Bali Weather: A Complete Month-by-Month Guide (2026)

Bali sits eight degrees south of the equator, and its weather doesn't move the way most temperate places do. There is no spring, no autumn — only two seasons. The dry season runs May through October; the wet season runs November through April. Everything you might want to do on the island, from surfing Uluwatu to hiking Mount Batur at dawn, is easier in one season and harder in the other.

The temperature in Bali barely moves from month to month. Coastal averages hover between 26 and 31°C year-round. What actually changes is the rain, the humidity, and the sea. This guide breaks down the ten-year average for every month, and tells you honestly what to expect.

The short answer

• Best months overall: May, June, September — dry, warm, slightly less crowded than July-August.
• Peak season: July, August — dry and busy. Prices spike 30-50%.
• Shoulder value: October, April — transition months, some rain but 20-30% cheaper hotels.
• Avoid if possible: January, February — heaviest rain, humid, some resorts close.

Bali weather month by month

January in Bali (peak wet season)

January is the wettest month in Bali. Average rainfall exceeds 340mm — nearly triple the July figure. Expect afternoon storms almost daily. Rice terraces are lush and photographs beautifully, but sea conditions are rough, dive visibility drops, and the beaches at Kuta and Seminyak often have red-flag warnings for currents.

The upside: fewer tourists, hotels are 30-40% cheaper than July, and the mornings can be brilliantly clear. If you're comfortable with pool afternoons and rainforest hikes instead of sun-worship, January can be excellent value. See our Bali January weather guide for daily data.

February in Bali

Similar to January but slightly less rain. Averages settle around 275mm precipitation, still deeply in monsoon territory. Bali temperature in February holds at 27°C daily high, 24°C low — warm but muggy. Divers should skip these two months; visibility rarely exceeds 15 meters.

March in Bali (transition)

March is the classic shoulder month. Rain drops to around 240mm, humidity eases, and the sun starts breaking through. The wet season is technically not over yet, but afternoons are increasingly usable. Prices remain low. Good for temples, culture, and rice terrace photography before the crowds return.

April in Bali

The dry season begins. Rain drops sharply to ~130mm across the month, and by late April Bali starts feeling like the tropical paradise you imagined. Temperature edges up to 28°C daily. Great for surfers looking to catch the last of the wet-season Uluwatu swells before the winds shift.

May in Bali

Excellent month. Rain drops to 90mm across all of May — meaning most days are dry. Humidity manageable, sea calm, dive visibility opens up to 25-30 meters. This is when experienced divers head to Amed and Tulamben for the USS Liberty wreck. Fewer crowds than June-August. Our top recommendation for first-time Bali visitors.

June in Bali

The dry season deepens. Rainfall averages under 60mm — often just brief evening showers. June is warm (29°C day, 24°C night), sunny, and the trade winds arrive to make southern Bali (Uluwatu, Padang Padang) world-class surf. Hotels start rising in price but the value is still there. See Bali June data.

July in Bali (peak season)

The most-searched Bali month, and for good reason. Almost zero rain (average 50mm — often it doesn't rain at all for two weeks straight), 29°C days, low humidity, brilliant sunshine. This is also the month with the strongest trade winds, so cooler than you'd expect for the equator. Beach clubs at Canggu and Uluwatu operate at full tilt.

The trade-off: expect a 40-50% price premium on hotels, 3-4 hour queues at Tanah Lot at sunset, and traffic in Ubud that turns 20-minute drives into 90 minutes. Book everything three months ahead. Full July climate details here.

August in Bali

Marginally cooler than July (28°C average high), same near-zero rain, same crowds. This is hottest month in Bali in terms of sun-hours per day — expect 9+ hours daily. Great for outdoor everything: hiking Batur, Sekumpul waterfall, rice terraces at Jatiluwih. See August details.

September in Bali (best value)

An underrated month. Rain still low (~85mm across all of September), temperatures easing back down, crowds thinning after the European summer holidays end. September in Bali gives you the July experience at 30% lower prices. This month has become our favourite recommendation for repeat visitors.

October in Bali (transition out)

The dry season is technically still on, but you'll start seeing afternoon clouds build. Rain climbs to 130mm. Sea starts warming and getting choppy in the second half of the month. Still a good time to visit, especially the first two weeks. Prices drop noticeably from October 15 onwards.

November & December in Bali

Wet season returns. November averages 200mm rain, December 320mm. The Christmas-New Year holiday brings a strange 2-week price spike — Bali becomes suddenly expensive despite the weather being poor. Locals joke this is the worst-value fortnight of the year. Unless you specifically want Christmas in Bali, skip these weeks. See December weather.

Best time for specific activities

Surfing Bali

• May-September: Southern coast (Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin) — south-east trade winds create clean offshore conditions.
• November-March: Eastern coast (Sanur, Nusa Dua, Keramas) — winds shift, west swells arrive.

Diving and snorkeling

April through October, with a peak in July-August when visibility exceeds 30 meters at Amed, Tulamben, and Nusa Penida. The manta rays at Nusa Penida are visible year-round but easiest to reach in the dry season. Avoid January-February entirely.

Rice terrace photography (Ubud, Jatiluwih)

Two windows: late April to early May (fresh planting, brilliant green) and August-September (mature crops, golden light). The dramatic tiered landscape photographs best in the golden hour just after monsoon rains — so try March-April for atmospheric shots.

Mount Batur sunrise hike

June through September only. During wet season the trail is unsafe and clouds obscure the summit view. Even in dry season, book an experienced guide — hypothermia at the top is real.

Temples and cultural sites (Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Besakih)

Best in the dry season for sunset views (May-September). Wet season visits have their charm — Besakih shrouded in mist is genuinely mystical — but many ceremonies are scheduled around the Hindu calendar, not the weather. Check for Galungan and Nyepi dates.

Regional differences in Bali

Bali is a single island but the weather is not uniform:

• South (Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu): The mainstream Bali experience. Dry season the strongest, wet season the wettest.
• Central (Ubud, Munduk): Higher elevation, cooler by 3-5°C, more rain year-round. Bring a light jacket if you're staying in the hills.
• North (Lovina): Rain shadow effect — significantly drier than the south. Underrated during the shoulder season.
• East (Amed, Candidasa): Driest region on the island. Good year-round for divers.

What to pack for Bali

Regardless of month, always pack:

• Reef-safe sunscreen (mandatory at some dive sites)
• Sarong or long clothing for temple visits
• Quick-dry travel shirts (humidity makes everything else miserable)
• Water shoes (many beaches have coral)
• Mosquito repellent (essential in Ubud, less critical on the coast)

For wet season (November-April) add: packable rain jacket, waterproof phone pouch, dry bag for scooter rides.

The verdict

If we had to pick one month for a first Bali visit, we'd say June. Dry, warm, sunny, less crowded than July-August, still full trade winds for surfers. For divers or honeymooners looking for maximum sunshine and calm sea, August. For repeat visitors after value, September. For photographers who love drama, March.

The full climate history for the island is on our Bali weather page, with monthly detail pages linked from there for every month of the year.