Short answer
The best time to visit Bali is the dry season, April to October. May, June and September give the best balance of good weather, manageable crowds and lower prices. July and August have the best weather but peak prices.
Bali has two seasons: dry (April to October) and wet (November to March). Most people should aim for the dry season, but the best month depends on whether you are optimising for weather, crowds or cost.
The short version
| If you want… | Go in | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall balance | May, June, September | Genuinely few downsides. The sweet spot. |
| Best weather | July–August | Peak prices and peak crowds. |
| Lowest prices | February | Rainy-season afternoons. |
| Fewer crowds, good weather | April, October | Slightly higher rain risk at the edges. |
Month by month
- January–February. Wettest months. Rain usually arrives as heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day grey. Cheapest flights and villas, quietest beaches.
- March. Rain easing. Good value, and the landscape is at its greenest.
- April. Start of dry season. Excellent conditions before prices climb.
- May–June. Arguably the best months — dry, warm, and 20–30% cheaper villas than peak.
- July–August. Peak season. Best weather, highest prices, busiest beaches and restaurants.
- September. Still dry, crowds thinning, prices dropping. A strong pick.
- October. Shoulder season. Occasional rain returning, good value.
- November–December. Wet season begins. December spikes in price for the holidays despite the weather.
A note on the rainy season
Wet season in Bali is often misunderstood. It usually means a heavy downpour for an hour or two in the afternoon, not days of continuous rain — worth weighing against how much cheaper those months are. Mornings are frequently clear. If you are travelling on a budget and can work around afternoon rain, January and February are dramatically cheaper.
The real trade-offs are rougher seas for diving and snorkelling, and more mosquitoes.
Before you book
Every foreign visitor pays a one-time tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (about $9.30) per person. Pay it online before flying to skip a queue on arrival.
