Your best time to visit Bali depends on what you are looking for when coming to the island, your budget, and whether it is your very first time visiting this tropical paradise or not.
With only two seasons to choose between: rainy season and dry season, you pretty much get a whole year period of sunny weather under swaying tropical palms, well, with just occasional showers.
To help you save some money and find the perfect weather for your future Bali trip, we’ve created this little guide on the best times to visit Bali for every budget and type of traveller, from beach bum to cultured ones.
Summary: Best Time For Bali Holiday
- Summer months (June, July, and August) are the high season: best weather, warm ocean temperatures, amazing surf and sunny days perfect for visiting temples, palaces, outdoor activities, surfing, and island hopping.
- The downside is that everything is expensive during this time, and the island is very crowded. However, busy Bali doesn’t mean don’t come – there are dozens of regions and quaint villages away from the hustle and bustle that offer authentic experiences like Munduk, Sidemen, and Amed.
- Low season, like March, April, May, September, and November, offer amazing weather, with less rain and plenty of sunshine hours, but with fewer tourists and lower prices. The best value for money lies in these months! Cheaper accommodation and the cheapest flights from Australia are usually in February, March, and November.
- The best time to visit Bali for partying and getting into the nightlife is December.
Quick Note On Bali Weather
Bali lies in a tropical climate and has two distinct seasons: wet season (November to March) and dry season (April to October).
It is typically warm all year-round, and the only difference between seasons is the amount of rainfall.
Bali’s Dry Season
Dry season in Bali runs from April to the end of October, and its main advantage is that there is finally less rain. You will still find occasional rainfall, especially in highlands and mountains, but very brief and light.
Daytime temperatures ranging between 24 and 31°C, warm sea, and cooler nights make for great weather – the reason why so many people visit Bali.
During the dry season, tourists can also enjoy lower humidity and cool breeze as these months are also somewhat a windy season in Bali, which guarantees amazing surfing conditions.
Key events during the dry season in Bali: Bali Arts Festival (mid-June to mid-July), Bali Kite Festival (August), Sanur Beach Festival, different food festivals (Ubud Food Festival is epic!), and so on.
As you can imagine, if the weather is that great, the summer months are the busiest times in Bali. Australian travellers come with families for the summer school holidays, and the same goes for Europeans and US-based tourists.
This led to flights, hotel prices, and tours being more expensive and often booked out weeks in advance.
Bali’s Rainy Season
Starting in November, tropical cyclones bring heavy rain showers to the island.
The average temperatures typically range between 27 and 32°C during Bali’s wet season. You can expect higher humidity, less wind, and often a muggy feeling in the air.
Surfing conditions become less exciting, and the action shifts from West Bali to the East coast.
However, more rain means lush rice paddies, powerful waterfalls and river rapids, and a perfect time for yoga retreats. Bali enjoys the rain as it is key to its abundant flora and fauna, and gives all that amazing tropical fruit we all love.
Key events: Nyepi (Balinese New Year Silent Day) in March, Christmas festive season in December (massive parties at FINNS Beach Club),
When Is The Best Time To Go To Bali?
The best time to visit Bali? The winner is hands down, any month of the dry season, thanks to amazing weather, warm ocean and clean beaches, and so many things to do and see around the island.
Best Time To Visit Bali For Surfing, Diving & Water Sports – June To August
The most amazing weather for surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling to see all the tropical marine life is from April to October.
- The best surfing spots are in Uluwatu for more advanced surfers, and from Kuta to Canggu for beginners. June to August offer the best surfing conditions in South and West Bali.
- For snorkelling and diving, you should visit Amed, Tulumben, Pemuteran, and Nusa Islands. Bucketlist creatures to see are massive manta rays (October), Mola Mola (August-October), and reef sharks (July-October). All summer long, you will be able to spot turtles in Bali andthe Gili Islands.
Plus, in July and August, strong winds along the East coast of Bali are fantastic for kitesurfing. Sanur even hosts a Kite Festival every year, which is a huge celebration of kites in the sky of all shapes and designs.
