Best Time to Visit Bali: Dry Season, Rainy Season and UAE Holidays by Month

The short answer: Bali's dry season runs roughly from April/May to September/October, with June to September the most reliably sunny and July and August the busiest and priciest; May, June, September and the first half of October are quieter shoulder months with much the same weather. The wet season, November to March, is not all-day rain: expect short, heavy downpours most days, often in the afternoon or evening, with Denpasar's own records showing January (about 388mm) and December (about 299mm) as the wettest months. Flights from Dubai take about nine hours; our two Bali packages start from AED 3,899 and AED 4,799 per person. If you are travelling for Eid Al Fitr, expected around 9–10 March 2027, note that Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence, falls on Monday 8 March 2027, when the island, airport included, shuts down for 24 hours.

Bali at a glance

Fact	Bali (checked October 2026)
Dry season	Roughly April/May to September/October
Wet season	Roughly November to March; short, heavy downpours rather than all-day rain
Sunniest, driest months	June to September
Busiest and priciest months	July, August and the Christmas–New Year fortnight
Nyepi (Day of Silence) 2027	Monday 8 March; airport closed for 24 hours
Flight from Dubai	About 9 hours non-stop on Emirates; Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi
Tourist levy	IDR 150,000 (about AED 30), once per visit
Bali packages from Dubai	From AED 3,899 (4N/5D) and AED 4,799 (6N/7D)

Bali's dry and wet seasons, in detail

Climate normals for Denpasar's Ngurah Rai Airport, covering 1991 to 2020, show how little Bali's temperature actually moves through the year: the average daily high ranges only from 29°C in July and August to 31.6°C in November, and the average low stays between 23.8°C and 25.3°C all year. Rainfall is what changes. August is driest, averaging about 16mm, with July close behind at 30mm; January is wettest, averaging 388mm, with February (299mm) and December (299mm) not far off.

Rain in the wet season tends to arrive as a heavy downpour of twenty minutes to an hour, often in the afternoon or evening, rather than a grey day of continuous drizzle. Mornings are frequently clear and humid. The shoulder months either side of the core dry season sit in between: April averages about 115mm and October about 68mm, drier than the wet months but wetter than June to September. May, June, September and the first half of October are often the best-value window: dry-season weather with noticeably fewer visitors and softer hotel rates than July and August.

Bali's weather by month

Month	Avg high/low	Rain	Notes
January	30.9°C / 25.1°C	388mm	Wettest month; New Year crowds tail off; Galungan 13–23 January 2027
February	30.9°C / 25.0°C	299mm	Still wet; generally the quietest, cheapest month of the year
March	31.0°C / 25.0°C	214mm	Drying out; Nyepi on Monday 8 March 2027; UAE Eid Al Fitr break expected 9–10 March
April	31.0°C / 25.1°C	115mm	Rain tapering off; dry season beginning
May	30.5°C / 24.9°C	73mm	Dry, warm, quieter; UAE Eid Al Adha expected mid-May
June	29.8°C / 24.6°C	51mm	Dry and sunny; UAE summer school holidays begin
July	29.0°C / 24.1°C	30mm	Among the driest months; busy with Australian and European school holidays
August	29.1°C / 23.8°C	16mm	Driest month on average; Galungan 11–21 August 2027; still peak crowds
September	30.0°C / 23.8°C	41mm	Dry, quieter, good value
October	31.0°C / 24.6°C	68mm	Rain returns gradually; a useful shoulder month
November	31.6°C / 25.3°C	149mm	Wet season under way; rice terraces at their greenest
December	30.8°C / 25.3°C	299mm	Wet, but one of Bali's busiest periods, driven by Christmas and New Year

Regional differences: Ubud, the highlands and the south coast

Ubud sits inland and a little higher than the coast, which keeps it a few degrees cooler, more humid and wetter in the wet season than Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Sanur or Jimbaran: the rising ground pulls extra rain from the clouds moving up from the sea. The trade-off is a greener, cooler base for temples and rice terraces against hotter, sunnier beach days on the coast.

The true highlands — Bedugul, Munduk and the area around Mount Batur, roughly 600 to 1,000 metres up — are a different climate again. Multiple climate records put Bedugul and Munduk at more than 3,000mm of rain a year, roughly double the south coast's total, with the same February-wet, August-dry shape, just considerably heavier, and nights cool enough for a jacket, especially June to August.

Nusa Penida and the boat crossing

Most operators and recent passenger reports point to roughly April/May to October as the calmest window for the 30–45 minute fast-boat crossing from Sanur, with May, June and September balancing settled seas against fewer visitors. November to March brings a higher chance of rough seas and cancelled sailings, though bumpy crossings happen in the dry season too, so build in a spare day if you are travelling in the wet months. Kelingking's viewpoint steps and other cliff paths are also more hazardous when wet.

Bali in December

December sits at the start of the wet season — Denpasar averages 299mm of rain, the third-wettest month on record — but most of that falls as short, heavy storms rather than steady drizzle, with daytime temperatures a comfortable 29–31°C. Rain or not, December is one of Bali's busiest periods: it covers the UAE's National Day holiday and the winter break, and rates are usually at their highest of the year through Christmas and New Year. Book well ahead if these are your only dates.

