Getting Around Bali: A Local’s Transport Guide

Knowing how to get around Bali makes a real difference to your trip — the island is bigger and slower to travel than the map suggests, so a little planning saves a lot of time. From the airport to the rice fields to the islands offshore, here’s our honest local guide to your options, what each costs you in time and stress, and what we recommend. We’ve moved travellers around Bali and Indonesia since 2006, so this is the on-the-ground version.

Planning the rest of your trip? Pair this with our Bali itinerary guide and the best things to do in Bali.

Arriving: Ngurah Rai International Airport

Almost everyone arrives at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), near Denpasar in the south. From there it’s a short drive to the southern beach areas, around 1.5 to 2 hours to Ubud, and longer to the north and east. We recommend arranging an airport pickup in advance, so a driver is waiting for you — it’s the calmest possible start after a long flight.

The Best Way to Get Around Bali

In our experience, the easiest and most relaxing way to get around Bali is with a private driver-guide and car. You set the pace, skip the navigation and parking stress, and have a local who knows the roads, the shortcuts and the best stops. For couples and families especially, it turns a long travel day into part of the holiday.

This is how we run almost all our trips. Your driver-guide handles everything, so you simply enjoy the island. Browse our Bali tours and packages to see how it works.

Car & Scooter Rental

Scooters are cheap and popular, and they’re fun for confident, experienced riders on quiet back roads. But Bali’s traffic is busy and unpredictable, accidents are common, and you need a valid licence and a helmet. We’d be cautious recommending them to first-timers.

Self-drive car hire is possible but challenging — local driving styles and narrow roads take getting used to, and parking can be tricky. For most visitors, a car with a driver costs little more and removes all the stress.

Taxis, Grab & Gojek

For short hops in the south, metered Bluebird taxis are reliable. Ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek work well in many areas and show the price upfront, though some zones (around certain markets and beaches) restrict app pickups. They’re handy for a quick trip, but less practical for a full day of sightseeing across the island.

Getting to the Islands

Bali is a springboard to some of Indonesia’s best islands, and the crossings are part of the adventure.

Nusa Penida & Nusa Lembongan are a short speedboat ride from Sanur. We include the transfers on our Bali and Nusa Penida Tour.

The Gili Islands and Lombok are reached by fast boat from east or south Bali — see our full Bali to Lombok guide for the routes, and our Bali and Gili Islands Tour if you’d like it arranged. Morning crossings are usually calmest.

Traffic & Practical Tips

A few things we’d tell any friend visiting Bali:

• Allow more time than the distance suggests. Traffic around the south and Ubud is slow, especially at peak hours.
• Base yourself smartly. Staying in one or two areas beats changing hotels daily and saves hours in the car.
• Carry small cash. Useful for parking, small warungs and rural areas.
• Plan island crossings for the morning. Seas are calmer and schedules more reliable.
• Agree prices upfront for any informal transport, or use a metered taxi or app.

Let Us Handle the Logistics

The simplest way to get around Bali is to let a local team take care of it — the driver, the route, the timing and the island transfers — so your holiday stays a holiday.

Tell us your plans and we’ll arrange private transport and a tailor-made trip to match. Message us anytime on WhatsApp, or browse our Bali tours and packages. As always, we’re happy to share a local’s advice — whether you book with us or not.