Country guide

Indonesia

Babi guling inland, and the warung that beats the resort every single time.

4Guides published1Cities coveredMay–SepBest season

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Where we have beenCounted from the guides themselves — nothing here is typed by hand.

01Bali4 of the guides here are about Bali.4 guides

Every guide

All 4, newest first.

Everything we have written about Indonesia. The list fills itself as we publish.

Newest first, straight from the Indonesia tag.

Know before you go

The practical bits, answered.

Six things to know, then the questions people write in and ask.

VisaVisa on arrival for many nationalities, extendable once. Check the current fee and length.

CurrencyIndonesian rupiahCash for warungs and markets; cards fine in tourist areas.

Best seasonMay–SepMay to September is dry. October to April is the wet season, with heavy afternoon rain.

ScootersThe default transport and the main cause of trouble. You need the right licence for insurance to hold.

TrafficWorse than the map suggests. A 20km trip can take well over an hour in the south.

TippingNot traditional, increasingly common in tourist areas. Rounding up is fine.

When is the best time to visit Bali?+

May to September: dry, sunny and the most reliable. The wet season from October brings heavy afternoon rain, though it is quieter and cheaper.

How many days do you need in Bali?+

Ten days lets you do inland and coast properly. A week means picking two bases and accepting you will not see the rest.

Is Bali still worth visiting?+

Yes, if you go inland. The southern coast is crowded and heavily developed; thirty minutes away the island is still extraordinary and the food is far better.

Should you rent a scooter in Bali?+

Only with the correct licence — most travel insurance is void without it, and the roads are not forgiving. A private driver for the day costs very little.

Is Bali cheap?+

The food is remarkably cheap if you eat at warungs. Accommodation spans everything from a few pounds to resort pricing, so the budget is largely your choice.

Where should you base yourself in Bali?+

Ubud for rice terraces, inland food and a slower day. Canggu and Seminyak for the coast and the crowd that comes with it. Uluwatu for cliffs and surf.

Whatever you choose, do not try to cover all of them in a week. The distances are short and the journeys are not.

What should you eat first in Indonesia?+

Babi guling from a place that sells it only at lunch and runs out. Nasi campur from a warung where you point at what you want. Sate lilit on the coast.

The resort version of Balinese food is a pale thing. The real kitchen is regional and much bigger than Bali.

Indonesia

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