overview
Bali is an Indonesian island located at the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich cultural heritage. The island is home to more than 4 million people, mostly Balinese Hindus. The capital of Bali is Denpasar, located in the southern part of the island and is the seat of government and the center of commerce.
💡 Interesting fact: Did you know that Bali has its flag?
Bali Flag
This Guide will give you a brief overview of general information that is useful to know before visiting the island. It includes basic information on geography and demographics, transport information, and other helpful tips for travelers. It will also help you better understand what to expect from a visit to Bali, so you can better plan your trip. Whether you're looking for information about the weather, money, or the best time to visit, this Guide will provide it.
This Guide is divided into the following sections:
Geography
Bali is a province of Indonesia in Southeast Asia and is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is located approximately 8° south of the equator, 3.8 km far from Java to the west, and 36 km from Lombok to the east. The island's width is about 143 km, and the height is about 88 km. It covers a total area of 5,633 km2. Three smaller islands in the southwest belong to Bali: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan (more in the Nearby Islands Guide).
The northern part of the island is washed by the Bali Sea, and the southern part by the Indian Ocean. Bali is a coral island of volcanic origin, so most beaches are black sand, those with light sand are mainly in the southern part of the island (more in the Beaches Guide).
Mount Agung (Gunung Agung), the highest mountain and active volcano, rises 3,031 meters above sea level. The last major eruption, which caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and the airport's closure for several days, was in November 2017. Several other volcanoes in Bali are over 2000 m above sea level (more in the Volcanoes Guide).
Dimensions of Bali island
Mount Agung (3 031 meters), highest Bali volcano
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Demographics
Bali (data as of 2020) has a population of 4,317,404 with a density of 747 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The population is divided into ethnic groups as follows: 87 % Balinese, 7 % Javanese, 1 % East Indonesians, 1 % Aga, 1 % Madurese, and 3 % other groups (2010 data).
The different religions in Bali are represented as follows: 86.91 % Hinduism, 10.05 % Islam, 2.35 % Christianity, 0.68 % Buddhism, and 0.01 % other (data as of 2020).
87% Balinese
7% Javanese
1% East Indonesians
1% Aga
1% Madurese
3% Others
86,91% Hinduism
10,05% Islam
2,35% Christianity
0,68% Buddhism
0,01% Others
Bali Ethnic Groups (2010)
Bali Religions (2020)
There are approximately 109,801 foreigners living in Bali (as of 2021). In descending order, Russia, the USA, Australia, the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, the Netherlands, and Canada are the most represented nations.
In 2019, 6.2 million foreign tourists and 10.5 million domestic tourists from Indonesia came to Bali.
The island is divided into nine politically administrative regions/districts called Kabupaten. Sometimes it is referred to the 8 + 1 Kota as the capital of Denpasar. To view the population and size of each area, click on each location on the map below.
Can't you see the map? Google can be stubborn. Try this link.
These individual Kapubaten districts are further divided into Kecamatan (57x), Kelurahan (80x), and Desa (636x) sub-districts. These are further subdivided into smaller parts of Banjar municipalities.
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Languages
The official language of Bali is Balinese and Indonesian (Bahasa Bali and Bahasa Indonesia). Balinese has several variations according to the caste to which one belongs (see the Caste System Guide for more information). Around tourist spots, Indonesian is predominantly spoken, as many of the population from the surrounding islands who do not speak Balinese work in tourism and services.
The following most common language in predominantly tourist places is English. However, don't expect to speak English in remote parts of the island with older people, who unfortunately don't speak it in most cases. They often can't even speak Indonesian, which only became an official language when Indonesia declared independence in 1945. However, all young people are already taught English at schools (see the Languages Guide for more information).
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Weather
Bali is located in the equatorial zone with constant weather, where the average temperature is around 30°C all year round, and the humidity is 85 %.
Two seasons alternate: dry and rainy. The dry season is approximately from April to September, and the rainy season is from October to March. For more information about the weather, including a monthly breakdown, see the Weather & Seasons Guide.
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Time & Date
Bali is in the UTC+08 (WITA) time zone - Central Indonesian Time. Summer and winter time are not used.
Day length in Bali ranges from 11:36 to 12:37 hours throughout the year. The sun rises between 5:48 AM and 6:35 AM (year-round range) and sets between 6:06 PM and 6:47 PM (year-round range).
