How to get to Bali - complete instructions

Overview of how to get to Bali

Bali is very far from the Russian Federation and other CIS countries, it is an island in the southern hemisphere, i.e. the equator crosses on the way here. Flights here are very difficult and long, mostly take place with transfers.

Bali is also connected by regular and very frequent ferry service to the neighboring islands of Java, Lombok, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembogan and others, and in theory you can get here by land + ferry even from other countries. Just as an example, from Thailand you can enter Malaysia by train or bus, from there by ferry to Sumatra, then by ferry to Java, and finally from Java by ferry to Bali. But as a way to get from point A to point B, this, of course, is not an option, because you will spend a lot of time and money much more than on a flight. Such difficult routes will be interesting only if you want to travel more and visit places along the way. If you just need to get to Bali, then fly, and without options.

And now let's tell you more about all the methods with a schedule and cost:

By plane to Bali

Most tourists and travelers get to the island by plane, arriving at the international airport of Ngurah Rai (Ngurah Rai International Airport) or the same international airport of the city of Denpasar (Denpasar International Airport). The airport is located about 15 kilometers from the island's capital, Denpasar, in the tourist area of Kuta (airport on the map).

There are currently no flights from Russia directly to Bali, although talks about resuming direct communication are constantly underway. However, this is not a problem at all, since you can fly here with transfers, and they are significantly cheaper than direct flights. In addition, direct flights are very long and tedious, up to 12 hours.

A flight with a transfer in general, although it takes longer, sometimes even more than a day, but at least somehow allows you to change the situation, warm up during the transfer. In addition, now there are generally excellent options from Chinese airlines with one or two transfers in China and free transit hotels. In general, it is now possible to stay in China without a visa for as long as 10 days, so during such a flight you can also get acquainted with China. So that's what we're all about: you don't have to be afraid of flights with transfers, and if you want to get to Bali, then fly like this. Read more on the topic: Transit in China is now 240 hours - what you need to know.

You can find flights to Bali, including with transfers, using the search form from Aviasales or to Trip.com:

ЦЕНА	ПЕРЕСАДКИ	АВИАКОМПАНИЯ	ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА	ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ
Купить от 55515 ₽	1 пересадка		05.06.2026	06.07.2026
Купить от 54291 ₽	2 пересадки		10.07.2026	14.07.2026
Купить от 52419 ₽	2 пересадки		26.08.2026	20.10.2026
Купить от 52440 ₽	2 пересадки		16.09.2026	15.10.2026
Купить от 56146 ₽	2 пересадки		24.10.2026	28.10.2026
Купить от 55385 ₽	2 пересадки		23.11.2026	08.12.2026

How to get from Bali Airport to hotel and resorts

The airport is located very conveniently in the most tourist center of the island in the area of Kuta, and after leaving the terminal you will find yourself on the streets of this area. If you travel with a backpack, then you can even walk to the nearest hotels. This is really convenient if you need to rest before or after the flight, get acclimatized a little, exchange money, buy a SIM card and so on, and therefore go further. Just prepare for the fact that you will have to go to the exit from the airport through a "blockade" of molesters and taxi drivers who very obsessively offer their services.

If you want to get to your place of rest right away, you can use a taxi or a tourist transfer, unfortunately there are no other options:

• Taxi

  You can order a taxi at the counter in the arrivals terminal (this is a fixed-price trip to your hotel), through applications, or negotiate with drivers who will pester you immediately upon entering the arrivals hall.

  Let's start with molesting and taxi by agreement, this is important! Overpricing is very common here, for which the molesting drivers behave very intrusively and even aggressively. The price can easily be called 2-3 times higher than the official one or by meters, so you need to bargain with them. You can act according to a reliable scheme: check the price to your hotel at the official counter (it is determined by districts, prices will be given below) and through the taxi application, and after that you can bargain with them below this price. But in reality, it makes sense to do this only for trips to distant beaches, for example to Ubud, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Changu. For short trips to the center of Kuta, to Legian or Seminyak, there is no point in bargaining with them: you will simply lose time, and they are unlikely to agree to go below the fixed price.

  Taxi at the airport counter in the arrivals hall is a good and reliable option if you do not want to bargain or are poorly oriented around resorts. There you will tell the name of the hotel, at the counter they will determine the area where you need it, and they will tell you the price. Pay for the trip in cash at the end already at the door of the hotel.

