OK, so Bali is a fairly small island. It's roughly half the size of Yorkshire. But don't let that fool you into thinking it's an easy place to navigate. Bali is packed with plenty of incredible sights and attractions, but how do you reach them? Read on for a lowdown on the best ways to get around this iconic Indonesian island and what to expect.
The first thing to know about travel in Bali is that the infrastructure is not so good. Many roads are poorly maintained, very narrow, and frequently prone to congestion. Road closures and bad weather also have an effect on traffic, which can make getting from A to B somewhat frustrating. Right, that’s the bad news out of the way… The good news is: as long as you manage your expectations a bit, exploring Bali can be a relaxing and inspiring experience.
Important note
Before you make any decisions on how you're going to get around Bali, you need to know that due to local taxi politics, drivers from ride hailing apps (Grab and Gojek) do not pick up from some popular tourist spots. You might notice posters alerting you to this. And, in some instances, these 'bans' also apply to Bluebird taxis too. This leaves the area serviced by unofficial taxi organisations, renowned for rip-off pricing. So, for peace of mind and better value, you may wish to consider pre-booking your day tours or arrange private drivers for some elements of your stay. That said, you could just walk a couple of hundred metres down the road from these unofficial no-pick-up areas and you'll find you can hail drivers from your apps again.
Walking
Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about walking first because it's the top method of transport in Bali. In fact, only a handful of the most touristy areas cater well for pedestrians. Many neighbourhoods lack any pavement/sidewalk forcing those exploring by foot to take their chances with the passing traffic on the road. No, this is not conducive to a relaxing holiday. Distances in Bali can seem quite short when you check them on Google maps, but busy roads might leave you with nowhere to walk safely so, for peace of mind, grabbing a ride is a more comfortable experience.
Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs during your visit to Bali. The best ways to do that are by sticking to beach strolls, sauntering around tourist attractions, and exploring shops.
Self drive
Recommended for: Confident road users looking for independence and spontaneity.
Compared to most western countries, fuel prices are low in Bali (roughly 60p per litre), which makes self drive an appealing option. Exploring the beautiful island at your own pace, coming and going as you please... sounds ideal. But there is a fair amount of stress that comes with taking your own transport around Bali so it's worth weighing the pros and cons. It's your holiday, after all!
Scooter rental (moped)
Particularly popular with backpackers, scooter rental can be a fun and affordable way to experience Bali. You'd want to be an experienced moped/motorbike rider if you're considering this though, as the hectic traffic and poor road conditions make for a tough learning environment. Motorbike accidents do happen in Bali so it's important you alway wear a helmet and never drink and drive.
You will need an international driving license to ride a scooter here, but many rental shops won't ask to see it. The local police, on the other hand, have caught out plenty of over-confident tourists over the years and can issue on the spot 'fines' if you don't have the correct documents. Also, you'll want to make sure your travel insurance covers you for riding a scooter. Often engine size is a factor here, bear that in mind before you commit to your rental.
Hiring scooters is big business in Bali, so you'll find no shortage of rental options with prices from as little as Rp500,000 (roughly £25) per week. Day hire is also available.
Rental car
The process of hiring your own car to get around Bali, is just the same as in any other country. But Bali's roads are different from others in southeast Asia, and the other drivers, crazy pot holes, narrow roads, parking confusion, and mega traffic jams all represent very good reasons why you might want to have someone else do the driving for you. Particularly when there are so many cheap alternatives.
If your heart is set on getting behind the wheel when you visit Bali, you'll need your international license, and that's about it. Starting at around £25 per day, you can rent your private car for a reasonable price too.
Taxis
Recommended for: Getting to the airport, mid-distance trips
For a trustworthy cab, one Indonesian taxi firm stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that should be the go-to option for holiday makers. Bluebird Taxi service is renowned for its reliability and metered-pricing. Booking is easy via the MyBluebird app, which also provides an estimate of the price (you pay the driver). Make sure your driver has the meter switched on though, and the base rate fare of about Rp7,000 is visible.
