Bali Map: Where Is Bali Island & Indonesia Located In The World?

by David & Intan

Bali is a small tourist island located in the country of Indonesia (in Asia), and most Americans would probably have a hard time finding it on a world map.

When I came home from my first trip there, most of my friends and family had no idea where Bali is located on a map (I used to think Bali is a country)! That’s because for us Americans, it’s literally on the other side of the world.

Once you get to Bali island and start exploring, it can also be a bit of a tricky island to navigate because of its odd shape and the way the different regencies (provinces) are set up, so a map of Bali can be handy as a visitor.

Hopefully this Bali map and location guide will help clear up any confusion!
 

Where Is Bali On The World Map?

Bali is an island in Indonesia, so first let’s find the country of Indonesia on the world map.

Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia (part of the continent of Asia) and it’s made up of more than 17,000 islands.

It’s surrounded by Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, as you can see (in red) on the map of Asia below.
 
Bali Map Where Is Bali Island Indonesia On The World Map
 

Where Is Bali Located In Indonesia?

Next, let’s look at a map of Indonesia and find the island of Bali (in red).

Bali is a fairly small island, located just to the right of Java, the 5th largest island in Indonesia. These two islands—Bali and Java—were connected by land in centuries past.

Bali Map Where Is Bali Island Indonesia On The World Map
 

Bali Indonesia Map

Lastly, here’s a close-up Bali island map for tourists.

This is a complete island map showing the main regions and important locations of Bali.

Bali Tourist Map Where Is Bali Island Indonesia On The World Map

Most tourism in Bali is concentrated in the lower half of the island, especially in the panhandle at the bottom.
 

Bali Regencies

The island of Bali is divided into 8 regencies and 1 city (Denpasar).

Here’s a brief summary of each area in Bali Indonesia:

  • Badung. The Ngurah Rai International Airport is near the bottom, in Kuta. Badung regency is known for popular tourist zones like Canggu, Kuta, and Uluwatu.
  • Denpasar: This is the ‘city center’ of Bali. It also includes the laidback beachside town of Sanur, which is known for being one of the most quiet and family friendly areas of Bali.
  • Gianyar. This regency is home to Ubud and lots of popular cultural sights.
  • Tabanan. Contains the Jatiluwih rice terraces and Bedugul.
  • Klungkung. Mostly known for Nusa Penida, a small but very scenic island off the coast of Bali.
  • Bangli. Most famous site is Kintamani and Mount Batur, an active volcano you can hike for sunrise.
  • Buleleng. Has Munduk, Singaraja, West Bali National Park, and most of the north coast of Bali island.
  • Karangasem: Big area with Bali’s tallest volcano, Mount Agung. Also known for Sidemen village and the Amed coast.
  • Jembrana: This is Bali’s least developed area. It’s mostly covered with mountains and rice terraces.

Where Is Bali Located Indonesia Tegalalang Rice Terrace

The famous Tegalalang Rice Terraces in Bali’s Gianyar regency


 

How To Get To Bali

Bali island has a modern and efficient airport nowadays. In fact, it’s one of my favorite airports in Southeast Asia! Based on customer satisfaction levels, the Bali airport was even rated the world’s third best by Airport Council International in 2016.

The Denpasar International Airport (code: DPS) is also known as Ngurah Rai International Airport. It served more than 24 million passengers in 2019, but everything is operated quite smoothly so you’d never know the airport is that busy!

There are direct flights to Bali from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and other places around the world. Unfortunately, there are currently no direct flights from the United States to Bali, but American travelers can transit through places like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, or Tokyo first, and then hop on a connecting flight to Bali.

Shop Now: Bali flights at Skyscanner

 

What Is Bali Like?

Like other places in Southeast Asia, Bali is a tropical island, so the weather is warm and humid year round.

It has a rainy season that runs from November to April, and a dry season that runs from April to November. Itโ€™s still very possible to visit Bali in the rainy season, because the rain usually comes at night.

In contrast to most of Indonesia, which is generally Muslim, Bali is a Hindu-majority island. The Balinese local people are known for their warmth, and they’re very friendly and welcoming to foreigners.

Bali island was visited by more than 6 million people in 2019, making it the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia by a long shot (although there are lots of other great islands and places to visit in Indonesia).

Where Is Bali Located Indonesia Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

The Ulun Danu Bratan Temple on a lake is one of Bali’s most iconic landmarks.

Safety is not a big concern in Bali. Violent crime is rare, and murders are almost unheard of. Drive-by phone snatchings do happen from time to time, so just remember to put away your phone when youโ€™re by a busy road with passing motorbikes.

The biggest safety risks in Bali and Indonesia are probably motorbike accidents and natural threats. I’d stay away from motorbikes here unless youโ€™re an experienced driver in Southeast Asia.

The locals in Bali speak mainly the Indonesian and Balinese languages, although many of them are also fluent in English. You don’t need to learn Indonesian to visit Bali, although it’s polite and fun to learn at least a little bit of Bahasa.

