Bali is small on a map and slow in practice. For a trip under two weeks, picking one area and staying in it is the difference between a holiday and a series of taxi journeys.
The traffic problem
Traffic in the south has become severe. Ubud to Canggu can take well over an hour for about 20 kilometres, and airport transfers at the wrong hour are worse.
On a week-long trip, two relocations consume most of two days.
Choose one base. Day trips outward are fine; moving accommodation repeatedly is not.
The areas, and who they suit
Canggu — coastal, surf, dense with cafés and co-working spaces, and a young transient crowd. The easiest place to meet people alone, and the busiest and most developed.
Ubud — inland, rice terraces and forest, cooler. Yoga, wellness and craft, with a long-established community. Quieter socially but with plenty of hostels and classes.
Uluwatu and the Bukit — clifftop, serious surf, spread out, and you need transport.
Sanur — east coast, calm water, older and much quieter.
Amed — diving, black sand, almost no development. Good alone if you want quiet.
Munduk and the north — mountains, lakes and waterfalls, cool at night, and very few visitors.
Meeting people
Hostels with common areas, of which Canggu and Ubud have many.
Surf lessons, which are the most reliably social activity on the island.
Yoga classes in Ubud, dropped into by the session.
Co-working spaces, which run events and are half the reason people go to Canggu.
Cooking classes, which include a market visit and end with everyone eating together.
What a solo trip costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | $8–15 |
| Private guesthouse room | $20–40 |
| Warung meal | $2–4 |
| Western café meal | $8–15 |
| Scooter, daily | $4–7 |
| Ride-hailing, short trip | $2–5 |
Eating local versus western is the whole budget. A warung meal costs a fifth of a café one and the food is better.
The scooter warning
The standard way to get around, and where visitors are most commonly injured.
Riding legally requires the correct motorcycle category on an international permit, without which travel insurance generally voids cover for an accident.
Balinese traffic is dense and unpredictable, surfaces vary, and rain makes it worse.
Never leave a passport as a rental deposit. Wear a helmet. Ride-hailing is cheap and covers most journeys.
Practical
Visa on arrival is granted for 30 days and can typically be extended once. Indonesian visa rules change relatively often — check the current official position.
Do not drink tap water; refill stations are widespread.
Rainy season, roughly November to March, brings heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.
Ceremonies close roads regularly and without notice, and Nyepi in March stops the entire island for a day including the airport.
Do not step on the canang sari — the small daily offerings on pavements and steps.