How to Fly to Bali: The Cheapest and Best Flight Routes
Have you always dreamed of taking a vacation in Bali? If so, perhaps it’s easier than you think. With more and more routes becoming available every year, there’s never been a better time to visit. Obviously, for visitors further afield, the cost or flight time may be one of your main considerations. This guide can give you a more global perspective to help you understand how to save money by booking separate legs, or how you can save time by booking the shortest possible routes. Read on to find the smartest ways to reach the island.
Bali is one of the most visited islands in Southeast Asia, welcoming millions of international travelers each year.
The Cheapest Way to Fly to Bali
For budget flyers doing long-haul flights, flying to Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur first might be your best option, especially if you plan on flying to Bali from Europe. This strategy involves booking via an international carrier from your destination, then taking AirAsia or a local Indonesian airline for the final leg of the journey.
However, it’s important to keep your flight times in mind. If you fly late at night, there may not be available flights from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur going to Bali. In these cases, paying for a hotel and transport for an overnight stay may cancel out your potential savings. Even if you manage to get a daytime flight, your journey may be much longer due to the fact that you need adequate time to self-transfer. Furthermore, AirAsia and other local airlines have stricter luggage requirements, which may involve you having to pay for luggage.
Still, if you’re able to keep your luggage to a minimum and saving money is a bigger priority than saving time, this strategy is one of the best ways to reach Bali economically.
Getting from Jakarta to Bali
Average price: $50–90 USD one-way
There are over 26 flights every day, with the flight time totalling 1 hour 50 minutes
The best airline to get is Citilink, and we recommend avoiding Lion Air due to extensive complaints regarding their customer service.
Jakarta is often a low-cost option for domestic Indonesian connections.
Flights from Jakarta go to less accessible corners of Indonesia, so if you can’t get flights to other Indonesian destinations from Bali during your travels, you may have to make an extra trip to Jakarta as a stopover. Keep this in mind when planning your route around Indonesia.
Southeast Asia:
For those of you already in Southeast Asia, Bali is closer than ever. It’s possible to get flights from most major Asian hubs, and the prices are generally affordable, especially if booked well in advance.
Singapore to Bali:
Average: $120–180 USD return
Budget carriers: $100–150 (Scoot, Jetstar Asia, AirAsia)
Flight time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Kuala Lumpur to Bali:
Average: $110–170 USD return
Often cheaper than Singapore during AirAsia sales
Flight time: 3 hours
Bangkok to Bali:
Average: $150–220 USD return
Flight time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Flights from Southeast Asia are usually the cheapest. Popular low-cost routes come from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.
Australia:
For Australians, Bali is one of the easiest holiday destinations to get to. For the most competitive prices, fly from Perth or book during October or November, for low season discounts. Flight prices can increase by up to 50% during December and January, due to Christmas, New Year’s Eve and the Australian school holidays.
Perth to Bali:
Average: $230–320 USD return
Budget: $180–250
Full-service: $250–350
Flight time: 3 hours 35 minutes
Sydney/Melbourne to Bali:
Average: $340–470 USD return
Budget: $280–350
Full-service: $380–550
Flight time: 6 hours 20 minutes
Long-Haul & Positioning Flights
If you’re coming from Europe or the U.S., reaching Bali may seem far away - because it is! For elderly people or those who are less physically able, the flight may be difficult and uncomfortable. Make sure to take frequent walking breaks to encourage blood flow, and if you can afford it, consider booking a journey with a shorter flight time. It’s highly recommended to book your flight in advance, because costs creep up considerably closer to the flight date. Ideally, four to five months is enough to ensure the best prices.
Europe to Bali:
Off-peak: $700–850 USD return
Peak (July–August): $950–1,200 USD
Best airports to transfer from for a shorter journey: Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Singapore, Amsterdam or Hong Kong.
Total journey: 17–22 hours
Popular long-haul transit hubs include Dubai, Doha, Singapore, Istanbul, and Bangkok.
For the cheapest flights, try flying to Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur, or book through low-cost Chinese or Saudi Arabian airlines. Alternatively, take one of the longer haul flights which require stopovers.
USA to Bali:
West Coast: $1,100–1,800 USD return
East Coast: $1,300–1,900 USD return
Best hubs: Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong
Total journey: 20–26 hours
If you’re flexible, consider breaking up your journey into two parts. Doing so can save you some money although realistically, it will mean spending considerably more time in the airport.
For example, you can try a route like this:
Direct London–Bali (peak): $1,000+
London–Kuala Lumpur: $650–700
Kuala Lumpur–Bali: $110–150
Total: $760–850 (saving $150–250)
Budget vs Full-Service Airlines:
Budget carriers often look cheaper at first, but extras can add up. If you’re just travelling a short distance and don’t have much luggage, budget airlines are the way to go. However, for those long-haul trips, getting a full service airline will give you much greater comfort and chances of keeping your luggage safe.
Recommended airlines:
Premium: Singapore Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar, Emirates
Budget: Scoot, AirAsia, Citilink
Avoid: Lion Air and Superair Jet (due to frequent delays and safety concerns)
What You Need to Enter Indonesia:
Once you've booked your flights, it’s time to plan your visa. If you’re staying for up to 60 days, it’s easy to get a visa on arrival for 500,000 IDR. You’ll get an initial 30 days on your visa, with the ability to extend for another 30 days for an additional 500,000 IDR.
The Visa on Arrival (VOA) allows travelers to enter Indonesia for short visits. VOA is available at major international airports, including Bali’s main airport.
Bali also implements a tourist tax, which is 150,000 IDR and can be paid online before arrival via the Love Bali website.
You will also need a:
Passport valid for at least 6 months
Return or onward ticket
Completed Indonesia Declaration Form (mandatory as of Oct 2025)
If you overstay on your visa, you can be fined 1,000,000 IDR per day that you overstay. Make sure you keep your visa end date in mind during your trip to avoid staying longer than you should.
If you’re planning to come to Bali and have any visa or business related queries, feel free to reach out to our friendly team at Bali Solve for assistance via Whatsapp. As a Bali-based visa and business consulting agency, we are well-versed in all current visa regulations, and can help you to get both short or long term visas for Bali. We are based near the busy hub of Canggu, in Pererenan and always ready to help you make your Bali dreams happen.
Written by Bali Solve Team
December 8th 2025