Bali in July

July sits in the heart of the dry season, averaging only about 30mm of rain and temperatures around 29°C, making it one of the most reliable months for beach days, hikes and the Nusa Penida boat crossing. It is also one of Bali's two busiest months, with August, as Australian and European school holidays overlap, and Seminyak, Ubud and Uluwatu accommodation fills first. Book several months ahead for July travel, and expect rates closer to August's peak than to the quieter shoulder months either side.

Nyepi, Galungan and Kuningan: the dates to plan around

Indonesia's three-minister decree for 2027, issued in September 2026, sets Nyepi, the Saka New Year and Bali's Day of Silence, on Monday 8 March 2027. The island goes still for 24 hours from 6am that day to 6am the next: no flights, no traffic, no lights after dark and no visitors on the street, with only hotel guests kept quietly inside. Ngurah Rai Airport closes completely, so do not plan to land or depart on 8 March; the ogoh-ogoh parades the evening before, Sunday 7 March, are the one public spectacle. Indonesia's own Eid Al Fitr national holidays follow almost immediately, on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March, with collective leave on the 9th, 12th and 15th — close to, though not identical with, the UAE's own Eid Al Fitr, expected around 9–10 March 2027 pending the moon sighting.

Galungan and Kuningan, which mark the ancestors' visit to the living and their return, fall twice in 2027 on Bali's 210-day pawukon calendar: Galungan on 13 January and Kuningan on 23 January, then Galungan again on 11 August and Kuningan on 21 August. Villages hang tall decorated bamboo poles (penjor) and temples fill with worshippers in white and gold; some shops and offices close on the main days, but hotels, restaurants and sightseeing continue as normal. Our Bali holiday guide covers the island's other visitor rules, including temple dress and the tourist levy.

When Bali is busiest and most expensive

July, August and the Christmas-to-New Year fortnight are consistently Bali's highest-demand windows, when hotel and villa rates are at their highest. Chinese New Year, which falls on 6 February 2027, adds a smaller, shorter bump in demand, mainly around Nusa Dua and Ubud. September, and January to March outside the holiday windows above, tend to be the best-value months, though January and February are also the wettest.

Which UAE holiday suits Bali's seasons

• Eid Al Fitr, expected 9–10 March 2027. Bali is drying out by mid-March (averaging 214mm) but is not yet in its core dry season, and Nyepi falls just before it, on 8 March — plan your arrival for 9 March or later.
• Eid Al Adha, expected 15–18 May 2027. This lands right at the start of Bali's dry season, when May averages only about 73mm of rain — one of the better-timed UAE holidays for a Bali trip.
• UAE summer holidays, June to August. The driest, sunniest stretch of Bali's year, and also the busiest and most expensive; book early.
• National Day and the winter break, December. Inside the wet season, but still one of Bali's busiest periods, driven by Christmas and New Year demand rather than the weather.

Your passport decides Bali's visa route, and every visitor pays Indonesia's IDR 150,000 tourist levy once per trip; our Indonesia and Bali visa guide sets out who qualifies for a visa on arrival and who needs an e-visa first.

Plan your Bali trip with Holidayys

Our 4 nights 5 days Bali package starts from AED 3,899 per person, with four nights' accommodation, daily breakfast and the Indonesia visa included, and the 6 nights 7 days Magical Bali Adventure starts from AED 4,799 per person, with four-star hotels, daily breakfast and airport transfers. Flights are quoted separately on both. Browse more of our Asian holiday packages for other durations.

Tell us your travel window — Eid, the summer break or December — and we will check current flights, hotel availability and pricing for those dates. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 4 589 0001 or use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Bali?

For the most reliable weather, June to September. May, June, September and early October offer similar dry-season conditions with fewer crowds and softer prices than the July–August peak.

Is Bali rainy in December?

Yes. December averages about 299mm of rain, the third-wettest month on Denpasar's climate record, though it usually falls as short, heavy storms rather than all-day drizzle. December is still one of Bali's busiest periods, driven by Christmas and New Year demand rather than the weather.

Is Bali good to visit in July?

Yes for weather, since July is one of the driest months at around 30mm of rain, but it is also one of the busiest months of the year, with August, as Australian and European school holidays overlap. Book well ahead.

When is Nyepi in 2027 and what happens?

Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence, falls on Monday 8 March 2027. The island shuts down for 24 hours from 6am: no flights, no traffic and no lights after dark. Ngurah Rai Airport is closed all day, so avoid booking travel on that date.

When is the best time to cross to Nusa Penida?

Roughly April/May to October, when the fast-boat crossing from Sanur is calmest; May, June and September combine settled seas with fewer visitors. November to March brings a higher chance of rough seas and cancelled sailings.

Do UAE residents need a visa for Bali?

It depends on your passport rather than your UAE residence. Most Western, Indian, Egyptian and Emirati passport holders can get a visa on arrival, while some other nationalities need an e-visa in advance. See our Indonesia and Bali visa guide for the full breakdown by passport.

Related guides

• Bali holiday guide from Dubai
• Bali itinerary from Dubai: a relaxed 7-day first trip
• Indonesia and Bali visa for UAE residents
• UAE public holidays 2027
• Best time to visit Thailand

Last checked 9 October 2026 against climate normals for Denpasar's Ngurah Rai Airport (1991–2020), Indonesia's official 2027 national holiday decree from the Ministries of Religious Affairs, Manpower, and Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (September 2026), and current Bali travel-season and Nusa Penida crossing reports. Nyepi, Galungan and the Eid dates follow lunar and Saka calendars and can move by a day; weather and prices vary from year to year, so check closer to your travel dates.