Getting Around Bali – Transportation Alternatives to Taxi and Uber

Bali is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Known for its rice paddies, big waves, yoga retreats, amazing beaches, and rich culture, there is no doubt it is a nomad’s paradise because of the wide variety of things and places you can explore. It is comparable to both Cebu City and Siargao Island in the Philippines, where the vibe is laidback and beaches are easily accessible- you can spend your day just lounging in beach clubs or sipping coffee in random cafes. In terms of infrastructure, roads are narrower compared to Jakarta and there are no public transportation available.

With scooters, MPV cars, and taxis roaming the busy streets (no buses), you wonder which mode of transportation is the safest and most cost-efficient one. In the Philippines (Manila where I live), we’re so used to driving our own car or ride-hailing with Uber/Grab (public transportation is not the most reliable). Likewise in Indonesia you can easily get lost if you don’t know where you’re going, and not all Indonesians speak English fluently. It’s not like Singapore or Hongkong where urban planning is at its finest and MRT lines + bus routes are all interconnected.

When I first visited Bali two years ago, in 2016, I stayed at Kuta (Seminyak area) and did not have to worry about transportation because it was very easy to go around with Uber. The fares were less than 1 USD; it was just like taking a tricycle or tuktuk ride! After the Grab-Uber merger in March 2018, though, Uber no longer serves Southeast Asia and here are some recommended alternatives.

Option 1: Grab

Grab is a famous ridesharing company in Southeast Asia and dominates Singapore and Manila now that Uber is gone 🙁 A trip from Seminyak to Canggu on average costs Rp50,000-Rp60,000 (4 USD). They also offer Grab Bike (motorcycle), which is way cheaper especially for solo travelers. However Grab is only mostly present in Kuta and Denpasar area, and does not cover the mountainous Gianyar and Ubud.

Grab is also a bit more expensive compared to the local competitor Go-Jek.

Option 2: Go-Jek

Go-Jek is the local ride-hailing app equivalent of Uber in Indonesia. I believe they started with motorcycle service known as Go-Ride, which is a common mode of transportation in the island, then later expanded to other products like car, taxi, pay. More info on their website

There’s no need to worry about supply of cars in Seminyak area because you’ll find a Go Jek car or scooter in almost every corner. The average price you’ll pay for a 1-5km ride is Rp13,000-Rp 20,000 (less than 2 USD), which is very cheap.

Personally, the only difficulty I find with Go-Jek is that they do not accept direct credit card linking as payment method– only cash or Go-Pay. With Go-Pay, you’ll have to go to an Alfamart, ATM machine, banks, or other accredited payment centers to top up. This can be intimidating and stressful for a tourist. I didn’t bother loading my Go-Pay wallet and just opted for cash instead.

Option 3: Car Rental

Most Airbnb hosts and hotels can arrange this for you. This is a bit more expensive but definitely reliable, especially if you’re traveling late in the evening, visiting another island, or doing multiple stops.

• Airport Transfer: From Ngurah Rai Airport to Ubud at 11pm: Rp350,000 (1.5 hrs travel time)
• Airport Transfer: From Seminyak to Ngurah Rai Airport: Rp170,000 (30 mins to 1 hr travel time)
• Bali driver and tour guide | Eddy: +62-822-3757-3839
  • Whole day rental (8-10 hours) cost Rp500,000 to Rp 600,000
  • Hit him up if you need a driver/tour guide around Ubud / Gianyar / Bedugul area. He knows a lot of good local places– even brought us to the Sukawati Art Market, Gold & Silver Street, and Bebek Joni for a sumptuous duck lunch. We were with him for almost 3 days and it was great chatting with him. Eddy was helpful to us to configure our local sim, run some errands, among other things. Eddy is on Whatsapp, so it’s easier to coordinate without having to spend a dime on roaming (if you have pocket wifi or local sim).

• If you’re feeling adventurous, try some of the Instagram Bali drivers. One of the popular ones is @balidriver_drone. He takes great photos and videos, too! Perfect for that Instagram feed :)) What’s more — he has his own drone. There are several tour packages listed here: link

Option 4: Scooter Rental

They say the best way to get around Bali is by riding a scooter. Walking to town especially in mountainous areas like Ubud is not safe. Most foreigners who opt to stay in Bali longer than a week opt to go with this option since it is both cheap and convenient (consider parking).

Where can you rent scooters in Bali? In any tourist areas like Kuta or Seminyak, you’ll find signages everywhere. Balinese people are now also online and you’ll find a lot of them on Instagram; just look for the ones with good reviews. If you have trust issues though, the best thing to do is ask your Airbnb or hotel host to arrange a good deal for you. Be sure to inspect and double check (by taking photos!) your scooter before leaving the place so they can’t pin any old damage or dent on you.

You don’t need an Indonesian license to rent a scooter in Bali, but an international drivers license always comes handy in case you get into an accident or get pulled by a police. Most cases, a deposit and copy of your passport works fine. How much does rental cost?

• Daily – Rp60,000-80,000
• Weekly – Rp250,000-300,000

Fuel is cheap in Bali, so if you know how to operate a scooter safely this is a great alternative to save on transportation costs.

Option 5: Taxi (Blue Bird is the most popular)

Taking a taxi in Bali can be overwhelming for foreigners, especially for first timers! I recall back in 2016 my boyfriend and I tried to hail a cab parked on the side street and haggled for a fixed price. The driver shouted Rp15,000 (which was about the same price as an Uber, so we agreed) and I clarified “One, five?” and he said “yes”. To our surprise, when we got to our destination, which was just 10 minutes away, he asked for Rp50,000! Such rude drivers and I swore never to take a taxi again.

If you are still willing to try though, go for the Bluebird Taxi Group, which has a reputation for being the most reliable company in Bali with honest drivers and well-maintained cars. However, due to their stellar reputation, some fraudsters have attempted to replicated the Bluebird taxi branding. Here are some check points to free yourself from the hassle:

1. Every taxi may look the same, but look close enough and you’ll notice they have different shades of blue. The legit ones belong to the Blue Bird Group.
2. Look for the light blue car with a bird logo inside a diamond shape on the side and top of the car.
3. There should be a letter-number combination painted on the side door: two letters “VV”or “RB” followed by the taxi ID number (remember this number in case you need to locate the taxi again)
4. The words “BLUE BIRD GROUP” is written all caps on the windshield.
5. Not all taxi drivers use the meter. Many drivers will try to get away by shouting a fixed price (especially at night, near party areas) or claiming the meter is broken. When push comes to shove and you’re desperate to get a ride home, turn on any ride-hailing app (Grab or Go-Jek), get the quoted fare, and use that as your benchmark.
6. Always have small bills on hand since taxi drivers tend to act like they do not have change and you’re forced to pay them the bigger amount. Show them who’s in charge!

I hope you now feel more equipped to go around Bali island and assert your rights as a customer *wink*. Have a worry-free trip!