Best Time to Visit Bali

Bali is not a quiet island anymore. In 2024, Bali welcomed around 6.33 million foreign visitors and 10.12 million domestic travelers, so roughly 16.4 million trips in one year, based on data from Bali’s Central Bureau of Statistics. (source)

The curve is still rising. From January to August 2025, the island recorded about 4.66 million international arrivals, which is a little over 12% higher than the same period in 2024, according to official airport and tourism reports. (source) So if it feels like “everyone is in Bali right now”, the numbers say you are right.

Tourism is also the heart of the local economy. Different studies and industry reports estimate that tourism and allied services contribute around 60–70% of Bali’s regional GDP, much higher than the national average for Indonesia. Busy months are good for local jobs, but they also clog the island. Roads slow down, lines grow at famous temples, and sunset spots in Canggu and Uluwatu feel packed shoulder to shoulder.

For you as a traveler, timing makes a big difference. Pick the wrong week and you may spend more time sitting in a taxi than with your feet in the sand. Pick the right month and you get softer weather, better prices, and calmer roads. In this guide on the best time to visit Bali, you will see how weather, crowds, costs, and festival dates fit together, so you can choose travel dates that match your budget and your patience, not just what looks free on the office calendar.

If you like to land with data already on your phone, you can set up your best eSIM for Bali before you fly. And if Bali is your first overseas trip, this simple guide on how to use an eSIM for international travel will help you stay online from the moment you step out of the airport.

Start Here: Quick Answer for Busy Travelers

If you just want a quick answer and not a full weather lesson, here it is in plain words.

• Best overall months: May, June, September, October. Good sun, softer crowds, and nicer prices than July and August.
• Peak holiday months: July, August, and late December. Lovely weather, but flights, hotels, and roads stay crowded.
• Rainy but cheaper months: January, February, March, and November. More showers and some grey days, but better deals and quieter streets.

Bali stays warm all year, but each month and each area feels a bit different. Once you see the basic pattern, it becomes easier to choose clothes, plan your days, and decide your own best time to visit Bali.

• Temperature and humidity: Most days sit around 26°C to 30°C. Humidity is high, often near 80%. You will not need winter clothes, but you will feel the heat and the sweat.
• Two simple seasons: Dry season is roughly April or May to October. The rainy season is from November to March. Dry months mean you plan around the sun. Wet months mean you plan around short showers.
• What dry season feels like: Days are bright, rain is rare, and the air feels a little lighter. It is easier to walk, visit temples, and sit on the beach for long hours. Sea conditions are usually better for snorkelling, diving, and island-hopping.
• What rainy season feels like: Bali does not get storms all day. Most days bring a mix of sun and strong, short bursts of rain, often in the afternoon or evening. Streets can flood for a while after heavy showers, but rice fields, forests, and waterfalls look extra green.
• How weather changes by area: Beach zones like Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, and Sanur stay hot and humid all year. Ubud and the highlands are cooler, often around 20–27°C at night, with more rain. The Bukit peninsula and nearby Nusa islands are drier and sometimes hotter, with harsher sun and less rain even in wet months.
• Unpredictable heavy rain: In recent years, rain patterns have become less stable. Some wet seasons bring very strong storms and local floods, like the extreme rain Bali saw in September 2025. This is rare, but it is a good reason to keep plans flexible in peak rainy weeks.
• Weather and how you stay online: Strong storms can cause short power cuts and weak hotel WiFi in some areas. Many travellers keep a backup like mobile data or a small router. If you are new to this, read how portable WiFi works, then decide if you want to rely on hotel WiFi, buy a travel eSIM, or carry your own device.

Best Time To Visit Bali For Different Types Of Trips

Not everyone goes to Bali for the same reason. A honeymoon couple, a family with small kids, a backpacker, and a laptop worker will all enjoy different months. Use this overview and table to match your trip style with the calendar and pick dates that feel right for you.

Trip type	Best months	Weather & crowd feel	Money & value
Honeymoon & romantic trips	May, Jun, Sep, early Oct	Clear skies, strong sunsets, good sea for Nusa Penida and boat trips.	Shoulder-season offers on nice villas and hotels.
Family trips with kids or elders	Jun, Jul, Aug; also late May, Sep	Low rain, stable days, easy to plan parks and beach time.	Peak prices in school holidays, softer in shoulder.
Budget backpackers & slow solo travel	Feb, Mar, Nov; also late Apr, May, Oct	More clouds and showers, but many dry gaps; shoulder months feel calm and social.	Cheaper hostels and rooms, good long-stay deals.
Workations and digital nomads	May, Jun, Sep, Oct	Warm, mostly dry, fewer storm-related power or WiFi issues than peak wet weeks.	Better long-stay rates outside Jul–Aug.

For many travellers who want a mix of comfort and savings, late April, May, and October often turn out to be the best time to visit Bali, because you get a dry-season feel, fair prices, and enough space in cafés, temples, and hostels to actually enjoy slow conversations.

When To Go For Specific Activities

Bali looks small on the map, but every plan has its own season. Beach days, surf, diving trips, waterfall photos, and yoga weeks do not all peak at the same time. This section helps you match what you want to do with the best time to visit Bali for that activity, so you are not stuck in rain on the one day you booked your dream plan.

