There's no good public transport in Bali, so you get around by private driver, the apps Grab/Gojek, a taxi or a scooter. Here are the pros and cons so you make the best choice.
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Add it in the trip planner →For day trips and travel between areas, a private driver is the handiest option: comfortable with air conditioning, you can stop along the way, and it's surprisingly affordable (per day or per trip). Ideal if you travel with more people or have luggage.
Right inside the app you book a private driver straight from us. Choose your car and your day, and a friendly, English-speaking local driver picks you up at your hotel. Day trips, an airport run, a temple at sunrise — sorted in a few taps, and we arrange everything for you.
Grab and Gojek are ride-hailing apps (both car and scooter taxi) that are cheap and handy in the tourist areas. You see the price up front. Note: in some places (certain beaches, airport zones) local restrictions apply.
Choose a reliable metered taxi such as Bluebird (blue cars with a bird logo). Otherwise agree a price in advance, as not every taxi uses the meter.
A scooter is cheap and flexible for short distances, but the traffic is busy and you're often not insured. Read our honest guide to renting a scooter in Bali before you choose this.
Expect busy and sometimes chaotic traffic, especially in the south (Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu) and around rush hour. Distances look short but take a lot of time because of traffic — plan generously. In the trip planner we account for this with realistic travel times.
Getting around Bali is cheap by Western standards. A private driver for a full day (around 8–10 hours, including fuel) typically costs about €35–55, split between everyone in the car. Grab and Gojek rides in the tourist areas are just a few euros for short hops, with the price shown up front. An airport transfer to the main areas is usually €10–20. Renting a scooter is cheapest of all at roughly €5–7 a day — but only if you're experienced and insured (see our honest scooter guide).
For your first arrival, a pre-booked transfer or a Grab takes the stress out of landing tired. For touring between regions — south to Ubud, Ubud to the east, and so on — a private driver is the sweet spot: you get a door-to-door ride with stops at sights along the way, far more comfortable than piecing together app rides for long distances.
Bali's islands are reached by fast boat, not car: roughly 30–45 minutes from Sanur to Nusa Penida or Lembongan, and two to three hours to the Gili Islands (from Sanur, Padang Bai or Amed). Book daytime crossings, as the sea can be choppy, and factor the drive to the harbour into your timings. You can compare and book Bali boat tickets online.