Bali is a small tourist island located in the country of Indonesia, in Southeast Asia. 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 it’s a country (Bali is not 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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. It’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).
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 you’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 you’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.
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 you’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 has dozens of nice waterfalls to see
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
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:
- Indonesia on the globe (Indonesia centered). Wikimedia Commons author Addicted04. CC BY-SA 3.0.
- Bali in Indonesia (special marker). Wikimedia Commons author baliguide. CC BY-SA 3.0.
- Bali-regions-map. Wikimedia Commons author TUBS. CC BY 3.0.
