A Guide for Successful Solo Traveling to Bali

If you’re thinking of solo traveling to Bali, you’ll be happy to hear that Bali is a great choice for solo female travel. A beautiful tropical island in Indonesia, Bali is a budget-friendly destination, with a fascinating culture and beautiful scenery. It’s well set up for tourists with lots of tours, activities and accommodation options that are perfect if you’re traveling alone in Bali.

Some of the best things to do in Bali include visiting ancient temples, chasing waterfalls, swimming, snorkelling, surfing, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying luxurious spa treatments. Balinese people are friendly and it’s easy to meet other travellers so it’s no wonder Bali is so popular as a solo travel destination and a favourite with digital nomads and expats.  

If you’re thinking of traveling solo in Bali, this article is for you. Check out my tips for when to go, what to see, where to stay and more to help you have a safe and successful solo trip to Bali.

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Check with your local government for the latest information on travel to Indonesia

Is Bali Good for Solo Travel?

Yes, Bali is good for solo travel. There are lots of fun things to do and it’s a relatively inexpensive destination. The locals are friendly and solo travellers in Bali can easily meet other people and make new friends.

I’ve made several solo trips to Bali, and I think it’s an ideal destination for solo travel. Most of the local people speak English and are happy to provide the services that tourists need.

Getting around the island is easy and it’s fun riding around on the back of a Gojek motorbike. The food is delicious, and the culture is unique with many sacred temples and festivals throughout the year that make solo travel in Bali a rewarding experience.

The island is most beautiful when you explore off the beaten track and away from the built-up tourist areas of the west coast. Bali has mountains, waterfalls, rice terraces and black sand beaches that are stunning. There are many reasons for traveling solo in Bali and below is a list of the pros and cons of visiting Bali alone.

Pros of Solo Travel in Bali

• Beautiful scenery with sparkling waterfalls, green rice fields, mountains and volcanos.
• A stunning coastline with wide sandy beaches and beach sunsets
• Many great activities like surfing, snorkelling, diving, and hiking.
• A fascinating local culture with a strong sense of community
• Balinese people are friendly and speak English.
• Bali is easy to get around by taxi, motorbike or bus.
• Bali is budget-friendly with a good choice of accommodations from cheaper hostels and homestays to luxury resorts.
• Great food, cafes and restaurants with options for all budgets.
• Nightlife and party scene – lots of places to go to enjoy an evening out.
• A thriving Digital nomad & ex-pat scene
• A choice of Yoga classes & wellness retreats that are perfect if you’re solo traveling in Bali.

Cons of Solo Travel in Bali

• Some places in Bali are overdeveloped and very touristy. In Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu, the local culture is hard to find amidst the busy Western shopping, restaurants and party scene.
• Heavy traffic makes getting around slow going.
• Popular beaches and attractions can be overcrowded in high season and overrun with Self-absorbed Instagrammers taking selfies.
• Rubbish and pollution are a downside of over-tourism, and it washes up on Bali’s beaches. The pollution is at its worst in the wet season.
• The nightlife and party scene can be noisy and unpleasant
• Petty theft and scams are common, especially in tourist areas.
• Bali belly is common. Drink bottled water because tap water is not fit for drinking.

Is Bali Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

Yes, Bali is generally a safe destination for solo female travellers, and it’s likely you’ll have a trouble-free solo trip to Bali. But having said that, nowhere is entirely safe so be mindful of your own safety if you travel alone to Bali. Take precautions at night, especially if you are alone or with people you have just met. Bars and clubs are amongst the least safe places for solo female travellers to Bali.

Drink in moderation and stay away from drugs, they are illegal in Bali with heavy penalties. Always stay in control of yourself and be aware of your surroundings when you travel solo in Bali. Rather than walking alone at night, call a Bluebird taxi or use Grab or Gojek ride to take you home and watch out for scams and petty theft, especially in tourist areas. Solo travellers in Bali are especially vulnerable so keep your valuables out of sight.

