Key hubs
Bali airport and railway station
- Airport
- Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) at Tuban, about 13 km south of Denpasar; the island's only airport, closed for the full day on Nyepi
- Railway station
- None. Bali has no passenger railway, so every journey on the island is by road or sea.
- Getting around
- A private car with driver by the day is the usual choice for families and seniors; app cabs work in the south but are restricted in some villages. Self-drive and scooters are not advised for older visitors.
How to reach Bali by air
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) at Tuban is Bali's only airport, about 13 km south of Denpasar and roughly 20 to 30 minutes from Kuta or Seminyak. Nonstop flights from India have been reported from Delhi and Bengaluru, but schedules change often, so check airline sites. Many itineraries connect via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.
How to reach Bali by train
Bali has no passenger railway, so there is no station to use. Visitors reach the island by air, or by ferry from Ketapang in East Java to Gilimanuk on Bali's west coast, and by fast boat from Lombok.
How to reach Bali by road
The main roads run from the airport area north to Ubud, Bedugul and Lovina, east along the coast to Padang Bai, Candidasa and Amlapura, and west towards Tabanan and Gilimanuk. Traffic is slow, so even short distances can take over an hour. Roads in the east and highlands are narrow and winding.
Getting around Bali
A private car with driver by the day is the standard choice for families and seniors. App cabs work in the south and Ubud, though some villages restrict them, and scooters are not recommended for older travellers. Ask hotels to arrange a driver rather than accepting street offers.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Bali
- Hire a car with a driver for the day rather than driving yourself. Roads are narrow and busy, and a driver also waits for you at temples and helps with parking.
- Pick one anchor sight a day. Temples such as Besakih and Lempuyang involve many steps, and highland journeys take longer than the distance suggests.
- Temples require covered knees and shoulders; a sarong and sash are usually lent or hired at the gate. Avoid entering temples if you have an open wound or are menstruating, as local custom asks, and ask your driver or hotel about the rule for the temple you are visiting.
- Carry insurance that covers medical evacuation and check that it is accepted at private hospitals such as BIMC and Siloam. Good hospitals are concentrated in the south; the north and east are far from them.
- Keep the highlands for the morning. Bedugul and Kintamani are noticeably cooler than the coast, so carry a light jacket, and mist and rain arrive in the afternoon.
- Check the date of Nyepi and any big temple festivals before booking, because roads and the airport shut or become congested.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.