Staying in Ubud is a great option for diving head first into the Bali experience. With easy access to an abundance of rice terraces, waterfalls, cultural experiences, and temples, Ubud makes for an ideal Bali holiday.
While the journey from Bali Airport to Ubud may seem like a straightforward task, choosing the right mode of transport is crucial to avoiding the stress of arriving at Bali Airport. Here are my tips and options for smoothly getting to Ubud.
1. Book an Airport Transfer in advance
Book yourself a Bali Airport Transfer and save yourself the headache of finding transportation from Bali Airport to Ubud. I have personally vetted all the drivers I work with and have received excellent reviews from our guests.
They update me directly when they arrive at Bali Airport, after they collect at the airport, and once again after you’ve been dropped off at your hotel or villa. I also email you his name, profile photo, vehicle photo, and his phone number to ensure your safety and comfort.
After a long flight to Bali and the stress and anxiety of meandering through Bali Airport, a top-class airport transfer service with a friendly, English-speaking driver is well deserved.
2. Using a hotel shuttle service
Your hotel or villa in Ubud may offer an in-house airport shuttle or transfer service from Bali Airport to Ubud. These have varying degrees of quality and the experience can be 50 / 50.
While some hotels offer a private shuttle service, many are shared – especially the larger hotels that are sometimes partnered with others to cut back costs. Being an a vehicle with a bunch of equally flight-exhausted travelers isn’t always the greatest experience.
Some hotels may already include a free airport transfer in their bookings. If your hotel or villa already offers this, then you might as well go for it.
3. Download WhatsApp
The first thing you should do before you board your flight to Bali is download WhatsApp. This is the island-wide standard app for communicating in Bali, including making reservations and inquiring about prices.
WhatsApp allows you to securely send texts, audio calls, and videos calls – completely free. It’s available for both Android and Apple devices and it’s quite easy to set up. With this, you’ll be able to use the free public wifi at Bali Airport, or your local SIM card’s data to communicate with your driver.
4. Bali Airport to Ubud with a Scooter
If you’re renting a scooter in Bali and you’re traveling relatively light, this can be a great method of traveling from Bali Airport to Ubud while simultaneously sorting out your scooter for your time in and around Ubud.
I recommend booking with Bikago scooter rental. Not only are they an affordable (starting at AUD $14 / day) and trustworthy service, but they also offer the option to deliver your scooter to the airport (see their booking form).
The upside to renting a scooter is that you’ll have the flexibility to get to Ubud at your own pace. Being able to beat the traffic in congested areas is also a big plus, with the ability to navigate your way in between cars.
The downside: Bali’s roads can sometimes be quite chaotic, especially in post-pandemic Ubud. You’ll definitely need the confidence and experience to navigate your way to Ubud. Google Maps also has a bad reputation for taking you on unwanted adventures through questionable roads.
I don’t recommend this transport option if it’s your first time riding a scooter. While learning to ride a scooter is relatively easy, riding a scooter from Bali Airport to Ubud with your luggage is a different ball game.
5. Taxi Kiosks
You can find the taxi kiosks inside the arrivals area near the exits doors. The process of booking a taxi here is a bit silly. They issue a ticket and then the staff goes outside and gets a driver from the arrivals hall gates.
The only benefit here is that you’ll establish a set price from the start – which is known to be around AUD $50-60 from Bali Airport to Ubud.
However, you’re not guaranteed quality service and you won’t know who the driver is. In addition, if your trip to Ubud was a bad one, you won’t be able to leave any reviews or complaints.
6. Surviving the Taxi Vultures
After arriving at Bali Airport’s international arrivals area, you’ll be greeted by a flock of very persistent taxi drivers. These are normally independent / freelance drivers that linger at the airport, hoping to pick-up an easy customer.
These drivers are known to be quite aggressive in their approach, never taking “no thank you” as a response. Some will even follow you all the way to the parking lot even after you’ve told them you already organized transportation.
If you plan on using this transport method to make your way from Bali Airport to Ubud, you will need some negotiating skills. These fellas normally operate without any apps or meters. And if you aren’t familiar with local rates, you can easily get ripped off. Prices are almost the same as taxi fares.
Pro tip: if you somehow have no choice but to use this option, the drivers at the back (after you’ve survived the initial wave of drivers), tend to be cheaper. They’ll be standing alone and are usually more shy.
7. Using Grab or GoJek
Grab and GoJek are the most popular ridesharing apps in Bali. After years of battling with the Bali taxi mafia, they’re finally able to offer service at Bali Airport – with limitations.