What to do in Bali alone

There are lots of fun activities for solo travellers in Bali. You can relax on the beach, go swimming or take a surfing lesson. Take a yoga class, join an Indonesian cooking class and learn to cook your favourite Balinese dish or relax in a Balinese Spa and flower bath.

You can join a hiking trip to the rim of Mount Batur, an active volcano to watch the sunrise or have your photo taken at the famous Gates of Heaven at Lempyang Temple. You can play with the macaques at the Ubud Monkey Forest and enjoy the scenery on the Campuhan Ridge walk.

Stroll through Rice terraces at Tegallalang or visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and visit the stunning Ulun Danu Beratan Temple beside a beautiful lake in Central Bali or Tanah Lot Temple by the sea.

There are jungle walks and sparkling waterfalls with freshwater plunge pools to discover. And you can snorkel with Manta Rays at Manta Point, swim with turtles in the Gili Islands or learn to dive in Amed. There’s no shortage of fun and adventurous things to do when you’re traveling solo in Bali.

Read Next: Is Lempuyang Temple Worth Visiting in Bali?

How to meet other Solo Travellers in Bali

It’s easy to meet new people in Bali, especially if you stay at hostels where you’ll come across lots of other travellers. If you’re traveling alone in Bali you can chat with people when you hang out in the shared spaces at guesthouses and hotels like the pool area or lounge and it’s often easy to start a conversation in a coffee shop or at a yoga class.

Joining a group tour or a cooking class are good ways to meet people on a solo trip to Bali and you could also try social media to find new friends. Girls in Bali, Solo Travellers to Bali and Canggu Nomad Girls are a few Facebook groups you can join to meet up with other solo travellers in Bali.

What to eat when Traveling Solo in Bali

Eating is a pleasure when you solo travel to Bali. I enjoyed hanging out in Bali’s trendy and comfortable cafes, eating a combination of local Balinese dishes and Western food. It was easy to find healthy gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian food options in the tourist areas. The cafes were so good I preferred to go out for brunch rather than order a hotel breakfast even though I was traveling alone in Bali.

I loved the local Balinese food and especially enjoyed visiting the local Warungs and eating Gado Gado, a vegetable dish with delicious peanut sauce and Nasi Goreng, fried rice with a fried egg (Indonesians eat Nasi Goreng for breakfast) My favourite drinks were fresh tropical fruit juices like watermelon or coconut juice.

If you don’t fancy eating out alone, you can always eat at your hotel restaurant or order room service.

How to Get to Bali

Most people arrive in Bali by air and fly into Denpasar International Airport. Flights from Australia go directly to Bali, but international flights can fly via Jakarta the capital of Indonesia on the island of Java. The quickest and cheapest way to get to Bali from Jakarta is on a connecting flight but you can travel overland by train or bus to Banyuwangi and catch a ferry to Gilimanuk in Bali.

Domestic flights from Denpasar Airport are cheap and much faster than overland travel. Air Asia and Citilink operate domestic flights and I’ve used both these airlines to travel around Indonesia.

Arriving on a Solo Trip to Bali

As a woman traveling solo in Bali, there are a few things to watch out for when you first arrive at Denpasar Airport.

TIP: Solo Travel to Bali can feel overwhelming, especially when you first arrive but you can take the stress out of traveling to Bali alone by booking an airport transfer to your hotel. Arrange this in advance and avoid the throng of taxi drivers hassling for your business at the airport exit.

It’s best to wait until you arrive in Bali to change money. The exchange rate at the airport is slightly lower than you’ll find in other places in Bali but it’s still a lot higher than anywhere outside Indonesia.

As you leave Denpasar Airport look for the taxi booth to buy a ticket for a taxi. There’ll probably be a mass of taxi drivers calling out to you as soon as you exit the airport but you can ignore them and look for a taxi booth. There’s a set fee to popular destinations in Bali and it costs around IDR 350,000 (US$24) for a taxi to Ubud.