It’s really easy to travel Bali on a budget, with private hotels available for as little as $10 USD. Meals are also cheap, costing as little as $1 to $3 in some ‘warungs’ (family owned restaurants).

Transportation in Bali is generally by motorbike or car, and these can be rented, but hiring a driver is cheap and often preferable. I’d recommend downloading the transportation apps Grab and Go-Jek; these are great for getting around.

Bali Beach Best Beaches In Bali Indonesia

There are some beautiful beaches in Bali, especially in Uluwatu and Nusa Penida.


 

Things To Do In Bali

There’s something in Bali for every kind of traveler.

Adventure lovers will have access to all kinds of hikes and scenery, with waterfalls, jungles, cliffs, volcanoes, and more. You can do rafting, ATVs, jet skiing, hot air balloons, and scenic helicopter flights.

Or, if youโ€™re the more laid back type, Bali has beaches, clubs, markets, temples, and rice terraces for you, along with an endless supply of good restaurants and massages. The local food is amazing, and you can also find lots of western food as well.

Wildlife can be seen at places like the Ubud Monkey Forest, the Mason Elephant Park, Bali Zoo, Bali Bird Park, Bali Butterfly Park, Bali Sea Turtle Society, and West Bali National Park. You can also go snorkeling or scuba diving and see all kinds of colorful fish and coral.

You can find a wide variety of nice handmade crafts in Bali like wood carvings, paintings, and rattan bags, and Bali is also known for coffee beans, spices, oils, lace, ceramics, and silverworks.

If any of that sounds nice, then you will fall in love with Bali and its people!

Bali waterfall in Indonesia

Bali has dozens of nice waterfalls to see


 

Where To Stay In Bali

Bali island is known for its hotel industry, with lots of comfy accommodation to fit every budget, from backpackers to luxury travelers.

Most tourists stay in the Kuta area for nightlife and shopping, Ubud for cultural sights and rice terraces, Canggu for hip cafes, and Uluwatu for beaches and surfing, while the Sanur area is known for being quiet and family friendly.

Here are some hotel recommendations for your first trip to Bali:

 

Best Bali Day Tours & Activities

 

More Bali Travel Tips

I hope this Bali map helped you understand where Bali is in the world.

The popularity of this little island in Indonesia has really exploded in the last few years thanks to all of the amazing things to see and do here.

If you’re planning a trip to Bali or somewhere else in Indonesia, don’t forget to check out my complete Bali Travel Guide and stay tuned to this blog for more tips, photos & info!

Read More: Bali Travel Guide

Where Is Bali Located Indonesia Kelingking Beach Nusa Penida

Check out my complete Bali Travel Guide for more travel tips and info!


 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Bali A Country?

No, Bali is not a country. Bali is an island and province in the country of Indonesia.
 

2. On What Continent Is Bali?

Bali is part of the continent of Asia. Specifically, it’s located in Southeast Asia.
 

3. What Are People From Bali Called?

The local people in Bali are called Balinese since that’s their home island, although their nationality is Indonesian, so either label works.
 

See Also

 

More Bali Guides

 

Bali Indonesia Map Credits

The Bali maps on this page are courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Their respective licenses apply:


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25 comments

Patty Overly April 5, 2021 - 9:25 pm

Came across your site while looking at Pacific islands maps. Iโ€™m a mapaholic . Thatโ€™s how I travel at my age. LOL. Anyway I donโ€™t think I ever had a clue about Bali but thanks to you thatโ€™s no longer true. Thank you so much.

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David April 5, 2021 - 11:25 pm

Nice! Thanks Patty!

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Steve December 31, 2021 - 5:40 am

Do you think Bali is suitable for old people not upto much walking. Can one hire moped?

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David December 31, 2021 - 5:49 am

Hi Steve, yes Bali is great for folks with limited mobility. I would recommend you stay in the Sanur area. It’s popular with families and old folks, and everything is easily walkable from your hotel — restaurants, beach, massages, convenience stores, etc. You can hire a motorbike cheaply, but a car and driver is even more convenient and still pretty affordable.

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Phindile Makopo January 10, 2022 - 5:40 am

Thank you very much for such details

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Connie Rendon January 15, 2022 - 2:12 am

Hello & thank you for all the information!! Where is the best place in Bali for a truly spiritual experience?

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David January 15, 2022 - 2:18 am

Hi Connie! Ubud is the place you seek. Here is my guide for some top things to see and do there: https://theworldtravelguy.com/best-things-to-do-in-ubud-bali-monkeys-temples-markets/

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Jeff February 27, 2022 - 11:43 am

Hi David, my son is thinking about to go there for internship in tourism. Is it a safe place in terms of political, social status? Safe to go outside alone at night time?

Thanks for reading this.

