A Guide To Getting Around Bali In 2024: Everything Explained!

1. Renting a moped

This isn’t an option for the faint hearted, and I couldn't bring myself to drive one solo, but thankfully Brad is brimming with confidence and was happy to drive the roads of Bali.

The biggest advantage of driving a moped is how cheap they are! Once we drove our first one in Bali, we were hooked and used them in almost every other stop when backpacking Southeast Asia.

Mopeds cost between 60,000 IDR to 100,000 IDR per day for a 125cc scooter, and you can usually haggle a lower price depending on the length of your stay there.

Many bike rentals also offer delivery and pick-up services (to airports, your villa or hotel, etc).

One example is Pakegoo, which we love as they often have good deals for weekly and monthly rentals.

What's great is that fuel prices in Indonesia are incredibly cheap, and even with a few hours of driving every day, you'll likely never spend more than $2 in fuel a day.

So, if you are travelling in Bali on a budget, then this is the best option if you can handle the roads!

But before you hire, here are some things to note:

• Always wear a helmet. Yes, they aren’t the most flattering objects in the world but they are essential and a legal requirement. If a local Balinese person is caught by the police not wearing their helmet it’s a 300,000 IDR fine, if it’s a foreigner, you can expect it to be a lot more. It's also a legal requirement to use your indicators, but you'll soon realise 80% of people don't. While it's true that Bali is quite lax with these regulations as there aren't as many police officers roaming around (compared to Jakarta and larger cities), please do so for personal safety instead of law compliance. Motorbike accidents are so common here and sometimes the difference between death and minor injuries is in whether or not you're wearing a helmet. We have lots of stories from friends and relatives who got into accidents but survived because they were wearing helmets PROPERLY. Make sure the helmets are fastened and not too loose. After all, there's no point if you fall and the helmet just flies off...
• Recent laws in Bali mean that police officers CANNOT ask you for money when and if they pull you over on the road. If you are issued a fine, you will be given a piece of paper with the description of the fine and the amount due to be paid and you take it to the courts to pay. It is now illegal for police officers to take money on the streets, so know your rights. This is all coming from local people, and they say the best thing to do is take a picture of the police officer's badge and report him if this happens. Bali is trying to crack down on bribery. ‍
• Mopeds and motorbikes run the road. This means you need to be super aware when driving. You can’t drive like you would back home, you need to drive like a local and you will survive.
• In around around Kuta, you will actually find some of the best roads anywhere in Indonesia. However, if you venture further afield (especially up north) the roads become more rugged and there will be a lot of potholes, so take care to drive sensibly and not overtake when you can't clearly see the road ahead.‍
• The biggest threat is other drivers, especially fellow bike drivers. Drivers come out of nowhere and overtake in unsafe places, so just stay alert and be sensible. We've noticed that cars are usually more careful and aware of other bikes and pedestrians, whereas bikers can be more reckless.‍
• Don’t drink and drive. According to locals the biggest death on the roads due to mopeds are tourists and it’s a result of getting pissed then trying to drive home. This is a stupid idea and you wouldn’t do it back home, so don’t do it here. You are not only putting yourself at risk but everyone else too. There are many other cheap transport options if you plan to have a drink and I will list them below.‍
• When you are parking around Bali the official cost for locals is around 2000 IDR per moped, do not feel the need to pay anymore than this - they are ripping you off.
• Get yourself an international driving licence. A crucial part of any Bali packing list! Depending on where you are from, how you get these and how much you will need to pay will vary. In the UK, an International Driving Permit costs £5.50 from the local post office and they are valid for one year. They are really good in case you are stopped by local police, if you don’t have this licence, you can get fined. For the cheap cost, you may as well carry one!
• Be careful when following Google Maps/ Waze directions. A lot of the roads in Bali are very small and treacherous, with narrow two-way lanes that can barely fit two motorcycles and open rice fields on either side (the most famous one is probably the Canggu Shortcut, although nowadays there are lots more shortcuts like this). There are many cases of people falling off the road and plunging headfirst into the fields, which could be serious if you're speeding. So if you're not yet a confident rider, try to check the maps and directions before hitting the road, and choose wider, main roads even if it might add a few minutes/ kilometers to your journey.
• Don't go on your phone while driving. This sounds like a no-brainer but you won't believe how many people do this. If you're following maps, at least get a phone holder mount or use voice directions so you can have both hands on the steering handle.