There’s also a Grab Lounge outside the Airport exit where you can set up the Grab App and book a cheaper ride. But you need the internet for this option.

**Be wary of buying a SIM Card at the airport. I got scammed and paid way too much for a SIM card at Denpasar Airport on my last solo trip to Bali.

How to Get Around while Solo Traveling in Bali

Getting around Bali is easy and there are a variety of transport options for women travelling alone in Bali. Bluebird Taxis are safe and reliable but they tend to be more expensive than online services like Grab and Gojek.

I downloaded the Grab and Gojek apps and booked rides in cars and on motorbikes. I liked using the online apps because the price was set at the time of booking and the drivers are licenced. (This is important so that you’re insured if you’re riding on the back of a motorbike when you’re solo traveling in Bali).  

For longer trips, I used the Paramatour shuttle bus service and found it cheaper than taking taxis as I was traveling alone in Bali. You can book a trip online or on WhatsApp and it’s a good option.

Local buses take passengers around the island, and they are the cheapest way to travel around Bali but very slow.

Ferries connect Bali to nearby islands and leave from Padangbai, Sanur and Amed for Lombok and the Gili Islands and from Gilimanuk to Java.

TIP: Book ferries, long-distance buses and trains in Indonesia online with 12Go Asia

Best Time of Year for Solo Travel in Bali

Bali is a year-round destination, and you can enjoy traveling solo to Bali at any time of year but some months are better than others to go. The dry season in Bali falls from April to October and the months of July and August are the most popular. It’s a good time for a beach holiday but the island can be crowded at this time of year and accommodation and airfares are more expensive.

The rainy season from November to March has fewer tourists and is a cheaper time of year to visit with discounted hotel rates and cheaper airfares. Bali’s weather in January and February is hot and humid and tends to be stormy in the afternoons but the rainy season is a great time for a budget holiday.

The rice terraces and gardens are lush and green and the waterfalls are at their best. January is a good time to avoid tourist crowds and reduce expenses if you’re traveling alone in Bali.

Find out more about Why January is a good time for Solo Traveling to Bali and what it’s like to visit Bali in July, during the peak season or Bali in June during the shoulder season months.

The best time for a solo trip to Bali is in May and June during the shoulder season. The island is still green and beautiful but there’s less rain and fewer tourists. It’s a good time for outdoor activities like swimming, snorkelling, diving and hiking.

The worst month for solo travel to Bali in December. Not only is December one of the wettest months of the year but it’s also a very busy month because the Christmas holiday season brings lots of visitors.  

TIP: If you’re looking for the best weather for a beach holiday during Bali’s wet season (November to March), why not consider visiting Thailand instead? Learn more about Bali vs Thailand and how these popular Southeast Asian destinations compare and find out whether Ao Nang or Railay Beach is better for a beach holiday in the South of Thailand.

Best Places to Stay for Solo Travellers in Bali

There are lots of great places to stay for female solo travellers to Bali and I would suggest staying a few nights in a few different locations to enjoy more of the island and get off the beaten track. Here are some of the most popular places to stay:

Kuta

Kuta Beach is the most famous destination for tourists in Bali and it’s the centre of Bali’s nightclub and party scene. There’s a wide stretch of sand at Kuta and Legian Beach that’s popular for surfing and the sunsets are spectacular.

Personally, I tend to pass through Kuta on my way somewhere else on the island. Kuta is full of tourists, western restaurants and shopping malls and it’s one of the least safe places for women traveling solo in Bali. Watch out for tourist scams and rip-offs in Kuta. The area has been overdeveloped and spoilt by tourism and there’s little traditional Balinese culture to be found, but some people enjoy the nightclubs, cheaper accommodations and the convenient services for tourists.

The central location near the airport in Denpasar makes Kuta a good choice if you have just arrived on a solo trip to Bali or you’re about to leave.

