First trip to Bali: tips for Indian travellers

Bali is an easy and rewarding first international trip for Indian travellers. You can get a visa on arrival as an Indian passport holder, the island is full of temples, beaches and rice fields, and you will find plenty of food you can enjoy, including solid vegetarian choices. A little preparation on transport, money, SIM cards and local manners goes a long way, and this guide walks you through all of it.

Getting around Bali

Bali has no metro or train network, so you will move around by road, and on the water for nearby islands. A private car with a driver is the most comfortable option for first-time visitors. You agree on the route and the driver waits for you at each stop, which removes the stress of finding parking or haggling at every turn. Scooter rentals are everywhere and cheap to hire, but only choose this if you are genuinely confident on two wheels and used to busy, chaotic traffic. The roads can be narrow, and the rules are enforced unevenly.

For short trips, ride-hailing apps work well in the busier areas around Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud, though some smaller villages and certain hotel driveways restrict them. Fast boats connect Bali to islands like Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands, and these crossings can be bumpy, so carry motion-sickness medicine if the sea affects you and keep your valuables in a dry bag.

Food in Bali, including vegetarian options

Balinese food is built around rice, fresh vegetables, sambal chilli paste, coconut and local spices, so vegetarians can eat very well here. Many dishes are naturally vegetarian or easy to adapt. Ask for your food without shrimp paste, which is a common seasoning even in dishes that look vegetarian, and keep that in mind when you order soups, satay sauces and mixed vegetable plates.

• Gado-gado: steamed vegetables with a peanut sauce
• Nasi campur: a mixed rice plate, which you can order with vegetable and tofu or tempeh sides
• Mie goreng and nasi goreng: fried noodles or fried rice, ordered without egg or meat if you wish
• Cap cay: a stir-fried vegetable dish
• Pisang goreng: fried banana, a common snack or dessert
• Fresh tropical fruit and young coconut water sold almost everywhere

In the tourist areas of Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud you will also find many Indian restaurants serving familiar food, which is useful if you want a taste of home or need a fully vegetarian thali. Tap water is not safe to drink, so stick to bottled or filtered water, and be careful with ice from street stalls unless you know it is made from safe water.

Local customs and etiquette

Bali is largely Hindu, and temples are active places of worship, not just photo spots. Cover your knees and shoulders and wear a sarong and sash when you enter a temple, and follow the signs about where you may and may not go. Never step over offerings in doorways, and do not point the soles of your feet at people or at shrines.

• Dress modestly at temples: shoulders and knees covered, with a sarong and sash
• Do not climb on shrines or statues for photographs
• Step around, never over, the small offerings left on the ground
• Use your right hand for giving and receiving
• Ask before photographing people, especially during ceremonies
• Do not touch people's heads, which are considered sacred

During Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence, the whole island shuts down for a day: the airport closes, the streets empty and you stay inside your hotel, with lights kept low. If your dates happen to fall on it, plan around it rather than against it.

Staying connected

Buying a local SIM card is the simplest way to stay connected in Bali. You will need your passport to register one, and it is easier to buy it at the airport or a proper phone shop than from a street stall. Make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave India. Most hotels, cafes and restaurants offer Wi-Fi, but a local SIM with data means you can use maps and ride-hailing apps anywhere without hunting for a connection.

• Unlock your phone before leaving India
• Carry your passport to register a local SIM
• Buy from the airport or a reputable shop
• Load enough data for maps, ride-hailing and calls
• Keep a power bank charged for long days out

Staying safe

Bali is generally safe for travellers, and most problems are small and avoidable. Watch your belongings at beaches and busy markets, keep your passport and spare cash in the hotel safe, and carry only what you need for the day. The sea can be powerful, so swim only at patrolled beaches and respect the red flags. If you ride a scooter, wear a helmet and carry an international driving permit, and never ride after drinking.

Use registered money changers in proper shops rather than roadside counters that advertise unusually high rates, and count your money before you leave the counter. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and let your bank know you are travelling so your card is not blocked. Trust your instincts with people offering unsolicited tours or deals, and book activities through your hotel or a reliable operator.

Visa and entry for Indian passport holders

Indian passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Bali for up to 30 days, as verified on 9 Oct 2026. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return or onward ticket. Every traveller must also file the All Indonesia arrival card online within 3 days before arriving, and Bali charges its own tourist levy per person on top of the visa.

One package covers 7 days and 6 nights, including visa, hotels on twin sharing, an Ubud pool villa with floating breakfast, a fast boat to Nusa Penida, the Kelingking cliff tour, and snorkelling at Gili Trawangan and Meno, priced at ₹38,499 per person, twin sharing, international flights not included for 6 nights, priced on 8 Oct 2026, valid through 7 Nov 2026. International flights, travel insurance, meals not listed in the inclusions, airport transfers not listed in the inclusions and personal spending are extra.

Bali rewards travellers who slow down a little. Travel light, respect the temples, carry some cash alongside your card, and leave room in your plan for unplanned stops at a roadside stall or a quiet stretch of beach. The island is welcoming, and a bit of preparation makes a first visit smooth and memorable.