This post is about Bali with kids but in 2021, you need the following information if you’re planning to visit Bali with your family. The Governor of Bali stated that the island will officially be reopening to international tourists on September 11th, 2020. Domestic tourism will be allowed from July 31st, 2020. If transmission rates stay low, Bali can then proceed to open its borders to overseas tourists in September.
Visiting Bali with kids is relatively easy and there is plenty for children to enjoy on this amazing little island. In this post we look at where to stay, things to do, temples, culture, art, attractions, activities and food in Bali for kids and more. Check out the video my son made of the Bali snorkel tour recently, it’s further down the page. If you have any questions on any aspect of visiting Bali with kids please put them in the comments. We were in Bali in 2020, this post is recently updated.
I would say that Bali and Thailand are the two easiest places we have travelled in South East Asia with children because of their well-established tourist infrastructure and good facilities.
Bali must be one of our favorite family destinations so far, we have spent time exploring the island, moving around and staying a while if we liked a spot, shooting through if we didn’t. We first took our kids to Bali at 2 and 4 years old, we’ve returned many times and they still enjoy Bali as tweens and teens. If you simply want to book a one or two weeks vacation in a family-friendly resort hotel, that’s easy to do and we cover some of the best accommodation for families ( some with kids’ clubs) further down the page.
Bali is small and it’s easy to get around. On this page, you’ll find tips on exploring the island and getting to those must-visit attractions and cultural highlights.
We, and the children love Bali. You can have fun, learn loads and enjoy diverse activities and cultural experiences other than enjoy beaches, tropical greens, stunning rice paddy views, great food and some beautiful Bali waterfalls. Here is our take on Bali for kids.
Bali with Kids
Things to do in Bali with kids as well as travel information and practicalities of taking your family to Bali Indonesia. Bali has many tourist attractions, modern, fun water parks, animal attractions, and places of incredible natural beauty. Hotels are affordable and often very good. The food in Bali is delicious and you’ll find plenty of great food for your kids.
The hotel in the photo above is this one, in Ubud. It was an absolute winner at a very affordable price. After staying here we moved to another hotel on the same road at the same price. The second hotel sucked. We recommend the former!
What’s your style of accommodation? Pick the accommodation to suit your family because you’ll find it all on Bali.
Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels
Family hotels and resorts are popular. A great pick for families is Novotel for their family-pleasing rooms, facilities and activities. You’ll find Novotel properties in Nusa Dua ( here) and Benoa (here). If you’re on a tighter budget, or resorts just aren’t your scene, you’ll also find villas, guest houses, homestays, hostels and lower cost ( but no less beautiful) hotels that will cater to families in Bali.
Family accommodation is always harder to find than rooms for couples or singles but generally, we found a good choice of accommodation in Bali, at reasonable prices. The cheapest place we stayed was $15/night for a room in a traditional courtyard home in Ubud, the most expensive over $100/night for a luxurious seafront hotel in Sanur. We list some favourite properties below.
Accommodation that includes breakfast can save you a lot of money, particularly when traveling with children. They can fill up on pancakes, eggs, toast, and fruit and be set for the day. If you prefer Balinese breakfast over Western, it’s usual to find both in most hotels.
Some Of The Best Family Friendly Hotels and Resorts in Bali
These hotels are selected for good kid-friendly facilities and activities while giving parents a relaxed, more luxurious stay. These are some of the best hotels in Bali.
- The Grand Hyatt Bali. Nusa Dua
- Four Seasons Resort Bali. Jimbaran Bay
- W Bali. Seminyak
- Padma Resort. Legian
- The Fairmont. Sanur
- Hard Rock Hotel Bali. Kuta
- Bali Dynasty Resort Kuta
- Four Seasons Resorts at Sayan. Ubud
Independent Travel Accommodation in Bali
If you’re planning on travelling independently and touring the island it’s best to book a few nights on arrival and then move on when you’re ready. It brings peace of mind if you know you have somewhere nice booked online in advance. After that, you can make your own way around the island booking as you go. Agoda ( opens in new tab) works well for Southeast Asia for smaller hotels and guest houses.