Where to stay

Mid-Range: When you’re traveling solo in Bali, Grandmas Plus Airport Hotel in Kuta is a safe, clean and friendly place to stay near the airport. I’ve stayed here a couple of times when I arrived late at night or had an early morning flight and there’s a pool and a restaurant on site.

TIP: Can’t decide where to stay in Bali? Learn more about Ubud vs Kuta and which is best for your next Bali vacation.

Seminyak

Next to Kuta, Seminyak is a well-known tourist suburb in Bali with surf beaches, trendy cafes, restaurants and clubs. Seminyak is popular with solo travellers to Bali. There’s a more upmarket party scene in Seminyak and you can watch stunning beach sunsets with a cocktail in your hand at one of Seminyak’s hip beach clubs, Potato Head, Ku de Ta or La Plancha.

Seminyak has 6 white sandy surf beaches with daybeds to rent. It’s the place for a beach holiday, swimming, surfing, relaxing, eating, and partying. Women traveling solo should take care in Seminyak especially if they’re out alone at night and particularly in bars and clubs.

Where to Stay in Seminyak

Mid-Range: The Vansari Hotel in Seminyak is perfect for women traveling alone in Bali who are on a budget. This small hotel has a pool and a lovely garden. The rooms are dated but I loved the private balcony and the outlook over the garden. The Vansari is a budget hotel with a central location on the main street, Jalan Raya near shops, restaurants and cafes.

Canggu

A favourite with digital nomads, Canggu is another very popular place to stay for solo travellers in Bali. Canggu has 2 west-facing surf beaches Batu Bolong and Echo Beach. Both are good for watching sunsets over the surf, but the sand is darker in colour due to the volcanic black sand that washes in from other parts of the island.

Canggu has a good selection of restaurants and hip coffee shops, markets and nightclubs. There are yoga retreats and classes and Canggu caters for those looking to relax and focus on wellness with healthy vegan and gluten-free food options easy to find.

Try a brunch at the Amolas Café and call in at Old Man’s or Finns Beach Club for a sundowner by the beach.

Don’t Miss visiting Tanah Lot Temple at sunset. Just 20 minutes away from Canggu, this lovely Hindu Sea temple is located on a rocky outcrop on Bali’s west coast. Tanah Lot is very popular and can get crowded but there are many vantage points on the clifftops where you can enjoy the dramatic coastal scenery. Each evening there’s a performance of traditional Balinese Dance at 6:30 pm on the temple grounds and it’s a great way to get a taste of the local culture when you’re solo traveling in Bali. 

Where to stay in Canggu

Mid-Range: Mag Canggu is a lovely newer guesthouse with a small but pretty pool and garden and a friendly atmosphere. I loved staying here. The rooms are clean and comfortable and have an outdoor sitting area. Although this guesthouse is a couple of kilometres from the beach it has a central location and it’s easy to get a Grab or Gojek bike to take you around. And, if you’re brave enough, you can hire a scooter from the guesthouse.

Uluwatu

Quieter than the west coast beach suburbs of Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu, Uluwatu is located on the Bukit Peninsula on the southern tip of Bali. Popular with surfers and beachgoers, Uluwatu has some of the best swimming and surfing breaks in Bali. The coastline is dramatic and beautiful with tall cliffs, pounding surf and golden sandy coves perfect for solo beach walks and coastal hikes.

The popular west coast beaches Bingin, Padang Padang and Dreamland Beach are good for swimming, surfing and spectacular sunsets while stunning Nyang Nyang Beach has a better aspect for sunrise and is a great spot for hiking.

Uluwatu has some fine cafes, restaurants and beach clubs and is a great place to stay for solo travellers in Bali away from the crowds and the party scene of Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu.