After arriving at Bali Airport and passing through immigration, make your way the official Grab Lounge – its a distinct green, you can’t miss it. They have staff on site that can assist you with booking a car.
The downside here is if the airport is busy and quite a few flights have arrived, you’ll need to book a car via the mobile app then sit and wait for your name to be called to be picked up. This can sometimes take a while.
Keep in mind, even though ridesharing apps in Bali are relatively low-cost, the prices at Bali Airport (as with many other services at an airport) tend to be very inflated. Expect to pay anywhere from AUD $45 to $60 for a Grab car from Bali Airport to Ubud.
8. Using Blue Bird Taxi
Blue Bird Taxi is the largest fleet of taxis here in Bali. While they’re able to drop off passengers at departures, they have some restrictions with taking passengers from Bail Airport.
A common hack is to walk to the departures area from arrivals area. You might be able to meet a taxi driver and negotiate a price for your trip to Ubud. They do also have the MyBluebird app,
This can be an inconvenient option as you’ll need to drag your luggage along with you to departures then having to haggle with a driver for a fair price – around AUD $50 – $60. Consider the previous options instead.
9. Kura Kura Bus from Bali Airport to Ubud
Taking the Kura Kura bus might be a cost effective way to get form Bali Airport to Ubud. However, it’s not the most convenient option.
There is no bus stop at Bali Airport itself. You’ll need to go for a 15-20 minute walk to the nearest Kura Kura Bus Stop which is at Lippo Mall in Kuta. If you’re coming to Bali with several luggages, this method can be a pain in the rear end.
Another major downside to taking the bus to Ubud is that the Kura Kura shuttle bus only operates twice a day from Lippo Mall – 8:00am and 2:00pm. So if you arrived earlier than the next bus, you’ll need to wait, and if you’re arriving at Bali Airport after 2:00pm, you’ll need to sort out another option.
10. Bali Airport to Ubud via Public Bus
This is probably the cheapest method of getting from Bali Airport to Ubud (aside from walking, of course). Bali’s newly implemented public transporation system, Teman Bus, has routes all around the main areas of South Bali.
You’ll need to catch the Teman Bus from the parking lot area at Bali Airport, then take it all the way to the terminal in East Denpasar. Then connect to another bus to Ubud. There are a handful of stops in central Ubud, including the Ubud Monkey Forest.
Even though this method is affordable (AUD $0.50 per person), it’s also the most inconvenient and takes the longest. I don’t recommend it to try and save a few bucks.
11. Getting from Bali Airport to Ubud at night
Arriving at Bali Airport during the late hours can be a bit tricky. Even though it’s less crowded and the weather is slightly cooler, many services will be unavailable for you to use.
Most of the transport options above are also very limited at night. Your options will boil down to getting a taxi (if there’s any around), get one of the aggressive taxi vultures, or hope that you remembered to book an airport transfer service.
If you book my Bali Airport Transfer service, you can be assured that your driver will be waiting for you at arrivals, regardless of your arrival time. Arriving at 2:00am in Bali and stressing about finding transportation is the last thing you need after a long flight.
The plus side to getting from Bali Airport to Ubud at night is that the roads are way less congested. With no traffic and quite roads, it can be a seamless drive out of Kuta and smooth sailing as you make your way to Ubud.
If you opted for renting a scooter, bear in mind the journey to Ubud will be dark in some parts. You don’t want to start off your Bali trip by hitting a pothole while staring at your GPS in one hand and kissing some pavement. Get a phone holder for your scooter, wear a helmet, and take your time.
12. How long does it take to get to Ubud?
The journey from Bali Airport to Ubud typical takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. This will depend entirely on the time of day and traffic conditions which can sometimes add another 30 mins to your commute.
Bali’s traffic is most congested during its peak hours which is usually from 4:00 pm onwards. The areas between Kuta and Ubud aren’t so bad as most of the traffic congestion will be near the airport and Seminyak, and central Ubud.
After arriving at Bali Airport, spending another 2-3 hours in a car is not something anyone looks forward to. It’s best to grab some snacks for the trip or take a nap to prep for the rest of your trip. Ubud awaits!
While the voyage may take some time, Ubud is a wonderful place to be. The city of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ is vibrant with some of the best restaurants, cafes, authentic culture, art, and nature.
To make the most out of your list of things to do in Ubud, I highly recommend booking my Ubud Day Tour with a private car and driver. Although I have a recommended itinerary, your day is entirely to you.
Consider browsing through the rest of my Bali day tours for exploring outside of Ubud. If you are staying in Seminyak instead, read my guide on getting from Bali Airport to Seminyak.
For your first visit to Bali, see also:
