25 Things to Know Before Going to Bali (First-Timer's Guide)

A first trip to Bali is exciting — and a little overwhelming. Everyone has a recommendation, social media makes every spot look empty, and the practical details (money, plugs, distances, what to wear at a temple) are scattered across a hundred websites. This list gathers the 25 things first-timers most often say they wish they'd known, grouped into entry, money, getting around, daily life, culture and safety. Each point is short; where a topic needs more, we link to a full guide. Read it once before you go and you'll skip the most common first-week mistakes.

Bali quick facts

Entry and paperwork

1. Passport validity: at least six months from arrival, with blank pages. Airlines check this.
2. Visa: many nationalities can apply online for an e-Visa on Arrival or pay at the counter; check the official immigration site for your passport. See Bali visa on arrival & tourist levy.
3. Tourist levy: IDR 150,000 per person per visit, paid through the official Love Bali website or app.
4. Arrival forms: Indonesia uses an online arrival declaration with a QR code — fill it in before landing. Our Bali airport arrival guide walks through the steps.
5. Licence: to ride a scooter or drive, bring your home licence plus an International Driving Permit with the right category. See international driving permit for Bali.

Money

1. Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; small warungs, parking and markets want cash. Carry small notes.
2. Use ATMs inside banks, malls or minimarkets and choose to be charged in Rupiah. See cash & ATM tips.
3. Money changers: use authorised ones that print receipts; very good rates on the street are a red flag. Read common tourist scams.
4. Tipping isn't compulsory but is appreciated; many restaurants add a service charge. See tipping in Bali.

Getting around

1. Distances take longer than the map suggests. Narrow roads and traffic mean 20 km can take an hour. Our travel times between Bali areas table helps you plan.
2. There are no trains and limited public buses in the tourist areas. Most visitors use a scooter, a car with a driver, a self-drive car or ride-hailing apps.
3. Grab and Gojek work in most areas, though some neighbourhoods restrict pick-ups. Compare costs in scooter vs Grab/Gojek vs car hire.
4. A scooter is the most flexible way to explore — if you have a valid licence + IDP and ride carefully. First-timers should read should I rent a scooter in Bali?.
5. Traffic peaks in the morning, late afternoon and at sunset around the beaches; plan rides outside those times. See Bali traffic unwritten rules.
6. Get a data plan or eSIM before you land so maps and apps work from the airport. See SIM card & eSIM.

Daily life

1. Don't drink tap water — use bottled, filtered or refill water. See Bali belly prevention.
2. Plugs are round two-pin (types C/F, 230 V); bring an adapter.
3. Sun and heat are strong close to the equator — sunscreen, a hat and water every day.
4. Mosquitoes — use repellent, especially in the rainy season. See Bali travel health.
5. Seasons: the dry season is busiest; the wet season brings showers but also greener landscapes and lower prices. See Bali weather by month.

Culture and respect

1. Offerings (canang sari) sit on pavements, doorsteps and dashboards; try not to step on them.
2. Temples need a sarong and sash and covered shoulders; follow posted rules. See Bali rules for tourists.
3. Ceremonies close roads — be patient, it's part of daily life. See ceremonies & road closures.
4. Nyepi, the Day of Silence (usually in March), shuts the whole island, airport included, for 24 hours. Check the date before booking flights.

Food, prices and bargaining

Eat at least some meals at local warungs: nasi campur, mie goreng and sate are cheap, filling and often the best food you'll have. Tourist cafés charge prices closer to home, especially in Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu, and some restaurants add tax and service on top of menu prices — check the small print. Bargaining is normal at markets and with street sellers, but keep it friendly; start lower than the first price and settle somewhere in the middle. Fixed-price shops, supermarkets and most restaurants don't bargain. Alcohol is relatively expensive because of import taxes, while local beer is easy to find.

Working, Wi-Fi and staying connected

Wi-Fi is available in almost every hotel, villa and café, and speeds in the main tourist areas are usually good enough for video calls, though power cuts and slow connections still happen — a mobile data plan as backup is wise. Many cafés in Canggu, Ubud and Seminyak are laptop-friendly, and coworking spaces offer day passes. Remember that a tourist visa allows you to holiday, not to work for Indonesian clients; check the official immigration site for remote-work visa options if you plan a long working stay. See digital nomad guide to Bali for more.