Don’t Miss visiting Uluwatu Temple, one of Bali’s sacred directional temples that ward off evil spirits from the sea and keep the island safe. With a stunning cliffside location and resident monkeys, Uluwatu Temple is a great place to be at sunset. Colourful traditional Dance performances take place each night at 6:00 pm on the temple grounds,

Where to Stay in Uluwatu

Mid-range: Seno Guesthouse is a nice guesthouse in Uluwatu with a cafe. It’s a good mid-range choice if you’re traveling solo in Bali.

Sanur

On the quieter eastern side of the island, Sanur is a beach suburb that’s popular with families and solo travellers wanting to avoid the party scene on the other side of the island. Sanur is close to the airport and has calm waters that are protected by an offshore reef and are good for swimming.

Sanur is also a good place to set out for the Nusa islands. Ferries leave from Sanur for Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Visiting on a day trip is worthwhile but there’s a selection of accommodations on the islands if you’d like to stay awhile and enjoy the stunning scenery and even more peace and serenity on a solo trip to Bali.

Where to Stay in Sanur

Mid-Range: Hotel Jati Sanur is a homestay on the main street in Sanur. The villas are spacious but dated, the garden is lush and green and there’s an inviting pool among the greenery. The breakfast is delicious and it’s a good choice for those solo traveling in Bali.

Ubud

Located in the middle of the island, Ubud is the centre for art and culture in Bali and a favourite place to stay for solo travellers in Bali. There’s a royal palace, beautiful water temples and a monkey forest to explore. Just outside Ubud, there are green rice terraces and sparkling waterfalls with idyllic plunge pools for swimming.

Ubud’s central location makes it the perfect base for exploring Bali. Day trips from Ubud to other parts of the island are a great way to visit Bali’s beautiful temples, waterfalls and volcanos such as Mount Batur and Mount Agung.

Ubud is a centre for wellness with a selection of yoga schools like The Yoga Barn offering retreats, courses and classes that are ideal if you’re solo traveling in Bali. Ubud is a great place to indulge in a luxurious Balinese massage and spa treatment and there’s a choice of cafés and restaurants offering fabulous food experiences. My favourite cafes for brunch in Ubud are Soulbites and the Atman Kafe.

You can read more about what to do in Ubud for fun and relaxation in my 3-day Ubud itinerary.

Where to stay in Ubud

Lower Mid-Range: Yarama Cottages provides clean, basic accommodation in a central location near the Monkey Forest and close to the Yoga Barn. I enjoyed staying here and had everything I needed to be safe and comfortable as a solo traveller in Bali.

Upper Mid-Range: Samas Cottages has a great location near the royal place. It’s a more upmarket area and very central to the main attractions in Ubud. The bungalows at Sama’s Cottages are nicely appointed and very comfortable with luxurious bathrooms. There’s a lovely pool and a beautiful tropical garden and the service is very good. I enjoyed my stay here and can recommend it to others solo traveling in Bali.

Amed

If you’re solo travelling around Bali and want a quiet beach holiday, head to Amed, a sleepy fishing village in the shadow of Mount Agung, an active volcano. Amed’s black sand beaches are lined with colourful traditional fishing boats and the coral reefs offshore are popular for snorkelling and diving.

Amed’s main street follows the beach and has a good selection of restaurants cafes and beachfront hotels.

Where to stay in Amed

Mid-range: The Mejore Beach Hotel is a good choice for solo travellers in Bali with 2 pools, a beachfront location and a rooftop bar with lovely sunset views.

Just across the road is the Rimba Café. This green plant-filled cafe serves yummy desserts and down the road at Warung Enak, you can get a mix of Western and Balinese food.

Munduk

High in the mountains in central Bali, Munduk is a small town that’s off the main tourist trail and a delight to visit as a solo traveller in Bali. Munduk is best known for its stunning waterfalls and is set on a ridge between 2 deep valleys. There are 3 beautiful waterfalls near the village and a hiking trail to reach them.