If you like to wing it, check out hotels and guest houses when you arrive and take your pick, online, on foot or by taxi. We have taken rooms with all sorts of sleeping arrangements, full family rooms with four beds, a big double bed and an extra mattress on the floor and adjoining rooms and twin or double beds. It is often easier to negotiate reduced rates face to face if this is your style.
Airbnb in Bali
We’ve had success with Airbnb in Bali. We had a lovely villa for 4, with pool and breakfast for around $50 per night. Go to Airbnb here (opens in new tab) and you should score our special credits for joining. You can use them against your first stay and on Bali they will probably amount to one free night for a family. Airbnb is useful for hotels, homestays, apartments and villas. They carry all kinds of accommodation.
Getting Around Bali
Your first hurdle will be getting from the airport to your accommodation. This isn’t too hard. You have options.
- Arrange a pick-up with your hotel
- Book a private transfer
- Take a fixed price taxi from the airport taxi desk
- Use Grab – there is a Grab lounge at the airport now
Car seats are going to be an issue. If you have small children and you worry about car seats.
Ubud to the airport is 300- 350 Rs. This trip can take 2 hours if traffic is really bad.
Taxis
There are plenty of taxis available, we found taxis were a good option for touring Bali with kids. Bluebird taxis usually have a meter, but some taxi rides will require you to negotiate and fix a price in advance.
Taxis in Ubud are expensive. Stay within walking distance of the town or pay $4-$5 each time. Car plus driver or Uber car may be cheaper.
The airport taxi we took on arrival was more expensive than any other we took, despite the fixed fare system. You may do better to arrange your own airport pick up or transfers directly with a driver.
Uber and Grab
In some parts of Bali services like Uber are ” banned”. They actually aren’t but local taxi drivers don’t want them taking their trade. Don’t get involved.
Private Car Plus Driver
We found it best to hire a driver with a decent sized car for the day, often a 4 wheel drive. Check out the car, see if you like the guy. Check they have rear seat belts. You may be able to fit your own car seat.
You will be constantly approached by drivers wanting your trade on the street. As a family of four, this worked out cheaper than buying 4 bus tickets and gave us total flexibility to tailor our day as we chose.
Our drivers were very helpful and suggested a few places to visit that we hadn’t thought of. We didn’t run into many scams.
With Mum Goggles on, I worry about my children’s safety and I thought driving around Bali with kids would freak me out. Despite a general lack of seat belts, I felt pretty good about using the roads in Bali. People drive slowly and carefully to avoid bicycles, dogs, scooters, children and chickens. It was OK, I didn’t worry too much. In towns, heavy traffic congestion slows up the roads.
Places To Visit In Bali with Kids
Bali is a small island and it’s pretty easy to take tours and visit attractions from any of the main hubs. Most people will base themselves, for the majority of their holiday, in one of the main tourist destination towns below.
Ubud
Ubud is where Bali stole our hearts, we usually spend the bulk of our time here enjoying this busy little town and its neighbouring rice paddies and villages. Yoga and cultural activities are the order of the day in this hill town. The extra elevation can make Ubud a little cooler than coastal towns. Ubud is land-locked,don’t expect beaches
Ubud is where you’ll find the famous monkey forest, take kids here with caution, these animals are the thugs of the animal kingdom and can be aggressive. You’ll also find beautiful architecture, art, culture and dance. But don’t think Ubud is off-the-beaten-track, Ubud is busy and growing by the day.
We have a separate post about things to do in Ubud, day trips and just hanging out in Ubud. You’ll find some excellent restaurants here and a strong vegan scene.
Hotels, guest houses and villas are plentiful and can be particularly good value in Ubud.
