Visit Bali in the Rainy Season

You have been looking at flights. You have seen the dates. And then someone mentioned the rainy season, and suddenly, you are second-guessing everything.

Do not.

Some call it the Green Season. Others, the Quiet Season. On most travel calendars, it appears as the rainy season, and that is the name that stuck, even if it tells only half the story. The Bali rainy season is one of the island’s best-kept secrets. Not because the weather is perfect, because it is not. But because what you get in return for a little rain is something the dry season simply cannot offer. Fewer people. Lower prices. A version of Bali that feels the way Bali used to feel before the world arrived all at once. 

This guide tells you everything you need to know. When the rain comes, what it actually feels like month by month, what to do, which months to avoid if you need certainty, and why, for certain travellers, couples especially, the wet season might be the only time worth booking. 

When Is the Rainy Season in Bali

The Bali rainy season runs from November through to April, with December, January, and February being the wettest months of the year. The dry season runs from May through October, when the island is filled with visitors and prices climb accordingly.

Being so close to the equator means Bali only has two seasons. There is no spring, no autumn, no soft in-between. Just wet and dry, each with its own distinct character and its own advantages.

The average temperature during the rainy season ranges from 23 to 31 degrees Celsius on most days. It does not get cold. It does not get grey in the way a European or Northern winter does. What changes are the humidity, the afternoon sky, and the rhythm of the day?

One thing most first-time visitors do not expect is that it rarely rains all day. Rain in Bali during the wet season tends to arrive in short, heavy bursts, usually in the afternoon or evening, and then clears. Mornings are often clear or lightly overcast, giving plenty of time to explore, dine, and enjoy outdoor activities before the clouds build. The air after a downpour is clean and cool in a way that the dry season never quite manages.

If you are planning a trip and weighing up your options, the best time to visit Bali guide gives a full seasonal breakdown to help you decide.

How Much Does It Actually Rain in Bali

Not every month in the wet season is the same, and not every part of the island gets the same amount of rain. Understanding both makes planning significantly easier.

Rainfall by month across Bali

January is the wettest month, with the island receiving around 300-350mm of rainfall on average. Heavy afternoon downpours are frequent, though mornings still offer sunny windows. February is similarly wet at 250 to 300mm, with short, intense bursts and brighter breaks in between. March sees the rain beginning to ease at around 200 to 250mm, and the storms become less frequent. April is a genuine transition month, with 70-120mm of rain and mostly settled days. November is the soft start of the season, with 150 to 200mm of rain and regular afternoon showers, but still plenty of sunshine.

The middle of the year, June through August, is almost guaranteed to have sunshine and is the peak of the dry season.

Rainfall varies significantly by region

This is the part most guides skip over, and it matters enormously for choosing where to stay.

Ubud and central Bali receive around 250-350mm of rain during the wettest months. The higher elevation brings regular afternoon downpours and lush, dramatically green scenery. It is wetter than the coast, but it is also more beautiful in the rain.

South Bali, covering areas like Seminyak, Canggu, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu, sees around 150-250mm at peak. Rain tends to come in short afternoon showers rather than sustained downpours, and mornings are generally reliable.

East Bali, including Amed and Candidasa, is one of the driest regions thanks to the rain shadow created by Mount Agung. Rainfall here is around 80-150mm even in peak months, making it a good choice for travellers who want calmer, more predictable conditions.

North Bali and the mountainous areas such as Munduk, Bedugul, and Kintamani receive the heaviest rainfall, sometimes reaching 300-400mm. The landscapes are extraordinary, but expect significantly wetter conditions and cooler temperatures.

Does It Rain All Day in Bali During the Wet Season

No. All-day rain is genuinely rare.

The typical rainy season day in Bali looks like this: a bright or lightly overcast morning, clouds building through the middle of the day, a short and often heavy downpour in the afternoon or early evening, and then a clear, cooler night. Most outdoor activities, temple visits, rice paddy walks, and waterfall trips can be planned around this rhythm by simply starting earlier in the day.

