Travelling in Bali can be a lot of fun, especially once you get away from the main tourist areas.
But it can be busy too – traffic gets heavy around Denpasar and the Kuta-Canggu beach strip, as well as on the narrow country roads to Ubud. And while Bali looks small on a map, you will still need to know how to get around. Here’s how.
Apps for the road
Smartphone apps like Google Maps work fine in Bali if you have data or Wi-Fi on your phone. A good traffic-based free app is Waze, which provides updates on traffic conditions and optimal routes. Grab and Gojek are the two most popular rideshare apps in Bali – the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber.
1
Buses and bemos
LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
In Bali, you won’t see too many large comfy buses like in Australia. Instead, you’ll find local minibuses or pickups. They’re called bemos and operate on set routes around towns and tourist areas.
But they’re becoming harder to find in the south as traffic gets more congested – most locals and tourists choose to ride motorbikes or scooters. If you know where it’s going (ask a local), you can flag down a bemo anywhere along its route for around 5000Rp (50 cents) a ride.
There are some that operate on longer cross-island routes like Denpasar to Gilimaunk in the far west, and these tend to be larger and more comfortable, and are known as the tourist shuttle buses– they’re a popular way to get from town to town. And they’re reliable, reasonably cheap and can be booked in advance. Travel agents around Bali’s tourist area can hook you up with a bus service, including chartering the whole bus.
2
Taxis
SIMPLE, EASY & (USUALLY) CHEAP
Jump in a taxi for the easiest option for short trips on the island. You’ll find taxis everywhere in tourist areas and Denpasar.
Bluebird is highly regarded as the best metered taxi service is South Bali. You can hail them from the street and drivers should use the meter (if not, remind them before setting off). Fares are reasonable too.
If you get in a non-metered taxi, you’ll need to confirm your destination and agree on a fare before you set off. Calling a cab from your hotel or restaurant is usually a safe bet as they should use a trusted driver and give you a rough fare.
3
Hop on the back of an ojek
For solo travellers, ojek is the Indonesian motorcycle taxi. You can hail one on the street or use the Gojek app.
Jump on the back to cover short distances without getting stuck in too much traffic. They’re cheap but – fair warning – they’re uncomfortable for trips of more than 30 minutes or so. You can’t carry much luggage either.
4
Car rental
FLEXIBLE WITH OR WITHOUT A DRIVER
Renting a car in Bali can be the most flexible way of getting around. Do it either self-drive or with a driver.
Driving a car around the busy areas of south Bali is no fun though, and hiring a local driver usually costs only a little more, so it’s worth it for day trips. If you’re hiring for a trip of several days to explore further into Bali, a driver might not work. You’ll need to factor in accommodation and meals for them too.
A small self-drive vehicle costs around 200,000Rp a day (check insurance and excess on the vehicle). A car with a driver should be around 600,000Rp (you don’t need to worry about insurance).
5
Motorbikes and scooters
TOP TOURIST EXPERIENCE
Hiring a motorbike or scooter is super popular in Bali. Even among tourists who have never rented one before.
Just remember, Kuta is not the place to learn to ride. Many tourists have ended up in hospital or worse. But if you’re confident and have a bit of experience with Balinese riding conditions, it can be an enjoyable way of getting around.
The pros
- A gearless scooter is cheap and easy to rent (from $5 a day).
- You have ultimate flexibility to get around.
- You can cut through the traffic jams in busy areas easily on two wheels. Ideal for the Kuta-Seminyak beach strip, Denpasar or Ubud region.
- Parking is easy.
- It’s fun leaving the tourist areas behind and riding through backroads, rice fields and villages .
The cons
- It can be risky negotiating traffic, if you don’t know what you’re doing.
- Your insurance may not cover you in an accident, especially if you are not properly licensed.
- Scooters do get stolen so make sure it’s locked up (even with a wheel lock) and remember where you parked it.
Top tips:
Ride on the left and give way to any larger oncoming vehicles.
Get an International Driving Permit from your home motoring organisation (for example NRMA, RACV) to avoid extra fines from police.
Always wear a helmet.
Use your horn (make sure it works) not in anger but to let other vehicles know you’re there.
Park safely overnight, in or near your accommodation.
Make sure your travel insurance covers riding a motorcycle.
6
Rideshare apps
ALTERNATIVES TO UBER
Use ridesharing (or ride-hailing) apps Grab and Gojek in Bali as an alternative to Uber. You’ll find they’re cheap and easy to use (most of the time). But they’re not so popular with regular taxi drivers. Tensions have eased slightly now with certain restrictions on where they can be used.
Gojek was the original app in Indonesia and was designed for motorbike or scooter rides (ojek is the Indonesian term for motorcycle taxi). Grab was more for cars, but these days both apps offer both.
If you’re ordering a Grab or Gojek from a hotel, restaurant, or other landmark it should be easy for your driver to find you. But if you’re ordering from a busy street full of ojeks and taxis it can be more difficult, especially if the driver speaks limited English.
It’s worth a go though. The apps are free.
Here’s how:
- Download the app(s) from Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Register your phone number (preferably a local number from an Indonesian SIM).
- Register your credit card so trip amounts can be deducted.
- Order a car or motorbike taxi to your location and hope the driver finds you! (Tip: don’t move around)
- You don’t have to deal with cash or haggle with the driver. Whatever the fare is when you book your trip, is what’s deducted from your credit card. No fiddling about with cash.
Now you know how to get about, discover the best of Bali. We’re looking at where to stay, where to surf and the best outdoor adventure trips.
Thinking of travelling to Bali? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals for your next trip.
