Bali travel guide 2025 for first-timers — follow this step-by-step post from DPS arrival to where to stay, airport-to-hotel transport, a 4-day/5-night itinerary, essential costs, dining tips, and a Bali map you can open on your phone.
Bali Travel Guide 2025: Before You Go
e-VOA: 500,000 IDR for a 30-day stay.
Tourist Levy: 150,000 IDR. Pay in advance via Love Bali.
Mobile/Data: Telkomsel Tourist SIM or eSIM. Save Google Maps for offline use.
Currency: Exchange only a small amount at the airport; use reputable money changers (e.g., Central Kuta) in town for better rates.
Bali Travel Guide 2025: First Steps After Arrival
Expect about 40–60 minutes for immigration, baggage claim, and customs at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). You may encounter taxi touts at the exit — avoid engaging and follow the official steps below.
Exchange only a small amount of cash at the airport (rates are less favorable).
For ride-hailing (Grab/Gojek), walk to the external pickup zone. For metered taxis, use the Official Taxi Counter with fixed fares.
Choose your first-night base near the airport — Kuta or Seminyak — to recover from the flight.
This section of our Bali travel guide 2025 helps you compare real-world Grab fares and transfer times so you can plan around rush hour.
Bali Travel Guide 2025: Airport → Key Areas (Typical Fares)
Route
Time
Grab Fare (range)
Notes
Airport → Kuta
~15 min
60,000–80,000 IDR
Closest tourist area
Airport → Seminyak
25–30 min
100,000–130,000 IDR
Cafés & shopping
Airport → Canggu
45–60 min
150,000–200,000 IDR
Surf/nomad vibe
Airport → Ubud
~90 min
300,000–350,000 IDR
Nature, yoga, temples
Airport → Uluwatu
~60 min
250,000–300,000 IDR
Clifftop resorts & sunsets
Bali Travel Guide 2025: Where to Stay by Route
Area
Vibe
Why Choose It
Kuta
Busy & budget-friendly
~15 min to airport; easy food & shopping
Seminyak
Trendy & convenient
Beach clubs and cafés in walking distance
Canggu
Calm & cozy
Surf culture, good for longer stays
Ubud
Nature & wellness
Spas, temples, rice terraces
Uluwatu
Cliffs & sunsets
Resort relaxation + Kecak performance
Suggested flow: 1N Seminyak (recovery) → 1N Canggu (cafés & sunset) → 1N Ubud (nature) → 1N Uluwatu (Kecak), then return to the airport.
Bali Travel Guide 2025: 4-Day / 5-Night Plan
Day 1 — Seminyak Arrive → check-in → stroll along Double Six Beach → 1-hour spa to reset.
Day 2 — Canggu & Tanah Lot Brunch in Canggu → Echo Beach stroll → Tanah Lot Temple (07:00–19:00; adult 75,000 IDR). Sunset ~17:30–18:30; arrive before 16:00 for the best spots.
Day 3 — Ubud Nature Circuit Ubud Monkey Forest (09:00–18:00; last entry 17:00) → Tegallalang Rice Terraces (06:00–18:00; swings/cafés after 08:00) → Campuhan Ridge Walk (24 hours; free). Hire a driver for 8 hours for parking and waiting convenience.
Day 4 — Uluwatu Cliffs & Kecak Relax at Melasti or Padang Padang Beach → Uluwatu Temple (gate opens 16:00) → Kecak Fire Dance 18:00–19:00. Sarong required; secure belongings from monkeys.
Use the 4-day/5-night plan in this Bali travel guide 2025 as a base; swap Day 5 for Nusa Penida or Mount Batur depending on weather and energy.
Day 5 — Pick One Option A: Mount Batur sunrise (pickup 02:00–03:00; 6–7 hours total) Option B: Tegenungan Waterfall (08:00–18:00; 20,000 IDR) Option C: Nusa Penida day trip (Sanur boats 06:30 first / ~17:00 last; ~45 min each way; reconfirm the day before)
Bali Travel Guide 2025: Budget Snapshot
Item
Estimated Cost (KRW)
Round-trip airfare
600,000–800,000
4 nights lodging (mid-range)
~450,000
Transport
~100,000
Food & admission
~150,000
Total
~1,200,000–1,500,000
Bali Travel Guide 2025: Essential Tips
Avoid rush hour (16:00–18:00). Schedule long transfers in the morning.
Prepare eSIM/SIM in advance and save offline maps.
Temple attire: cover shoulders/knees; sarongs available on site.
Tap water is not potable. Bottled water ~10,000 IDR per liter.
Book Kecak/boats/trekking early in peak season; reconfirm the day before.
For scooters, carry an international permit and confirm insurance.
Every tip in this Bali travel guide 2025 is optimized for first-timers who want fewer queues, better light for photos, and smoother routes.
Bali Travel Guide 2025: Operations & My Take
Bali’s roads are narrow and traffic can be slow. Fix just 2–3 must-do spots per day and keep the rest optional — you’ll save energy and time, and enjoy more.
Dining & cafés Choose places within 10 minutes of your route that day rather than chasing famous names. Brunch 08:00–10:00 works well; avoid 12:00–14:00 queues. For first-timers, local staples (nasi goreng, mie goreng, sate) are reliable picks.
Photo timing Tanah Lot: arrive 90 minutes before sunset. Tegallalang: 08:00–09:00 light is soft and clear. Campuhan Ridge: shortly after sunrise for crisp colors (watch for darkness after sunset). Uluwatu: capture wide cliff lines while waiting for Kecak.