Sanur
We didn’t find very much to do in Sanur, other than hang out on the beach, check out the market stalls and get a massage and pedicure.
The beach has the protection of reef and breakwaters so it doesn’t have the big surf of Kuta making it safer for children. It’s nice to eat on the beach in the evening, there are plenty of restaurants and bars but this place is a resort town, it wasn’t for us.
Kuta and Legian
We spent a day in Kuta, just to see what it was like. Kuta and Legian seem to blend into each other, Legian is supposedly more up-market. There are a lot of big shops, a lot of sports bars, plenty of fast food, busy roads and traffic and a wide sandy beach with surf.
I guess you could find some interesting places if you actually stayed here, we only saw the main streets. That was enough for us. I wouldn’t recommend this part of Bali for kids because of high sleaze levels.
Our driver showed us the spot where the bombings took place, it was pretty sobering.
Kid-Friendly Things To Do in Bali Activities and Attractions
The child pleasing attractions and activities you can enjoy on Bali include:
- Beaches and water sports.
- Animal attractions.
- Arts and crafts classes and courses.
- Adventure activities, trekking, downhill bike touring, white water rafting, snorkelling and scuba diving.
- Gentle rice field walks.
- Tours to enjoy history, dance, art and culture.
- Sightseeing, rice terraces, temples, volcanoes and palaces.
- Water parks
- Cooking classes and food tours
Find more information on many of these activities below. You should have time to fit in quite a few on a typical two week family holiday. Some are half day tours, others will fill a whole day.
Bali Bird Park
The bird park was a must-do with kids, ours loved having parrots perch on their heads.
There was also a small 3D cinema on-site, we watched a film about birds.
Bali Reptile Park
Next door is Bali Reptile Park, admission for Bali Bird Park covered both areas for us. The kids enjoyed the reptile park but it wasn’t huge.
The Elephant Cave. Goa Gajah
You have to go here to take the photo of the demon mouth cave opening.
Goa Gajah is a lovely site but access is via steep stairs, you may have to watch out for small children. It’s lovely and worth the trip, you can have a quick look around the Hindu and Buddhist parts, check out the linga in the cave and the sacred pool in half an hour.
If you want to stay longer you can find a guide to talk you through it. Men must wear sarongs, for hire at the entrance. You must be respectfully dressed.
Spice Farms and Kopi Luwak
Our driver took us to a spice farm on the way back from the volcano, Gunung Agung. This is normally listed as a ” scam to avoid” but if you want to go, go. We usually avoid these places as we’ve seen plenty before and there is usually some hard sell. As this was a first for the kids we agreed to go.
It was a great experience for all of us, spices, chocolate, tropical plants, coffee and Kopi Luwak. Bali coffee, Kopi Luwak is something special but it might gross you out slightly. There are also animal exploitation issues. I won’t be getting involved again.
Visit a volcano ( or not) Gunung Agung
Your driver will take you up to a viewing spot and temple near the top of Bali’s active volcano. The view was pretty spectacular, but as we left the car women swarmed around us and my children, dressing them in sarongs, demanding money and separating them from me.
My younger son was in tears. We left straight away, never to return. This is the only time we saw this sort of pushiness in Bali, or anywhere else, our driver was full of apologies. This is a popular Instagram spot.
Bali Volcano Hike With Kids
Climbing one of Bali’s volcanoes for spectacular sunrise views is a popular activity in Bali. But can you do it with kids? We took older children and they managed just fine. I quizzed our guide during the climb. She said the youngest children she’d taken up were around 5 years old. Sometimes she’d had to carry them some of the way, sometimes she’d had to put them on a motorbike. Motorbikes are there, ready, for anyone unable to complete the climb. For us, the volcano trek took around 2 hours up, 1 hour down. We started our journey to the volcano at 2am and started climbing around 4am. We loved it. You can book a volcano trek here.
Snorkel With Manta Rays
We did this with older kids but it was just amazing! Yes you can do this from Bali, even from Ubud. See our full post on the Bali manta rays here.
