BALI AIRPORT
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), also known as Denpasar Airport, is the only airport on the entire island of Bali and one of the most important in Indonesia. It was inaugurated on August 1st, 1968, and handles both domestic and international flights from Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Europe. Originally called Tuban Airport, it was renamed Ngurah Rai International Airport through a development plan and improvements to the facilities. In 2013 it was renovated and became the airport that we know it to be today, with its impressive runway built over the sea.
Bali airport is located in the south of the island, near the city of Denpasar, 5 kilometers from Kuta, 19 kilometers from Canggu and 37 kilometers from Ubud. As a curiosity, the airport is not located in the city of Denpasar, but 15 kilometers away from the city. It is known by this name because of its proximity to the Balinese capital (Denpasar). The village where the airport is situated is called Tuban and is located next to Kuta. Be careful when booking your accommodation as Denpasar is not the closest to the airport, but Tuban or Kuta.
Today it is a modern airport with all the facilities needed to receive more than 20 million tourists every year. Among the highlighted services are the following:
- Free wifi with a good connection in the entire airport area
- Low-cost luggage storage service (lockers)
- Official taxis
- Exchange offices
- Duty-Free points and shops where you can buy clothes, accessories, books, souvenirs, technology
- ATM machines of national banks
- Cafes and restaurants
- Mobile charging station
- VIP lounges
- Stands of different mobile phone operators where you can buy Sim cards
- Services for people with reduced mobility (check details with the airline)
- Customs – 1 liter of alcohol per person, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco are allowed
If your accommodation is close to the airport and you can get there by public transport. But most of the time you will need to take a taxi to reach your destination. You can use official Blue Bird taxis or other alternatives such as Grab, local cabs, or private airport pick-up service.
If you choose to take a taxi, keep in mind that they work on a pre-payment system that must be hired at the counter located next to the airport exit. Another option is to get out of the airport and take a local taxi, located outside the airport. Don’t forget to bargain and set the price before getting into the car.
⇒ Read our complete guide about the taxis in Bali
If you decide to go by bus, keep in mind that the service is provided by the Trans Sarbagita company. The bus schedule is between 7 am and 7 pm from the airport to Tegal station in downtown Denpasar. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes, and there are three lines available: 1 – Bandara – Tabanan, 2 – Bandara – Nusa Dua, 3 – Bandara – Batubulan. The stops are located in both terminals: in the international terminal (TMA Zone) and in the domestic terminal (Koridor Kedatangan).
How to get to Bali?
To get to Bali from Europe, you have to make at least one stopover because there are no direct flights to Bali. Depending on the airline, you can take one or two stops, but almost always, the last one is in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Here are some examples:
- Singapore Airlines – stopover in Singapore
- Fly Emirates – stopover in Dubai
- Air France – one stop in Paris and one in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur
- Turkish Airlines – one stop in Istanbul and one in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur
- British Airways – one stop in London and one in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur
If you want to find cheap flights, the best thing to do is to search for them at least 3 months in advance. Depending on the time and dates of departure and arrival, prices may vary. We highly recommend Skyscanner for the search because it is straightforward to use, and there you can find the best deals.
Find the best price for your trip to Bali by using the Skyscanner widget:
Besides being the main gateway to the island of Bali, Ngurah Rai airport offers good connections. Options like Lombok and more distant places like Jakarta (the country’s capital), Yogyakarta, Sumatra, Borneo, or the island of Flores. As a reminder, all airport taxes are included in flight ticket prices.
When you arrive at the airport, you can opt for the Visa On Arrival or other visas for more than 30 days.
