Best Time to Visit Bali: Month-by-Month Guide

Quick answer

The best time to visit Bali is May to September, in the dry season, when days are sunny, humidity is lower and the sea is calm for Nusa Penida trips. May, June and September give you that weather without the July–August peak. November to March is the wet season: cheaper and green, but expect heavy afternoon downpours.

Month-by-month at a glance

Jan31°Fair
Feb31°Fair
Mar31°Fair
Apr32°Good
May31°Best
Jun30°Best
Jul29°Good
Aug29°Good
Sep30°Best
Oct31°Good
Nov31°Fair
Dec31°Fair

BestGoodFairAvoidTemperatures are average daily highs (°C).

Bali weather, crowds and what to expect

Monthly weather, crowds and our verdict
Month	High / Low	Rain	Crowds	What to expect
JanuaryFair	31° / 24°	345 mm	medium	Wettest month. Heavy afternoon downpours and rough seas; good villa rates once New Year week ends.
FebruaryFair	31° / 24°	275 mm	low	Still wet and humid. Cheapest month for villas; boats to Nusa Penida are cancelled on rough days.
MarchFair	31° / 24°	235 mm	low	Rain easing. Nyepi (around 8 March 2027) shuts the island, airport included, for 24 hours.
AprilGood	32° / 24°	90 mm	medium	Dry season begins. Rice terraces are green and rates are still shoulder-season.
MayBest	31° / 23°	95 mm	medium	Sunny, less humid, before the peak. Fits Indian summer holidays well.
JuneBest	30° / 23°	55 mm	medium	Dry and pleasant; Bali Arts Festival starts mid-June. Book early for late-June dates.
JulyGood	29° / 22°	55 mm	high	Coolest, driest weather but peak European and Australian crowds; villa rates at their highest.
AugustGood	29° / 22°	25 mm	high	Excellent weather, busiest month. Long queues at Tanah Lot, Uluwatu and the swing spots.
SeptemberBest	30° / 22°	45 mm	medium	Dry, with crowds thinning once European holidays end. Strong value.
OctoberGood	31° / 23°	65 mm	medium	Mostly dry with the odd shower; a good fit for the Dussehra–Diwali break.
NovemberFair	31° / 23°	180 mm	low	Rains return from mid-month: short, heavy showers and discounted rates.
DecemberFair	31° / 24°	275 mm	high	Wet, but Christmas–New Year is peak season with surcharges and compulsory gala dinners.

Long-term monthly averages. Individual years vary — check a forecast in the week before you travel.

Festivals and events in Bali

Around 8 March 2027 (confirm closer to the date)
Nyepi (Balinese Day of Silence)
The airport, shops and roads close for 24 hours from 6 am and guests stay inside hotels. The Ogoh-Ogoh effigy parades the evening before are the highlight.
Around 13 and 23 January 2027, then 11 and 21 August 2027
Galungan and Kuningan
Bamboo penjor poles line every street and temples fill with offerings. Some family-run businesses close on the main days.
Mid-June to mid-July, Denpasar
Bali Arts Festival
A month of dance, gamelan and village performances at the Taman Werdhi Budaya arts centre; the opening parade is free.
July–August, Padang Galak beach near Sanur
Bali Kite Festival
Village teams fly traditional kites several metres long. Best on weekend afternoons.
October, Ubud
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Talks, readings and food events across Ubud. Hotels in central Ubud fill up, so book ahead.

When is the best time to visit Bali?

Bali has two seasons, not four. The dry season runs from April to October and the wet season from November to March. Temperatures barely move all year (29–32°C by day on the coast, cooler in Ubud and much cooler up at Kintamani), so the decision is really about rain, sea conditions and crowds.

For most Indian travellers, May, June and September are the sweet spot: dry days, calm water for the Nusa Penida boat, and hotel rates below the July–August peak. If you can only travel in the May–June school holidays, Bali still works well; book flights and villas 8–10 weeks ahead.

Is it worth going to Bali in the rainy season?

Yes, if you plan around it. Rain in Bali usually arrives as a heavy one- or two-hour downpour in the afternoon, not all-day drizzle, and mornings are often clear enough for temples and rice terraces. The trade-offs are real, though. Fast boats to Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands are cancelled on rough days, the Mount Batur sunrise trek is often clouded in, and west-coast beaches such as Kuta and Seminyak collect debris washed in by the monsoon. January and February are the wettest months.

The upside is price. Private-pool villas in Ubud and Seminyak are often 25–40% cheaper than in August.

Months to watch out for

Late December to early January: peak season, with gala-dinner surcharges and minimum-stay rules at many resorts.
July and August: the best weather and the biggest crowds. Expect queues at Tanah Lot, the Tegallalang swings and the Uluwatu sunset Kecak.
Nyepi: in 2027 it falls around 8 March. The whole island, airport included, shuts for 24 hours, so don't schedule an arrival or departure that day.

How the weather changes across the island

Ubud sits higher and gets more rain than the south coast. Kintamani and Bedugul can drop to 15°C at night, so pack a light jacket for the Batur trek. The Bukit peninsula (Uluwatu, Nusa Dua) is the driest part of Bali and the safest bet for a beach-heavy trip in the shoulder months.

If you're travelling around Diwali or Christmas, lock in flights first. Fares from India rise faster than hotel rates.

Once your dates are fixed, see the Bali trip cost, our 6-day Bali itinerary and the Indonesia visa guide for the visa on arrival and the tourist levy.

Frequently asked questions

Which month is cheapest for a Bali trip?

February, early March and November are usually the cheapest months for Bali hotels and villas. Expect rain most afternoons and occasional cancellations of boats to Nusa Penida. Flights from India are also cheaper outside the May–June school holidays, Diwali and the Christmas–New Year week, which are the three periods when fares climb fastest.

Is Bali good for a honeymoon in December?

December works for a honeymoon if you're fine with rain. Showers are heavy but usually short, and private-pool villas in Ubud and Seminyak suit wet afternoons. Avoid 24 December to 2 January unless you've budgeted for peak rates and compulsory gala dinners. Early December is noticeably cheaper and quieter.

What happens during Nyepi in Bali?

Nyepi is the Balinese Hindu new year, observed as a day of silence. For 24 hours from 6 am the airport closes, roads empty and guests must stay inside their hotels with lights kept low. Hotels still serve meals. The night before, villages parade huge Ogoh-Ogoh effigies. In 2027 Nyepi falls around 8 March.

Is Bali too hot in May and June?

No. May and June are among the most comfortable months, with daytime highs around 30–31°C, lower humidity than the wet season and cool evenings in Ubud. Compared with a May afternoon in Delhi or Ahmedabad it feels mild. Carry sunscreen and a hat for the coast, as the sun is strong this close to the equator.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.