Bali is made up of three main roads that circumnavigate the island and hundreds of smaller roads that traverse the countryside. It takes approximately 3 hours to travel the length and breadth of Bali. Road conditions on the main roads are generally good but can be heavily populated with slow traveling trucks.
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The best way to get around Bali is with a hired car and driver. This option gives you the freedom of roaming around the country without the hassle of having to drive yourself. Biking is another option, just be prepared to weave through chaotic traffic.
Bali is relatively small in size, but it can take a long time to travel across. Public transport is erratic, so picking the most efficient way to get around is crucial on the “island of the gods.”
According to Indonesian law, foreign visitors are required to have an international driver's license to drive a car or ride a motorbike in Bali. At the same time, category A is required for driving a motorbike, and category B is required for driving a car.
When planning a trip to Bali, I recommend planning to spend at least 5 days in Bali. However, 10 days to 2 weeks would ultimately be best, allowing you to explore everything the island offers. You can also go for as little as 3 days, but you can only visit one location.
The good news is there are many options. Most travelers are satisfied with either a bemo (chartered vehicles with driver) or taxi (metered). Travelers will hear the world Bemo, bemo, bemo or Transport transport all over Bali. If the vehicle has a taxi meter, travelers should insist that the meter must be turned on.
The road network can be quite confusing if you're not used to the Balinese road network. Signs are at best unclear, at worst nonexistent. Wide roads may gradually squeeze into narrow streets. One-way, one-lane roads are common, necessitating driving a long way to return to a given location.
Believe it or not, the price to rent a car in Bali is as expensive, if not more expensive than renting a private driver in Bali. If you hire your own vehicle, you'll also have to be familiar with the roads to avoid. For this reason, it's much more convenient to hire a driver with all the inside knowledge.
In Bali all foreigners are also required to have an international license (IDP) on them while driving around. You can get this in your home country or you may also get an issued license from the police here in Bali.
The best way to get around Bali is with a hired car and driver. This option gives you the freedom of roaming around the country without the hassle of having to drive yourself. Biking is another option, just be prepared to weave through chaotic traffic.
Public and private tour buses are an affordable way to explore the island. That said, they don't allow the freedom to explore off the beaten path and can take a very long time to reach their destinations. Bali's most popular private bus tours are organized by Perama Tour & Travel.
Instead, you can use the Indonesian ride-sharing app, Go-Jek or Grab. Alternatively, we recommend hiring a private driver or renting a motorbike to save all of the taxi-grabbing hassle.
Bali by scooter or carIf you're thinking of travling on your own, it's better to ride a motorcycle instead of a car in Bali, due to the road conditions (there are roads with so many potholes that it is more convenient to avoid them with the scooter) and the price of rental cars in Bali.
The best time to visit Bali is between April and October, the island's dry season. Although the weather is ideal for travellers, the island is also subject to soupy, humid days throughout the year. Many shops offer sales and promotions; restaurants are less crowded in those mid-season months.
If you have a smaller budget then you can easily get by with about $10 per day-if you just plan on hanging at the beach and eating local food. If you're looking to eat at the higher-end restaurants explore the island and enjoy all of its many attractions, then you'll need a bit more, like $25 to $50 per day.