**UPDATE** We visited Bali for the second time in 2019 (our first visit was in 2017) and it seems that police checks for drivers licenses have increased big time! In 3 weeks, we got stopped perhaps every other day, almost always on the way into or out of Kuta. Just remember what I said above, DO NOT hand over a fine there and then if caught without a license. Most of the time, the officer never even checked the license we gave him. In fact, he didn't even take it out of the plastic bag we keep it in! He simply saw that I had a piece of paper and flashed it away. I honestly believe that most of the officers are simply trying to get a quick pay day from you; don't oblige them!

You can easily rent a moped by reserving online. I recommend this scooter rental for its great prices and high reviews!

For an in-depth guide to renting mopeds in Bali, check out this article: Renting A Scooter In Southeast Asia: All Your Questions Answered

2. Using ride-hailing apps

As of 2024, the 2 dominant ride-hailing apps in Bali are Grab and Gojek.

When we visited in 2017, this wasn't the case and instead Uber was the big kid in town.

Well, not anymore, it's completely out.

First up, Grab

Grab is super cheap, super easy and super useful.

During our first visit to Bali, a taxi from Denpasar airport to Seminyak was around 60,000 - 70,000 IDR with Grab (nowadays, the price is around 120,000 IDR if not more).

When arriving at the airport, you'll need to login to the airport WiFi and order it from the main lobby before heading out to the official Grab pick-up point. There are clear directions to this on the app.

For those who don't plan on using a ride-hailing app at the airport, you'll need to be savvy with the price you ask for! 

As with many airport destinations, taxis at the airport are a rip-off.

On our first visit to the island, the first guy we got in a taxi with, drove us out of the airport, then realised the place he needed to take us was “too far”, even though he had seen the address before we got in the car.

He then proceeded to ask us for 350,000 for the journey, instead of the 120,000 we had agreed upon. When we said no, he said we would never find a taxi man to take us (our friends had arrived a couple of hours earlier and got the same route for 100,000) and threw us out of the taxi on a busy road - I didn’t like him.

PS. If you want a cheap and fuss free airport pick up service with a private driver, opt for this one. It's nice because you can book ahead and someone will already be waiting for you once you land in Bali. Sometimes it works out at a similar price to using Grab.

Here's a few things to note about Grab:

• Locals don’t like it, so they will tell you it’s illegal - it’s not.
• Many areas such as Canggu have official drop off zones, so as to limit the number of taxis in the area. So be aware that your driver may not be able to drop you to the doorstep you are hoping to arrive at.
• Grab cars are generally nicer than taxis and most drivers speak English and want to get to know you and chat- it’s very nice!
• Taking a Grab (or any other taxi) is slower than travelling by moped. If your journey says it’s estimated 15 minutes on Google Maps, you can guarantee with the Bali traffic it will take twice to three times as long. This can be super frustrating, but it’s the nature of the hectic life there. The roads are dead in the evening however so you will fly through!
• Grab is CHEAP. Expect most journeys to cost you around maybe half to a third of what they would back home. When you’re splitting that between 2 or 4, it’s crazy cheap.
• You can rent mopeds from Grab too which is about half the price of a car and generally quicker.
• You can even rent drivers by the hour from 4 hours to 10 hours to take you around all of Bali which is great. When you fill a car that fits 6, it works out like 2 pounds a day for a driver.

You can download the app here: Android / Apple

Gojek

For perhaps 80% of our ride-hailing and food ordering (which we did a LOT) we used Grab.

It simply came down to the fact that we like how the app works and we had our bank details all set up in there.

That being said, there were a few occasions where the app couldn't find us a driver nearby, so we used Gojek to search as well.

On average, it seemed like Gojek actually worked out slightly cheaper for many rides than Grab (though it really wasn't by very much).

But sometimes during peak hours or after rain, it's easier and faster to get assigned a driver with Grab.

My advice would be to download both apps and use the one that you like most. But for the occasions where it's unable to get you a driver quickly, start your search on both apps and see which one comes back first.

Another point to note about Gojek is that it also does food delivery (the service is called GoFood).

You can download the app here: Android / Apple

3. Calling a taxi

If you need to get a taxi then go for Bluebird taxis. It’s recommended for tourists and locals and it goes by the meter.

They’re all moderated and safe, and they have an app in which you can download and pay via credit card, just like Grab.

I’d say expect to pay twice as much here compared to a Grab or Gojek journey- but even still it's not that expensive.

Just be aware there are other blue taxis that look like bluebird but aren't and will rip you off. The bluebird taxis will have the word Bluebird written on them.

Also, you can actually order a Bluebird taxi through the Gojek app! It's labeled GoBlueBird.

