Bali travel guide
Bali Airport to Ubud: Transfers That Work
Ubud is 35–40 km from Ngurah Rai airport (DPS): 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic, which is heavy from mid-afternoon. Easiest: pre-booked hotel transfer (~350,000–450,000 IDR). Cheapest: Grab or Gojek from the airport pickup zone (~300,000–400,000 IDR / ~A$29–38). There is no public bus or train.
The options at a glance
| Hotel transfer | 1–1.5 h · ~350,000–400,000 IDR (~A$34–38) · driver waits at arrivals |
|---|---|
| Grab / Gojek | 1–1.5 h · ~300,000–400,000 IDR (~A$29–38) · app pickup zone |
| Airport taxi counter | Fixed-price coupon · usually the most expensive · no haggling |
| Public transport | None that is useful — no bus or train serves Ubud |
Arriving at DPS
After immigration and bags, buy a SIM at the official counters (tourist plans from ~150,000–250,000 IDR for a couple of weeks of data) — you will want it for Grab. The Grab lounge and pickup point are signposted outside arrivals; ignore the tout crowd offering "taxi, taxi" and walk to the official zone. If your hotel offers a transfer for under ~450,000 IDR, take it: a name sign after a long flight is worth the small premium, and the driver knows Ubud’s villa lanes that stymie app drivers.
Timing the drive
The route runs north through Denpasar’s sprawl. Early morning and late evening it can take just over an hour; from about 3–7 pm it can touch two. Landing midday for a Ubud check-in is the sweet spot. If you land late (after ~10 pm), some travellers overnight near the airport or in Sanur and transfer fresh in the morning — Ubud villas do not always staff late check-ins.
Starting in Ubud without a Ubud booking
If your first nights are actually in Seminyak or Canggu, do the Ubud transfer as a day trip with a private driver (~600,000–800,000 IDR for 8–10 hours) rather than paying two single transfers — you get the rice terraces and temples en route.
Our take
Book the hotel transfer on arrival day and use Grab for everything after. Once settled, our Ubud guide and 7-day Bali itinerary take over.
Keep planning Bali
Bali airport to Ubud — FAQs
How much is a taxi from Bali airport to Ubud?
About 300,000–400,000 IDR (~A$29–38) by Grab or Gojek; hotel transfers run 350,000–450,000 IDR. The drive takes 1–1.5 hours, longer in afternoon traffic.
Is there a bus from Bali airport to Ubud?
No useful one. Bali has no practical public transport for this route — use a hotel transfer, Grab/Gojek, or the official airport taxi counter.
How far is Ubud from Bali airport?
About 35–40 km, which takes 1 to 1.5 hours by car depending on traffic. Early morning and late evening are fastest; 3–7 pm can stretch to two hours.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.