and I never once had an issue.
As with anywhere you travel to as a solo female, stay aware of your surroundings, trust your gut, and keep your friends and family back home aware of your location and plans. Find more safety tips at the end of this article.
Is Bali Safe?
Read Now →Our Go-To Bali Insurance
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Accommodation Options
- Hostels – Dorm rooms are one the most affordable options for solo travellers. Many hostels in Bali offer a social atmosphere, group activities, and communal dining so you can easily get to know the other guests. Most of the best hostels tend to be in the south of the island (Canggu and Seminyak) or on the Gili Islands. Find hostels in Bali here.
- Homestays – Homestays are local family-run guesthouses that offer simple, comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and often shared amenities such as a pool or kitchen. A room in a homestay is often cheaper than a private room in a hostel, making it an affordable option if you value your own space. Find homestays in Bali here.
- Co-livings – One of the newer accommodation options, co-livings offers you the privacy of your own room, but with a built-in community and connected coworking space.
- In our experience, co-livings in Bali can be rather expensive and, in our opinion, not always worth the money. We think you’re better off getting private accommodation and signing up for a coworking space and events instead.
- Dive Resorts – If you’re a keen diver, consider staying in a dedicated dive centre or resort where you can connect with fellow divers. Many dive resorts offer a social experience with the option of private or dorm rooms. Amed and the Gili Islands are the best for this.
- Hotels – There are plenty of hotels and resorts across Bali at all budget levels, meaning you can still find a great deal even without someone to share the cost with. Find hotels in Bali here.
- Retreats – If you’re using your solo trip to Bali as an opportunity to try something new or indulge in a hobby, a retreat offers a great way to immerse yourself and meet like-minded people on a similar journey. Bali is one of the top global spots for retreats, particularly in yoga, wellness, and surfing. Find upcoming retreats here.
Best Destinations For Solo Travellers
1. Canggu
Good for: Backpackers, Digital Nomads
Our favourite spot for solo travellers is Canggu. We’ve both made lifelong friends here as solo travellers and later as a couple. Most travellers here tend to be backpackers or digital nomads, so everyone is open to making new friends.
Canggu has more hostels than anywhere else on the island. But even if you're staying in private accommodation, it's easy to be social thanks to the many great communities and events.
Daily events in Canggu range from wholesome community dinners and board game evenings to boozy Friday night drinks. The incredible community here is one of the reasons Canggu has become Bali’s best spot for digital nomads.
If you’re into fitness, Canggu also has a great selection of modern Western-style gyms and fitness classes that often have social elements. You can join padel tournaments at Bali Social Club, play volleyball on Batu Belong Beach, or go to daily spin classes at Zin.
The downside to Canggu is that it’s not a particularly cultural part of the island. But once you’ve made some new friends, there are plenty of opportunities to take day trips to other areas.
Where To Stay:
The Farm - The Farm is an aesthetic hostel with a lively vibe in central Canggu. I stayed here early in my Bali journey and found it great for socialising, with regular group dinners and fun drinking games, but without being too over the top - it's easy enough to have a quiet night in if you prefer. The free breakfast pancakes were also the perfect start to each day.
Castaway Hostel - This is Kieren's favourite hostel in Canggu with a chilled but social vibe that makes it easy to make new friendships. The hostel owner was lovely and would hang out with guests in the evenings, even going on nights out occasionally. It's on a quieter street away from the hustle and bustle, but you can walk to the beach or main nightlife area in around 20 minutes.
2. Ubud
Good For: All Solo Travellers (especially Wellness Seekers)
Ubud is one of Bali’s biggest and most popular tourist towns, sitting right at the heart of the island. If it's your first time in Bali or you're looking for one place to use as a base, Ubud is definitely worth considering.
The busy town centre is packed with cafes, restaurants, shops, craft markets, and iconic tourist attractions like Ubud Palace and the Monkey Forest.
But just a short drive out of town and you’ll find yourself among beautiful jungle landscapes and lush rice paddies. Ubud's central location in Bali makes it perfect for taking day trips to other parts of the island.
Known as Bali’s spiritual and wellness hub, Ubud has a great selection of wholesome activities for solo travellers, from its countless beautiful yoga studios to meditation, sound healing, ecstatic dance, women's circles, and loads more.
