The island of Bali is one of the most popular islands in Indonesia and offers its tourists rich nature, vast rice fields, beautiful beaches, but also a diverse culture that penetrate to all aspects of life on the island.
Among other things, you’ll also enjoy very tasty cuisine here, and the home-style Warungs (a sign for a family restaurant or business) will serve you great Mie Goreng (noodles with chicken and vegetables) or Chicken Satay (chicken skewer with peanut sauce) for less than 3€.
However, it is also a place that you need to prepare for in advance. We bring you 10 things you should definitely know before your trip.
1. The ideal time to travel is April to November.
The peak season on Bali, mainly due to the dry season, is from April to November. We went to Bali in March and it had its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage, for example, was that there weren’t that many people on the island yet. We were also able to observe beautiful massive waterfalls thanks to the rainy season.
However, many times we had to face rainy weather. It rarely rained all day, but even a sunny day often turned into a huge downpour, which spoiled our plans. This is something to consider and if you want to enjoy sunny weather throughout your holiday, come during the dry season.
2. If you are planning a trip in March, watch out for the Day of Silence
If you are planning your trip to Bali in March, beware of the so-called Day of Silence, referred to as Nyepi Day. Each year it falls on a different day (in 2024 it was March 11). Exceptionally, it may also be in April.
Nyepi is a public holiday that is a day of silence, meditation and fasting for the people of Bali. During this day, it is forbidden to go out on the street, ride a car or motorcycle, even to have the lights on. All shops and restaurants are closed and international airport operations are also restricted.
3. You do not need any vaccinations to visit Bali
Officially there is no compulsory vaccination to enter the island of Bali. In general, however, it is of course important to take into account your own state of health and to consult it with your doctor.
We were renewing our tetanus vaccinations before our trip. Many people also get vaccinated against typhoid, rabies or hepatitis before travelling to Asia.
4. You can also get your visa on arrival at the airport
You must apply for a tourist visa before entering Indonesia. The visa fee is 30€ per person and you can apply in two ways. The ideal way to do this is online before you arrive in Bali.
However, if you forget about it, you can still sort it out after you arrive at the airport. These visas are only valid for 30 days. If you plan to stay longer, you can apply for an extension for an additional 30 days (online or in person at immigration centres).
For more information on visas and other things you need to know before you go to Bali, see our E-Book.
5. Never brush your teeth with tap water
I’m sure you’ve heard of the term Bali Belly. These are stomach problems that torture large number of tourists. The reasons may be different, but very often it is mainly due to the consumption of unfiltered water, fresh vegetables or drinks with ice.
It is important to remember that our bodies are used to different standards of hygiene and therefore we need to be very careful in some Asian countries. We therefore recommend brushing your teeth exclusively with bottled water from the store.
6. Be prepared for crazy traffic!
The island of Bali is characterised by crazy traffic throughout the day. Many times it even happens that going from point A to point B, which are less than 20 km apart, will take more than an hour.
In general, however, you can get everywhere on a motorbike faster then be a car. However, you should always wear a helmet because you never know what might happen during your ride.
Even if you consider yourself an experienced and responsible driver, in Indonesia you may be surprised by a dog, a chicken or a cat in the middle of the road, a huge pothole or a child on a motorbike. Not a step without a helmet!
7. For boat trips we recommend the Bookaway!
If you decide to explore the surrounding islands such as Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, or the Gili Islands, you will probably be moving by boat. Boats to these islands run several times a day and usually depart from Sanur Bali port or Padang Bay port.
The ideal way to book your tickets is online through Bookaway platform. There you’ll find all the time schedules and companies that run, so you simply pick a time and day that suits you and hooray for your next adventure.
8. They will probably add 10% tax to your restaurant bill.
When looking at restaurant menus, you should take into account the fact that almost everywhere the prices are quoted without tax. So when you pay, it is more than likely that they will add 10% to the price of your meal.
In many places, you may even have an additional 5% service charge added to your bill. So it’s up to you whether you decide to leave an additional tip.
9. You will have only 2 minutes to take a photo at the viewpoints or temples
As Bali is visited by thousands of tourists every month, the main spots are packed with crowds of people from early in the morning. At a temple like Lempuyang, for example, you’ll wait 2 hours for them to call your number and you’ll have exactly 3 poses – then the next one goes.
You need to prepare in advance and consider whether visiting such tourist spots is worth it for you. There are still less crowded places in Bali that you can enjoy to the fullest. However, if you decide to go to the most famous spots, we definitely recommend going early in the morning or before sunset.
10. You will pay an entrance fee for the beaches or waterfalls
Another typical feature of the island of Bali are the fees for visiting the beaches or waterfalls. In most cases, however, these are symbolic amounts of 1-3€. It’s quite nicely maintained in a lot of places, and there are toilets, showers, restaurants and shops, so those fees are natural.
However, there are also places where the fees are fanciful and extremely high. At Handara Gate, for example, you will pay 12€ for flying with a drone (limited to 2 min.). At Sekumpul waterfall you will have to pay 15€ per person for a guide, which you don’t really need.
We therefore recommend that you always do your research about the destinations in advance and consider which places to visit and which not to visit. You can read more about it in our e-book.
You can buy the e-book at a special price here.
* All links in this article including accommodation through booking are affliliate. All in one place. It won’t cost you any extra money or effort, it will make your planning easier and save you time. We would be delighted if you booked your dream holiday through them 🙂
2 Comments. Leave new
Is it possible the e-book in spanish?
Thanks!
(You are brilliants)
Thank you! So the e-book is just in slovak/english so you would have to translate 🙂