How to Get Around in Bali: 7 Best Transportation Types Ranked (Expat Guide)
Bali is known as a tropical island paradise, so most tourists are unprepared for the poor infrastructure, windy streets, massive traffic problems, and scammy taxi drivers when they arrive on the Island of Gods. I’ve been based in Bali for two years and here’s my quick break-down of all the different types of transportation you can use to get around.
1. 🛵 🏆 Renting A Scooter: Best for Solo/Budget Travelers
The very best way to get around Bali is by renting and driving your own scooter. Renting a scooter in Bali can be dangerous, especially if you’re driving in Canggu or Kuta area, which is where most tourists in Bali start their trip, where there is a ton of traffic. If you don’t know how to drive a scooter, or if you’re in a group of more than two people, then hiring a private driver in Bali is the best way for you to get around.
$$ Price of Renting a Scooter in Bali
The price for renting a scooter in Bali varies considerably! I’ve seen it as cheap as 70K Indonesian Rupiah ($5) per day, for a banged-up Scoopy. If you’re renting a banged-up scoopy on a monthly rate instead of a daily, then it could even be as cheap as 50K ($3.50). A Scoopy is what a small scooter is called in Bali. I’ve also seen very nice scooters go for 400+ Indonesian Rupiah ($25) per day. The prices for everything, including scooter rentals, have been skyrocketing in Bali in the past few years.
Best Scooter Rental Service
I don’t think having a state-of-the-art scooter will really affect your time in Bali that much, but it’s nice to have a reliable service that drops off the scooter at your hotel. The scooter rental service I use is called 🛵 Bikago. It includes hotel drop-off, new helmets, insurance, and a first-aid kit, and can be delivered anywhere in Bali.
👉 Do you feel confident driving your own scooter? 🛵 Click here to book your scooter rental in Bali + delivery and pickup at your hotel! 👈
Everything you need to know about renting scooters in Bali: how to do it legally, safely, affordably, and about any alternatives.
2. 🚗 Hiring A Private Driver: Best for Groups, Families, & Non-Drivers
Hiring a private driver in Bali is the best way to travel if you want to do some sightseeing. This is because a lot of the tourist destinations, like beaches, rice fields, waterfalls, and temples, are in remote locations that you can take a taxi to, but you can’t necessarily take a taxi from. There just aren’t any taxis available in remote locations. I messed up on my first trip to Bali by taking a Gojek scooter taxi to a rice field, just to find when I was done that there were no taxis in the area I could take back!
If you want to do sightseeing it’s best to hire a private driver that will wait for you while you visit attractions. Private drivers in Bali are booked by the hour and include the car, gas, and insurance. Private drivers are also best for groups of 2 or more, especially families since it’s usually cheaper to hire a private driver than to rent a car.
👉 Click here to 🚗 Hire a Private Driver for The Day in Bali!
3. 📲 Using Grab/Gojek Taxi App: Best Budget Option for Short Distances
Bali has its own version of Uber called Grab that you can use to get around the Island which is even better than Uber. Even though I drive my own scooter in Bali, I still use the Grab App every day – It’s what’s known as a “Super App” that offers many different services like food and package delivery. It’s also an extremely inexpensive service, with some Grab taxis costing less than $1 per trip.
Tip: If you do not know how to drive your own scooter, calling a Grab or Gojek scooter taxi is the best way to get around in Bali.
Grab Vs. Gojek
The Grab and Gojek app are basically the same thing – Gojek was the first on Bali and primarily can only be used in Indonesia, while Grab works all over SE Asia. I prefer Grab to Gojek, it accepts international cards (no need to pay with cash) and I can sign up with my WhatsApp number linked to my home USA phone number, so my Grab account remains active even if I switch phone numbers/ SIM cards while traveling.
How Much Do You Tip A Grab Taxi Driver In Bali?
Taxi drivers don’t expect a tip in Bali, but if you receive good service you definitely should. The Grab app has the option to add a tip after every ride, and since the Grab scooter taxis are so inexpensive (by Western standards) I usually tip 50-100% of the ride fare.
How to use the Grab App: Bali’s “Super App” essential for every visitor to the island.
4. 🚕 Taking A Metered Taxi (Bluebird) or Street Taxi: Not Recommended
You can get a taxi in Bali by calling a Bluebird, Grab, or Gojek from their respective apps, hailing one on the street, or going up to an official taxi stand. The taxi drivers off the street have an established history of harassing and scamming tourists, it’s one of the only things I don’t like about Bali.
Tip: I would never recommend hailing a taxi off the street in Bali unless you really have no other options, I’ve never had a good experience!
About Bluebird Taxis In Bali: Premium Service
Bluebird taxis are considered the “nice” taxis in Bali. You’ll see them all over the island, with their signature powder-blue color and a little bird logo on the side. Bluebird taxis were the first to use a meter in Bali, and are considered a more premium service than Gojek/Grab cars – You can call them via the Bluebird taxi app, or through the Gojek app.
Is It Easy To Get Taxis In Bali?