The rain itself is warm. Being caught in a Bali shower is not the same as being caught in a cold northern downpour. It is brief, it is tropical, and the island looks extraordinary immediately afterwards. The Valley of the Kings above Ubud fills with mist. The jungle deepens in colour. The air is clean enough to make you want to be outside, not inside.

The experience is genuinely different from what most people picture when they hear the words rainy season.

Which Month Is Best to Visit Bali

This depends entirely on what you are looking for.

Bali has two shoulder seasons, and both are worth knowing about. The first runs through November and into early December, sitting at the soft edge of the rainy season before the Christmas peak arrives. The second covers April through to early June, as the rains ease and the dry season builds, but before the July and August crowds arrive. Both windows offer a quieter, more affordable island without committing fully to either extreme.

May, June, and September are widely regarded as the sweet spot. The dry season is underway, crowds have not yet hit their July and August peak, and prices are more reasonable than during the school holiday rush. The weather is consistently sunny, the humidity is lower, and the island feels balanced rather than overwhelmed.

July and August are the peak of the dry season and of everything else. Blue skies, reliable weather, busy temples, full restaurants, and the highest hotel rates of the year. If perfect weather is the priority and cost is not, these months deliver.

February and March are among the quietest periods of the year, offering a more subdued, unhurried version of the island.  The rain is still present, but the island is at its most peaceful, its most affordable, and its most genuinely beautiful. March brings Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, which is one of the most extraordinary cultural events in Southeast Asia. 

November through January offer lush landscapes and low prices, with the exception of December and early January, when the Christmas and New Year period pushes prices sharply upward regardless of the rain.

For couples seeking privacy, slow travel, and genuine intimacy with the island, February through March and November through early December sit at the top of the list.

Which Months Should Be Avoided in Bali

There is no month in Bali that should be universally avoided. But there are combinations of timing and expectations that lead to disappointment.

If you are planning a beach-focused holiday that depends on clear skies and calm water every day, January and February carry the most weather risk. These are the wettest months, and while mornings are still often usable, the afternoons are less predictable, and the sea on the west coast can be rough.

If you are trying to avoid crowds and high prices, July and August are the months to avoid. They are beautiful, but the island is at its most expensive and most congested.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding or an event that cannot work around weather uncertainty, the dry season from May through October is the only sensible choice.

For everyone else, the idea of months to avoid is mostly a myth. Every season in Bali has something to offer if you plan around it correctly.

When Is the Low Season in Bali

The low season in Bali runs roughly from November through to early December, and again from mid-January through to mid-March, with February and March being the quietest and most affordable months of the year.

This overlap with the rainy season is not a coincidence. Fewer visitors come during the wet months, which pushes prices down across hotels, tours, and flights. The exceptions are the Christmas and New Year period, when the island fills up again regardless of the rain, and the Nyepi window in March, which draws a specific type of traveller.

It is worth distinguishing the low season from Bali’s shoulder seasons. The shoulder seasons, November through early December and April through early June, sit at either end of the rainy season and offer a different kind of value: better odds of better weather than the wettest months, combined with noticeably lower prices and fewer visitors than the July and August peak. For travellers who want the best of both worlds, the shoulder season is often the answer.

Outside those peaks, the low season offers some of the best value the island has to offer. Viceroy Bali offers low-season rates and packages during this period, which is worth exploring when planning.

For a detailed breakdown of what a Bali trip costs at different times of year, the Bali trip cost guide covers accommodation, activities, and daily spending at every budget level.

What to Do in Bali During the Rainy Season

The rainy season does not limit your trip as much as people expect. Most activities still run as normal. Mornings are generally clear enough for anything outdoors. You simply plan around the sky a little more and keep the afternoons flexible.

White water rafting

The rivers around Ubud are at their fullest and most exciting during the rainy season. The Ayung River, in particular, reaches water levels that make rafting genuinely thrilling rather than merely pleasant. If adventure is on the list, this is actually the best time to do it. 

Waterfall chasing

Bali has some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia, and the rainy season is when they are at their most dramatic. Tegenungan, Sekumpul, and Kanto Lampo all reach their full power between November and April. The volume of water during the rainy season makes them spectacular in ways the dry season cannot replicate. 

