When is the Best Time to Visit Bali?

One of the first things you’ll need to decide when planning a trip to Bali is when to visit this beautiful island. Find out which months have the best weather, when the high and low season is, and choose the best month for your trip to Bali. 

So you’re planning a trip to Bali? Good choice! After spending 4 months in Bali last year, I fell in love with this little island and decided to spend most of this year there too.

I’ve experienced different seasons in Bali, so I’ve basked in the Bali sun and got caught in the crazy Bali rain. I’ve seen the island heaving with tourists in high season and experienced it slightly less crowded in low season. So when is the best time to visit Bali?

Most people visit between April and October, simply because this is the dry season. You’ll get beautiful weather and clear skies (mostly, no promises), and if you’re into surfing these months are perfect for catching waves too. However, dry season is also high season, and you’re likely to experience Bali at its busiest between April and October. July and August are particularly busy, but this seems to be the case with almost every destination.

So there are pros and cons to different months in Bali. When you should visit will depend on whereabouts in Bali you’re visiting, the activities you have planned, and your budget for flights and accommodation.

• Which Months Have the Best Weather in Bali?
• January in Bali
• February in Bali
• March in Bali
• April in Bali
• May in Bali
• June in Bali
• July and August in Bali
• September in Bali
  
• October in Bali
  
• November in Bali
  
• December in Bali
  
• Which Months Are Best for Surfing?
• When is the Most Affordable Time to Visit Bali?
  
• Events and Ceremonies

Which Months Have the Best Weather in Bali?

If it’s warm weather you’re looking for, Bali has this year-round. You can expect average temperatures between 26°C and 29°C, but the reality is that average high temperatures regularly reach over 30°C. Coastal areas in Bali, such as Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak and Sanur will generally be a bit warmer (and more humid) than places like Ubud which are further inland and surrounded by mountains.

If you check out the chart below, you’ll see there’s not much difference in average temperatures from month to month.

Watch Out for Rainy Season!

As well as considering the temperature, you’ll also want to think about the Bali seasons. Bali has two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The Bali rainy season is usually between October and April, so for most people, the best time to visit Bali is between April and October.

Even if you’re the sort of person that doesn’t mind the rain, it’s worth noting that Bali rain is pretty intense. It’s often torrential, non-stop rain for days during the wet season. And while it can be exciting to see such heavy rain, especially if like me, you’re from a country where the rain is a little pathetic, it quickly wears thin, and it will ruin your plans to get out and explore, lounge around by the pool or enjoy the beach. Almost all of the tourist attractions and things to do in Bali are outside, so if you’re planning to explore Bali’s sights and natural beauty, the rainy season isn’t the best time to visit.

However, the wet season is the cheapest time to visit Bali, so if you’re travelling on a budget, you may decide to brave the rain. And if you do visit Bali between October and April, check out this list of things to do in Bali in rainy season.

A Breakdown of the Months in Bali

If you want to get an idea of what Bali is like in different months, here’s a breakdown of what to expect from each month of the year.

January in Bali

January is Bali’s most rainy month. With an average of 27 days of rain, it rains almost every day, and there are often multiple showers a day. There are quite a few thunderstorms during this month, which usually occur during the afternoon, evening or overnight. The tropical thunder and lightning can be quite impressive to watch, but it’s not ideal if you have day trips planned.

February in Bali

February isn’t quite as bad as January in terms of rain and thunderstorms, but it still rains an average of 22 days a month. Even though you’ll have more sunny and dry days than in January, the beaches may not be at their best — storms can wash up a lot of debris and seaweed, so February isn’t the best time to visit if you’re hoping to visit Insta-worthy beaches.  And just like January, February is a particularly hot and humid month.

March in Bali

March is the last month of the Bali rainy season, and while it’s slightly drier than February, you can still expect rain on most days. March is the most humid month in Bali, so you can expect to get hot and sweaty if visiting the island during this month. It’s not too busy in March, but you will find a lot of long-term travellers head to Bali at this point. Many tourists also want to experience Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence. Scroll down to read more about this Nyepi.

April in Bali

April is the start of the dry season, and with an average of only 9 days of rain in the month, you can expect good weather for most of the month. However, during this month, tourism starts to pick up, especially over Easter. It’s still nowhere near as busy as July and August though, so if you’re looking for a mix of good weather and bearable crowds, this could be the best month to visit.

May in Bali

Weather in May is much the same as April, but it can be a little quieter as there’s no Easter rush of tourists. You can get some good deals in May, and with beautiful weather, quieter streets and beaches, this is a great time to plan your visit to Bali.

June in Bali

June is one of the best months to visit Bali. The weather is perfect and not too humid, with a very slim chance of rain. Tourism really starts picking up in June so you can expect more crowds, but still it’s a great time to visit.

July and August in Bali

July and August are Bali’s busiest months, because of school holidays and the perfect weather. Traffic can be crazy, and beaches fill up. You can also expect higher prices as this is the peak time to visit the island. While the weather is great, I’d suggest avoiding these months if you can, and instead plan your visit for one of the dry season’s shoulder months: April, May, June or September.

September in Bali

You can still expect good weather for most of September, but as this is the last month of the dry season, you might experience a few days of rainfall and slightly higher levels of humidity.

Flights to Bali from Australia can be more expensive towards the end of September as there is an Australian school holiday at the end of the month, and into the first two weeks of October.

