A first-time guide to Bali

08.08.2024 - 00:05 / lonelyplanet.com

Aug 7, 2024 • 8 min read

From adventure seekers, partygoers and families to those in search of spiritual well-being, nature and culture, Bali truly offers something for everyone. The island’s natural splendor of beaches, mountains, rice terraces, river gorges, waterfalls and rainforests is combined with ancient spiritual traditions expressed through Hindu temples, ceremonies and rituals.

In Bali, you can enjoy exceptional dining, rejuvenating spas, unlimited shopping and beach clubs galore. Dance the days and nights away, practice yoga, scale mighty volcanoes, explore eco activities, ride the island’s incredible surf breaks, play golf, snorkel, dive, or visit theme parks. If you’re open to Bali’s creative, artistic and healing energies, this is where you will find your inspiration.   

Here's all you need to know before you visit Bali for the first time.

The best time to visit Bali is not necessarily determined by the weather but by the activities and festivals you wish to experience. Look forward to sunny, tropical days and balmy nights with temperatures ranging from 27–32°C (81–90°F) and 77–85% humidity throughout the year. The dry season (May through October) brings blue skies and sunny days, while the hot wet season (November through April) is considerably more humid, with torrential downpours and frequent storms. Winds are strong in July during the Bali Kite Festival at Padang Galak. August is the coolest and least humid month, perfect for the chilled, melodic strains of the Ubud Village Jazz Festival. January and February are generally the wettest months with late afternoon thunderstorms.

Peak seasons may also affect your decision about when to visit Bali, as the most popular times are not only the busiest but also the most expensive. Throngs of visitors descend on the island during the July and August school holidays, Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Easter, driving up rates for everything from airfares and hotels to taxis and tour packages.

Off-peak seasons are cheaper and some of the best deals can be had at this time. Watch the extraordinary ogoh-ogoh (papier-mâché monster) parades in March, followed by Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence. The way in which it is celebrated is totally unique and something that you will never experience anywhere else in the world. Visit the month-long Bali Arts Festival or witness the thrilling Mekare-kare theatrical fight, which takes place in June or July between the young men of the village of Tenganan, near Candidasa. Celebrate yoga, dance and music at the Bali Spirit Festival in May; and eat, read and write your way through the culinary and literary extravaganzas of the Ubud Food Festival in May and the international Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in