Why visit
Bali is Ubud's rice terraces and yoga, Canggu's surf and expat cafés, Uluwatu's cliff-top temples, and Nusa Penida's dramatic coast. Crowds large; beauty larger.
Bali at a glance
City population
700k
Metro: 4.4 million
Elevation
50 m
164 ft
Time zone
UTC+8
Asia/Makassar
Airport
DPS
Ngurah Rai International (Denpasar)
Founded
c. 1343 (Majapahit era)
Getting around
Scooter rentals + Gojek/Grab + private drivers; no public transit
Signature dish
Babi guling, bebek betutu, lawar, nasi campur, Balinese satay lilit
Neighborhoods for travelers
Ubud (culture)Seminyak (beach)Canggu (surf)Uluwatu (cliffs)Sanur (calm)
Indonesia at a glance
Country center
-5.0°, 120.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
1,904,569 km²
735,358 mi²
Country population
280.7 million
147/km²
Subregion
South-Eastern Asia
Currency
Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
IDR
Dial
+62
Language
Indonesian
Demonym
Indonesian
Internet
.id
UN
Member state
ISO code
ID / IDN
Where in the world
-5.0° · 120.0°
Indonesia
Open in Google Maps ↗
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Bali is Hindu-majority in a Muslim-majority country: culturally distinct from the rest of Indonesia.
- The island has 20,000+ temples (pura) across its 5,780 km².
- Bali time follows a 210-day religious calendar (pawukon) that governs most ceremonies.
- Indonesia is made of over 17,000 islands: the world's largest archipelago.
- It sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has 139 active volcanoes: more than any other country.
Bordering Indonesia
Traveler notes
- Tegalalang rice terraces in Ubud
- Nusa Penida day-trip from Sanur
- Mount Batur sunrise trek
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Bring layered clothing and verify trail/park access before arrival.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Bali
What currency is used in Bali?
Bali uses the Indonesian rupiah (Rp), ISO code IDR.
What languages are spoken in Indonesia?
The primary language is Indonesian.
What is the international calling code for Indonesia?
The calling code is +62.
What airport serves Bali?
Ngurah Rai International (Denpasar) (IATA: DPS).
Other Asia destinations
China
China is continent-sized travel. The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Xi'an's Terracotta Army, Chengdu pandas, Guilin karst rivers, and Shanghai's skyline. With high-speed rail linking most of it.
Cyprus
Cyprus is a destination in Asia with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Georgia
Georgia (the country) is Caucasus travel. Tbilisi's old town, Kazbegi mountains, Kakheti's 8,000-year wine tradition, and a food scene that stands alongside any in the region.
India
India is as much a rite of passage as a destination. Taj Mahal and Jaipur palaces, Varanasi ghats, Kerala backwaters, Goa beaches, Himalayan Ladakh. One trip can only sample one region.
Indonesia
Indonesia is 17,000 islands. Bali for beaches and temples, Java for Borobudur and volcanoes, Komodo for dragons and pink-sand beaches, Sulawesi for diving. Pick two islands; don't try to see them all.
Iran
Iran, for travelers who can visit, offers Isfahan's blue mosques, Persepolis, Yazd's desert architecture, and some of the world's most hospitable hosts.