Activity	Best months	What it feels like	Extra tips
Beaches, sunsets & island hopping	May to Oct	Clearer skies, warm sea, nicer sand in the evenings, great for sunset drinks.	For longer routes across countries, use these multi-country travel eSIM tips to keep data working.
Surfing in Kuta, Canggu & Uluwatu	May to Sep	More reliable swells on west coast, many schools open, good for lessons.	Try May, Jun, or Sep for good waves with a little more space in the water.
Diving & snorkelling (Nusa Penida, Amed etc.)	Apr to early Nov, best May to Oct	Clearer water, calmer sea, easier planning for dive trips and boat days.	If diving is your main goal, avoid peak wet weeks and keep one backup day for weather changes.
Waterfalls, rice terraces & nature walks	Mar, Apr, early May	Full waterfalls, very green fields, slightly cooler hills around Ubud and Munduk.	Wear proper shoes, carry spray, and keep electronics in a small dry bag on wet days.
Yoga retreats, wellness stays & spa breaks	May, Jun, Sep, Oct; also Mar–Apr	Warm but not extreme, many outdoor classes, cosy tea-and-rain afternoons in Ubud.	If you want silence, avoid big holiday dates and pick shoulder months for quieter retreat spaces.

Best Time By Area: Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu And Beyond

Bali is not one single mood. The same month can feel very different in Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu, or the nearby islands. The coast is hotter, the hills are cooler, and small islands depend a lot on sea conditions. So when you decide the best time to visit Bali, it helps to match your dates with the exact area you want to stay in, not just the island as a whole.

Area / Region	Best dry months (overall comfort)	Green / scenic months	Crowd level & feel
Ubud (hills and rice fields)	Jun to Sep	Mar, Apr, early May	Medium crowds, quieter nights than beach towns.
Canggu & Seminyak (cafés and surf)	May to Oct	Late Mar, Apr, early Nov	Very busy in Jul–Aug, lively most of the year.
Uluwatu & Bukit peninsula (cliffs, waves)	May to Oct	Apr, Sep, Oct	Popular but more spread out, very crowded at sunset spots.
Nusa Penida, Lembongan & Gili Islands	May to Oct (smoothest crossings)	Apr, early May, Oct	Busy in Jul–Aug, easier in shoulder months.

In simple terms, pick hill areas like Ubud if you want cooler air and green views, choose Canggu or Seminyak if you care more about cafés and surf, go to Uluwatu for cliff sunsets, and keep the island trio for a time when the sea is stable. Use the table as a quick filter, then match it with your own budget, crowd comfort, and holiday style.

Festival Calendar And Local Events

Bali does not run only on rain and sunshine. The island also follows its own festival rhythm, which can change how your holiday feels from one week to another. If you want to choose the best time to visit Bali, you should look at the local calendar as much as the weather chart, because some dates bring silence, some bring parades, and some bring heavy party crowds.

Here is a quick table that shows how the main festivals and holiday weeks can affect your trip.

Festival / Event	Typical time	What you will see
Nyepi, Day of Silence	March (1 day)	Ogoh Ogoh parades the night before, then 24 hours of full quiet.
Galungan & Kuningan	Every ~210 days	Penjor bamboo poles, temple dress, family ceremonies.
Christmas & New Year	Late December	Full hotels, fireworks, beach parties, packed clubs.
Chinese New Year & Eid	Dates change each year	Extra domestic visitors, family groups, more local traffic.
Makepung buffalo races	Aug to Nov (selected)	Traditional buffalo races in West Bali, village crowds.
City and arts festivals	Mostly year-end weeks	Food stalls, music, performances, night events in towns.

If you like quiet roads and slow village walks, skip the peak holiday weeks in south Bali and stay in calmer spots like Sidemen, Amed, or small towns on the north coast. If you enjoy colour, temple days, and busy streets, match your dates with one or two big events and book things early. On those busy days, local SIM counters and shops can be packed or shut, so many travellers fix their data setup before they land. This short guide on the benefits of eSIM for travelers shows how to keep your phone working even when stores and malls are shut for the day.

Prices By Season: Flights, Hotels, and Activities

Money changes a lot across the year in Bali. The same hotel room, flight, or Nusa Penida tour can feel cheap in one month and very costly in another. If you can shift your dates a little, using price changes like this is one of the simplest ways to choose your own best time to visit Bali without putting extra pressure on your budget.

Season	Months	Flight prices	Stay & tour costs
High season	July, August, last 2 weeks Dec	Highest, school holidays and year-end.	Villas, hotels, and tours at peak rates.
Shoulder	Apr, May, Jun, Sep, early Oct	Medium, often cheaper on weekdays.	Good deals on mid and high-end stays.
Low season	Nov, Jan, Feb, early Mar	Often the softest, more sales.	Discounted rooms and some tour promos.

If you like sun plus value, shoulder months are a sweet spot. You get good weather with fair prices and softer traffic. If you are chasing the lowest cost and do not mind a few wet afternoons, look at low-season dates. Many repeat visitors also fix the big things early. They book their stay and sort out mobile data months in advance, then fill in the rest later. If you want to do the same, this guide on buy now, activate later eSIM setup shows how to purchase a digital plan before your trip and switch it on only when your Bali holiday actually starts.

Final Thoughts

Picking the best time to visit Bali is really about choosing what you care about most. Dry months from May to October give you blue skies, smoother sea days, and easy planning. Wet months from November to March bring greener hills, softer prices, and quieter cafés, as long as you are okay with a few sudden showers.

You can use a simple filter.

• Want comfort and clear weather. Pick May, June, September, or early October.
• Need school holidays. Go in June, July, or August and budget for higher costs.
• Watching money or working remote. Try February, March, November, or shoulder weeks.

Once you shortlist your dates, match them with your trip style and the areas you want to stay in, then book stays and key tours early. For smooth data on this and future trips, check these best eSIM plans for frequent travelers before you fly.