Bali is a small Indonesian island with big variety. In one week you can swim off a white beach and watch a dance at a cliff temple. You can also wake up above the clouds on a volcano.
This guide is for travellers from India. It covers where to stay, how many days you need, the visa, money, flights and the best months to go.
Below the guide sits every Bali post we have written, from food to family days out.
Bali in brief
Bali is one island in Indonesia. Most of its people are Hindu, which sets it apart from the rest of the country. You will see small offerings of flowers and rice outside shops and homes every morning.
Bali runs on Central Indonesia Time, two and a half hours ahead of India. Your body clock barely notices.
The money is the Indonesian rupiah. The main airport is Ngurah Rai, near Denpasar, with the code DPS. It is often listed as Bali or Denpasar.
The south is busy, flat and close to the airport. The middle of the island is green and hilly. The volcanoes sit further north.
The areas, and who each one suits
Kuta and Seminyak sit on the west coast, close to the airport. Kuta is busy and easy on the budget. Seminyak is smarter, with cafes, shops and sunset bars. Both make a good base for your first nights.
Uluwatu and Jimbaran sit on the Bukit peninsula in the far south. Uluwatu Temple stands on a cliff about 70 metres above the sea. The Kecak fire dance is held there at sunset. Jimbaran is known for seafood dinners on the beach.
Nusa Dua is an area of large resorts on the south-east coast. It suits families and older parents who want an easy stay with everything on site.
Ubud is the green heart of Bali, inland in the hills. It has rice terraces, the Monkey Forest, art villages and quiet villas. Most honeymooners and families spend at least two nights here.
Nusa Penida is a separate island off the south-east coast. Most visitors go for a long day trip by fast boat. Kelingking, the cliff shaped like a T-Rex, is its famous view.
How many days you need
Six or seven days is the sweet spot for a first trip. That gives you about four nights near the beach and two in Ubud.
Five days works if you skip Nusa Penida or the volcano. Fewer than that, and you spend too much of the trip in traffic.
Split your stay between two bases. Doing the whole island from one hotel means long drives every day.
Our Bali itinerary for 6 to 7 days lays out a full week, day by day.
Visa and entry for Indians
Indians are not on Indonesia's visa-free list. You need the B1 visa on arrival. It costs Rp 500,000, which is about ₹2,600 at the 1 November 2026 rate.
You can buy it online before you fly, as an e-VoA. Or you can pay at a bank counter at the airport. It lets you stay 30 days, and you can extend it once.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months. You also need a return or onward ticket.
Bali adds its own tourist levy of Rp 150,000 per person. Fill in the free All Indonesia arrival form too, within three days before you land.
Our Bali visa guide for Indians walks through each step, with the official links.
Money and costs
Carry some rupiah in cash. Small shops, markets, temple donations and tips often want cash. Hotels and larger restaurants take cards.
Rupiah prices have many zeros. On 1 November 2026, one rupee bought about 191 rupiah. So Rp 100,000 was a little over ₹500.
A Bali trip cost depends most on your flights, your hotels and the season. Our own 6 night trip starts from ₹32,000 per person, land only. That price is indicative and does not include flights or the visa.
Our Bali trip cost guide breaks a full budget down line by line.
Getting there from India
You fly into Ngurah Rai airport, near Denpasar. Some Indian cities have direct flights. Most other trips connect once, often through a South East Asian hub.
Routes and days change with the season. Check the airline's own site before you fix your dates.
From a smaller city, start with a domestic flight to a metro. Leave a safe gap between the two flights. A missed international leg can mean a new ticket.
Our South East Asia page explains how we route trips from any city in India.
Getting around
Bali has no train and few useful buses for visitors. Most people get around by car with a driver. All our Bali trips use a private car for every transfer and tour.
Roads in the south are often jammed, so short distances can take a long time. Group your sightseeing by area, and do not try to cover north and south in one day.
Nusa Penida is reached by fast boat. On the island, a car and driver take you between the viewpoints. Drivers there often speak little English, and the order of stops can change with tides and traffic.
Sea and weather can change a boat day at short notice. Keep one spare day in your plan so a cancelled crossing does not cost you the island.
Food and temple manners
Indian travellers eat well in Bali. Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud all have Indian restaurants, and Ubud is full of vegetarian cafes. Hotel breakfasts usually have something plain.
Balinese food leans on rice, vegetables, peanut sauce and tempeh. Ask for no meat, fish or shrimp paste if you are strictly vegetarian. Our Bali vegetarian food guide has the words to use.
Temples are working places of worship. Cover your shoulders and knees, and wear a sarong and sash where asked. Do not step on the small offerings on the ground.
Best months to go
Bali is warm all year. The average temperature in Denpasar stays between 26 and 28°C every month.
Rain is what changes. June to September are the driest months. July gets about 28 mm of rain at Denpasar, against about 350 mm in January.
April, May and October are good months too, with far less rain than the wet season. December to February are the wettest months.
One date to watch is Nyepi, the Day of Silence. In 2027 it falls on Monday, 8 March. The airport shuts for 24 hours and visitors stay inside their hotels.
Our best time to visit Bali guide goes month by month.
In this guide
Start with the Bali visa guide and the best time to visit Bali. Then fix your days with the Bali itinerary for 6 to 7 days.
Our Bali trip cost guide shows what a week really costs. Vegetarian or Jain? Read the Bali vegetarian food guide.
Travelling with children or parents? See things to do in Bali with family. Going as a couple? Read planning a Bali honeymoon.
Every other Bali post is listed below this guide.
Plan your Bali trip
Our Bali, Island of the Gods trip gives you seven days, with four nights near Kuta and two in a pool villa in Ubud. Couples can pick the Bali honeymoon version. See Bali for both lengths we sell.
Tell us your city and dates on Plan My Trip. We will check the visa position and route your flights before you pay anything.