Family-Friendly Cooking Classes
We love taking cooking classes with kids and a cooking class could be just the thing to enhance your family vacation in Bali, while bonding and learning some new skills. Be sure to check that your cooking class will accept kids. Beware sharp knives and roaring gas burners. My son loved making his favourite satay and pandanus pancakes as well as meeting a lovely Balinese family in their home. You can book a cooking class from Ubud, or most beach towns in Bali. Some hotels will offer their own mini cooking sessions, sometimes as part of a kids club.
Meet the Elephants (or not) Elephant Safari Park
I have major issues with animals doing tricks, but this was the children’s first up-close elephant encounter, so we went. It’s expensive, but rather good, the kids loved it.
They fed the elephants and took an elephant back ride through the forest. This was before the negative press started being circulated about elephant riding. Back then it was fine, nobody batted an eyelid. Make your own call on the ethics of elephant riding.
I’ve ridden elephants many times over the last 30 years, I’ve read up on the subject and I make a call based on individual circumstance and location. I have a degree in zoology if that counts for anything and a deep fascination with animals. I really have no knowledge of particular conditions in Bali, but I think today, I wouldn’t visit this one even though it comes with many endorsements.
Pura Tanah Lot
One of seven sea temples around Bali, Pura Tanah Lot is incredibly beautiful and great for photos if you can visit at sunset. You can’t visit the temple itself, it’s closed to foreigners, but it’s lovely to look at. The temple is perched on a tiny island and at low tide, you can walk out to the rock.
The kids received a blessing from a priest at the sacred spring, they were quite pleased with that. This temple is guarded by a legendary giant sea snake. There is a cave with a resident snake on the mainland but we didn’t visit. There are little shops and food stalls nearby.
Padang Bai, Fishing and the Blue Lagoon
We spent two nights in Padang Bai in a glorious and cheap hotel just behind the beach. The town is very small, not much to keep you occupied, but there are trips in traditional fishing boats for the adventurous.
The Blue Lagoon is just around the headland, it’s sold as a snorkeling spot. My husband snorkeled, he said it was OK. The boys jumped in briefly but the deepwater freaked them out. At 8 and 6 they had absolutely no fear snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, they were just too young in Bali on this visit.
We took an early morning fishing trip too, very early, well before dawn. We expected rods and lines, instead,we went miles out to sea in a tiny boat to watch the owner net fishing. He didn’t catch anything.
It was an interesting experience and the views of the volcano at dawn were spectacular but I wasn’t entirely comfortable being out at sea with two small children. In Amed local fishermen will also take you out to sea at dawn.
Best Time of Year to Visit Bali
Bali enjoys a tropical climate as it sits just 8 degrees south of the equator. May-July are normally considered the best months to visit. The dry season runs from May to October, but even in the wet season conditions can be pleasant and dry days and sunshine not unusual. Find out more about Bali weather here.
Balinese Food For Kids
Balinese food isn’t as amazing as Thai or Vietnamese but we liked it a lot. We had some great food and some not so great, mostly down to us picking the wrong establishments.
If you want to eat in good restaurants you have plenty of options and standards of food and service are very high, while prices remain reasonable.
Generally, we found the small, family-run cafes and restaurants ( warung) better than the big backpacker places, and cheaper.
We picked up a few munchies at markets and at roadside stalls, sticky rice, barbecued corn. It was all good.
We didn’t get a chance to try the marinated spit-roasted pork, Babi Guling, that Bali is famous for, there were huge queues every time we passed the recommended place in Ubud, Ibu Oka. We’ll try harder next time.
Gado Gado, is a cooked and raw salad with slightly spicy peanut sauce and hard boiled egg.It’s great for kids and vegetarians. If you are exclusively vegan Bali caters to vegan travellers well and you’ll find plenty of dedicated vegan cafés and restaurants.
