Transportation In Bali

Flights – Flying to and from Denpasar, Bali

Bali is easy to get to from almost everywhere in the world. There are many airlines that fly directly to Denpasar or make only one stop (Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Qatar, Mumbay, etc.). Denpasar is also a great place to get to other places, and there are many good low-cost airlines that offer cheap flights to almost everywhere in the region.

Airport Transfer

There are three main options when leaving the airport. You can arrange for a private car rental to pick you up from the airport, arrange a taxi, or get a shuttle service.

• Taxi from the airport
  

  There are no official pick up points for metered taxis at Bali Airport. This means you have three choices.

  The first choice is ordering a taxi from one of the official taxi counters at the airport. The people behind them can speak good English and you are guaranteed to get a good service. Bluebird is the most reliable taxi company with metered cars.

  As you walk out of the arrivals hall at Denpasar Airport you will get a lot of people offering taxi services. These taxi drivers are not metered and you will have to bargain with them and even then you will pay more than you should. I would avoid ordering a taxi from any of these drivers as the price is often more expensive than at the official taxi counters (especially if you look very confused).

  Lastly the Grab application taxi. Grab Lounge is a location for pick-up the passengers and is equipped with various facilities to pamper passengers who use the Grab application service. Located in the International & Domestic arrival terminal Pick Up Zone.

• Private car rental
  

  In many ways this is the most convenient option (especially if you are getting off a long haul flight). You don’t have any hassle trying to organize anything on arrival. With the private transfer a person holding a sign with your name on it will meet you as you leave departures.

  If you choose the private car rental option the driver, who will speak English, will take you directly from the airport to your hotel. This is a great option, but you do need to arrange your private transfer before arrival. For more information about private car rental you can check on the internet.

• Shuttle service
  

  You can get a shuttle from Denpasar Airport to several of the larger hotels in Kuta. One of the companies that operate shuttles is called Plus Priority. A shuttle ticket costs USD25 and is valid for five days all over the island (Uluwatu, Ubud, Kuta, Legian, Jimbaran, Seminyak, Sanur, Tanah Lot, Nusa Dua and even to Kintamani). Plus Priority has a lounge at the International arrivals area of Bali Airport. It is open from 10 am until midnight.

Sorting out Transportation in Bali: The Basics

• When choosing your accommodation, take a good look at a map (Google Maps is a good option) and check how long it takes to walk, drive or take a scooter to the venue, beach or a restaurant nearby.
• Walking is usually fine in Bali if you are in the main tourism centers such as Seminyak, Sanur, Kuta, Ubud etc. But even here, distances are far, and sometimes it’s hard to get around because there aren’t enough sidewalks, traffic lights, or roads even.
• At times and in some touristy areas, the traffic can be very congested. Especially in Seminyak, Kuta, and Canggu, where formerly undiscovered roads, shortcuts, and small alleys can suddenly turn into a traffic nightmare due to a ruck or simply too many people trying to get through.
• Bali doesn’t have a public transportation system.

4 best options to get around in Bali

1. Taxis
   

   Bluebird is the most reliable taxi company with metered cars. We suggest you only use them if you choose a metered taxi. You can stop them on the road or ask the hotel reception to call. Although these taxis do have meters, you might need to demand that they turn the meter on. If the driver refuses then just get another taxi. One crucial thing to check is whether the taxi meter is functioning correctly, especially if you'll be charged based on the distance traveled. By making sure the meter is working properly, you can ensure a fair and transparent fare, without the risk of getting ripped off.

   Private Taxis
   There are lots of drivers who are ready to help you and take you also for short distances – like a taxi. Most of the time, you can’t miss them. Especially in popular places like Ubud, Sanur, Seminyak, etc., you will be asked a lot if you need “TRANSPORT” just by walking around. The downside is, that you would have to bargain, which at times can be u pleasant and annoying.

2. Transportation Apps (Gojek and Grab)
   

   The prices are transparent, and the service and availability is (generally) great. You can order a scooter taxi for short trips in those apps. They are very cheap, come with a helmet, and let you avoid the main roads, where traffic is often too much to handle. If you need to go a long way or have a lot of stuff, you can order a car taxi online.

3. Rent a Scooter or Motorbike
   

   You should definitely consider renting a scooter or motorcycle while in Bali. It’s fun, cheap, and gives you plenty of freedom to visit the nearby restaurants, beaches, shops, and other places at your own pace.

4. Private Car Rental with Driver
   

   Hire a car with a driver for half or full day is a great option. You can discuss with the driver were to go, they usually know nice places, or you know already where to go.

   The challenge is that it can be hard to figure out how much your drop-off should really cost and what is a fair price, and just like in any other popular tourist spot in the world, travelers can be overcharged if they don’t know what a service should cost—especially late at night when alcohol is involved.