The Ultimate Bali Travel Guide for Indians (2026)

Bali packs temples, rice terraces, cliff-top sunsets and beach towns into one easy island. Here is what Indian travellers need: flights, visa and tourist levy, where to stay, the best places to visit, costs and a 7-day plan.

How do you reach Bali from India?

You fly into I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport near Denpasar, which most people simply call Bali airport. From Bangalore and Chennai the usual routing is one stop through a Southeast Asian hub. From Coimbatore you normally add a domestic flight to Bangalore or Chennai first, so allow a longer travel day.

Fares move every week, so we do not print a fixed flight price. Send us your city and dates and we will pull live fares.

Do Indians need a visa for Bali?

Yes. Bali is not visa-free for Indians. Indian passport holders need Indonesia's visitor visa, the e-VoA, which costs IDR 500,000 per person and allows a stay of up to 30 days for tourism. You can apply online before you fly or get a visa on arrival at Bali airport.

Key points from Indonesia's official e-Visa site (checked 20 September 2026):

• Passport: valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
• When to apply: up to 14 days before travel, ideally at least 48 hours before departure. Pay by credit card.
• Return ticket: carry a printed copy; officers can ask for it.

The full step-by-step, including how to apply online before you fly and the tourist levy, is in our Bali visa guide for Indians. Planning as a couple or with children? See things to do in Bali for couples and our Bali family trip guide.

When is the best time to visit Bali?

April to October is the best time for most Indian travellers, because it is Bali's dry season with sunny days and calm seas for Nusa Penida trips. July and August are the busiest and costliest months. November to March is the wet season, with short heavy showers, greener fields and lower hotel rates.

For a month-by-month view, read our best time to visit Bali guide.

Where should you stay in Bali?

Split your stay between two bases: a beach area in the south for sunsets and nightlife, and Ubud in the hills for rice terraces, temples and private-pool villas. Moving hotels once saves hours in traffic, because Bali's roads are slow and long day trips from a single base eat up your holiday.

• Seminyak: beach clubs, restaurants and shopping.
• Kuta and Legian: lively, near the airport, good value for first-timers.
• Canggu: cafes, surf and a younger crowd.
• Nusa Dua: gated resorts and calm beaches for families.
• Uluwatu and Jimbaran: cliff-top resorts and sunset seafood.
• Ubud: jungle villas, culture and wellness; see our Ubud honeymoon picks.

Couples usually build the trip around Ubud: our guide to honeymoon resorts in Ubud covers which part of Ubud to stay in and what to check before booking a private-pool villa.

What are the best places to visit in Bali?

The best places to visit in Bali are Uluwatu Temple for the sunset Kecak dance, Tanah Lot sea temple, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Mount Batur at Kintamani, Ulun Danu Beratan lake temple, Lempuyang's Gates of Heaven, and Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida. Group them by area to save driving time.

Ubud and central Bali

• Tegalalang Rice Terrace: the classic stepped rice fields. Go early.
• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: temples under giant trees, full of monkeys. Keep sunglasses and snacks away.
• Tirta Empul: holy spring temple where Balinese Hindus take a purifying bath.
• Goa Gajah: the old "Elephant Cave" with a carved entrance and bathing pools.
• Campuhan Ridge Walk: an easy, free ridge walk, best at sunrise.
• Tegenungan Waterfall: the easiest big waterfall to reach from Ubud.
• Ubud Palace and Art Market: evening dance shows and handicraft shopping.

North Bali and the highlands

• Kintamani and Mount Batur: volcano and crater-lake views, or a pre-dawn sunrise trek.
• Ulun Danu Beratan Temple: the temple that seems to float on Lake Beratan in cool Bedugul.
• Jatiluwih Rice Terraces: wider, quieter terraces, part of a UNESCO-listed landscape.
• Sekumpul Waterfall: Bali's most dramatic falls, worth a full day.

East Bali

• Besakih Temple: Bali's largest and oldest temple, on the slopes of Mount Agung.
• Lempuyang Temple: the "Gates of Heaven" photo with Mount Agung behind.
• Tirta Gangga: royal water palace with stepping stones and koi ponds.
• Amed: quiet black-sand coast with easy snorkelling.