A few kilometres away are some of Bali’s most beautiful waterfalls. Banyuwana Amertha and Banyumala Twin Falls are real gems and worth seeing on a solo trip to Bali.

To reach the base of these gorgeous waterfalls, you’ll have to walk down a steep set of steps and at the bottom of the sparkling cascade there are beautiful gardens and stunning plunge pools in an idyllic, lush setting. Visiting Munduk was a highlight of my solo trip to Bali and it’s certainly worth getting off the beaten path to understand why Bali is called the “island of the Gods”.

Where to stay and where to eat

Lower Mid-Range: The Made Oka Homestay and Warung is set on the top of a ridge and the rooms have a stunning view over the mountains and rice fields and the valley below. This is a very friendly and comfortable place to stay if you’re travelling alone in Bali. The family arranged for a local motorbike driver to take me around and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there!

The Made Oka Warung at the homestay serves fresh delicious Balinese food and there’s no need to go anywhere else.

How to Dress as a Female Solo Travelling in Bali

Balinese women dress modestly so if you’re a woman traveling solo in Bali it’s a good idea to do the same. Throughout Southeast Asia, women dress conservatively and solo female travellers in Indonesia Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia or Myanmar should try to blend in.

While Bali is relatively relaxed in terms of dress and more revealing clothes are tolerated in the tourist areas, dressing modestly is appreciated. As a female solo traveling in Bali, it’s a good idea to respect the local Balinese customs and wear clothes that cover your shoulders and your knees, especially if you are visiting a temple.

It’s worth remembering that Balinese people are Hindu and very religious. Bali’s neighbouring islands, Java and Lombok are Muslim, and women dress extremely conservatively on these islands and are covered from head to toe, even in the hot weather.

I felt right at home visiting Balinese temples wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with a colourful sarong over my long pants. White and yellow are traditional colours in Bali and are popular for clothing.

What to Pack for Bali Solo Travel

Bali’s weather is hot and can be very humid so pack lightweight cotton clothes for solo travel to Bali. Leave your jeans behind, they’re too hot to wear and hard to wash. Instead, take:

• Summer dresses
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts & long pants for visiting temples, riding a motorbike and visiting more remote areas of the island.
• Sarong – Useful at the beach and mandatory at most temples in Bali.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses & sun hat
• Swimmers
• Sandals
• Hiking shoes & socks

More Tips for Solo Traveling to Bali

• Staying connected is so important when you’re travelling alone and the best way to do that is to buy a local SIM card for internet access in Bali.
• ATMs and money exchange booths are easy to find. Watch out for hidden cameras and keep your pin safe.
• Take an international driver’s licence if you want to drive a car or motorbike in Bali. Helmets must be worn when you’re on a motorbike and be very careful on the road. The traffic in Bali is very heavy and a bit crazy. Police regularly stop tourists for spot checks and have been cracking down on tourists breaking the rules.
• Don’t drink or brush your teeth in the tap water! Eat at restaurants that cater for tourists and be wary of ice cubes and fresh salads that may not have been washed in filtered water.
• Drugs are illegal in Bali and there are severe penalties for drug offences in Indonesia, including the death sentence.
• Take out travel insurance before you leave home so that you are covered should something unforeseen happen.
• Make sure that your travel insurance covers you for riding a motorbike. Check the policy fine print so that you don’t get caught out.

Visa & Entry Requirements for Solo Travel to Bali Indonesia

• Most nationalities will need a visa to visit Bali.
• A Visa on Arrival (VOA) is available for passport holders in many countries including Australia. It costs US$35 (A$50) and is valid for 30 days. You can also apply for a VOA online prior to travel and skip the queues at the airport when you arrive.
• An online customs declaration form must be completed prior to entry to Indonesia. You’ll receive a QR code on completion.
• A COVID-19 test and vaccination certificate are no longer a requirement for entry.

**Entry requirements can change at short notice so check with your local Indonesian embassy for the latest information.

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