Bali's airport is close to the southern beaches, but the time it takes to reach your hotel depends more on the hour than the distance. A trip that takes 15 minutes at midday can take more than an hour at 5pm.
How long it takes
These are rough guides from transfer companies and travel sites, not measured times.
| To | Distance | Off-peak | In heavy traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuta | A few kilometres | 10 to 15 minutes | Longer |
| Seminyak | About 10 to 12 km | 20 to 40 minutes | 45 to 90 minutes |
| Canggu | About 20 km | 35 to 50 minutes | One guide says 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Ubud | About 38 km | About 1.5 to 2 hours | Longer |
The worst window is roughly 4pm to 8pm. Some guides also point to a morning rush from about 6am to 9am, when early arrivals meet the school and work commute, but we have not found measured times for it. In the July and August peak and over the Christmas to New Year break, allow well beyond these times. Sunset Road, Jalan Petitenget and the Kerobokan intersection are the usual bottlenecks, and the evening rush at Kerobokan can add 20 to 30 minutes. After dark, even short trips can take 30 to 45 minutes.
How you can get there
The airport taxi counter
The official counter sells fixed, prepaid fares by area. Sources describe it as safe and simple, and sometimes the most expensive choice. Prices change, and the sources we found disagree, so treat these as a rough range and check the board at the counter:
| To | Rough range |
|---|---|
| Kuta | IDR 80,000 to 150,000 (about AUD 8 to 15) |
| Seminyak | IDR 150,000 to 200,000 (about AUD 15 to 20) |
| Canggu | About IDR 300,000 (about AUD 30) |
| Ubud | IDR 350,000 to 450,000 (about AUD 35 to 45) |
Bluebird
Guides describe Bluebird as the most trustworthy metered taxi. Use the MyBluebird app or insist on the meter, so the price does not depend on an argument. The meter will rise in traffic.
Grab and Gojek
Both have pick-up areas at the airport. One guide says you walk to a designated lounge, book in the app and wait for the driver. Another says apps are limited in parts of the airport. Fares are shown before you book and can rise at peak times. Coverage is thin to the north and east, and around parts of the Bukit peninsula, so check the app works for your area.
A pre-booked transfer
Companies sell fixed-price transfers with a driver waiting in arrivals with your name. Sources put these at about IDR 250,000 to 450,000 depending on the area, and say they cost more than the counter but track your flight if it is late. Agree the total in writing, including tolls and parking.
Avoiding the bad surprises
- Agree the fare first. One guide warns that touts in arrivals quote several times the normal fare, and may say the official counter is closed.
- Carry small notes. Most taxis are cash only, and drivers often lack change for large bills.
- Late arrivals cost more. Fares rise at night and apps can be harder to use.
Or skip the drive
If your flight is early, or you are leaving from Seminyak, Canggu or Ubud in the evening or in peak season, the road is the biggest risk to your trip. A night in Tuban takes it out. See our Bali airport traffic guide and the short lists for the International and Domestic terminals.