I don’t think the Balinese use chilies with the same abandon as the Thais, or maybe they were just toning it down for the tourists, but none of the food we were ever served in Bali was very hot.
The children loved mild, peanut based satay dishes when they were younger. Now they eat anything Bali offers.
Bali Essentials, Things to Take to Bali With You For Kids
Visit our travel gear page to see which products we love, but don’t go crazy, you probably won’t need to buy anything special for a normal holiday. Do pack sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Solid sunscreen works well in your carry-on luggage and this is the best sunscreen we’ve ever tried.
Take anything that you may need importantly and urgently, like contact lens solutions, paracetamol ( adults and kids) and any other medications or products you use often. There are excellent shops in Bali and you can buy just about anything, but if you’re likely to need something in a hurry, take a stash.
We like to carry a small bottle of iodine, cuts and bites can get infected rapidly in the tropics. Hand sanitiser gel or antibacterial wipes are a good idea with kids – not least on the plane.
What gear you need depends on your style of travel and duration of stay, as long term travellers we carry everything from mosquito nets to travel towels, but if you’re staying in a resort or hotel, of course, you won’t need much.
Day Trips From Bali
We recently took a day trip to snorkel with manta rays off a nearby island. You can read about this amazing tour from Bali here. This would not be suitable for babies, toddlers or younger children. Our kids were teens and tweens and strong swimmers for this family activity.
Bali Belly and Kids
Because everyone has heard the Bali horror stories and worries about that, right? Two of us had diarrhea by the end of our first trip to Bali. Second time around we had no problems at all. Third time in Bali, two of us got flu on the plane.
That round of traveller’s tummy wasn’t serious and didn’t stop us doing anything, but there were a few urgent trips to the bathroom. When we got home I flew by the doctors where stool cultures revealed that we actually had a strain of salmonella. That was surprising, we weren’t too bad at all. There is no treatment for salmonella, so my Doctor told me, you just wait for it to pass and take probiotics ( live yogurt or pharmacy probiotic preparations)
It is interesting that only 2 of us went down with it, one adult, one child, we were all eating the same things and shared and tasted each other’s food constantly. It could have come via direct hand to mouth transmission, maybe a virus, not food.
People seem to worry about food hygiene in Bali quite a lot, particularly if they are visiting Bali with kids, I really don’t think that Bali is outstandingly dodgy in the food department based on our experience and over the 15 years we’ve been visiting, things have continued to get better. That said, in 2020 we did see 3 rats feasting on pizza toppings in a busy wood-fired pizza restaurant in Ubud.
My best tip to avoiding all this stuff is to keep your hands clean, wash with soap often and if needed use antibacterial gels and baby wipes ( but think about your plastic consumption and limit use ).
Mosquitoes in Bali
People get Dengue fever in Bali. It can be a worry, particularly for parents. I have to say that each year we see fewer and fewer mosquitoes. Fogging is fairly common. Hotels use chemical sprays to kill all insects lurking in nearby greenery. None the less, you should probably pack the mosquito repellent and follow all the usual tips for avoiding mosquitoes.
Dogs and Monkeys
Bites happen. You will find dogs and monkeys hard to avoid and yes, they can potentially carry rabies. Teach your children to stay away and never carry food or drink in or near Ubud’s Monkey Forest. If you are scratched, bitten or even licked, head to the doctor’s surgery. We have had rabies vaccinations, but not for Bali. We had them for remote travel in Pakistan but the shots do give us extra peace of mind.
Enjoy Your Bali Trip!
So what do you think? Have you been? Are you going? Did we miss out on lots of good things in Kuta? Please share any cool things to do in Bali with kids that you find, we love to hear from you!
