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Everything you need to know about your BaliCard - FAQ

Here is a selection of the most recommended dishes you must try during your holiday in Bali

Sacred Ceremonial Cuisine in Bali – Food of the Gods

Bali boasts fertile rice terraces, nutrient-rich volcanic soil, abundant fruit trees, wild edible greens and vegetables, and a natural wealth of fragrant herbs and spices, and of course fresh fish. This rich environment has shaped a cuisine that is exotic, aromatic, flavorful, and texturally diverse. Balinese food transcends mere sustenance, playing a crucial role in religion, rituals, and social customs. Cooking is both an act of nourishment and a spiritual practice aimed at honoring and pleasing the gods.

To understand Balinese cuisine, it is essential to recognize its threefold purpose: providing vital nourishment, serving as offerings to honor the gods and appease demons, and being a key element in Bali-Hindu religious ceremonies. Food in Bali is deeply intertwined with faith. Within the walls of family compounds and neighborhood meeting halls (bale banjar), communities gather to prepare ceremonial dishes such as colored rice, sweet rice cakes, meat-stuffed banana leaf parcels, and skewered chicken satay. These offerings are not merely decorative but are believed to be absorbed by the gods during sacred festivals.

In the Bali-Hindu tradition, preparing ceremonial food and offerings is an act of devotion. This practice is thought to generate positive karma, with large ceremonies like mass cremations historically taking a month to prepare, resulting in significant spiritual merit.

Balinese cuisine is distinguished among global culinary traditions for its dedication to the gods and its labor-intensive, manual preparation methods. Rituals and ceremonies often culminate in grand feasts featuring visually stunning and flavorful dishes reserved for major celebrations due to their high cost and preparation time. These elaborate ritual foods are crafted for various ceremonies, including life cycle events (such as ground-touching ceremonies, weddings, tooth filings, and cremations), temple anniversaries, and significant religious holidays like Galungan-Kuningan.

Community involvement is essential, with materials and labor contributed collectively and dishes prepared in the temple kitchen. Some foods are intended as religious offerings, while others are shared communally among those who helped with the preparations. Special mini-rijsttafel platters with small portions of various foods, topped with decorative woven bamboo covers (tutup), are prepared for VIPs, including Balinese royalty. Meals for other castes are presented on round platters, featuring delicacies such as nasi kuning (yellow rice with turmeric, peanuts, and spiced grated coconut) and vegetarian lawar (a mix of ferns, egg, green beans, coconut, and spices).

This rich culinary tradition underscores the profound connection between Balinese food, culture, and spirituality, offering a unique perspective on the island’s heritage.

Safety and Health Tips for Bali

The correct answer is probably YES and NO. The moment we set foot into a plane we have somewhat stepped out of the idea of “green traveling” and the the ecological footprint of a long-haul flight alone, is substantial as everyone knows by now.

It is not realistic to expect people to stop traveling, or to hope the tourism industry will not develop further and expand. That goes for Bali but also for the rest of the world. 

But, there is still lots we can do when we travel, particularly when we travel to destinations like Bali, where a large part of nature (& culture) is still intact and at the same time also at risk. As a visitor to Bali there are 4 main topics where we can contribute, and take more “sustainable choices”.

• protect environment & choose eco-friendly experiences and businesses
• support culture & traditions
• support local & small businesses
• donate to or support local NGOs

Small choices can have a big impact particularly when many travelers join in. Are you ready to help us to keep Bali a bit more clean and green?

Sorting out Transportation in Bali: The Basics 

• First of all, we always tell our readers to figure out which destination(s) in Bali they want to explore so they know what to expect in general in those areas. Check out our Destination Guide to get familiar with the different regions
• When choosing your accommodation, take a good look at a map (Google Maps is a good option) and check how long it takes to walk, drive or take a scooter to the beach or a restaurant nearby.
• Walking is usually fine in Bali if you are in the main tourism centers such as Seminyak, Sanur, Kuta, Ubud etc. But even here, distances are far, and sometimes it’s hard to get around because there aren’t enough sidewalks, traffic lights, or roads even.
• At times and in some touristy areas, the traffic can be very congested. Especially in Seminyak, Kuta, and Canggu, where formerly undiscovered roads, shortcuts, and small alleys can suddenly turn into a traffic nightmare
• Bali doesn’t have a public transportation system that deserves the name.
• We don’t suggest you should rent a car without a driver since it is very affordable to rent one with a driver. For most travelers, the roads and traffic are very different from what they are used to.
• You need an International Driver’s Permit if you want to drive a car or scooter on your own in Bali. The police is getting more strict. Don’t have one or forgot it?  You can apply here for a digital or physical International Drivers License online