The town also has a strong community of local craftspeople, many of which offer classes and workshops which are great for learning new skills while making new connections.
However, if it's big late-night parties and lively beach clubs you're after, Ubud may not be for you. The town doesn't have a particularly active nightlife scene, with only a few low-key bars for live music and casual drinks.
Where To Stay:
Puri Garden Hostel - Ubud's most social hostel with trivia nights, communal dinners, yoga classes, and lots of organised day trips. It's not the cheapest place to stay (a dorm bed is a similar price to many guesthouses), but it's definitely the best. Puri Garden Hostel often sells out, so book asap to avoid disappointment.
Arya Wellness – This is a female-only hostel in Ubud with cute bohemian-style decor. It's very sociable with activities including movie nights, massages, yoga, and cooking classes.
Where To Stay in Ubud
Read Now →3. The Nusa Islands
Good For: Backpackers, Solo Vacationers
The Nusa Islands are a set of three islands just off the coast of Bali. The larger of the three, Nusa Penida, is also the most famous, with iconic landmarks such as Kelingking beach (shaped like a T-Rex) and Angel's Billabong.
Nusa Penida has the better social scene for solo travellers, with more than 20 hostels across the island and the opportunity to join small-group day tours for snorkelling or island exploration (check this one).
Its neighbour, Nusa Lembongan, is quite the opposite. The island has a peaceful, chilled-out vibe that’s best for getting some downtime and relaxing by the beach. However, a few hostels have started opening on the island, including a brand new Mad Monkey.
While many people visit the Nusa Islands on a day trip, we recommend sticking around for a few days. With 3 days on the Nusa Islands, choose one island as a base and take day trips. With 4 days or more, consider splitting your stay between Penida and Lembongan.
The boats from Bali to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan leave regularly from Sanur between 7am-5pm. The journey itself is around 30 minutes, but we always allow a full hour with check-in, embarking, disembarking, etc. You can check ferry times and book tickets here.
Where To Stay:
Nusa Penida Hostel - Kieren stayed here when solo travelling Nusa Penida. Although they didn't host social events, the common areas made it easy to make friends for island exploration or heading out for dinner and drinks. They helped organise day trips and would group you with other hostel guests to make it cheaper.
Mambo Beach Resort - This cute resort has spacious beach-hut-style villas, complete with balconies overlooking a shared pool. It's in an excellent part of the island with lots of great bars and restaurants nearby. Not much of a social scene at the resort, but a good location for enjoying the island.
Where To Stay on Nusa Penida
Read Now →4. Amed
Good For: Diving, Snorkelling, Quieter Area
If you’re looking to experience a quieter side of Bali, the small village of Amed on the northeast coast is a great choice.
It’s best known for diving and snorkelling, with most of mainland Bali’s top dive centres and resorts. You can enjoy rich marine life and spot two shipwrecks from the shore without needing to get on a boat.
You won’t find many modern international restaurants or lively clubs in Amed. But there are plenty of great local spots to enjoy Balinese cuisine and a couple of beers by the beach.
Although Amed only has two backpacker hostels, it does have several dive resorts that offer dorm beds and a social atmosphere. Affordable guesthouses are also easy to come across in Northern Bali.
Where To Stay:
Black Sands Hostel - A friendly hostel in a good central location just a short walk from the beach. The dorm rooms are affordable and come with free breakfast and a free shuttle to nearby attractions (or you can hire a scooter from them).
Puri Wirata Dive Resort and Spa - If you're learning to dive, this beachfront resort has its own PADI-certified dive centre with multi-lingual dive instructors. The accommodation offers cosy traditional rooms, a large restaurant, and two lovely swimming pools.
Where To Stay in Amed
Read Now →5. Gili Trawangan
Good For: Backpackers, Partying
Off the northeast coast of Bali, you’ll find a small collection of islands known as the Gilis, famous for their laid-back hippy vibe and vehicle-free roads.
Gili T, the larger of the three, is well-established on the backpacker trail and known for its lively nightlife scene, making it perfect for young solo travellers. Gili Air has a more laid-back vibe that may appeal to mature travellers.