The primary and official Indonesian date in Bali is according to the Gregorian calendar, which is also used in Europe and the USA. However, most Balinese follow their two other calendars, Saka and Pawukon, more closely. The Saka calendar is 78 years behind the Gregorian calendar, so the current year in Bali is 1946. For more on Balinese calendars, see the Balinese Calendar Guide.
Current time in Bali
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00:00:00
Money
In Bali, payment is made in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Banknotes are in denominations of Rp 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, and 100,000, while coins are Rp 100, 200, 500, and 1,000. The valid notes exist in different issues, each with slightly different designs and sizes. In tourist areas, it is common to pay by credit card, and ATMs are commonly available in banks, shops, or stand-alone. The current exchange rate for the Indonesian Rupiah can be found below. For more on money and payments, see the Money & Payments Guide.
Indonesian Rupiah
Current price of IDR 100,000
Power Outlets
In Bali, the standard socket is comparable to Europe, most areas in Southeast Asia, and Australia and is a C/F type. So there is no difference for travelers from these countries. The voltage in Bali is 230V, and the frequency is 50Hz.
Power Outlets common in Bali
We recommend that travelers coming from different areas bring an adapter with them. Still, it can be bought on the island in every small electric shop, and they also have them in some shops like Indomaret, Alfamart, and others.
Travel adapter suitable for Bali
Small shops where you can buy adapters can be found in almost every village
Internet
The internet is quite good in Bali. Cell Phone data providers cover almost the entire island with 4G networks (with a few exceptions around the mountains), and mobile internet is sometimes faster than public Wi-Fi networks in hotels and restaurants. In tourist areas and near places of interest, free Wi-Fi networks with speeds of around 20 to 50 Mbps are commonly available.
Prices for mobile internet range from IDR 80,000 to IDR 120,000 for 30 GB of data/month. SIM cards are available in dedicated small shops in almost every village. For more information on the internet in Bali, see our Internet Guide.
Shop with local SIM cards - usually found in every village
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Transport
In Bali, as in the whole of Indonesia, driving is on the left. If you're not experienced with driving on the left, you'll have an adventurous first few days before you get used to it. For example, you have to consider those roundabouts going the other way from what we are used to in Europe, or you have to move to the left when turning into an empty street, not the other way around. And, of course, the steering wheel in the car is on the other side, and it can take a while to get used to shifting gears with your left hand.
There are several ways to get around Bali. Cars and motorbikes are the most common forms of transport around the island: you can rent a car on your own or with a driver, and motorbikes and scooters are available for hire in every tourist area. An international driving license is required to drive a car or motorbike. In most cases, you can rent a car or motorbike without one, and no one will ask for one. It is worth having one in case you must deal with the insurance company or local police.
If you don't dare to drive yourself, you can use the GoJek mobile app or Grab, the Balinese version of Uber (Uber sold its Indonesian business to Grab in 2018, so you won't find Uber in Indonesia).
Public transport in the form of buses does exist in a few places on the island, but due to the (un)reliability of the connections, it is less used than a scooter or car transport. If you are looking for adventure at any cost, you can check out the Public Transport Guide, where you will find, among other things, public ferries to the nearby islands. There are no trains or underground transport in Bali at all.
Shipping in Bali and the nearby islands operates through the main ports of Padang Bai, Sanur, Gilimanuk, Benoa, and others.
Walking in Bali is not recommended around main roads and busy areas. Sidewalks exist sporadically on the island, and you'll still be competing for space with passing scooters and zigzagging between potholes and exposed canals. But if you venture off the main roads and ideally somewhere among the rice paddies or into the tropical forest or mountains, the walks are pleasant and relaxing. For more information on transport in Bali, see the Transport Guide.
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Healthcare
Whether you have a stomach problem called "Bali belly" or fall off your scooter and get a "Bali tattoo," you don't have to worry about being left behind in a bamboo hut in the jungle.
Healthcare in Bali is world-class, including highly trained medical staff, and there are many private hospitals to call on 24 hours a day. In addition, the personal touch in hospitals is often of a better standard than in developed countries.
Of course, ambulances are available if needed. However, we recommend traveling to Bali with good travel insurance. For more information on health care, see the Healthcare Guide.