Bali Airport (DPS) to Kuta, Seminyak and Ubud: Official Taxi, App Car or Hotel Pickup

You land at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)

A trip to Bali starts at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). According to our Bali guide, there are three ways to get from the airport to your hotel: the official airport taxi, a car booked through a ride-hailing app, and a hotel pickup. Kuta takes about 15-20 minutes, Seminyak about 30-45 minutes and Ubud about 1 hour 30 minutes.

The right choice depends on where you stay. Decide first whether you are in the south near the airport (Kuta, Seminyak), in Ubud, a hill town in the middle of the island, or in Nusa Dua, an enclave of large resorts. If you are still choosing an area, read our Ubud vs Seminyak comparison first.

• Full Bali travel guide →
• Ubud vs Seminyak: where to stay →

Official airport taxi: a fixed zone fare up front

There is a taxi counter in the arrivals area of Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). Tell them your destination and you get a fixed zone fare up front, so there is no haggling.

The ride takes about 15-20 minutes to Kuta and about 30-45 minutes to Seminyak. Fares are fixed by zone, so confirm the exact amount at the counter.

Once you are settled, blue metered taxis are easy to find in the southern tourist areas. When you take one, make sure the meter is on.

Ride-hailing app: the fare is fixed in the app

If you book a car through a ride-hailing app, the fare is fixed in the app. At the airport, though, you can only be picked up at designated pickup points, so follow the app and the airport signs.

Times are the same as the official taxi: about 15-20 minutes to Kuta and about 30-45 minutes to Seminyak. The fare is shown in the app.

Around Bali, local transport groups restrict app pickups in some areas. If that happens, ask your hotel to arrange a car.

Staying in Ubud or Nusa Dua? Book a hotel pickup

For far-off areas like Ubud or Nusa Dua, booking a hotel pickup in advance is easiest. Ubud takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, and longer in traffic. Prices vary by hotel, so check when you book.

Ubud is a hill town in the middle of the island, close to rice terraces, temples and traditional shows. Our guide's itinerary includes an evening show at Ubud Palace on the Ubud day. The sea is far, so plan a separate beach day.

Nusa Dua is a quiet, tidy enclave of large resorts with relatively calm water. There are fewer restaurants outside the resorts.

Getting from the airport to each area

Here are the hotel areas from our guide and how to reach them from the airport. Travel times are listed only where our guide gives them. Traffic in the south gets heavy in the evening, so allow more time than the map estimate.

• Kuta (first visit, value): close to the airport, about 15-20 minutes by official taxi or ride-hailing app. The beach is busy and the streets are noisy
• Seminyak (restaurants, cafes, sunsets): about 30-45 minutes by official taxi or ride-hailing app. Traffic gets heavy in the evening
• Canggu (surfing, cafes, long stays): our guide gives no travel time from the airport. Check the fare at the taxi counter or in the app
• Ubud (rice fields, forests, culture, yoga): about 1 hour 30 minutes, longer in traffic, so a hotel pickup booked in advance is easiest. The classic rice-terrace view of Tegallalang is north of Ubud
• Nusa Dua (resort stays, families): a hotel pickup booked in advance is easiest. Our guide gives no travel time from the airport

At a glance

All times below are approximate. Our guide lists no amounts for any of the three, so check fares at the counter, in the app or with your hotel.

• Official airport taxi: taxi counter in arrivals, Kuta about 15-20 min and Seminyak about 30-45 min, fixed zone fare (confirm at the counter), no haggling
• Ride-hailing app car: board at the airport's designated pickup points, Kuta about 15-20 min and Seminyak about 30-45 min, fare fixed in the app
• Hotel pickup: for far-off areas like Ubud or Nusa Dua, Ubud about 1 hour 30 min (longer in traffic), price varies by hotel (check when booking)

Arrival-day checklist

Entering Indonesia requires the online All Indonesia arrival card (allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id) and its QR code. Check the official site for timing and other details.

Our guide's first day goes from the airport to a hotel in the south, then the beach in the afternoon and sunset at Tanah Lot Temple. Traffic in the south gets heavy in the evening, so allow plenty of time.

• Check entry and visa rules with official sources
• Tourism levy for foreign tourists: the amount and how to pay can change, so check the Bali provincial government's official information
• On Nyepi, the Balinese New Year (usually March, sometimes April), the whole island shuts down for a day and the airport closes for 24 hours, so check the date
• Change money only at authorized money changers and count it on the spot
• Don't drink tap water; buy bottled water

• Incheon → Bali flights →
• Bali 4 nights, 5 days route →

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