The Gili Islands are another of the best places in the region for snorkelling and diving. We’ve swum alongside turtles, been swarmed by colourful fish, and snapped photos at the famous underwater statues (see above). As a solo traveller, it’s easy to join a group snorkelling trip around the islands.
Gili T has earned a reputation as the archipelago’s nightlife capital. Countless bars can be found around the island, from chilled sunset bars on the west coast to livelier late-night clubs near the harbour.
Each night, partygoers from across the island descend on a designated bar that stays open until the early hours. If going out on your own sounds daunting, there’s an organised pub crawl three times per week which is a great opportunity to mingle with others.
For a small island, having almost 20 hostels and dive resorts with dorm rooms is a big deal. Almost all of these are located in Trawangan Village near the harbour (except the infamous Mad Monkey).
Where To Stay:
Mad Monkey - Located on the opposite side of the island to the harbour, Mad Monkey Gili T lives up to its reputation as the ultimate hostel for party-loving backpackers. The crowd here tends to be much younger than elsewhere on the island, and much boozier with nightly bar crawls and regular beer pong.
Jati Village – A chilled-out sociable “eco-village” with rustic private bungalows and affordable shared dorm rooms. Although Jati Village brands itself as a “party hostel,” I found that it had a slightly more chilled-out and mature vibe than your classic backpacker hostels. We had delicious communal dinners and fun daily activities.
Where To Stay in the Gili Islands
Read Now →6. Uluwatu
Good For: Surfing, Beaches
If you’re dreaming of spending your days in Bali lounging on beautiful white sand beaches, we’d suggest venturing down to Uluwatu on the Bukit Peninsula. This is where you’ll find mainland Bali's most stunning sandy beaches and best beach clubs.
Uluwatu is also one of the island’s top surf spots, especially if you have some experience under your belt. The Indian Ocean provides consistent and powerful swells here almost every day of the year, perfect for advanced surfers.
Unfortunately, the region doesn't have a great selection of social hostels, but it does offer plenty of surf camps and affordable guest houses for a more laid-back stay.
Another downside is that Uluwatu sits at the very southern tip of Bali, far from the many attractions in the center and north of the island. It’s not an ideal place to base yourself if you want to explore and take lots of day trips. We recommend combining Uluwatu with a few other destinations to make a full trip.
Where To Stay:
Karma Backpacker - Located on the northern edge of the Bukit Peninsula, Karma Backpacker is a lively hostel that makes it easy to socialise and find new travel buddies. While not the cheapest hostel in Uluwatu, the free communal dinners and free shuttles to local beaches and the Kecak show make it good value for money overall.
Surfers House Green Bowl - If you're looking for a more chilled vibe, this hostel in central Bukit might be a better option. Although anyone can stay here, it's well suited to surfers with board rental and a 5 minute driver to the famous surf spot at Green Bowl Beach.
Where To Stay in Uluwatu
Read Now →Is Kuta Good For Solo Travellers?
Other Bali solo travel guides mention Kuta as a good spot for solo travellers. While everyone has their own opinion, we tend to dislike it. Yes, it has some great hostels, but the area itself is run-down, trashy, and one of the places in Bali I've felt the most unsafe. You’re better off heading up to Canggu or Seminyak instead!
Getting Around Bali By Yourself
The three main ways to get around in Bali are private drivers, renting a scooter, or using taxis:
Private Drivers
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. Book online using this driver booking form.
Although local drivers are very affordable, the price is typically per vehicle rather than per person which can work out expensive on your own.
One option is to find some fellow solo travellers to fill a car together (tips for meeting other travellers below). Alternatively, you could opt for a private scooter driver and ride on the back. This is half the cost of a private car driver and you can avoid traffic jams by weaving between vehicles. Although, it might not be the best idea during the wet season.
Tips For Hiring a Private Driver in Bali
Read Now →Renting a Scooter
Renting a scooter is the cheapest option for travelling around in Bali and it gives you the freedom to explore the island by yourself. It’s our preferred way of getting around.
But you should only choose this option if you’re an experienced driver (the roads can be chaotic) and have an International Drivers Permit. We explain how to get one here.
We recommend hiring your scooter from Bikago, a reputable rental agency with branches across Bali. Although a little pricier than street-side rental companies, the scooters are in great shape and come with both insurance and breakdown coverage, no matter where you are on the island.