October in Bali

October is the start of the rainy season in Bali. On average, it rains on around 12 days of the month, and while the rest of the month is generally blue skies and great weather, it can get quite humid. However, it’s worth noting that in recent years, perhaps because of global warming, the rainy season hasn’t kicked in until late October/early November. So if you’re planning a trip in October, you may not experience any rain.

The first two weeks of October are Australian school holidays, so it can be a little busier than September, but it’s still much quieter than peak season, and you can still find some good deals on accommodation and activities. But flights from Australia can be more expensive.

November in Bali

Visiting Bali in November is a good choice if you’re on a budget. The weather isn’t fantastic: it’s a fairly rainy month and high levels of humidity mean you’re going to get pretty sweaty, but you’ll find plenty of affordable accommodation options, and you can get some good flight and tour deals.

December in Bali

In December, Bali starts to enter the height of the wet season. The start of the month can be relatively quiet, but over Christmas and towards New Year tourism can start to pick up as lots of people love to get away for the holidays and celebrate somewhere hot. Indonesian school holidays and year-end work leave also fall in December, so it can be busy with local tourists.

Which Months Are Best for Surfing in Bali?

Bali is the perfect destination for surfers. The island is famous for its surfing spots. Whether you’re a pro surfer or a complete beginner, Bali has the waves for you. But if you want the best possible wave-catching experience, it’s worth planning around the best months for surfing in Bail.

If you’re planning on surfing on the west coast in areas like Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu and Legian, the best time to visit is between April and October. During these months the offshore wind creates the best waves for surfing.

However, the reef breaks in the east coast might appeal more to you if you’re an experienced surfer. And if you’re hoping to surf east coast shores in areas like Sanur, it’s best to visit between November and March. This may be the rainy season, but you’ll still have some clear days, and the swell will make up for it. Plus, there’ll be fewer people about, which is always an added bonus.

When is the Most Affordable Time to Visit Bali?

Bali is a fairly affordable destination all year round. The cost of living is less than most destinations in Europe, North America and Australasia. Like anywhere, there’s both an expensive and affordable side to Bali. And as long as you’re not fine-dining every day, and staying in 5* resorts, Bali is a great destination for backpacking on a budget. 

However, the most affordable time to visit Bali is in low-season, also known as the wet season. Between October and March, you can find accommodation, flights and tours that are attractively priced and perfect for travelling on a budget. February and March in particular are often the best time to find deals, as during these months, tourism is at its lowest.

Events and Ceremonies in Bali

If you’re really hoping to throw yourself into local ceremonies, you’re probably hoping to experience some local events, ceremonies or festivals. The good news is, Bali has hundreds of ceremonies and you’re going to encounter lots of them during your visit. For example, ceremonies are held to mark the ‘birthday’ of temples, and as there are around 20,000 temples in Bali, I’m sure you can imagine these ceremonies are quite frequent.

Here are some of the Balinese events that you might want to experience.

Melasti and Nyepi

Nyepi is Bali’s day of silence and it’s the most important Balinese Hindu celebration. The day marks the New Year in the Caka Calendar and for 24 hours the island is completely silent. Silence is compulsory, so even tourists need to stay in, be silent, and turn off the lights. Yep, you read that right, no lights are allowed during Nyepi.

In fact, there are several rules that everyone on the island must follow during Nyepi:

1: Don’t go out onto the street
2: No fire, light or electricity (this also means there will likely be no internet)
3: No motor vehicles
4: Be silent — no one outside of your room should be able to hear you
5: No travelling — the airport will be closed, and you won’t be allowed to drive anywhere

The only people allowed to break these rules are emergency services.

It’s an incredible day to experience. With no traffic, no talking, or TVs blaring, no music and no lights, the island is at its most peaceful. You’ll see the stars like you’ve never seen them before, thanks to the lack of light pollution. And if you’re a keen photographer, you capture beautiful pictures of the stars, and even of the Milky Way.

The days leading up to Nyepi also involve a variety of preparations and Melasti ceremonies — purification rituals and ceremonies. Locals create ‘ogoh-ogoh’ which are statues that take the form of mythical beings and demons. These figures represent the bad spirits that are guided to leave the island during Nyepi. They are paraded through the streets the evening before Nyepi.

Galungan and Kuningan

Galungan is a holiday that celebrates the victory of good over evil and it occurs during the 11th week of the 210-day Pawukon calendar (the Balinese have several different calendars). Kuningan

The holiday will consist of a series of ceremonies and for 10 consecutive days, you’ll find traditional decorations over the whole island, and locals will be participating in festivities and ceremonies.  You’ll see penjors lining streets and decorating temples — these are ornate bamboo poles that hold religious offerings. Walking through streets decorated with penjors is quite an experience, and these traditional decorations can make for some beautiful photos.

While you’ll still see some decorations like these at other times of the year in Bali, the island is even more beautiful during Galungan. And visiting Bali during this holiday gives you a chance to immerse yourself in Balinese culture.

Bali Arts Festival

The Bali Arts Festival happens every year and usually lasts for a whole month. It celebrates Balinese culture and art with performances, exhibitions and traditional decorations all over the island. This festival usually starts in June and ends in July.

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival happens every year in October. The festival consists of five days packed with writing workshops, talks from authors and journalists, live performances and artistic events. This is a great event to visit if you love literature and want to learn more about Indonesian culture and how it is represented in literature and the media. This is a reflective event that will leave you feeling inspired to write and read more, and you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of Indonesian history and culture.