We live and manage villas in Bali year-round — so this isn’t a generic weather chart. It’s the honest version of when to come, depending on what you actually want: sun, surf, value, or quiet. The short answer: there’s no bad time to visit Bali, only different trade-offs.
Updated June 2026 · By Keanu Fischell, Co-Founder, Cabo Bali
TL;DR
- Best overall weather: April to October (dry season) — sun, low humidity, clean surf.
- Best value & fewest crowds: shoulder months — April, May, early June, and late September into early November.
- Busiest & priciest: July–August and the Christmas/New Year window — book well ahead.
- Underrated: the wet season (November–March) is green, cheap and quiet, with rain that mostly comes in short afternoon bursts.
- Book direct at cabobali.com for the best rate and a concierge who plans around the season — see why in our Airbnb vs direct guide.
The Two Seasons, Honestly
Bali sits just below the equator, so it doesn’t have spring, summer, autumn and winter — it has a dry season and a wet season, and temperatures barely move all year (a steady 27–32°C / 80–90°F, day in and day out). What changes is the rain, the humidity and the crowds.
Dry season (April–October) is what most people picture: blue skies, lower humidity, calmer seas on the west coast, and the cleanest surf. It’s the most reliable time to come — which is also why it’s the busiest and most expensive.
Wet season (November–March) is greener, cheaper and far quieter. Rain usually arrives as a heavy hour or two in the afternoon rather than all-day grey, so you still get plenty of sun around it. The landscape is at its most lush, and you’ll have the cafes and beaches closer to yourself.
Month by Month
January–February — the wettest, greenest, quietest stretch. Big discounts on villas, lush rice fields, and dramatic skies. Pack for afternoon downpours. Good for budget travellers and anyone who wants Bali without the crowds.
March — the tail of the wet season starts to ease. Still green and good value, with more clear days creeping in. A quietly excellent shoulder month.
April — arguably the sweet spot. The dry season begins, the island is still green from the rains, prices haven’t peaked, and the crowds haven’t arrived. One of our favourite months.
May–June — classic dry-season weather without the July rush. Reliable sun, great surf building on the west coast, and shoulder-season value. Ideal for couples and honeymoons.
July–August — peak season. The best, driest weather and the biggest crowds — European and Australian holidays collide here. Villas, restaurants and beach clubs book out weeks ahead, and rates are at their highest. Come for the buzz, but plan early.
September — our pick for the best all-round month. Still firmly dry season, the surf is excellent, the weather is reliable, and the peak-season crowds have thinned. Prices ease from their August high.
October — the last of the dry season and another strong shoulder month. Warm, mostly dry, with the first occasional showers late in the month. Good value before the wet season settles in.
November–December — the wet season returns, with greener landscapes and lower prices — except for the Christmas–New Year window, which spikes back to peak rates and crowds. Outside those two weeks, late November and early December are quiet and excellent value.
When to Come, by What You Want
Best weather: May, June, September. Dry-season reliability without the absolute peak of crowds.
Best surf: May to September, when the dry-season swells hit the west coast — Uluwatu, Bingin, Padang Padang and Impossibles are at their best. We break the breaks down in our Uluwatu surf guide.
Best value & fewest crowds: the shoulder and wet months — April, October, and November through March (excluding Christmas/New Year).
Best for couples & honeymoons: April–June and September, when the weather is reliable but the island still feels relaxed.
Where you stay matters as much as when. The Bukit Peninsula (Uluwatu, Bingin) tends to feel drier and catches the surf swells; Canggu and Ubud are greener and more humid. We lay out the trade-offs in where to stay in Bali and Uluwatu vs Canggu.
Events Worth Planning Around
Nyepi (Balinese Day of Silence) — usually in March, this is Bali’s most unique day. The entire island shuts down for 24 hours: no flights, no traffic, no going outside, lights kept low. If you’re here, you stay within your villa — which, with a pool and a view, is a magical (if unusual) experience. Plan arrivals and departures around it.
Galungan & Kuningan — Balinese holidays celebrated with beautiful penjor (decorated bamboo poles) lining the streets. Dates shift each year on the Balinese calendar.
Christmas & New Year — the one wet-season window that books out like peak season. If you want a villa for the holidays, reserve months ahead.
Why Book Direct, Whatever the Season
Whenever you come, the same villa costs less booked direct at cabobali.com than on Airbnb or Booking.com, because there’s no platform fee in the middle. In peak season that direct relationship also means a real person holding your dates and planning around the season — airport drivers, surf timing, a table when everything’s booked out. The full breakdown is in Airbnb vs Direct Booking.
💡 PRO TIP. Follow Cabo Bali on Instagram and TikTok (@cabo.bali) — we drop a members-only discount code for direct villa bookings to our followers, on top of the direct-booking saving. Handy for locking in shoulder-season value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Bali?
For most travellers, May, June or September — firmly in the dry season with reliable sun and great surf, but without the peak July–August crowds and prices. April and October are also excellent shoulder months.
What is the rainy season in Bali like?
The wet season runs roughly November to March. Rain usually comes as a heavy hour or two in the afternoon rather than all day, so you still get plenty of sun. The upside: lush green landscapes, fewer crowds, and lower villa prices.
What is the cheapest time to visit Bali?
January to March (excluding the Christmas/New Year spike) is the cheapest, with the lowest villa rates and fewest crowds. Late November and early December are also great value.
When is the best surf in Bali?
May to September, when dry-season swells hit the west coast. Uluwatu, Bingin, Padang Padang and Impossibles on the Bukit Peninsula are at their best during these months.
When is peak season in Bali?
July and August, plus the Christmas–New Year window. These are the busiest and most expensive times — book villas, restaurants and beach clubs well ahead.
Is it worth visiting Bali in the wet season?
Yes. The rain is usually short and predictable, the island is at its greenest, prices are lower and the crowds are thin. With a villa and a pool, the occasional afternoon downpour is no obstacle.
What is Nyepi and how does it affect travel?
Nyepi is the Balinese Day of Silence, usually in March. For 24 hours the whole island shuts down — no flights, no traffic, no going outside. Plan arrivals and departures around it; if you’re here, you spend the day within your villa.
→ Whenever you decide to come, browse the collection and book direct at cabobali.com — no OTA markup, plus partner discounts. Questions or custom dates? Message our reservations team on WhatsApp.
About the author. Keanu Fischell is co-founder of Cabo Bali, which manages 20+ boutique villas across Uluwatu, Bingin and Canggu. He writes from the operator's side of Bali villas — real numbers, real guest feedback, and lessons from running the portfolio day to day.
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