South Bali and the Bukit peninsula

• Uluwatu Temple: sea temple on a high cliff. Stay for the Kecak fire dance at sunset.
• Melasti and Padang Padang beaches: white sand under limestone cliffs.
• Jimbaran Bay: seafood dinners on the sand at sunset.
• Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park: the giant Garuda statue and cultural shows.
• Tanjung Benoa: jet ski and banana boat rides.

West coast

• Tanah Lot: the famous temple on a rock in the sea, best at sunset.
• Seminyak and Canggu beaches: beach clubs, sunset drinks and surf lessons.
• Kuta Beach: long sandy beach, good for learning to surf.

Islands off Bali

• Nusa Penida: Kelingking Beach (the "T-Rex" cliff), Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach and snorkelling at Crystal Bay, by fast boat from Sanur.
• Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan: Devil's Tear and the Yellow Bridge.
• Menjangan Island: coral reefs and clear water off West Bali.

How many days are enough for Bali?

Six to seven nights is the right length for a first Bali trip. It gives you three or four nights in a southern beach area and two or three nights in Ubud, with one full day for Nusa Penida. Five nights works if you pick one base and skip the islands. Families should add a rest day.

Honeymooners can follow our Bali honeymoon itinerary.

How do you get around Bali?

For sightseeing, hire a private car with a driver for the day. It is the most comfortable way to cover temples and rice terraces, and your hotel or our team can arrange it. For short hops in Seminyak, Kuta and Canggu, the Grab app works well. Bali has no metro or useful public buses for visitors.

What money should Indians carry to Bali?

Bali uses the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Indian rupees are not accepted in shops, so carry a forex card plus some rupiah in cash. Hotels, malls and bigger restaurants take cards, but warungs (local eateries), temple entry, markets and small shops usually want cash. Use official money changers or bank ATMs, not roadside booths.

More in our forex guide.

How much does a Bali trip cost from India?

Our Bali packages start at ₹24,689 per person for 4 nights in Kuta with breakfast, private transfers and tours, based on two adults. Our 5 nights / 6 days honeymoon package is ₹38,999 per person (₹77,998 per couple), taxes included. International flights, visa and the tourist levy are extra on both.

• Bali 4N/5D, ₹24,689 per person: Anathera Resort Kuta, Benoa water sports, Uluwatu sunset, West Nusa Penida with snorkelling, and a Kintamani and Ubud tour.
• Bali 5N/6D honeymoon, ₹38,999 per person: 3 nights Kuta or Legian, 2 nights Ubud private-pool villa (full cost breakdown).

For a honeymoon, most couples land between ₹1,15,000 and ₹1,60,000 all in once flights and a few extras are added. See all current offers on our packages page.

Is Bali safe, and what etiquette should Indians follow?

Bali is a safe, friendly island for Indian families, couples and solo travellers. Common problems are small: upset stomachs, scooter falls, monkeys grabbing belongings and short-changing at money booths. Drink bottled water, keep valuables zipped, swim only between the red-and-yellow flags, and buy travel insurance before you go.

• Temples: cover shoulders and knees; sarongs are usually lent at the gate.
• Offerings: small palm-leaf offerings (canang sari) sit on pavements and steps. Walk around them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do children need a separate visa for Bali?

Yes. Indonesia's official e-Visa site says every traveller needs their own visitor visa, including infants and children. Each visa costs IDR 500,000.

Can I extend my Bali visa beyond 30 days?

To stay longer than 30 days, Indonesia's e-Visa site says you must apply for an extension at an Immigration Office in Indonesia. Overstaying can lead to fines.

Is Bali good for vegetarians?

Yes. Gado-gado, tempeh, tofu and vegetable nasi campur are easy to find, and Indian restaurants are common in Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud.

Is Bali good for a family trip with kids?

Yes. Nusa Dua and Kuta have calm beaches, family resorts and short drives, and Ubud's monkey forest and rice terraces keep children interested.

Should I choose Bali or Thailand for my first trip abroad?

Choose Bali for villas, temples, rice terraces and a slower pace. Choose Thailand for more city life, shopping and island hopping. Both work well from South India.

What is Nyepi and will it affect my Bali trip?

Nyepi is Bali's Day of Silence, usually in March. For about 24 hours the island shuts down, including the airport, and visitors must stay inside their hotel. Check the date before booking a March trip.

Read next: Bali family trip guide and Bali vs Thailand for Indians.