  Here are the approximate prices of fixed-price taxi by district, if you are guided by the geography of resorts:

  • Kuta (near district), Jimbaran (near district) - 120,000 rupees / 6.73 USD
  • Kuta (center), Jimbaran (center), Legian, Seminyak 150,000 - Rupees / 8.41 USD
  • Denpasar - 180,000 rupees / 10.09 USD
  • Sanur, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa - 200,000 rupees / 11.21 USD
  • Changu - 310 000 rupees / 17.38 USD
  • Ubud - 360,000 rupees / 20.19 USD
  • Padangbai (ferries to Lombok, Gili, Nusa Penida), Chandidas - 450,000 rupees / 25.23 USD
  • Lovina (north of the island) - 650000 rupees / 36.45 USD
  • Gilimanuk (west of the island, ferry to Java) - 850000 rupees / 47.66 USD

  Taxi via apps are suitable if you are an advanced tourist and gadget user. And this is usually the most profitable option. Grab, GoJek, Maxim, inDriver applications work here. You can order a car or a motorcycle taxi through them. Uber doesn't work here.

  But an important point: no motorcycle taxis drive directly to the exit from the terminal, you will have to walk 100 meters to the landing point to the left after the exit (landing point on the map). When leaving the international terminal, there is a Grab Lounge office where you can order a taxi without an app and the Internet on your smartphone. To find her, ask the staff of the "Grab Lounge", you will be directed.

  Just keep in mind that taxi drivers here are very "smart", you can make legends about them. By analogy with other airports in Asia, barkers waving a smartphone will also meet you at the exit here, allegedly they work through applications and will take you at a Grab price. But in fact they ask for 2-3 times more, so you need to at least agree on the price before the trip and bargain with them.

  You can install at least all four applications to compare prices in them, or limit yourself to a pair of your choice. We told you more about these taxis in our instructions about transport to Bali, read and you can choose.

  To order, you can use the free airport WiFi or buy a SIM card at the airport. For information, SIM cards at the airport cost almost twice as much as they can be bought already in the city. Also, when leaving the international terminal, there is a Grab Lounge, where they will help you order a Grab taxi.

  Here are the prices to guide cars and motorcycle taxis through the application to the main tourist areas:

  • Kuta (near district), Jimbaran (near district) - 110,000 rupees / 6.17 USD
  • Kuta (center), Jimbaran (center), Legian, Seminyak 120 000 - rupees / 6.73 USD
  • Denpasar - 160,000 rupees / 8.97 USD
  • Sanur, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa - 210,000 rupees / 11.77 USD
  • Changu - 215 000 rupees / 12.05 USD
  • Ubud - 400,000 rupees / 22.43 USD
  • Padangbai (ferries to Lombok, Gili, Nusa Penida), Chandidas - 660,000 rupees / 37.01 USD
  • Lovina (north of the island) - 950 000 rupees / 53.27 USD
  • Gilimanuk (west of the island, ferry to Java) - 1,400,000 rupees / 78.5 USD

  These are real prices, but they can vary greatly depending on the time of day due to dynamic pricing.

• Tourist transfer

  A tourist transfer is almost the same as a taxi ordered at the counter on arrival at a fixed price. But the difference is that you can order it in advance online and even pay with a bank card of the Russian Federation, and upon arrival you will be met by a driver with a sign and delivered to the hotel. This option is suitable for you if you do not have enough experience of independent travel, do not speak English to deal with a taxi yourself on the spot, or if you simply prefer comfort.

  You can order a transfer online on a variety of sites and even through private telegram chats. But the well-known aggregator sites for ordering a transfer with an interface in Russian:

  • Kiwitaxi.ru
  • Intui.travel
  • GetTransfer.com

  Here is the search form from Kiwitaxi for ordering directly:

• By minibus

  After leaving the airport, you can get into a taxi on the street, called Public bemo. Bemos follow to various districts of Kuta, to Legian, Seminyak, and even to other cities of the island. The price depends on the distance. For example, 4500 to Kuta, 10,000 to Seminyak. Look for a sign with prices in different directions when leaving the airport to know how much to pay, otherwise the driver may charge you many times more than the prescribed fee.

By ferry

Bali is connected by regular and frequent ferry service to the neighboring islands of Java, Lombok, Gili Islands, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan. Here is important information for general understanding:

• There are slow ferries, which, among other things, can be used to ferry vehicles. They are cheap, they are mainly used by locals and a few tourists. Tickets for them are purchased on the fact before departure at the ticket offices at the marina or online. In general, online purchase of tickets for slow ferries is now the main method, but you can only pay with local cards or payment systems, so there are ticket offices of travel agencies in ports that take cash from you and issue an online ticket for you, of course, for a commission.
• There are high-speed ferries, they are much faster and significantly more expensive. Tickets are bought at travel agencies on the street, in hotels, online or at the offices of carrier companies, usually they are located in or near ports.

Be prepared for the fact that if you decide to come to the port yourself and buy tickets for a slow ferry before departure, you may be prevented from doing so. Distributors of tickets for high-speed ferries and "breeders" intercept tourists on approaches and passages to ports, and actively offer their services. Sometimes they are deceived that there is no slow ferry anymore and they just don't invent anything else. Therefore, if possible, book tickets online and arrive at the port with them.

