Beautiful beaches, fascinating nature, delicious food and much more – Bali is one of the most popular travel destinations for many people around the world and that doesn’t surprise us at all! It is the most famous island in Indonesia and rightly so. Whether surfing and diving, visiting a SPA center and treating yourself to aromatherapy or climbing a volcano and watching the sunrise from there – a Bali vacation has a lot to offer and everyone will definitely get their money’s worth. Which are the most popular Bali attractions, how much a trip to Indonesia will cost you and many other useful travel tips for a relaxing holiday in Bali can only be found in our article!
A holiday to Bali feels like a never-ending adventure – there is an activity to suit everyone. Learn to surf or dive, take yoga or cooking classes or pamper yourself with a Balinese massage. However, before every trip there is the question of how much it will cost. The price level on the island is far below the costs in Europe. The food and accommodation are much cheaper than in Italy, France or Spain, for example. Depending on the season, flight prices are between 650 and 1200 euros and the flight itself takes around 12 to 16 hours. The currency in Indonesia is called the Indonesian Rupiah and is abbreviated as IDR. Around 15,000 IDR equals 1 euro.
The costs at a glance
- Visa Bali – If your vacation lasts less than 30 days, as a German citizen you do not need to pay for a visa. If you want to stay on the dream island for longer than 1 month, you have to ask for a visa on arrival at the airport – this costs 40 euros and is valid for another 30 days.
- When it comes to accommodation in Bali, you can find both super cheap apartments and hostels as well as really expensive and unusual luxury hotels. For a double room in a budget hotel you usually pay between 315,000 and 700,000 IDR per night, which is around 21-40 euros. If you want to book an entire house, prices are around 30 euros per night.
- Local food is not only delicious, but also extremely affordable. For a decent portion of meat with rice you usually pay between 1 and 5 euros. A beer costs around 1.20 euros and a bottle of water even costs less than 60 cents. But imported foods such as wine, cheese and beef are very expensive. On the whole, you would have to expect around 20 euros per day for food and drink.
When should you visit the dream island?
The typical seasons as we know them do not exist in Bali – there is a warm and tropical climate all year round. Temperatures are constant all year round and range between 28 and 33 degrees Celsius. Since the island is very close to the equator, there is a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season lasts from November to March and the dry season – from April to October. So if you want to enjoy the beautiful summer weather and relax on the beach, you should plan your Bali vacation during the dry season. July to August and over the Easter and Christmas holidays are high season on the island and prices are also at their highest.
Is the travel destination dangerous?
Whether you’re on an Oaxaca vacation in Mexico or visiting a city in Europe, safety must definitely be your top priority. Compared to other exotic travel destinations, Bali is generally considered quite safe. In fact, the island is one of the safest places in the world for women traveling alone. Below are some things you should pay attention to as a tourist in Bali.
- Natural disasters in Bali – Since Indonesia is located in an active earthquake zone, various natural disasters occur there again and again. However, after the major tsunami disaster in 2004, many tsunami early warning systems were installed, which signal a danger in good time. There are a total of 4 active volcanoes in Bali, but only the Mountain volcano has been spewing smoke and ash for the past two years and is causing concern for the population. For this reason, a 4 kilometer exclusion zone has been in effect since 2018 and as long as you stick to it, you will not be in danger.
- Street thieves are pretty much everywhere, but we still want to mention it. Never take all your money with you and be careful when withdrawing cash from ATMs.
- Overpriced taxis are the most common tourist trap in the world. The cheapest and official taxis in Bali are called “Blue Bird”.
- Traffic is quite chaotic, the streets are overcrowded and accidents often occur, which can result in hospitalization or even death.
- Watch your drinks – There have been several reports of toxic substances in tourists’ drinks in Bali, so you should always keep an eye on your drink.
- Poisonous snakes are also a potential danger on a Bali vacation. The king cobra is at home on the island, but the chances of you encountering a poisonous snake are very low. And if they do, then the so-called “defensive bite” usually only occurs, which is associated with a very small amount of poison and is therefore not considered fatal.
- Do not drink tap water – The tap water on the island is not drinkable unless it is boiled – such as for coffee or tea. So only drink water from bottles or cans and make sure that they are really closed and undamaged. You should also use mineral water when brushing your teeth. Even though in recent years the government has been very careful to ensure that restaurants and bars use ice cubes from safe sources, we recommend that you avoid them.
Bali vacation – Are vaccinations necessary and if so, which ones?
Before vacationing in Bali, all tourists should make sure that their vaccinations, which are also common in Germany, are up to date. Depending on your age and state of health, other preventative vaccinations may also be possible, but these are not mandatory. The following vaccinations are strongly recommended by many doctors:
- Hepatitis A and B
- rabies
- Typhus
- Tetanus
- diphtheria
- Even if there is no vaccination against malaria, we recommend that you take medication to protect against the disease. While the disease is not particularly common in Bali, there is a higher risk of malaria on some of the nearby islands.
What could you do during your vacation?
- Visit Temples – If you are interested in Hinduism and temples, then consider yourself lucky. With around 20,000 temples on the island, Bali is not called “The Island of a Thousand Temples” for nothing. The most famous temple is “Pura Besikah” on Mount Agung and the climb takes around 3-4 hours. Other popular and beautiful temples include Pura Taman Ayun, Pura Goa Lawah and Pura Luhur Ulu Watu. Since the Balinese are very religious, you are only allowed to enter a temple if you are attractively dressed. You must wear a so-called saron that completely covers your legs and shoulders.
