Best time to visit Bali: the weather month by month, from the Gulf

Bali has two seasons, not four. The dry season runs from April to October and the rainy season from November to March. Temperatures barely move between them. What changes is the rain, the sea and the number of other people at the viewpoint.

When is the dry season in Bali?

April to October. Skies are mostly clear, humidity is lower, and the roads to the mountains and the east coast are at their easiest. July and August are the driest months of all. This is the window we recommend for a first visit, and especially for anyone planning the boat to Nusa Penida or the climb up Mount Batur.

What does the rainy season actually look like?

Not a week of grey. From November to March the usual pattern is a clear morning, cloud building after midday, and a heavy shower in the afternoon that lasts an hour or two, then stops. January and February are the wettest months and the only ones where a full day of rain is common.

A rainy-season trip works if the day starts early. Temples, rice terraces and waterfalls before lunch; a pool, a spa or a covered market when the rain comes. Your guide plans the day in that order without being asked. The island is also at its greenest, and prices at hotels are at their lowest.

What is the weather like during the Gulf summer holiday?

June, July and August sit in the heart of the dry season, so the school holiday lines up with Bali’s best weather. Nights are at their coolest, especially in Ubud and the highlands. The trade-off is that July and August are also Bali’s busiest months, with visitors from Australia and Europe on the same calendar.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha move earlier each year, so the weather they land in changes too. Check the dates for your year against the table below rather than assuming Eid means dry season.

How hot is Bali?

Between 27 and 31°C on the coast, all year round, with humidity that makes it feel warmer. Evenings stay warm. Ubud, inland and a little higher, is a few degrees cooler and noticeably fresher at night. The summit of Mount Batur is cold before sunrise, around 10°C and windy, which is why the sunrise climb asks you to bring a jacket.

When is Bali most crowded?

July, August, and the two weeks around Christmas and New Year. Viewpoints on Nusa Penida and the popular temples fill up by mid-morning in those weeks, which is why our days start early. The quietest good-weather months are April, May, June, September and October. Late September and October are, for us, the best balance on the island: dry, calm seas, and the summer crowds gone home.

Is the sea calm enough for the Nusa Penida boat?

From April to October, usually yes. The crossing from Sanur is a 45-minute speedboat ride and in those months it is mostly flat. From November to March the swell rises, crossings can be rough, and the harbour authority occasionally stops boats altogether for a day. When that happens, your Nusa Penida day trip is moved to another date or swapped for a day on the mainland. Nobody is put on a boat in bad weather.

What is the weather in Bali month by month?

Month	Weather	Crowds	Good for
January	Wettest month, humid	Low	Ubud, spas, low hotel prices
February	Wet, afternoon storms	Low	Ubud, cultural days
March	Rain easing, clear mornings	Low	Rice terraces at their greenest
April	Start of the dry season	Moderate	Everything, with fewer people
May	Dry, clear, warm	Moderate	Nusa Penida, Batur sunrise
June	Dry, coolest nights	Rising	Families, full itineraries
July	Driest month	High	All tours; book early
August	Dry, windy on the coast	Highest	All tours; book early
September	Dry, crowds thinning	Moderate	Nusa Penida, the best overall month
October	Dry, occasional shower	Moderate	Batur sunrise, beaches
November	Rain returning	Low	Ubud, short tours
December	Wet, busy at the end of the month	High over the holidays	Relaxed hotel stays

What should I pack?

Light, loose clothing for the day and a change for the evening. Shoulders and knees are covered at temples; a sarong is provided at the entrance. Closed shoes, long trousers and a warm jacket for the Mount Batur sunrise by jeep. A light rain jacket from November to March. Sunscreen, a hat and a refillable bottle all year. A small travel prayer mat is useful, though your guide knows the mosques and prayer rooms on every route.

Our recommendation

If the dates are yours to choose, come between late April and October, and choose September or early October if you want the dry-season weather without the August crowds. If the school holiday fixes you to July or August, book early and let us start each day before the coaches arrive. If you are travelling between November and March, build the week around Ubud and the south, keep Nusa Penida flexible, and expect clear mornings.

For a week that covers all of it in one booking, the Bintang Bali programme is planned around the season you are travelling in. Tell us your dates and we will say plainly which days to do first. Send us a message and we will reply on WhatsApp.