Bali rivers are also amazing for white water rafting at the end of the dry season, when the mountains of Central Bali already see more rain. Two main rivers, Ayung and Telaga Waja, have amazing rapids from class II to IV.
Another water sport often underrated in Bali is fishing! Summer months, especially June, July, August, and September, are great to catch barracuda, tuna, and mahi-mahi – classic fish you often will be served in Bali.
Best Time To Visit Bali For Nature & Culture Lovers – April To October
The dry season, from April to October, is the peak season with the safest conditions for hiking active volcanoes (Mt Batur and Mt Agung), trekking through jungles, and visiting Bali National Park.
Any sort of outdoor activities are very easy to plan during the summer months, but expect more crowds than usual.
Sunny days in April offer perfect weather for visiting all the rice terraces in Bali: Tegalalang, Jatiluwih, walking through rice paddies in Ubud, Sidemen, or Tabanan. Early in the morning is the best time to visit them. You can always not just walk, but jog or cycle through.
On the other hand, the dry season is also fantastic for exploring the cultural side of the island and visiting the ancient temples from Tanah Lot ocean temple, clifftop Uluwatu temple, and Goa Lawah Bat Cave Temple to Ulun Danu, standing on the lake.
Water palaces and royal palaces on the East Coast, combined with stops to see traditional villages, black sand beaches and some snorkelling, will immerse you in Balinese history, handicrafts, and wild nature.
Not to mention all the art galleries and museums in Ubud to browse traditional painting, textile art, and handmade crafts.
Sure, you can visit all that in the rainy season as well, you just hire a private driver and get around the island shielded from the rain. But, adapting the routes and plans for rain is not always an option, especially if you have only 7 or 10 days in paradise.
Best Time To Plan Bali Wedding Or Honeymoon – May To October
May to October are the best months for a destination wedding in Bali, as the weather is just perfect! Sunny, warm, lower humidity, fewer chances of rain ruining your perfect day.
If you want to keep it on a budget, pick May or October, as June to August prices at not-so-cheap Bali wedding venues and reception organisations will be even higher due to extreme demand.
Also, book flights and venues up to a year in advance. The best spots for a ceremony on the island are often booked out 10+ months ahead.
For a honeymoon, the same months work best. You can venture to more remote areas and pick an adults-only resort to have a vacation of your lifetime (somewhere in Sidemen, Candidasa, North Bali, or Nusa Dua).
We would also add March for the honeymoon, as the Balinese most important celebration in Bali (according to the Balinese calendar), and the whole island shuts down for 24 hrs. Many resorts offer a few-day-long packages with full board for that holiday, and it can be a beautiful time to celebrate a new marriage.
Best Time to Plan A Bali Trip With Kids – July, August, December
July, August, and December will be the most fun with younger kids if you depend on school breaks.
During summer, tourists flock to Bali for the best weather and some of the best festivals dedicated to Balinese culture and food.
Plus, kids can enjoy swimming, playing in the sand, SEA’s biggest waterpark in Kuta, and spend as much time outdoors as they want!
In December, Bali is great for young travellers, older teens, and families looking for a unique Christmas holiday. Canggu has lots of kid-friendly activities, restaurants, and Christmas events for all ages.
Insider tip: coming to Bali with kids, think of transportation beforehand. Traffic in the South during summer and Christmas is rather intense, and you will need a car. Arranging a private driver is the best option as taxis will not be as reliable and they are not available everywhere in Bali, including some popular beaches!
Best Time To Visit Bali On A Budget & Fewer Crowds – Bali’s Low Season
March, April, May, September, October, and November are amazingly affordable months to visit Bali to avoid crowds and inflated prices.
These months are great for visiting rice terraces, you still get decent waves along the West coast of Bali for surfing, and plenty of sunny days with calm seas to travel to neighbouring islands like the Nusa Islands or Gilis.
March & April – end of rainy season, great weather for visiting temples, Monkey forest in Ubud or Sangeh, trying surfing, swimming on the East coast, enjoying sunsets, and doing a roadtrip around the island to visit Amed and North Bali. It is also a great time for seniors to visit Bali, as the humidity gets lower, and the weather is pretty tolerable with warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights.
