Best time to visit Bali, month by month
By Ganesh ·
When to visit Bali. Dry and wet seasons, a month-by-month guide, Nyepi and other festivals, and the best months for honeymoons, family trips, diving and budget travel.
The short answer: the best time to visit Bali is the dry season, April to October, with May, June and September the sweet spots. Sunny, less humid and not as crowded or expensive as July and August. November to March is the wet season: hot, humid and green, with heavy afternoon downpours but lower prices (except over Christmas and New Year). Check whether your dates clash with Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence in March, when the whole island (including the airport) shuts down for 24 hours.
Weather and festival dates vary from year to year. Check before you go.
Bali's two seasons
| Dry season (April–October) | Wet season (November–March) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Sunny, lower humidity, about 27–31 °C; cooler nights in Ubud and the hills | Hot and humid, about 28–33 °C, heavy showers often in the afternoon or night |
| Sea | Good for snorkelling and diving; west-coast surf is big | Rougher on the west coast; east coast often better |
| Crowds and prices | Busy in July–August; moderate in April–June and September | Quieter and cheaper, except mid-December to early January |
| Best for | Beaches, Nusa Penida, Mount Batur trek, island hopping | Budget trips, rice terraces at their greenest, spa and villa stays |
Month by month
- January–February: the wettest months; good deals on villas; trekking and boat trips can be cancelled in bad weather.
- March: rain easing; Nyepi (Day of Silence) usually falls in March. No flights, no lights, no going out for 24 hours, with the spectacular ogoh-ogoh parades the night before.
- April: dry season begins; lush landscapes; one of the best-value months.
- May: sunny, mild and relatively quiet, a top choice.
- June: dry and pleasant; the Bali Arts Festival in Denpasar usually runs from June into July.
- July–August: peak season with European and Australian holidays: best weather but highest prices and crowds. Book well ahead.
- September: still dry, crowds thin out, another sweet spot.
- October: warm, with occasional showers starting; good value.
- November: wet season begins; humid with heavy afternoon rain some days.
- December: wet, but Christmas and New Year make it busy and pricey.
Galungan and Kuningan, major Balinese Hindu festivals, follow a 210-day calendar and fall at different times each year. You'll see tall decorated bamboo poles (penjor) lining the streets.
Best time by plan
- Honeymoon: May, June or September.
- Family trip in Indian school holidays: May–June works well; book early for the end of May.
- Budget: April, October or November (outside Christmas).
- Diving and snorkelling (Nusa Penida, Amed, Menjangan): April to November; mola-mola sunfish season around Nusa Penida is usually July to October.
- Mount Batur sunrise: dry season, for the best chance of a clear view.
Indian searches for Bali trips peak in December and again in April–May, so flight prices from India rise around those months.
Practical tips
- Rain in the wet season usually comes in bursts. Plan outdoor sights in the morning.
- Pack light clothes, a rain jacket, reef-safe sunscreen and a sarong for temples.
- Check entry rules before you fly: Indians get a visa on arrival or e-VOA, and visitors pay a Bali tourist levy. See the official site evisa.imigrasi.go.id.
- Plan the trip in Sancharees: each day shows typical weather for those dates, and the forecast once the day is about a week away.
FAQ
Which is the best month to visit Bali?
May, June or September, dry weather without the July–August peak.
Is it worth visiting Bali in the rainy season?
Yes, if you want lower prices and green landscapes. Expect afternoon downpours and keep flexible days for boat trips.
What happens during Nyepi?
The island observes 24 hours of silence: the airport closes, and visitors must stay in their hotel. Plan around it, or enjoy a very unusual day.
Photo: Bali, Rice fields, Rice terraces in East Bali, Indonesia by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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