Bali is warm all year, with daytime highs of about 29 to 31°C in every month. What changes is the rain, the sea and the crowds. The dry season brings sunshine and the best conditions for boat trips, trekking and surfing on the west coast. The wet season brings short, heavy downpours, greener rice fields and lower prices.
This guide covers the seasons, each month in turn and how the weather affects the islands around Bali. For the rest of the planning, start with our Bali and Indonesia travel guide.
Bali's seasons at a glance
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | April to October | Sunny, lower humidity, cooler nights in the hills. The busiest time, especially July and August |
| Wet season | November to March | Hot and humid, with heavy tropical downpours, often in the afternoon or overnight. Wettest from December to February |
| Change-over months | April and October | A mix of both, often with good weather and fewer people |
Bali's provincial government describes the dry season as roughly April to October, and Indonesia's weather agency put the peak of the 2026 dry season in August. In Denpasar, rainfall ranges from about 280 to 350 mm a month from December to February, down to only a little in August.
Bali month by month
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Wettest month | Busy for the first week, then quiet | Cheap, but rainy |
| February | Very wet | Quiet | Cheapest month |
| March | Wet, easing late in the month | Quiet. Nyepi on 8 March 2027 | Mixed |
| April | Rains ending | Quiet | Good value |
| May | Dry | Moderate | One of the best |
| June | Dry | Getting busier | One of the best |
| July | Dry | Very busy | Great weather, full |
| August | Driest month | Very busy | Great weather, full |
| September | Dry | Moderate | One of the best |
| October | Mostly dry, showers return | Moderate | Good |
| November | Wet season starts | Quiet | Mixed, cheaper |
| December | Wet | Very busy from Christmas | Busy and wet |
Bali in January
The wettest month, with heavy downpours on most days, though usually not all day. The first week is busy with New Year travellers, then it goes quiet and prices drop. The seas can be rough, and on 21 January 2026 all boat crossings were suspended because of big waves, so keep plans for Nusa Penida and the Gilis flexible. Galungan, one of Bali's biggest Hindu festivals, falls on 13 January 2027, and Kuningan follows on 23 January. Tall decorated bamboo poles (penjor) line the roads, and temples are busy with ceremonies.
Bali in February
Still very wet, and one of the cheapest months for flights and rooms. It's a good time for Ubud's rice fields, cafes and yoga if you don't mind the rain. Boat crossings can be cancelled in bad weather, so leave a spare day before any flight. Mount Rinjani on nearby Lombok is closed at this time of year.
Bali in March
The rains start to ease towards the end of the month. The big event is Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, on Monday 8 March 2027. For 24 hours, from 06:00 that day to 06:00 the next, no one is allowed out on the streets, the airport closes, and no fast boats run to Nusa Penida, the Gilis or Lombok. Hotels keep their guests inside. On the evening before (7 March), villages parade huge ogoh-ogoh monster effigies through the streets, one of the biggest nights of the Balinese year. Eid al-Fitr follows on 10 and 11 March 2027, and Indonesia's long holiday that week fills flights and boats. Read our Nyepi guide if your dates overlap.
Bali in April
The start of the dry season and one of the best-value months. The rain tails off, the rice fields are green, and the crowds haven't arrived yet. Rinjani on Lombok usually reopens (it reopened on 1 April in 2026), though the park sets the dates each year.
Bali in May
One of the best months. It's dry and sunny, the seas around Nusa Penida are among the calmest of the year, and prices are still reasonable. It's a good month for everything: the Mount Batur sunrise trek, snorkelling with manta rays and surfing on the west coast.
Bali in June
Dry and pleasant, and busier from the second half of the month as school holidays begin. The south-east trade winds pick up, which can make the crossing to the Gilis choppier in July and August. The Bali Arts Festival, a month of free dance, music and parades in Denpasar, usually runs from mid-June to mid-July.
Bali in July
Peak season. The weather is excellent, but July and August are the busiest months of the year, with European summer holidays and Australian school holidays. Book rooms, boats and popular tours early, and expect queues at the famous viewpoints. Divers have a chance of seeing mola mola (ocean sunfish) off Nusa Penida from about July to October.
Bali in August
The driest month and the busiest. Everything works well in August, but you'll share it with a lot of people, and prices are at their highest outside Christmas. Galungan comes round again on 11 August 2027, with Kuningan on 21 August. Indonesia's Independence Day on 17 August brings flags and local events.
Bali in September
For many people this is the best month. It's still dry, the seas around Nusa Penida calm down again, and the summer crowds have gone home. Prices drop from their August peak. Surf, trek, dive and island-hop without the queues.
Bali in October
Mostly dry, with showers returning towards the end of the month. It's a good, quieter month to visit. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival runs from 21 to 25 October in 2026, and Lombok hosts MotoGP at Mandalika (9 to 11 October in 2026), when prices on Lombok jump.
Bali in November
The wet season begins, usually with afternoon storms rather than all-day rain. It's quiet and cheaper, and a decent month for Ubud and the hills. Beaches in Kuta and Seminyak can get washed-up rubbish in the wet season, so they aren't at their best.
Bali in December
Wet, hot and humid, and very busy from Christmas to New Year, when prices peak. The first half of the month is quieter. Boats can be disrupted by bad weather from December to February, so plan a buffer day before any flight. If you want a Christmas trip, book early and pick a base where the rain doesn't matter, like Ubud.
Best time for...
- Nusa Penida and manta rays: May, June and September, when the sea is usually calmest. Manta Point is often cancelled in big swell.
- The Gili Islands: April to October. In July and August the south-east swell can delay boats, and from December to March the wet season can too.
- Mount Batur sunrise trek: the dry season. In the wet season the summit is often in cloud.
- Mount Rinjani on Lombok: May, June and September. The trails close in the wet season, and the park can also restrict trekking for fire risk, so check the latest status before you book. See our Rinjani guide.
- Surfing: the west coast (Canggu, Uluwatu) works best in the dry season, when the trade winds blow offshore. The east coast (Keramas) is better in the wet season.
- Komodo: the dry season. Boats from Labuan Bajo were suspended for most of January 2026 because of the weather, and short closures still happen in the dry season. See our Komodo guide.
- Lower prices: January to March, apart from New Year, and November.
Things that affect your dates
- Nyepi. The whole island shuts for 24 hours, including the airport. In 2027 it's on 8 March. Don't plan to arrive, leave or take a boat that day. See the Nyepi dates.
- Balinese ceremonies. Galungan and Kuningan come round every 210 days. They're a lovely time to be in Bali, but some roads close for processions.
- Indonesian holidays. Eid al-Fitr (10 and 11 March 2027, with extra days off around it) and Christmas to New Year fill domestic flights and boats. Lombok and the Gilis are mostly Muslim, so expect busy boats around Eid.
- Dengue. Mosquito-borne dengue is more common in the wet season. Use repellent, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, when the mosquitoes that carry it bite.
- Fast boats. Rough seas cancel crossings to Nusa Penida, the Gilis and Lombok from time to time, mainly in July and August and from December to March. Always leave a buffer day before a flight home.
Plan your trip around the season
Both our Bali trips run in the dry season, from April to October, and we suggest May, June and September for the best mix of weather, calm seas and smaller crowds.