You can download the app here: Android / Apple

Read Also: The Best Bali Instagram Tour

4. Hiring a car and driver

You can hire a car and driver in Bali for around 8-10 hours for approximately $15-$30.

They are yours for the day and will take you where you need to go and pick you up too.

It’s a good idea for sightseeing and if you want to move at your own pace without the added effort of finding taxis and negotiating prices.

It’s also a nice idea for families or couples. My sister used it with her boyfriend when they visited us, as neither one of them wanted to ride a moped.

It cost them 500,000 IDR for 10 hours, which was plenty to get them all the way up to Sideman from Kerobokan, and to stop off at some sites along the way.

Hiring a car with driver is great if you're travelling longer distances around the island (including day trips to Ubud or Kintamani from Seminyak/Canggu/Kuta areas). It's much more convenient too. You can even rent for multiple days or a week, which will work out even cheaper.

There are a few main ways to find cars and drivers for the day in Bali, which include:

Klook

You can easily book a driver online for less than $30 a day. Split that between you and your friends and it’s even cheaper. Book this highly rated service here.‍

If you want a cheap and fuss free airport pick up service, opt for this one.

Alternatively, you can check out this private car option on GYG which has over 2000 reviews.

Google

A quick Google search will turn up loads of sites for finding such drivers, we opted for balicarrentalcheap.com.

Grab

You can also rent drivers for the day through Grab, and I'm not sure if Gojek offer it as well.‍

Read Also: The Best Beaches In Bali

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5. Taking local shuttle buses

KURA-KURA is a tourist/local shuttle bus that services popular spots in Bali.

You can buy tickets from Kura-Kura ticket booths or on board the bus itself.

The route includes stops in Kuta, Sanur, and Ubud.

You can find out all about the route and service frequency on the website so you can easily plan your day.

Each KURA-KURA line has a flat-fare for a single journey.

It's 100,000 IDR per person from Kuta to Ubud (and vice versa) or 160,000 IDR for a round-trip ticket. There's also a charge (20,000 IDR) for luggage.

Whilst these routes will take much longer in the traffic, they are super cheap and great for groups of friends and solo travellers.

Also, they have free WiFi!

6. Car rental (driving on your own)

Personally, we don't recommend hiring and driving your own car unless you're a very good driver.

Driving a car in Bali is so different from everywhere else, even from Jakarta and other large towns in Southeast Asia.

Western countries typically have larger roads and very proper traffic, and unfortunately that's not the case here...

So driving a car is probably more stressful than it's worth.

Not to mention the traffic jam situation is pretty bad!

But if you're a confident driver and really want to, you need to provide an international license and a national driving license. The regulations for renting cars in Bali are usually stricter than renting a moped.

7. Taking a tour

As public transport is so limited on Bali, getting around can be a challenge in some areas, especially if you don't want to hire a scooter.

In this case, we'd suggest taking a look at the many tours on offer.

By taking a tour, all transport will be organised for you and you'll likely have other inclusions too such as entrance tickets, snacks, or even lunch.

This Bali Instagram tour is a great example of what's available!

With over 3,000 reviews and 30,000 bookings, it's a popular option that will see you visit many of the island's famous photography spots. This includes Lempuyang Temple, Handara Gate, Tirta Gangga, and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple.

Alternatively, you can opt for something like this full-day customisable tour. On this private tour, you can choose the travel route. The driver will prioritise specific places that you want to visit, but you can also ask them for local recommendations.

8. Walking

Last but not least, walking! One thing to note that certain neighborhoods are more pedestrian-friendly than others.

Seminyak and Kuta are really good for walking around.

But on most roads in Canggu, there's hardly any sidewalk (except for the main street, Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong), so it's best to avoid walking even if the distance seems short.

Again, there are lots of speeding bikes and the streets can get so packed during rush hour, so it's never a good idea to walk where there are no sidewalks.

But if you do end up walking on these no-sidewalk streets, make sure to stick VERY close to the left side and don't block the traffic!

Even if there are sidewalks, some scooters will happily hop onto the pavement to avoid traffic so you need to keep your wits about you.

How will you get around Bali?

As you can see, there are a few different ways to get around Bali.

Confident drivers should certainly think about hiring a scooter as they offer a lot of convenience and rentals are very affordable.

Those who don't want to tackle Bali's crazy roads can always hire a private driver (for a great price) or use taxi's to get around.

As the island is so popular, you won't be short of tour options either, so there's plenty of choices.

If you have any other tips for getting around in Bali, let us know in the comments below...

Read Also:

• The Most Romantic Things To Do In Bali
• Where To Stay In Bali (No Matter What Your Budget)