Your 4 best options to get around in Bali

1. Rent a Scooter or Motorbike – if you can handle it

You should definitely consider renting a scooter or motorcycle while in Bali. It’s fun, cheap, and gives you plenty of freedom to visit the nearby restaurants, beaches, shops, and other places at your own pace. Another easy idea is to circle the island while carrying enough gear for a few days in your backpack.

Even if it costs a few dollars more, avoid renting from one of the many “hole-in-the-wall” shops. It’s important to rent from a business with a good track record, the newest models, insurance, safety measures, and good service.

Check out BIKAGO, which we think is the safest and most reliable place on the island to rent. You can also book a scooter or a motorcycle online.

2. Bali Golden Trips – Car Rental with Driver

Hire a car with a driver for half or full day is a great option to go for little and big sightseeing tours. Half-Day and Full Day Rental Online: 

Airport Shuttle

We advise travelers to pre-arrange an airport shuttle to take them to their accommodation. The airport can be chaotic and some shady transportation services will try to take advantage of travelers who are “new to Bali”.

Pre-book your Airport Shuttle

3. Transportation Apps (like Uber)

Uber is no longer available in Bali, but there are two great apps that let you rent cars AND motorbike-taxis online. The prices are transparent, and the service and availability is (generally) great.

Scooter taxis  – the most liked and super practical transportation option

You can order a scooter taxi for short trips in those apps. They are very cheap, come with a helmet, and let you avoid the main roads, where traffic is often too much to handle.

If you need to go a long way or have a lot of stuff, you can order a Go-Car online.

Cars – Taxis

Like Uber, these apps allow you to order cars to take you almost anywhere. For very short distances it’s less practicable particularly in the areas where drivers might face heavy traffic.

Food Delivery

These apps allow you to order almost any food from anywhere. A fantastic option to get food from restaurants if you don’t want to go out.

4. Taxis in Bali

Due to the transportation apps GoJek and Grab, there are not so many official taxis operating in Bali anymore.

Bluebird is the most reliable taxi company with metered cars. We suggest you only use them if you choose a metered taxi. You can stop them on the road, or these days, you can also se the GOJEK app (GO-CAR) to order one or ask the hotel reception to call.

“Private Taxis”

There are lots of drivers who are ready to help you and take you also for short distances – like a taxi. Most of the time, you can’t miss them. Especially in popular places like Ubud, Sanur, Seminyak, etc., you will be asked a lot if you need “TRANSPORT” just by walking around. The downside is, that you would have to bargain, which at times can be u pleasant and annoying.

The challenge is that it can be hard to figure out how much your drop-off should really cost and what is a fair price, and just like in any other popular tourist spot in the world, travelers can be overcharged if they don’t know what a service should cost—especially late at night when alcohol is involved.

Flights – Flying to and from Bali

Bali is easy to get to from almost everywhere in the world.
There are many airlines that fly directly to Bali or make only one stop (Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Qatar, Mumbay, etc.). Bali is also a great place to get to other places, and there are many good low-cost airlines that offer cheap flights to almost everywhere in the region. India and China are getting better air connectivity to service the increasing demand for flights from these countries.

Best Budget Airlines & Low-Cost Carriers

Browse our list of budget airlines flying from Bali Denpasar Airport (DPS) and their connections to other exciting destinations in Indonesia and the surrounding area.

Book a room in Kuala Lumpur, Australia, Singapore, or Hong Kong for two nights and take advantage of the cheap round-trip airfare. You might even take a flight to one of the other Indonesian islands.

List of Best Budget Airlines flying to Bali

More about Transportation in Bali