It’s very easy to get a taxi in Bali, everywhere you go as a foreigner you’ll hear “taxi!”, “taxi!”, “taxi!” from drivers who want your patronage. Getting a good price on a taxi, however, is a different thing altogether. A taxi driver off the street usually charges 2x-10x the price you’d get by hiring a private driver or calling a Grab, Gojek, or Bluebird taxi through an app.
Are Taxis Safe in Bali?
Taxis are very safe in Bali! In general, the entire island of Bali is safe.
Are Taxis Cheap In Bali?
Taxis are comparatively cheap in Bali if you use a reputed service like Bluebird Taxi, which uses a meter, or if you’re calling a taxi off an app like Grab or Gojek. If you call a taxi off the street in Bali you’ll have to negotiate the price before you get in the car, since local taxi drivers don’t use a meter. Sometimes they will give you a good price right away, but other times taxi drivers will start negotiations with a price 2-10x as much as the ride usually costs.
The Infamous Bali Taxi Mafia has been bullying tourists for years: Tips for how to deal.
5. 🚘 Renting Driving Your Own Car: Not Recommended
Most tourists choose not to drive their own cars in Bali, since it’s not an easy place to drive. Hiring a private driver service for 8-10 hours usually costs less than renting a car for 24 hours, so it also doesn’t make much financial sense. Due to poor infrastructure around many tourist hot spots, some streets in Bali aren’t big enough for cars and can only fit scooters. The locals know which streets cars can use, but foreigners do not.
Do You Need A Car In Bali?
Nope! You definitely do not need a rental car to get around Bali. Most people drive scooters, and if you want to go farther out you can call a taxi or hire a private driver. I actually recommend hiring a private driver instead of renting your own car to drive in Bali.
Is It Safe To Drive In Bali?
Not really! I wouldn’t recommend renting your own car and driving yourself unless you absolutely have to. Cars in Bali share the road with thousands of moto scooters, that don’t obey traffic rules. If you’re not used to that, it can be very unsafe. Instead of renting a car and driving yourself, I recommend hiring a private driver that comes with a car. It usually costs the same!
How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Car In Bali?
A no-frills manual transmission car rental in Bali starts at $54 for a 24-hour rental.
Do You Need An International Driver’s Permit To Drive In Bali?
Yes! Although people will rent scooters and cars to drivers without IDPs (International Drivers Permits), not having one can void your insurance.
💳 You can get a physical IDP Delivered to your hotel or villa in Bali through Bikago in a few hours as long as you have an active driver’s license.
6: 🚌 Public Transportation: Cheapest But Not Best Way to Get Around
Not many tourists use public transportation in Bali because it’s so easy to hire a car or rent a scooter, but Bali has an extensive network of buses that make up its public transportation system. 🚌 Here are all the different types of buses currently running in Bali:
Bemo Bus (Local Bus)
Bemo Buses are Bali’s version of shared taxis. They’re large minivans, usually painted blue, that carry passengers between major cities and to different neighborhoods. Foreigners are charged a higher rate by Bemo bus drivers, so if you’re just looking to travel within a city it might be cheaper to call a scooter taxi via the Grab or Gojek apps.
I took a Bemo from Gilimanuk ferry port to Ubud when there weren’t any other options. It was super cramped (some guy was practically sitting in my lap), there was livestock onboard, and no AC. I would only recommend taking a Bemo bus to extreme-budget backpackers or those looking for a local experience.
Tips For Taking a Bemo Bus In Bali
✔️ All tickets are paid for in cash. ✔️ Keep watch of your valuables! There have been reports of pickpocketing on Bemo buses ✔️ If you have luggage, it will likely need to be stored on the roof of the Bemo. ✔️ Luggage usually costs extra. ✔️ Track your location on Google Maps, which you can download offline, so you don’t miss your stop.
Trans Sarbagita Bus (Nicer Bus)
The Trans Sarbagita bus is the original public transportation option in southern Bali. It was started all the way back in 2011 and is now outdated compared to the new public buses, the Trans Metro Dewata buses I discuss below. Trans Sarbagita buses frequently run late due to the crazy traffic in Bali, but they have AC and they’re very cheap! Around 5K IDR for a ticket (less than 50 cents). Trans Sarbagita buses are blue and yellow, and Trans Metro Dewata buses are red.
Trans Metro Dewata Bus (Premier Bus Service)
Trans Metro Dewata is the new premier bus service in Southern Bali. It features a whole fleet of brand-new shiny clean buses that only cost a few dollars to ride.
💳 Indonesian e-money card for Trans Metro Dewata Bus
You need a “non-cash” or “e-money” card to ride the Trans Metro Dewata buses. They’re comparable to a metro card. You can get a non-cash card at quickmarts like Alfamart or Indoma
7: 🏃♂️ Walking: Almost Impossible, No Sidewalks & Lots of Traffic
Sometimes I stubbornly try to walk around Ubud or Canggu but the roads in Bali just aren’t made for pedestrians. Even when there are sidewalks, there are massive holes in them you could fall into, or barking dogs chasing you down the street. Bali is just not a place designed for walking.