• Port Gilimanuk (Pelabuhan Gilimanuk Bali)

  

  This is the main port for communication with the island of Java, on the other side of the Ketapang Ferry Port in banyuwangi (Gilimanuk port on the map). Slow ferries often run around the clock, there are no "divorced", you can safely buy a ticket and sail. At least that's the experience we've had. The ticket costs about 10,000 rupees (0.56 USD), on the way 30-60 minutes.

  Tickets can be purchased on the official website www.ferizy.com/, tourist www.tiket.com/, or at the cash desk at the port through travel agents in cash, but it will already cost 20 000 rupees.

  Near this port there is a small bus station within walking distance, from where you can take local cheap buses, the so-called "Chikenbas" almost anywhere on the island. Or get hooked on passing large buses from Java.

  

• Port of Padangbai (Pelabuhan Padang Bai)

  

  It is the main port for communication with the islands of Lombok, Gili, Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan (Padangbai port on the map). From here there are slow ferries and high-speed ones. It is here that be prepared for all kinds of divorces from sellers of speed boats and taxis.

  Prices for a reference point:

  • Lombok and Gili – slow ferry 4-6 hours from 75,000 rupees / motorcycle from 180,000 including passengers. High-speed ferries 2-4 hours from 300 000.
  • Nusa Penida – slow ferry from 60,000 rupees. High-speed ferries from 200,000.

  Ferries go to Lombok to different ports:

  • Bangsal (Bangsal Port) is a convenient port where you can immediately transfer to a local or tourist ferry to Gili, rent a motorbike at the pier to travel around Lombok, spend the night at the hotel.
  • Direct to the Gili Islands and back, bypassing Lombok.
  • Sengigi is the main resort area of Lombok with beaches, but it's not a fact that ferries go there now, find out everything on the spot.
  • Mataram and the port of Lembar (Dermaga Ferry Lembar) - ferries go here most often, but they are of little interest to tourists.

  The current schedule and prices in the network in all directions can not be found, everything needs to be found out on the spot and in fact, and even taking into account the weather. The best and most reliable option is to come to Padangbai overnight the day before (there is a place to stay), check the schedule, buy tickets and go in the morning. Here is a photo with information about the schedule for reference, but it may already be irrelevant, it's just for understanding:

  

  But if you want to cross on your motorbike or car, then you can come here and just sail away in fact in any of the directions to any port on Lombok, and already there on the island to get on your own where you need. Most often ferries go to the southern port of Lombok Lembar (Dermaga Ferry Lembar). Back, respectively, in the same way. Just keep in mind that not all distributors allow the movement of motorbikes on ferries, discuss this issue when renting.

  You can also see the schedule and prices for high-speed ferries from Padangbai on these carrier websites:

  • 12go.asia (there are all ferries at once, except slow ones)
  • wahanavirendra.co.id/fastboat-ticket/
  • ganggari.com/
  • ekajayafastferry.com/
  • bluewater-express.com/
  • www.giligilifastboat.com/
  • goldenqueenfastboat.com/
  • www.tanisfastcruise.com/
  • semayaone.com/

• Port of Sanur (Sanur Harbour)

  

  From here, only high-speed boats depart from/to Lombok to the port of Bangsal and the islands of Gili, Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Tickets are purchased online or at travel agencies. Port of Sanur on the map.

  Check these sites:

  • 12go.com (all ferries are here at once)
  • www.tanisfastcruise.com/
  • www.dcamelfastferry.com/
  • sugriwaexpress.com/
  • marlinfastboat.com/
  • scootcruise.com/
  • www.arthamasexpress.com/
  • dstarsfastferry.com/
  • semayaone.com/

By bus to Bali

You can get to Bali by intercity tourist buses from the cities of the island of Java (Java) or Lombok (Lombok). In fact, it will be the same as if you yourself get to the ferry port, cross over and take the bus again, only here everything is organized and easier, since you do not need to dock schedules and look for buses.

Tickets for such buses need to be bought at travel agencies or hotels, you can do it online (schedule below). If you have tickets from Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Banyuwangi, Malang, etc. An excellent route option we did from Yogyakarta to Bali by tourist bus with an excursion through the volcano Bromo and Ijen, we highly recommend.

Large regular buses, tickets for which are also sold in travel agencies and hotels, most often arrive at the Mengwi bus terminal, which is located far from tourist areas (Mengwi bus station on the map). To leave there, you need to order a taxi through the application or you will have to use the services of local private taxi drivers at triple the price. Theoretically, it is possible to leave here for Denpasar and Kuta on Bemo minibuses, but most likely you will simply not be allowed to do it by local pestering taxi drivers, they will press you hard to take off for the trip.

But there are ready-made tickets to tourist areas with a transfer to another bus in Gilimanuk or at Mengvi station. Check this when buying.