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David February 27, 2022 - 7:40 pm

Hi Jeff! Thanks for your question. Bali is safe politically and foreigners are very welcome here. It’s generally safe to walk around at night even for women. Violent crime is extremely rare although there is some petty theft in Kuta and other popular partying areas. The main thing to avoid is holding a phone or camera near a busy street, because it’s easy for a guy on a scooter to drive by and grab. I also wouldn’t recommend renting a scooter in Bali without experience, because the driving style here is a bit chaotic (but taxis are safe and cheap to hire). Hope this helps. I plan to write a full article on this later. My wife is a local and we’ve spent years living in Bali. We go many places at night and I would consider it safer than big cities in the States.

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Debbie July 25, 2022 - 5:22 pm

Hi David!

Bali is beautiful! As a US citizen, I’m researching places to retire. Is Bali a feasible place to consider? How far will the dollar go?

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David & Intan July 26, 2022 - 3:06 am

Hi Debbie! Sure, I think Bali is a great place to retire, and the dollar goes far here. Food, rent, and other things are quite cheap. As with any place, I’d definitely visit Bali for a couple months first to see if you like it. Let me know if I can answer any questions! I’m writing a full article soon about our experiences living in Bali.

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Eva August 31, 2022 - 9:29 am

Hi David!

I would like to visit Bali for a week and explore its beauty, but I have never travelled out of South Africa before.
I am not sure how safe is the travel companies and where to ask for more information about the bookings and all that includes flights to and from, accommodation and site seeing visa etc

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David August 31, 2022 - 7:09 pm

Hi Eva! I’m sure you would have a great time in Bali. I normally don’t use travel companies to arrange my flights, hotels, etc, but I’m sure there are plenty of good ones who can do that for you.

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georgia September 14, 2022 - 7:36 pm

hello, we are planning to visit Bali, renting a house. we would love to be by the sea in a very quiet area, no beach bars, no parties, no loud music, just the breeze and the sea waves. Do you think it’s possible? I have been told the north coast is the less exploited . Thank you for your advise, Georgia

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David & Intan September 14, 2022 - 8:06 pm

Hi Georgia! Sanur is pretty quiet and there are places to stay right by the beach. It is still fairly touristy though. If you want something even more quiet and less developed, then Amed or Tejakula are options.

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Johnny Weeks August 20, 2023 - 3:09 am

Hi guys, completely agree with David and Intan here. Sanur is fairly quiet, large roads and infrastructure that can handle the traffic, but people are beginning to move from the busy areas of Canggu and Kerobokan to quieter Sanur, and with the harbor traffic, new large hospital being built, and future mall, Sanur is getting even more busy and the neighborhoods near the beaches here are getting full of tourists. I second David’s advice to check out the Amed area on the east coast of Bali in the Karangasem regency. I live in Kubu, just north of Amed about 20km, no traffic, a diving area, beautiful weather and very few tourists. The east coast real estate is also about half of what it is in the touristy south. I also live part-time in Kesiman Kertalangu when my villa rents out. Kesiman is only about 15 minutes from Sanur Beach and also has many local non-touristy beach options, like Biaung and Gumicik just a short bicycle ride away. I’m looking forward to reading more of your blogs David and Intan.

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David & Intan August 20, 2023 - 7:19 am

Thanks Johnny!

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Renee Schultz November 16, 2022 - 5:01 pm

David – what a great article and you are blessed! Are there airbnbs? Is that something you would recommend? Do you rent out your home there when you are not there? Thank you!

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David & Intan November 16, 2022 - 6:13 pm

Hi Renee! There are lots of nice Airbnbs in Bali and they tend to cater to the higher budget crowd. We usually rent a small studio room or other hotel in Bali and haven’t bought a house yet since we’re always traveling. Happy to answer any other questions you may have!

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Anna December 23, 2022 - 12:19 am

Would you say Bali is safe for a solo female traveler?

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David & Intan December 23, 2022 - 1:05 am

Hi Anna! Yes, Bali is very popular for solo female travelers.

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Daisy June 5, 2023 - 12:06 pm

My husband and I visited Bali in April 2023. What an amazing experience of culture and beauty
beautiful, humble and pleasant folk. made a few friends
Stayed in a Nusa Dua at Hotel Nikko Bali and then in Ubud . was wonderful
snorkelling at Nusa Penida was amazing!!!!!!

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David & Intan June 5, 2023 - 4:25 pm

Glad to hear you had a great stay!

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Thanh pham January 19, 2024 - 4:55 pm

Hello. I am traveling with a toddler (3 years old) and my niece (12 years old) with my mom (60 years old). Can you please advise where it’s best to stay so that we can visit all the places mentioned above? How is transportation? I have never been to Bali and would love to know what the easiest way to travel around and if I need to book multiple hotels for different places. Thank you!

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David & Intan January 19, 2024 - 5:07 pm

Hi Thanh! For families I would recommend staying in Sanur or Ubud. From either of these bases you can visit the whole island by car, although Ubud is closer to more sights and activities, while Sanur is more relaxed and has a beach. Booking hotels in multiple areas isn’t required, although it’ll give you a better taste of the different areas.

In either Sanur or Ubud, you can walk to restaurants, mini marts, and most other daily needs. For sightseeing, I would recommend hiring a private driver with a car. They will take you around for a full day to all the places you want to see in Bali.

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