May & September – for surfers on a budget. Fewer crowds (and in some areas a less aggressive atmosphere on the waves). Still amazing weather for outdoor activities and cultural visits to palaces, temples, and rice terraces.
October & November – great budget-friendly months to visit Bali, especially if you love waterfalls and rafting, as we are getting closer to the rainy season and rivers are getting more powerful by the day.
Beginning of end of each season are also great for digital nomads and slow travellers who are not on a strict timeline. If you can stay in Bali for up to 3-6 months, you get to be more flexible with your plans and budget.
FAQs
What Are The Best And Worst Months To Go To Bali?
While June to August are the peak season, we think Bali’s shoulder season (March to May, September, and October) is the best time to visit Bali to still get sunny weather, fewer tourists, and avoid crowds coming during the school holidays.
There is no such thing as the worst time to visit Bali, but if you’re not looking for the cheapest vacation, then maybe steer clear of January (and mid-season of the rainy season).
January is historically the wettest month of Bali’s wet season, so you can expect 27 out of 30 days to be rainy. While you still get plenty of sunshine even on a rainy day, it is not a guarantee. There is much less surf along the South and West coast; some beaches get a bit dirty with storms bringing branches and trash, and outdoor activities are not a given.
However, in January, you can still have good sunny weather, especially in the morning, when you can go out and explore. Some years, according to the lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls in January, so you can see some celebrations going on.
What Is The Rainy Season In Bali?
The rainy season in Bali is one of the two distinct seasons in a tropical climate. It starts in November and ends in March.
Bali’s rainy season brings up to 250 mm of rainfall per month, higher humidity, and hot sunny days. It often gets stormy in the afternoon, with mornings being pretty calm and sunny.
The wet season in Bali has big advantages, though: lower accommodation costs, fewer crowds, and a quieter, slower pace with less traffic in the South. So when you time it right, you get to enjoy Bali’s tourist attractions without crowds!
What Is The Cheapest Time To Go To Bali?
The cheapest months to book flights to Bali are usually during the shoulder seasons, like March, April, May, October, and November.
These months can also see up to 30% cheaper accommodation and fewer tourists at the most popular attractions.
Is $1000 Enough For A Week In Bali?
Bali has accommodations and activities for every budget, so $1000 (1500 AUD) will be enough for a week in a 2-3 star hotel and without splurging on fine dining every night.
A lunch or dinner can cost from 3-5 AUD in a local cheap eats spot to 50 AUD at a restaurant, a latte is about 4 AUD, a ride on a bike taxi costs about 2-3 AUD for short distances, and a hotel room in a 3-star hotel is about 50 to 120 AUD per night.
Final Thoughts On The Best Time To Visit Bali
There’s no single “perfect” month for everyone to visit Bali for the first time. Bali works year-round if you plan around the season, stay flexible, and pick the right areas to base yourself. There are SO many things to do, from museums and ATV adventures to pool parties, you won’t notice the weather even if it is raining!
If you’ve been saving up and dreaming about the Island of Gods, the best time to go to Bali really comes down to timing your trip around the summer months and dry season.
If you want easy travel days, blue skies, calm and warm seas, and outdoor activities that don’t get cancelled, the dry season from May to October is your best time to visit Bali. Yes, it’s busy and more expensive, but the conditions are hard to beat.
If you’re a remote worker, entrepreneur, or are on a sabbatical and happy to be flexible and want better value, the shoulder months like March, April, September, and October are often the sweet spot. You’ll still get plenty of sunshine, fewer people at popular tourist spots, and much better prices on flights and accommodation.
And finally, we need to say it again: rainy season in Bali isn’t a deal breaker! It does get hotter, wetter, and more humid, but the beauty of the island, especially its greenery are glowing more than ever.
Mornings are often fine, and rain usually comes later in the afternoon and in Northern areas like Ubud, Munduk, Bedugul, or Kintamani. It’s a good time for yoga retreats, food trips, diving, and enjoying Bali at a slower pace. As the Balinese often say: Go with the flow!