Temple visits and cultural experiences

The rainy season is when Ubud’s temples feel the way temples are supposed to feel. Goa Gajah, Puri Saren Agung Palace, the Ubud Monkey Forest: all quieter, all more atmospheric, all easier to reach. Our Viceroy Bali team can arrange private guided tours, so the weather does not complicate logistics. 

Spa and wellness

There is something about a rainy afternoon that makes a spa feel exactly right. At Viceroy Bali, Akoya Spa has a full menu of massages, body scrubs, facials, and wellness rituals that blend Western techniques with traditional Balinese healing practices. The sound of rain on the jungle canopy outside is not an inconvenience. It is part of the experience.

Cooking classes

Learning to cook Balinese food in Bali is one of those experiences that sounds like a good idea and turns out to be genuinely memorable. The resort arranges both group and private cooking classes for guests. A morning spent in the kitchen together, followed by lunch on your terrace overlooking the valley, is a very Green Season day. 

Rice paddy trekking

The rice paddies around Ubud are at their most visually stunning in the Green Season. The terraces are fully planted and brilliantly green, the air is clean and cool, and the walking trails are quiet. This is Bali at its most arresting.

Nyepi, the Day of Silence

If your dates fall around late March, build your trip around Nyepi. Being in Bali for the Balinese New Year and the Day of Silence is one of the most extraordinary travel experiences available anywhere in the world. The night before, the streets fill with Ogoh-ogoh processions: enormous hand-crafted effigies carried through the villages by firelight. Then silence falls and holds for twenty-four hours. No traffic. No flights. No noise. Staying at Viceroy Bali during Nyepi means spending that silence above the Valley of the Kings, which is not something you forget.  

Cinema, fine dining, and doing very little

The resort’s private cinema room is open daily with scheduled screenings and streaming access to Netflix, HBO, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. Bean bags, a projector, and snacks. On a rainy afternoon, this is not a consolation. It is exactly right.

And then there is Apéritif. Apéritif is a MICHELIN Selected restaurant, one of the best in Bali, helmed by Belgian Executive Chef Nic Vanderbeeken, blending Spice Island flavours with modern European cuisine, with a curated wine cellar and a cigar collection that transforms a long dinner into an event. Viceroy Bali, the resort it calls home, was awarded a One MICHELIN Key in 2025, an accolade for exceptional hotels. A rainy evening at Apéritif in Ubud is one of the finer ways to spend time on earth. 

Why Couples and Honeymooners Love the Bali Rainy Season

The rainy season in Bali is quietly perfect for couples, and the reason is simple.

What most couples are actually looking for when they plan a trip to Bali is not just sunshine. It is privacy. It is the feeling of having somewhere of their own. It is time together that does not feel like it is happening inside a crowd.

The dry season, for all its reliable weather, delivers the opposite. Busy temples. Fully booked restaurants. A version of Bali that you are sharing with a very large number of other people who had the same idea at the same time.

The rainy season empties all of that out. The resorts are quieter. The roads around Ubud are calmer. The rice paddies are fully planted, and the valley views are at their most dramatic. And if you are staying somewhere with a private pool, which is the only way to stay in Ubud for couples who value their own space, a little afternoon rain changes almost nothing about the day.

At Viceroy Bali, every villa has its own private heated pool. When the rain arrives and rolls through the Valley of the Kings below, you are not disappointed. You are watching something extraordinary from the best possible seat.

For anyone planning a honeymoon, an anniversary, or a romantic escape, this is the best accommodation in Bali for couples during the rainy season and for very good reason. 

Things to Know Before You Visit Bali in the Rainy Season

A few practical points that make the trip smoother.

What to Pack for the Bali Rainy Season

Packing for the Bali rainy season is simpler than most people expect. The temperature stays warm year-round, so you do not need to pack for cold weather. You are packing for tropical heat plus the occasional downpour.