- Mount Batur – The only active volcano on the island is located there and a hike up the mountain is an absolute must for every Bali vacation. Since the view from there at sunrise is simply spectacular, most tours start at 3 a.m. The climb is arduous and takes about 2-3 hours, but the effort is worth it because when would you again have the chance to see the sunrise on a volcano high above the clouds?
More ideas for Bali activities
- Visit a spa – various aroma therapies, massages or peelings – a Bali vacation is the perfect way to be pampered and relieve stress. Although there are SPA salons all over the island, the best complexes are in Ubud. And the procedures aren’t expensive either – you pay between 70 and 120 euros for a full 5-hour program. Treat yourself to a Balinese massage in an old palace with beautiful ponds and gardens – doesn’t that sound fantastic?
- Yoga in Bali – Since yoga has many similarities with the beliefs and attitudes of the Balinese, the island is considered a yoga mecca. Whether schools, training courses, studios and even festivals – you will find it all!
- Try local dishes – In addition to the countless sights and activities, you must also try out the delicious local dishes. The tastiest fast foods are offered in a warung. These are typical, small restaurants with low prices and excellent food. You should eat Nasi Campur at least once during your vacation in Bali. This is a typical Indonesian dish consisting of many other small dishes and fried rice. It usually consists of lamb, beef or pork curry, grilled fish, various vegetables, tofu, shredded coconut and rice. Several spicy chili sauces, also known as sambalas, are served.
Useful travel tips for an unforgettable vacation
During your vacation in Bali, you will have the opportunity to try out countless adventurous activities and sports. You could go paragliding, hiking, horseback riding, diving, surfing and more.
- Surfing in Bali – The island is known worldwide for its world-class waves and whether you are a beginner or an advanced surfer, all surfers will get their money’s worth there. You can find surf schools and teachers on every corner. The most popular surfing spots in Bali include Kuta, Canggu and Seminyak in the east and Balian and Medewi in the west.
- Diving and snorkeling in Bali are other popular activities among tourists. The island is located in a coral triangle and the diverse underwater world makes diving a dream. Padangbai, Amed, Tulamben and the small island of Pulau Menjangan offer deep blue waters and countless beautiful coral reefs and for this reason they are particularly popular among divers. Or how about looking at a steel fish or a Buddha statue underwater? You could admire all this and much more at the “Bio Rock” in Pemuteran. The place is one of the most unusual and beautiful diving areas in the world.
- The Monkey Forest in Ubud is one of the most popular attractions in Indonesia and should not be missing from the list of activities for your Bali vacation. The monkeys there are already used to tourists and are allowed to be fed bananas. However, caution is advised – the monkeys in Bali can also become very aggressive and are known to steal things from people’s bags.
- Visit the rice fields – A holiday in Bali has much more to offer than just fairytale beaches. The rice fields are also a trademark of the island and especially the Jatiluwih rice terraces and the Tegalang fields in Ubud are particularly beautiful and definitely worth a visit. The terraces are most beautiful towards the end of the rainy season.
- The Gili Islands – White sandy beaches, deep blue water and small restaurants and bars with live music – less than 2 hours by boat from Bali, the Gili Islands are a small oasis for relaxing, diving or swimming. There are no real roads or vehicles on the three islands, giving you a real break from the tourist crowds in Bali.
- Visit some of the beautiful waterfalls in Bali. Whether you just want to enjoy the view or take a dip in the water, the island’s waterfalls have a unique, fairytale charm that will blow anyone away. Particularly recommended are the Tegenungan Waterfall, the Sekumpul Waterfall and the Gitgit Waterfall.
- A trip to Kuta Bali is definitely not for everyone. The city is like the Tijuana or the Ballermann of Bali. There are countless hostels, many bars and discos and of course many drunk young tourists. So if you’re up for a wild night of partying, this is the place for you. But Kuta could be very dangerous at night, especially for women. However, the city has one big advantage: the waves there are perfect for surfing!
- For your Bali vacation, we recommend trying out lots of new types of coffee and tea. How about a cinnamon coffee or a ginseng coffee, for example? There are various coffee plantations on the island where you can taste many different varieties, such as vanilla or coconut coffee. Have you ever heard of the super expensive coffee Kopi Luwak? This variety is only produced in Bali in a very special way – the coffee beans ferment through the stomach of the civet cat. But don’t worry – after cutting them out they will be thoroughly cleaned.
- Learn a few words and sayings in Balinese or Indonesian – The people who work in the hotels and big stores may have a passable level of English, but it wouldn’t hurt if you learned a few basic words in Indonesian yourself. Selamat Pagi means “good morning”, Terima Kasih means “thank you” and Tolong means “please”.
- Negotiate while shopping! – On the first day you will notice that in Bali there is often one price for tourists and a completely different one for locals. Prices are only fixed in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. But when it comes to the prices of souvenirs, accessories and clothing or even fresh fruit and vegetables in the markets, only one thing applies: bargain!
Important rules of conduct for your Bali vacation
Even though a holiday in Bali is usually associated with beaches and cocktails, there are some rules of conduct that you should definitely follow.
- Only wear swimwear on the beach – Walking through the streets in a bikini is considered inappropriate in Bali.
- Tips are usually included in the price and you should not give more than around 1 euro extra.
- You are not allowed to enter a temple during menstruation or with open wounds.
- Do not take or give anything with your left hand because it is considered unclean in Indonesian culture.
- Smile and greet people on the street – The locals are very friendly and everywhere you go you will immediately notice that everyone greets each other.
- No kissing in public – If you are planning a Bali vacation with your partner, you should know that you are not allowed to kiss in public.