Staying safe

Bali is a safe destination for most visitors; the realistic risks are road accidents, petty theft, rip currents and stomach bugs. Read is Bali safe for tourists? and is it safe to swim in Bali? — and buy travel insurance that covers what you plan to do.

Expectations vs reality

• Photos are taken at sunrise. Famous spots like Tegallalang, the Lempuyang gates and Kelingking are busy by mid-morning; go early or expect queues.
• Beaches vary a lot. West-coast beaches are for surf and sunsets; for calm swimming head to Sanur, Nusa Dua or Jimbaran.
• Rainy-season rubbish: in the wet months, currents can wash plastic onto some west-coast beaches; it's cleaned regularly but can surprise first-timers.
• Traffic is part of the experience. Plan fewer stops per day and you'll enjoy more of each one.
• Bali is more than the south. Ubud, Sidemen, Munduk and the east coast feel completely different from Canggu or Kuta — try to see at least one.
• Entrance fees add up. Temples, waterfalls, rice terraces and viewpoints usually charge a small ticket plus parking and sometimes sarong rental — keep small notes handy.

None of this should put you off: most first-timers fall for Bali precisely because it rewards a slower pace. Plan a little less than you think you can fit in, leave room for the unexpected — a temple festival, a rainy afternoon in a café, a beach you hadn't heard of — and you'll understand why so many people come back.

Where to stay and how long

Choosing the right base matters more in Bali than in most places, because moving around takes time. Read where to stay in Bali and how many days do you need in Bali before you book hotels.

Getting around with SiapPergi

We deliver automatic scooters to hotels and villas across Bali — free to the airport, Kuta, Legian & Seminyak — and you pay in Rupiah when the scooter arrives. Example totals: a Honda BeAT (Gen 4–5) for 7 days is IDR 425,000; a Honda Scoopy (Gen 4) for 7 days in Canggu, including delivery, is IDR 595,000. Browse every model on the Bali scooter rental page or the area pages for Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu.

Travelling as a family or group? A self-drive Honda Brio is IDR 310,000/day and 7-seat cars are IDR 360,000–IDR 410,000/day — see car rental in Bali. For long day trips without driving, ask about a car with a driver.

Before-you-fly checklist

• ☐ Passport valid 6+ months.
• ☐ Visa sorted (e-VOA if eligible).
• ☐ Tourist levy paid via the official channel.
• ☐ Arrival declaration QR code ready.
• ☐ Licence + International Driving Permit.
• ☐ Travel insurance (covering scooters if you'll ride).
• ☐ eSIM or plan for a local SIM.
• ☐ Plug adapter, repellent, sunscreen, reusable bottle.
• ☐ Sarong or temple-appropriate clothes.
• ☐ Scooter or car booked for your first full day.

• Free delivery and pick-up to Ngurah Rai Airport and hotels or villas in Kuta, Legian & Seminyak.
• Other areas cost extra: Kerobokan, Berawa, Umalas, Sanur & Jimbaran IDR 60,000; Nusa Dua, Canggu & Pererenan IDR 80,000; Uluwatu IDR 100,000 (return trip included); Ubud and anywhere else, ask on WhatsApp.
• Pay in Indonesian Rupiah when the scooter arrives (bank transfer or e-wallet) — nothing paid in advance.
• Your passport is shown, not held — with your home licence + International Driving Permit at handover.
• No deposit on regular scooters. Big bikes (Harley-Davidson etc.) need a IDR 3,000,000 safety deposit, paid at your hotel after you confirm.
• 2 helmets with every scooter. Minimum rental 2 days. Free cancellation — just message the same WhatsApp chat.
• Optional extras: brand-new helmet IDR 50,000, phone/GPS holder IDR 20,000 per rental, plastic raincoat IDR 10,000 each.

Book a scooter for my first Bali trip