Transport from the airport in Indonesia
Bali's airport has no train. Grab and Gojek have official lounges, the prepaid taxi counter sells fixed fares by zone (around 150,000 IDR to Kuta, Legian or Seminyak), and the Trans Metro Dewata bus is 4,400 IDR - but it takes no cash at all, which catches most foreign visitors out.
- DPS has no train or metro. The options are the prepaid taxi counter, a hotel transfer, Grab and Gojek.
- Grab and Gojek have official lounges in the arrivals pick-up zone: book in the app, wait inside, meet the driver at the assigned bay.
- The taxi counter sells fixed fares by zone - about 150,000 IDR to Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, and roughly 350,000-500,000 IDR to Ubud. You prepay and get two receipts.
- Grab or Gojek to Seminyak runs about 100,000-160,000 IDR, usually under the counter price.
- The Trans Metro Dewata bus is 4,400 IDR flat and stops at both terminals.
- The bus takes no cash. Payment is QRIS or an Indonesian e-money card (Flazz, e-money, Brizzi) - and cross-border QRIS only works from Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese or Chinese apps.
- Buy an e-money card at the Indomaret or Alfamart in the terminal if you intend to use the bus at all.
- The bus stops running in the early evening, around 18:30-19:00, so it is no use for a late arrival.
- Ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal. Use the counter or the app lounge.
Getting out of the terminal
Do four things in this order: immigration, baggage, customs, transport. Have the All Indonesia arrival card done before you land - the autogates will not process you without it - and have the Bali levy paid or ready if you are staying on the island.
The options
- Grab and Gojek - both run official lounges in the arrivals pick-up zone. You book in the app, so the price, the route and the payment are settled before you move, then wait in the lounge and meet the driver at the assigned bay. To Seminyak this typically runs 100,000 to 160,000 IDR, usually less than the counter.
- The prepaid taxi counter - Bali publishes fixed rates across 12 zones. You pay at the counter and receive two receipts, one for you and one for the driver, so there is no meter argument at the other end. Around 150,000 IDR to Kuta, Legian and Seminyak; Ubud is roughly 350,000 to 500,000 IDR depending on which part of it you want. Available around the clock.
- A hotel transfer - worth it for three or four people with luggage, where the price gap against two app cars closes and someone is waiting with your name.
- Trans Metro Dewata, the public bus - a flat 4,400 IDR for a single journey of up to 90 minutes, with stops at both the international and domestic terminals. The airport is served by corridor K2B, running to Terminal Ubung.
The bus has one catch, and it is a big one
Trans Metro Dewata does not accept cash. At all. You pay by scanning QRIS, by tapping an Indonesian e-money card (BCA Flazz, Mandiri e-money, BRI Brizzi), or not at all.
- Cross-border QRIS only works from Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese and Chinese payment apps. A European, British, American or Australian banking app cannot scan the code.
- So if you want the bus, buy an e-money card first at the Indomaret or Alfamart inside the terminal, and load it there.
- The airport corridor K2B runs about 05:00 to 18:50, every 10 to 20 minutes depending on the hour. There is no night service, so a late arrival means a taxi or an app car whatever your budget.
The one rule
Do not negotiate with anyone who approaches you inside the building. Everything legitimate happens at the counter or through the app, and both give you a price before you get in.
Recommendations by traveler type
Which way out of Bali's airport suits you: Grab or Gojek from the official lounge for one or two people, the prepaid taxi counter or a hotel transfer for a family with luggage, and the 4,400 IDR bus only if you are travelling light, in daylight, and already carry an Indonesian e-money card.
- One or two people, light luggage: Grab or Gojek from the official lounge - price and route fixed in the app before you move.
- Three or four people with luggage: the prepaid taxi counter or a hotel transfer; against two app cars the price gap is small and you avoid splitting the group.
- Cheapest: the Trans Metro Dewata bus at 4,400 IDR - but only in daylight, and only if you already have an Indonesian e-money card, because it takes no cash.
- Late arrival: taxi, hotel transfer or an app car. The bus has stopped by early evening and there is no night service.
- Whatever you choose, arrange it before you walk out - at the counter or in the app, never with someone who approaches you.
Match the transport to your group and the clock.
- Solo or a couple, travelling light - Grab or Gojek from the official lounge. The fare, the route and the payment are agreed in the app before you leave the building, which removes every argument that airport transport usually involves. Around 100,000-160,000 IDR to Seminyak.
- Three or four people with luggage - the prepaid taxi counter or a hotel transfer. Once you would need two app cars the price difference narrows, and one vehicle keeps the group and the bags together. Counter fares are fixed by zone: about 150,000 IDR to Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, roughly 350,000-500,000 IDR to Ubud.
- On the tightest budget - Trans Metro Dewata at 4,400 IDR, stopping at both terminals. Two conditions attach: it runs only until about 18:30-19:00, and it accepts no cash - you need QRIS from a Southeast Asian payment app, or an Indonesian e-money card bought at the terminal's Indomaret or Alfamart.
- Arriving late at night - taxi, hotel transfer or ride-hailing. Public transport is finished for the day.
In every case, settle the ride at the counter or in the app. The people who approach you inside the terminal are not the cheap option.
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