Getting there

Garuda Indonesia is the national airline, flying directly into Bali’s Denpasar airport. Other international carriers that service Bali include Air Asia, Cathay Pacific, Continental, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Qantas.

You can also enter Indonesia via ferry from Singapore and Malaysia — in
fact the trip from Kuala Lumpur to Medan takes just a few hours, and
has been a major route for surfers and travel junkies needing to renew
their Indonesian tourist visas, although from there it’s a long bus or train journey to Bali.

Getting around

Car

Most travelers use a bemo (chartered vehicle with a driver) or a taxi to get around Bali. In fact, you’ll hear ‘bemo, bemo, bemo’ or ‘transport’ shouted out to you every minute or so in busy areas like Kuta or Legian. If the vehicle is a
private bemo and has no meter, it is typical to bargain with the driver before taking the ride. It often works out cheaper and easier to hire a driver and his car for a whole day if you’re sightseeing around the island.

Bicycle

Cycling is the economical way to get around Bali and it’s the ideal way to explore some of the island’s quieter parts. Most villages have a place to rent a bike, usually for around Rp 10,000 per day.

Moped

Mopeds are popular on Bali. They’re great for dodging traffic jams and many come with a surfboard rack so you can head to surf spots like Uluwatu and Nusa Dua. However, beware that Bali roads can be hectic and dangerous. Trucks frequently overtake on blind corners, dogs and chickens run onto the road randomly and the general rule seems to be give way to any vehicles bigger than you. Local police have also been known to pull over tourists and extort small bribes.