Getting around Bali means going by road, in someone's car or on a motorbike. There is no rail network to rely on, and the choices for a visitor are a ride app, a taxi, a car with a driver, or a scooter. Distances are short on paper: it is about 22 miles from the airport to Ubud. The time those miles take is the thing to plan around.
The four ways to get around
A visitor to Bali has four practical ways to travel: ride-hailing apps, licensed taxis, a hired car with a driver, and a rented scooter. Each suits a different kind of journey. The State Department describes licensed taxis and ride-hailing services as widely available in major Indonesian cities, which in Bali means the built-up south.
Ride apps
Grab and Gojek are the ride-hailing apps in Bali. The State Department notes that they show driver identification, vehicle information and the fare in the app. For a short trip within the south, such as dinner in the next neighborhood, an app ride is the simplest thing to arrange.
Taxis
Licensed taxis are the fallback when an app has no cars. The State Department describes Blue Bird taxis as generally considered the most reliable, and advises making sure the meter works and avoiding unlicensed taxis that solicit passengers directly. Its advice is to arrange transport through reputable companies or the apps.
A car with a driver
A car hired with its driver for the day is a common way to see the island beyond your base. Agree when you book that the driver will wait at each stop and that the route is yours to set. We quote no prices, because they vary by season, distance and vehicle and we have no official source for them.
A scooter
A rented scooter is the cheapest and most flexible option, and the one with legal conditions attached. Indonesia's traffic law requires a license matching the type of vehicle driven, with a separate class for motorcycles, and the State Department says a US driver's license alone is not recognized in Indonesia.
How far apart things are
Bali is a small island by American standards, and its places are close together in miles. Measured on the road network, the airport is about 7 miles from Seminyak, 12 from Canggu, 8 from Nusa Dua, 11 from Sanur and 13 from Uluwatu. Ubud, in the middle of the island, is about 22 miles from the airport.
Further out
The quieter parts of the island are further but still not far in miles. From the airport it is about 35 miles to the port of Padang Bai in the east, about 51 to Munduk in the central mountains, and about 61 to Amed on the northeast coast. From Ubud, Munduk is about 39 miles and Amed about 49.
Why miles mislead
We give no drive times, because they change by the hour and the day and we will not freeze a number that will be wrong when you read it. Roads in the south are narrow and shared with large numbers of motorbikes, and the State Department notes that motorcycles pass on either side. Check a live map at the hour you actually intend to travel.
Driving yourself
Driving a rental car yourself is possible in Bali, within the rules below. Bali's rules for foreign tourists require a valid international or national driving license, obedience to traffic rules, and roadworthy four-wheeled transport that officially belongs to a rental business or association.
After an accident
The State Department's guidance after a traffic accident in Indonesia is to stay at the scene and notify the police, and it notes that in collisions between a car and a motorcycle the driver of the larger vehicle is often presumed responsible. That presumption is a reason many visitors prefer to leave the driving to someone local.
Our advice
Our advice for a first trip is not to self-drive a car. A driver brings local knowledge of roads and parking, and takes the legal exposure of driving off your shoulders.
Matching the method to the journey
The right way to get around Bali depends on the journey, and most trips use more than one. A sensible pattern for a first visit is app rides for short hops in the south, a pre-arranged car for the airport, and a driver for any day that leaves your base area. A scooter is for those licensed to ride one.
From the airport
Grab operates pickups from a GrabCar Lounge at the International Arrival Terminal, booked in the app. A car arranged in advance with your hotel is the calmer choice after a long flight. The State Department's advice is to avoid unlicensed taxis that approach passengers at airports.
Between islands
The smaller islands off Bali's coast are reached by boat. We have not been able to confirm fast-boat rules or schedules from an official source, so we give none here. The planning point is that a boat is a weather-dependent link, and it belongs in the middle of a trip, away from your flight home.
What this decision actually sits inside
Notice what happened across all of this. The question of how to get around kept returning to where you are staying. An app ride works because the base is in the south. A driver is needed because the day's sights are 30 miles away. A scooter looks attractive because the villa is far from everything. Transport is mostly a consequence of the base.
How the base, the day trips and the transport fit together is worked through in the complete Bali trip guide.
FAQ
What is the best way to get around Bali?
For a first visit: app rides for short trips in the south, and a car with a driver for days that leave your base area. A scooter requires a license valid for motorcycles.
Is there public transport in Bali?
There is no rail network to rely on, and visitors travel by road. In practice that means ride apps, taxis, hired drivers and scooters.
How far is Ubud from the airport?
About 22 miles by road. Drive times vary with traffic, so check a live map for the hour you will travel.
Can tourists drive in Bali?
Bali's rules require a valid international or national driving license. The State Department says a US license alone is not recognized in Indonesia.
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