Essential items:

1. Lightweight rain jacket or compact poncho. A packable rain jacket takes up almost no space and completely solves the afternoon shower problem. Avoid heavy waterproof coats. They are too warm for Bali’s temperatures.
2. Quick-dry clothing. Fabrics like linen, cotton blends, and technical travel wear dry fast after rain or a swim. Avoid denim and heavy fabrics that stay wet for hours.
3. Non-slip, waterproof sandals. Wet stone temple steps and slippery paths are a real consideration. Sandals with grip or closed-toe shoes with traction are worth bringing.
4. Waterproof bag or dry pouch for your phone. Particularly useful during outdoor activities like rafting or waterfall visits.
5. Compact umbrella. A small travel umbrella fits in any daypack and is genuinely useful for short walks between venues.
6. High-factor sunscreen (SPF 50). Cloud cover in the rainy season does not reduce UV exposure. The equatorial sun is strong even on overcast days.
7. Insect repellent. Mosquito activity increases with humidity. DEET-based repellent for evenings, and a natural option for daytime, is a sensible combination.
8. Rehydration salts or electrolyte tablets. The combination of heat, humidity, and activity depletes hydration faster than most visitors expect.
9. Light layers for air-conditioned spaces. Restaurants, spas, and resort interiors can be cool. A light cardigan or wrap is worth including.

What you do not need:

1. Heavy waterproof boots. The rain is warm, and the terrain does not require them
2. Cold-weather layers. Even at Ubud’s elevation, temperatures stay above 23°C at night
3. A full umbrella. The compact version is enough

Does Bali flood during the Rainy Season?

Flooding in Bali during the rainy season does occur, but it is localised, short-lived, and entirely manageable with the right preparation.

The areas most commonly affected are the low-lying parts of Denpasar, Kuta, and Legian, where drainage infrastructure is older and less equipped to handle heavy downpours. Certain roads in and around Ubud with poor drainage can also become impassable for an hour or two following a particularly heavy afternoon shower. These situations are temporary. In most cases, water clears within two to three hours once the rain stops.

The areas least affected by flooding are elevated locations. Ubud’s hillside resorts, including Viceroy Bali on its ridge above the Valley of the Kings, sit well above any flood risk. The resort’s location is part of what makes it such a reliable base during the wet season.

Practical steps to avoid flooding disruption:

1. Avoid driving through flooded roads. Even shallow-looking water can conceal road damage or be deeper than it appears.
2. Plan day trips in the morning when rain is least likely, and return before the typical afternoon downpour window of 2 to 5 pm.
3. Check local conditions with your resort team before heading out. At Viceroy Bali, the guest services team monitors conditions daily and will flag any areas to avoid.
4. Use a private driver rather than a scooter during the wet season. Roads become slippery quickly, and a local driver will know alternate routes around any flooded sections.

Flooding is a concern worth knowing about, not a reason to cancel your trip. Millions of visitors travel to Bali during the rainy season every year and encounter no disruption beyond a wet afternoon. 

Bali currency

The Indonesian Rupiah is the local currency. Having some cash on hand is useful, particularly outside the resort, as smaller warungs and local markets are cash-only. The Bali currency guide covers exchange rates, where to change money, and how much to carry for different budgets.

Unmarried couples

Bali is generally welcoming and relaxed for couples travelling together, regardless of marital status. If you have questions about what to expect as an unmarried couple in Bali, including accommodation, temple visits, and local customs, the guide for unmarried couples in Bali answers them clearly.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is always advisable in Bali. During the wet months, it is worth having specifically for any disruption caused by weather, including road delays and the occasional rescheduled activity.

Visa requirements

Most international visitors can enter Bali on a visa on arrival for stays of up to thirty days, extendable once. Requirements vary by nationality, so checking before you travel is always advisable.

Bali Rainy Season at Viceroy Bali

There is a specific reason the rainy season works particularly well at Viceroy Bali: the location. 

Viceroy Bali is not a beach resort. It sits on a secluded ridge above the Valley of the Kings, with the Petanu River flowing far below. When it rains in Ubud, the valley fills with mist, the forest deepens in colour, and the air carries the particular cool clarity that only comes after a tropical downpour. A private villa with a heated pool above a jungle valley in the rain is not a compromise. It is a specific and extraordinary thing to experience.