You can pick up from one of their branches or they can drop-off at the airport or your hotel.
Hiring a Scooter in Bali
Read Now →Online Taxis
For simple A-to-B journeys, such as moving accommodation or travelling to one specific attraction, we prefer taking an online taxi such as Grab or Gojek.
Once you've set up the app, you can order a car taxi or a scooter taxi from almost anywhere on the island (aside from a few no-ojek zones). Online taxis are the safest option for solo travellers as the drivers are vetted and your entire journey is tracked. Try to avoid ordering an unlicenced taxi from the roadside as you will probably get ripped off.
If you’ll be relying on online taxis, make sure you have a SIM card for mobile internet access (find out how to get one here).
How To Get Around in Bali
Read Now →How Much To Budget For a Solo Trip To Bali?
We typically recommend anywhere between 500,000 – 1,500,000 IDR ⓘ per day for spending money. This is a broad range as it will vary depending on how you get around, what activities you do, and whether you eat in local spots or Western-style restaurants.
On top of this, you’ll need to budget for accommodation. Here are some typical costs (per night):
- Hostels - 150,000 – 200,000 IDR ⓘ for a bed in a dorm room
- Homestays (local guesthouses) - 400,000 – 800,000 IDR ⓘ per room.
- Mid-range hotels - From 1mil IDR ⓘ per room.
How Much Does a Trip To Bali Cost
Read Now →Ways To Connect With Other Solo Travellers in Bali
1. Go to an Organised Meetup
Here are a few ways you can find out about upcoming in-person events:
- Meetup – A platform to find events and activities run by locals or expats anywhere in the world. There’s a huge variety of events in Bali, including local and foreigner games nights, philosophy meetups, group hikes, or motorbike trips around the island.
- Nomeo – Nomeo is an online community that plans events across Bali (and a handful of other destinations). Typically, the events are targeted at digital nomads, but anyone can join - we've met all sorts of people here. Accessing the community is free, although some events have a fee to join.
- Bali Bar Crawl – If you’re more of an evening drinks type of person, joining an organised bar crawl is a fun and safe way to go on a night out in Bali. Bali Bar Crawl run events in Seminyak, Canggu, and Ubud (we haven't tried this company ourselves yet), while Gili T Bar Crawl run them on the Gilis.
2. Shared Dining at Sa’Mesa
Sa’Mesa is an Italian dinner club with locations in both Seminyak and Canggu. It’s a must-do if you love tasty Italian food and social family-style dinners.
The food at Sa’Mesa is a spectacle in its own right, with 18 delicious dishes split over four courses. The menu changes regularly, but you can expect the likes of focaccia, grilled veggies, pasta, risotto, seafood, and plenty more.
However, it’s the fun and lively communal atmosphere that makes Sa’Mesa a great experience for solo travellers. Most people come solo or with a couple of people, with only the occasional larger group.
Everyone dines communally around two large tables while free-flow limoncello ensures plenty of new friendships are made. It’s not uncommon to end the night dancing on the table to cheesy hits. Our entire group even went out partying together after dinner and many stayed in touch beyond this too.
3. Stay in a Hostel
With hundreds of hostels across Bali and the Gili Islands, there's plenty of variety in terms of location, comfort level, and overall vibe. Many hostels are party-oriented, with plenty of drinking and wild nights out, while others have a more laidback vibe with family dinners and more wholesome group activities. Read the reviews and choose one that suits you the best.
We recommend booking through HostelWorld as they have a cool feature that will add you to a hostel chat up to 14 days before you arrive. This will give you a feel for what’s going on and an opportunity to make a few friends before you even arrive.
4. Join a Group Trip
What could be easier than having your trip pre-planned and a ready-made group of friends? If you’re new to solo travel, joining a multi-day group trip is one of the best ways to ease yourself into the solo traveller life.
We recommend G-Adventures as they don’t have a single supplement meaning that solo travellers pay the same price as everyone else. Here are their two main Bali trips:
- Classic Bali – This 8-day trip covers all the highlights of mainland Bali including rice fields, famous temples, and some delicious local food.