Just like most places, taxi fares in Bali do increase under different circumstances such as time of day. So consider that prices are likely to be higher at night and during rush hour. Very roughly, it's about Rp7,000 per kilometre for local journeys. While it’s not mandatory, taxi drivers are increasingly expecting a tip. Depending on the service, you may wish to tip 10-15% of the fare.
If you are trying to flag a cab down without the app, just make sure it says “Bluebird” on the car, pretty much all local taxis in Bali are blue cars and some have no problems drastically overcharging.
Public transport
Bali is sadly lacking in public transport. If you had romantic ideas of hopping on a public bus and sharing your journey with cheery locals, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s not happening. Bali’s woefully underused bus service - Trans Metro Dewata System - has now been indefinitely suspended (as of 2025). At the time of writing, a temporary replacement has been introduced to service some routes, but it is not recommended that you make holiday travel plans based on this.
Shuttle buses
Recommended for: Easy links between tourist towns
The Kura-Kura bus is a reliable shuttle bus service that runs in the south of the island. These scheduled mini-buses collect passengers along two routes offered: Kuta to Ubud via Sanur and Ubud to Kuta via Sanur and international departures at Ngurah Rai Airport. Pre-booking is essential but it’s easy to do via the Kura-Kura website and represents great value at roughly £5 for a single trip and £8 for a round trip. Once you’ve booked a ticket your seat is guaranteed for the time, date and location you specified.
Kura-Kura is definitely worth considering if you don’t feel comfortable with taxis and ride hailing and the modest route it covers works for your needs.
Ride hailing apps
Recommended for: Shorter distances, convenience.
Bali doesn’t have Uber, but it does have two equivalent services: Grab and Gojek. These ride hailing services work pretty much the same as Uber. Just download the app, set up an account and link your payment method. You can choose between scooter (moped) or car-based services on both apps too. Scooter drivers tend to be more common so you might have to wait a few minutes longer for a Grabcar or Gocar. Your scooter driver always supplies you with a helmet - you should never get on a scooter without one.
You need phone data
To make use of services like Gojek or Grab, you need to use the app, so having data on your phone is essential. Relying on free wifi won't cut it so make sure you have international roaming set up with your network provider or invest in an e-sim.
Pay via app
It makes life so much easier if you pay via the app. Drivers tend not to carry much change so paying with cash can be tricky. The only time your driver may ask for extra money is to cover road tolls or parking fees (if you stop for food, for example) incurred during your journey. The Bali Mandara Toll Road links Sanur with the airport and Nusa Dua, so it's a popular route for tourists. The charge is less than £1, but make sure you have some small change if you want your driver to take this route.
Consider the weather
Don't forget, Bali is a tropical island and it can be prone to heavy downpours, particularly during the wet season (November to April). Often, even the most torrential rain clears up quickly, but most scooter drivers will prefer not to drive while it's wet so cars tend to be in higher demand meaning you might find yourself waiting a little longer for a ride.
Adjust your expectations
Bali roads can be somewhat unpredictable, yet ride hailing apps can lean towards the optimistic side when predicting journey times. Fortunately, that won't affect the price, but it's worth bearing in mind if you are considering long distances.
Private drivers
Recommended for: Bali day tours and large groups
For long distances or multi-stop day trips, your best bet is to invest in a private driver. This way you can agree on a set price in advance, enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned car, and avoid needing to hail a ride after each attraction you visit. You'll also have the flexibility to discuss your itinerary with your driver in advance and lean on their local Bali knowledge. Private drivers will be able to suggest the best route and recommend how long you might want to spend in each location.
The easiest way to arrange this is to hire from an established company for a set price. Prices start at around £35 for 12 hours in a 5-seater car and, with most official operators, everything is covered (tolls, fuel, parking etc) but this can vary so make sure you check.
In summary
If you want to explore Bali with complete independence, there's no doubt, having your own scooter means you can come and go as you please. Obvious downsides are: no beers for you, and you have to contend with Bali's roads and traffic. If these things don't bother you, scooter rental could be your best bet.
On the other hand, if life's too short for that kind of stress, then a bit of forward planning will pay dividends. For sightseeing days, pre-book a tour or arrange a private driver. For restaurant/bar visits and short trips, ride hailing is king.
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