The resort’s forty private pool villas each face that valley. Every pool is heated. Akoya Spa is here, with its three couples treatment rooms and its Balinese wellness rituals. Apéritif, CasCades Restaurant, and Pinstripe Bar are all here. The cinema is here. A complimentary shuttle runs daily to central Ubud whenever you want to explore, and the guest service team can arrange a full programme of activities around the weather.

Everything you need for a genuinely good few days is within the property. And everything beyond the property, from Ubud’s temples to the waterfall trails to the white water rapids of the Ayung River, is at its best in the wet season.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the rainy season in Bali? 

The Bali rainy season runs from November through to April. December, January, and February are the wettest months. November and April sit at the softer edges of the season, with more mixed and transitional weather. 

Does it rain all day in Bali during the Rainy Season? 

Rarely. Rain in Bali during the wet season arrives in short, heavy bursts, most commonly in the afternoon or evening. Mornings are frequently clear and bright, leaving plenty of time for outdoor activities. All-day rain is the exception rather than the rule. 

Which month is best to visit Bali? 

For reliable weather without peak season crowds or prices, May, June, and September are the best months. For privacy, lower rates, and lush scenery, February and March offer a very different but equally rewarding experience. The right answer depends on what kind of trip you want. 

Which months should be avoided in Bali? 

No month needs to be avoided outright, but January and February carry the most weather uncertainty for beach-focused trips. July and August bring the largest crowds and highest prices. If your trip requires guaranteed sunshine every day, the dry season from May through October is the safer choice. 

When is the low season in Bali? 

The low season in Bali runs from November through early December and again from mid-January through to mid-March. February and March are the quietest and most affordable months of the year, outside of the Christmas and Nyepi periods. Hotel rates, flights, and tour prices are generally lower during this window. 

What is the shoulder season in Bali? 

Bali’s shoulder seasons are the transitional windows that sit on either side of the rainy season peak. The first runs from November through early December, before the Christmas rush begins. The second covers April through to early June, as the rains ease and the island moves toward the dry season. Both offer a middle ground between the wet season’s quiet and the dry season’s crowds, with reasonable weather, lower prices than peak, and a more relaxed version of the island. For many travellers, the shoulder season is the most practical answer to the question of when to visit. 

Can I surf during the Bali Rainy Season?

The rainy season brings a significant shift in Bali’s surf conditions, and for the right surfer, it opens up some of the island’s best opportunities.

During the wet season, the northwest monsoon winds produce good surf along the east and northeast coasts of Bali, including spots around Keramas, Nusa Dua, and Sanur. These are areas that are largely flat during the dry season but come to life between November and March.

The west and southwest coasts, including Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and Canggu, are less consistent during the rainy season, as onshore winds and less organised swells prevail. Experienced surfers who know these breaks will still find rideable days, but the dry season remains the peak window for these iconic spots.

For beginner and intermediate surfers, the rainy season actually has advantages:

– Fewer surfers in the water at most breaks

– Warmer water temperature of around 28 to 29°C

– Smaller, more manageable swells at beginner-friendly beaches like Kuta and Seminyak

The Viceroy Bali team can arrange surf lessons and guided surf trips to the best-condition breaks for your skill level during your stay, tailored to the day’s conditions. 

Is the Bali Rainy Season good for a honeymoon?

Yes, and for many couples it is the better choice. The rainy season brings quieter resorts, lower prices, and a version of Bali that feels more private and more personal than the busy dry season. Rain in Bali typically arrives in short afternoon bursts, leaving mornings free for outdoor experiences and afternoons perfectly suited to spa treatments, long lunches, and time in your private pool.  

At Viceroy Bali, every villa has its own heated private pool facing the Valley of the Kings. When the rain rolls through, you are not inconvenienced. You are watching something beautiful from the best possible seat. For couples who want intimacy over activity, the rainy season is not a compromise. It is the point.