- Wellness Bali – This 9-day trip takes a much slower pace with fewer stops and a focus on health, wellness, and the spiritual side of Bali. Expect yoga, healing sessions, organic cooking classes, and temple trips.
5. Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to make new friends while giving something back to the island. It’s best to volunteer directly with local organisations when you arrive, rather than using a voluntourism company that might be profiting from it. Here are a couple of suggestions:
- Take part in a beach clean up – Regular beach cleans happen across the island each week. Some that we’ve joined have even had a social dinner afterward (although not all do this). Trash Hero is one of the leading organisations running them - see this map for the different locations.
- Join a reef restoration project – If you’re a keen diver, you can join Biorock in north Bali to help plant and care for corals at their project in Pemuteran. There is a small fee to join which covers the cost of the rental equipment (but still less than what you’d pay for a commercial dive).
Responsible Tourism in Bali
Read Now →6. Join an online community
There are plenty of online communities where you can post a message and find other solo travellers who are in Bali at the same time. Here are some we recommend:
Nomeo WhatsApp Groups - Lots of groups for all interests, including one specifically for solo travellers.
Bumble For Friends (BFF) – A version of the popular dating app specifically for making new friends.
We have either used these communities ourselves or know people who have. But always use your best judgement and take sensible precautions when planning to meet people from the internet.
7. Take a class or workshop
Joining a class or workshop is often a great way to meet other people. While there’s no guarantee that other solo travellers will be in the class, you’ll almost always make a few friends along the way. Here are some suggestions:
- Cooking classes – Some of our favourite group cooking classes were Gili Cooking Class and Bali Farm Cooking School.
- Language classes – Pick up some Bahasa (Indonesian) while making some new friends. Bahasa Bule is a popular company with private classes, group classes, crash courses, and one-off events in Canggu/Ubud.
- Craft workshops - Bali has a long history of craftsmanship, especially in and around Ubud. Local artisans share their skills through jewellery-making workshops, wood-carving classes, and Batik painting.
- Fitness classes – From CrossFit to yoga, Bali has more than its fair share of fitness classes. Booking individual classes can be expensive, so we recommend committing to a multi-class package or using Class Pass which gives you access to a huge selection of gyms and studios for a monthly fee.
- Dance classes – If you're into Latin dance, social salsa and bachata dance classes are held across the island most weeks. Check out the latest schedule on Salsa in Bali.
Best Things To Do in Bali
Read Now →8. Join a co-working space
For expats or digital nomads travelling solo, many co-working spaces in Bali go beyond just providing a shared office space. Many also provide a community,m with many professional and social networking events on a regular basis.
Some co-working spaces that we recommend include B-work (Canggu), Monday (Uluwatu), and Beluna (Ubud – great for creatives).
Safety Tips For Solo Travellers
Familiarise yourself with common scams and tourist traps
In general, the Balinese are some of the friendliest and kindest people we’ve met in our travels. However, as with any popular travel destination, a few individuals like to take advantage of naïve tourists. These scams can happen anywhere in the world so it’s best to be aware of them before you travel.
Scams To Avoid in Bali
Read Now →Get a SIM card with good connectivity
If you’re going to be out and about by yourself, it’s a good idea to have internet access on your phone rather than relying on Wi-Fi. If you get lost or something happens, at least you’ll be able to get help.
Our guide to getting a SIM card in Bali explains all the different options. We tend to opt for an e-SIM which is the most convenient.
Even if you get a data-only e-SIM, you’ll still be able to call the emergency services in Bali. Their number is 112.
Take precautions on a night out
Bali is a very safe place to visit as a solo traveller, especially during the day. But like all destinations, it’s best to take some basic precautions when experiencing the local nightlife by yourself:
Be careful of any valuables you have on you
Don’t leave your drink unattended
Be careful drinking locally made “arak” – it’s lethally strong
Don’t drink and drive – order a Grab or Gojek to get home instead
Be aware of other drunk tourists driving dangerously on the roads
Avoid driving on isolated roads at night by yourself
By the way, evening activities don’t have to involve going out to bars and clubs. There are plenty of other great options, from shows and dance performances to evening spas and open-air cinemas. Learn more in our guide to things to do in Bali at night.
Attractions To Avoid in Bali
Read Now →
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