When is the Best and Worst Time to Visit Bali, Indonesia?

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I’m going to do something I very rarely do in blog posts. I’m going to answer the question immediately hahah. So when is the best and worst time to visit Bali, Indonesia?

The short answer is that there is no worst time to travel to Bali. LOLLL gotcha. But seriously. The island is beautiful year-round, and chances are you’ll love it no matter what month you visit. However, you’ll have to adjust your expectations and keep in mind that every month of the year has its pros and cons for tourists.

A lot of visitors are quick to say that the rainy season is the worst time to travel to Bali. This isn’t always true, especially depending on what you’re looking for. The months between November and April might have higher chances of rainfall, but there are also upsides to coming to Bali when tourism isn’t at its absolute (and almost unbearable) peak.

If you’re planning your trip to Bali at the moment and are trying to avoid the worst time to travel, this complete guide hopefully will have all the answers you’re looking for.

That said, me personally, I’ve only been to Bali once. That’s why I’ve enlisted the help of my friend, fellow travel blogger, and Bali resident, Victoria to give input on the best and worst time to visit Bali. She’s spent YEARS in Bali, both as a tourist and as a resident and have experienced every season from both perspectives.

Victoria is also a small business owner, shoutout to Klay Bar Canggu, so regardless of when you visit, definitely check out her spot and go home with a super special souvenir!

Alright, with that out of the way, let’s get into it!

A Quick Note on Climate Change

I promise it will be quick, but it has to be said. Indonesia’s seasons are changing, just like many parts of the world. The distinct dry and wet seasons don’t exist apart from each other like they once used to, and a lot of us are observing them blend into one entity more and more. This is one reason why weather information online that go month by month is so unreliable and outdated for Bali.

While your chances of sunny days are still the highest during the “dry season,” you’ll also have to expect regular downpours. The “rainy season” isn’t just 6+ months of daily monsoon rains anymore, and can actually bring a lot of sun and fantastic weather. However, due to these seasons being so unpredictable, your travel planning just became a lot more complicated. Plus, weather changes extremely quickly on the island. You’ll encounter sudden downpours just as quickly as they move on and the sun shines through.

We’ll get into these “rainy” and “dry” seasons in a minute, but just wanted to highlight why weather predictions are not always the best way to determine the best and worst time to visit Bali.

Rainy Season vs Low Season

Another quick note before we get into the best and worst time to visit Bali based on your interests…the low season is not the same thing as the rainy season, and vice versa the high season is not always exclusive to the dry season.

December to mid-January is actually one of the busiest times on the island, especially around Christmas and New Year’s. In additional, Chinese/Lunar New Year in February-ish is also one of the busiest times. Holidays in general actually. During holiday weeks, accommodation and car rental prices will be at an all-time high, so don’t assume you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of visiting Bali during the rainy season and it automatically translates to cheap prices.

When is Bali’s Rainy Season?

Most people would say the worst time to visit Bali is during the rainy season, which lasts roughly from November to April. October, April, and May are technically shoulder seasons and the weather is extremely hit-or-miss and vary each year, but that’s the rough cut-off.

During Bali’s rainy season, it rains frequently during these months, which already isn’t the most fun when you want to lay out on a sunbed, but also water visibility is also low during this time and the waves are generally higher, leading to bumpy ferry rides for snorkelers and divers.

Plus, stronger ocean currents during the rainy season lead to large amounts of plastic waste being washed ashore at many beaches.

It’s…not cute.

I know I said to take a month-by-month generalization of Bali weather as an imperfect indicator, but…December is generally the rainiest and probably the worst time to visit Bali from a weather standpoint.

But the rainy season also has benefits, and just because it usually rains a lot during this time doesn’t mean it always does. And I have some great tips for enjoying the rainy season in Bali too. So before you completely write off the rainy season as the worst time to visit Bali…hear me out. Here are some pros and cons to keep in mind if you’re considering coming to Bali during these months (outside of holidays).

Pros

+ Cheaper prices for accommodation, transport and tours
+ Fewer tourists, which means attractions aren’t as crowded
+ Lush, green landscapes, which can be dry and burnt in high season
+ More potential for spontaneous trips since flights, hotels, and tours are rarely sold out
+ Clouds help against the extreme heat of the direct sun (and great for photos)

Cons

– High chances of rain, especially in the afternoon
– Low underwater visibility, so not great for snorkelling or diving
– Increased level of trash and debris on the beaches
– High winds and waves can lead to bumpy boat rides
– Nightlife may be quieter than expected, especially on the Gili Islands, or Kuta Lombok
– Highest levels of humidity which can be uncomfortable

When is Bali’s Dry Season

Now then, the dry season in Bali is from roughly June to September and brings thousands of domestic and international tourists to the island, leading to a sharp increase in accommodation prices.

Most people would consider the dry season to be the best time to visit Bali since there is less chance of rainfall, but that chance is never truly zero. Bali is never completely dry, and if you’re unlucky it might rain every day of your “dry season” vacation. It’s less likely, but it does happen.

Again, April, May, and October are the shoulder seasons and slightly quieter and cheaper….but also are slightly wetter so pick your poison.

Pros

+ Best chance of sunny, dry weather
+ Best underwater visibility and great for snorkelling or diving
+ Cleanest beaches
+ Generally calmer seas
+ Best nightlife, especially on the islands
+ Less humidity

Cons

– Prices are significantly higher
– Tours, hotels and boats may be sold out far in advance
– The landscape is generally more dry and brown and not as lush
– Attractions may be overcrowded and less enjoyable
– Little cloud cover, which leads to extremely hot days (and harsher shadows on pictures)

The REAL Worst Time to Visit Bali

If you have limited time for your Bali trip and you want the highest possibility of good weather, of course, then the rainy season is the worst time to visit Bali. However, if you’re traveling for an extended time period and have a few days to spare, or you aren’t too bothered about some rain, then visiting during the rainy season might have some perks in store for you.

Personally, I love saving money on accommodations and avoiding crowds, so the rainy season isn’t the worst time to visit Bali in my opinion. There are also a lot of things to do in Bali when it’s raining.

In my opinion, the worst time to visit Bali is actually during the holidays, which include the usual “winter break” holidays like Christmas and Hannukah, but also other holidays that are more specific to the region.

Australian holidays.

When people say Bali is like Australian Cancun….they were not kidding. And listen, I love Cancun as much as the next gal, but it is packed to the brim with Americans. Bali gets the same way with Australians and, no shade, can get louder and rowdier than Americans.

THERE I SAID IT. And I’m not taking it back.

But anyways, the main Australian holidays and long weekends to look out for are Australia Day (Jan 26), Anzac Day (April 25), and school breaks in June/July and September/October, similar to an American Spring break and Thanksgiving break, but flipped because #SouthernHemisphere.

Conclusion

So these are just my thoughts and opinions on the best and worst time to visit Bali. But honestly, regardless of when you visit, as long as your expectations are adjusted accordingly, you’ll have a great time. I happened to visit over the tail end of Lunar New Year, so it was a bit booked and busy, but it honestly didn’t even rain that much and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was only in Bali for 5 days, so I can’t wait to go back and see more of this beautiful island and do more hiking!

I want to thank Victoria again for all of her suggestions, it definitely helped flesh out this post. Be sure to go visit her ceramic shop during your trip (which also makes for a great rainy day activity in Bali)!

Have you ever been to Bali? When would you say are the best and worst times to visit? Did I capture all of the main weather considerations? Let me know about your experience, when you visited, and your suggestions in the comments below! I’m curious to know!

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