Stefania
Thursday 9th of January 2020
Hi there, such a great post. I always traveled to Europe with my toddler but now our friends are encouraging us to travel to Bali with them next year. My kid would be 5 and a half God willing. I am a bit afraid of visiting such countries with my kid because of the long hours in plane and the hygiene and food. I worry about almost everything :-) Then I found this blog and you make it so easy. Do you know about vaccinations? I am assuming we need to get vaccinated especially the kid. Regarding the food, am glad we can find western restaurants since both myself and the kid are a bit fussy. Thanks for sharing
Alyson for World Travel Family
Thursday 9th of January 2020
Just see your GP or practice nurse about vaccinations for Bali. Leave plenty of time, some take a few months. Have a great trip!
Nicki
Wednesday 8th of January 2020
I love you post Alyson, you certainly are living the dream!!! My husband and I have also done a lot of traveling in the past, but have only done Europe since having our children. We have just booked a 3 week trip to Bali on the 10th of Feb with a 4 year old and 10 month old baby. What mosquito repellent do you recommend that we use on our children? We always used deet when we were traveling through Asia, but it was so strong that it melted the plastic on our dry bag!! I am not really wanting to use that on such young skin. Do you have any tips? Also any tips for traveling with a baby at all would be greatly welcomed ☺️ happy traveling Alyson and family
Nicki x
Elle
Sunday 26th of January 2020
Hi Alyson great info on your post! I’m so disappointed at Bali not having tuk tuk’s as they’re so cheap & my kids love them! You mention hiring a driver taxi, how much does this cost? We are going to travel for a month in Bali but 10 days of that will be on the nearby islands & the Gili islands too. I’m just wondering about a week discovering the beaches of the south coast, The distances aren’t too far so would taxis be a better option? Are there lots available at the beaches on the south? If you find yourself somewhere remote can you call for one? Would this be expensive? Many thanks Elle ?
Alyson for World Travel Family
Wednesday 8th of January 2020
Hi Nicki, We use a natural repellent in a yellow roll-on bottle that we buy in Boots Thailand. I don't know if they have it in Boots UK. No, I certainly wouldn't use Deet on a baby or small child, I still don't use it on my teens if I can help it. Also see our post on avoiding mosquitos - we're expets! I think there are some child- friendly recommendations in there too. https://worldtravelfamily.com/tips-avoiding-mosquitos/ Enjoy your trip!
Ashley
Sunday 5th of January 2020
Thank you for the info. I plan on traveling with a 3 year old. Any insight on getting around with a toddler? Car seats? Etc
Alyson for World Travel Family
Sunday 5th of January 2020
I think it's generally best to assume you won't be using western things like car seats for kids anywhere in Asia. Even in the UK you're not required to use a car seat in a taxi. Take your own if you feel you want to and if there is a seatbelt you'll be able to put it in the back. Car seats aren't normally part of your airline weight allowance. If you're from Australia and only have the type that bolt in, I guess you can't. Sorry, I'm British, we travelled with a strap in one to the US etc but never bothered for Asia as it wasn't a legal requirement. They drive pretty slowly on Bali because the traffic is usually backed up and the roads small, we always felt pretty safe there and the taxis and car's we hired for the day were often big 4 x 4 s with the kids. I think first time we went to Bali our youngest was 2 or 3 years old.
Gary
Saturday 9th of November 2019
Thanks for the great article - it's very helpful as my family and I are considering taking a trip to Bali. We have a 1 year old toddler. You mentioned bringing mosquito repellent and I was hearing that Dengue Fever is on the rise in SE Asia. Was this a concern for you with you and your kids in Bali?
Gary
Alyson Long
Saturday 9th of November 2019
Dengue is always a worry everywhere. We've been in Laos, Sri Lanka and Queensland in Dengue outbreaks. We just always assume it's there and take precautions if there are many mozzies about. The Dengue mozzies bite during the day, we hardly ever get bitten during the day, anywhere, so your worry rapidly decreases on arrival. The locals don't want Dengue either so they're pretty clued up on getting rid of them. Also they fog for mozzies commonly in Bali.
Jolene Ejmont
Wednesday 11th of September 2019
thanks for your advice, what a great read!