Skip to content
Sola
Get the app

Bali for women travelling alone

Ninety minutes from the airport to Ubud, no trains, so most solo arrivals rent a scooter.

Bali, Indonesia
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
On foot
car needed
Getting around
Limited
First solo trip
Good first trip
Places to stay
8+ read

01 of 06

The read

Bali rewards the woman who plans her transport in advance and lets the island do the rest.

What holds up

  • Grab, the ride-hailing app used across Southeast Asia, works island-wide and shows you the price before you book, so there is no haggling.
  • Tourist infrastructure is dense in the south and in Ubud: English is widely spoken in restaurants, cafes, and accommodation, and solo travellers are the norm, not the exception.
  • The coworking cafe culture in Canggu and the yoga studio circuit in Ubud mean organic, daily points of contact with other travellers without any effort.

What to weigh

  • There is no train or metro. Every trip is road-based, and traffic can turn a 30-minute Google Maps estimate into a 90-minute crawl during rush hours, so build that into your plans.
  • The wet season, roughly November to March, brings daily downpours that make scooter riding uncomfortable and roads slippery; the April-to-October dry season is significantly easier to navigate.

02 of 06

Who this suits

Bali works well for women who want to move at their own pace between genuinely different environments, from highland temples to beach towns, without losing creature comforts or having to negotiate every meal. It suits first-time solo travellers well because the tourism infrastructure absorbs you; it also suits experienced solo travellers who want a base with reliable wifi and good food while they figure out the next destination.

03 of 06

Common questions

What people ask about Bali, answered with specifics rather than in general terms.

Do I need to speak Indonesian to get around Bali?
In tourist areas, English works fine. Outside Ubud, Seminyak, and Canggu, basic Indonesian phrases like 'berapa harganya' (how much) and 'terima kasih' (thank you) go a long way. Learning five to ten words before you arrive makes daily interactions noticeably smoother.
What's the dress code at temples?
Shoulders and knees covered, plus a sarong around the waist. Most temple entrances have loaners, but carrying your own means you don't need to deal with the gate queue. Shoulders can be covered with a light scarf or top; tank tops alone are not accepted.
How do I handle the scooter situation if I've never ridden one?
You do not have to rent a scooter; Grab and hired drivers cover most practical needs. If you want to try it, Ubud is harder because of the hills and blind corners. Canggu's flatter, wider roads are a better place to start. Get a helmet that actually fits, not the loose ones many shops hand over automatically.
Is it realistic to travel between areas without joining a tour?
Yes. Hiring a private driver for the day, arranged through your accommodation, is the standard independent option for longer trips. Grab covers south Bali point-to-point. Fast boats handle the islands. The only area where independent transport gets complicated is the northeast, around Amed and Tulamben.
What should I know about eating street food as a solo traveller?
Warungs with high turnover and visible cooking are generally the best indicator of fresh food. Avoid anything that's been sitting in a bain-marie for hours. Babi guling and nasi campur eaten at busy local spots are typically fine; the issue is usually ice from unclear water sources rather than the food itself.
Can I use my phone and data without buying a local SIM?
You can, but a local SIM is worth getting at the airport. Telkomsel and XL both have booths in the arrivals hall. A local SIM gives you Grab access and maps without burning through roaming data, and coverage is good across most of the island including the east coast.

04 of 06

Where to stay

Each of these has been read rather than listed. The full set is on the stays page.

Every place to stay in Bali

05 of 06

Neighbourhoods

  1. 01

    Ubud

    Bali's arts and wellness centre sits in the central highlands, surrounded by rice terraces and temples. The main street, Jalan Raya Ubud, has pavements, good street lighting in the centre, and steady foot traffic until around 10pm.

    Best for Solo travellers who want yoga, cooking classes, and a walkable town centre with good restaurant options for one.
  2. 02

    Canggu

    A beach town that runs on surf culture and laptop workers. Berawa and Batu Bolong have dense clusters of cafes, warungs, and shops within short walking or scooter distance of each other.

    Best for Remote workers and anyone who wants a mix of beach access, good coffee, and a neighbourhood that doesn't shut down early.
  3. 03

    Seminyak

    More polished than Canggu, Seminyak has wide streets, international restaurants, and beach clubs with clear sunset-facing frontages. Jalan Kayu Aya and Jalan Oberoi have consistent pavements and well-lit shopfronts.

    Best for Women who want comfortable accommodation, good restaurants without the backpacker density, and beach access with amenities.
  4. 04

    Sanur

    A quieter beach town on Bali's southeast coast with a long seaside promenade, good for morning walks and cycling. The beach faces east, so sunrises here are actually worth setting an alarm for.

    Best for Solo travellers who want calm over scene, a good base for day trips to Nusa Lembongan, and consistent sea breeze in the mornings.
  5. 05

    Amed

    A string of fishing villages on Bali's northeast coast, known for black sand beaches and snorkeling access directly off the beach. Much less developed than the south; the main road runs along the coast with small guesthouses and dive shops.

    Best for Women who want to snorkel or dive the USAT Liberty wreck in Tulamben nearby, and genuinely quiet evenings with fewer tourists.

06 of 06

Local knowledge

The operational detail that is obvious once you are there and impossible to guess before.

  • Gojek is sometimes cheaper than Grab for food delivery; use both apps and compare before ordering.
  • Sarongs at temple gates are often sun-bleached and scratchy; buying your own at Ubud Market costs almost nothing and lasts the whole trip.
  • The Ubud Palace Legong dance performance runs most evenings and requires no advance booking; just show up and buy a ticket at the gate.
  • ATMs at Circle K convenience stores tend to have lower skimming risk than standalone machines on side streets.
  • Most warungs do not take cards; carry enough cash whenever you leave the main tourist corridors.
  • The fast boats from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan vary significantly in quality; Scoot and Rocky Fast Cruises have consistent departure times and actual life jackets.
  • Tiered temple entry fees exist at most major sites; the fee is usually listed at the gate, so you do not need to negotiate.