Even if you don’t ride a bike (why, why, why?), there are several ways to get from A to B in Bali.

CARS and BIKES

TAXIS

Mainstream tourism’s first choice. I personally don’t like it – there’s a reason it’s called the taxi mafia. These drivers (both with car and bike) are pushy, arrogant, offensive, and only interested in ripping you off. If you’re a taxi type, at least do yourself a favour and call a Blue Bird. These blue taxis are controlled and have transparent prices, so hopefully, you won’t end up in the jungle getting robbed.

PRIVATE CARS

This is a popular choice but expensive for one person. You can find private drivers on social media and Google and discuss all the details (route, destination, price, etc.) in advance. The advantage of a private car is that if you like the driver, you can fix him for other trips, saving yourself the hassle of finding a car every time.

Note: If you’re unfamiliar with local traffic, renting a car with a driver is better than driving yourself.

GRAB and GO-JEK

Slowly, it’s hard to imagine a life without these ride-hailing and food-delivery companies.

Grab controls the entire Southeast Asia. It has good prices and good coverage in Bali. The app works fine, you can add an international bank card, and after the rides, you collect points that can be used for rewards (e.g., phone credit or a discount on the next trip).

Go-Jek is the Indonesian courier. You can order literally everything: delivery, food, massage, doctor, housecleaning, etc. Unfortunately, the app only accepts local bank cards, but you can still pay the driver in cash. The prices are usually a bit cheaper than Grab, and in my experience, the drivers don’t try to scam you for extra money.

Both operators work well in the main areas, but you can expect some complications if you want to travel long distances or need a bike/car late at night and early in the morning. Also, if you like your driver, get their number and contact them directly the next time you need a ride – many like to earn money without the apps.

BUSES

PERAMA

Perama is the most convenient choice for moving between places. They offer shuttle buses, speedboats, and all kinds of tours. The buses have a fixed daily schedule between the main points and the prices are unbeatable (in addition, if you travel with them frequently, you get extra discounts).

KURA-KURA

Another shuttle service that runs twice a day between the airport and Ubud (with five stops on the way). It also offers private transportation, tours, and activities.

TRANS SARBAGITA

The local public transport buses. It’s not as good here as in Bangkok, and as a tourist, you’ll likely only see them but not use them.. but who knows. The bus schedule highly depends on the traffic, and the bus drivers are one of the worst (they feel superior on the roads).

BEMOS

If you want to have some fun, catch a bemo on the way. These small vans (also known as angkot) are most common in Denpasar and the corners of the island. When you see one, just raise your hand, tell the driver where you want to go, agree on the price, and jump in. It’s very authentic and cheap, but you’ll probably pay a bit more as a foreigner.

FAST BOATS and FERRIES

FAST BOATS

If you plan to visit the neighbouring islands (like Nusa Penida, Lombok, or the Gilis), you must go to sea. You can either show up at the port (Sanur and Padang Bai are the main ones) and catch a fast boat or plan ahead and book your ticket in advance. I always use Padang Bai Booking to check the itineraries and find the best and cheapest options – buying tickets here is also cheaper than on-site. However, be aware that weather conditions dictate the service (they don’t operate in stormy weather), and in high season, it can be overcrowded, and you’ll have to wait longer than convenient to fit on a boat.

FERRIES

To Lombok, you can also choose the public ferry. It departs from Padang Bai (Bali) and arrives at Lembar (Lombok). The trip takes a little longer than by speed boat (it’s about 4-5 hours), the ferry departs only when full (usually every 1-2 hours, it’s worth going early in the morning), but costs less, and you can take your scooter with you. If you consider the time-price-freedom factors, the public ferry is the better choice.

You can cross to Java by public ferry, too. It departs from Gilimanuk (Bali) and arrives at Banyuwangi (Java) in a short trip (ca. 40 minutes). The ferries run daily, every 15-20 minutes, weather permitting.