For a first Bali holiday, I would choose May, June or September. They fall within the usual dry season and let you combine inland stays with the coast outside the middle of July and August. If Australian school holidays fix your dates, book the places you actually want and keep the route simple. Wet-season holidays work too, particularly when you leave room to rearrange outdoor days.
Dry season, wet season and the 2026–2027 outlook
Indonesia's Tourism Ministry places Bali's usual dry season in April–October and wet season in November–March. Its official climate information, checked on 4 November 2026, also notes that seasons have become less predictable. Treat those months as a planning pattern: neither a dry-season booking nor a wet-season booking determines the weather on a particular day.
There is a specific outlook for the approaching season. Denpasar's local government reports BMKG's forecast of wet-season onset in November 2026 across 15% of Bali and December across the remaining 85%. This is a seasonal forecast, not confirmation that the rains have started at your resort. Source: Denpasar's 28 September BMKG briefing report, checked on 4 November 2026.
The practical difference is how much flexibility to build into your stay. In wetter months, mix outdoor plans with museums, cooking and time at your accommodation. If boats or mountain sunrises are the main reason for travelling, prefer the usual dry season while retaining a backup plan. A cancellation policy can matter more than adding another stop to the itinerary.
Bali weather by month
The figures below are monthly mean air temperatures, including day and night, from I Gusti Ngurah Rai meteorological station. They are 1991–2020 climate normals in the official WMO dataset archived by NOAA, checked on 4 November 2026. They are not daytime highs, a forecast, or measurements for Ubud or the mountains. Rainfall descriptions follow the seasonal pattern above; the route choices are practical recommendations.
January
The mean is 27.8°C, within the usual wet season. Around New Year, arrange your arrival transfer and first accommodation before flying. After the festive period, keep the route easy to adjust rather than expecting an outdoor excursion every day. Choose a place where you would enjoy spending an afternoon if plans change; a good room location can be more useful than an ambitious sightseeing list.
February
The mean remains 27.8°C. Pack for warm, potentially wet days, including quick-drying clothes and protection for your phone and documents. Chinese New Year falls on 6 February in the government's 2027 calendar linked below. Look at your exact weekend and accommodation choices rather than assuming that every February date will be quiet. Keep a land-based alternative for any island excursion you book.
March
The mean is 27.7°C and the month remains within the usual wetter period. For 2027, Nyepi on 8 March is the major scheduling decision; the calendar also lists Eid al-Fitr on 10–11 March. Plan your stays around those dates before buying connections. If daily touring is the priority, shift the trip; otherwise arrange to spend the day of silence at your accommodation.
April
At 27.8°C on average, April begins the dry-season window used by the national tourism authority. Keep some flexibility during the seasonal transition rather than filling every day with weather-dependent activities. For Australian families, compare the actual dates in your state's school calendar with flights and rooms. For UK and US visitors, check that year's Easter dates before choosing connections and the first night's stay.
May
The monthly mean is 27.3°C. This is one of my preferred choices for a first visit: combine an Ubud stay with a coast that suits your interests and leave days free between excursions. Book your bases before deciding every activity. If Nusa Penida is part of the holiday, place it in the middle so the return to Bali comes before your international departure.
June
The mean is 26.8°C. June suits a mixed inland-and-coast itinerary within the usual dry-season period, especially if you can travel outside fixed holiday dates. A lower monthly mean does not make tropical midday walks cool. For an early mountain outing, pack an extra layer and ask the guide how weather cancellations are handled. Leave the following day free enough to recover rather than scheduling another demanding departure.
July
The mean is 26.2°C. This is an obvious winter escape from Australia and a summer-holiday option from the UK or US, but your desired rooms and flight dates may attract plenty of competition. Use a small number of well-chosen bases. Confirm your own state's school dates rather than treating all Australian calendars as identical, and judge accommodation by its exact map location and access.
August
The mean of 26.1°C is the lowest in this annual series. It is still tropical weather, so pack sun protection as well as the layer you need for higher ground. For fixed August dates, settle your main accommodation and transfers before collecting optional excursions. Dry season does not guarantee calm water; the marine forecast, rather than a month-by-month travel summary, should guide boat decisions.
September
The mean rises to 26.5°C. September is my first alternative to July or August for a trip combining Ubud, the coast and a nearby island. Return from an island stay before the day of your international flight, allowing more margin if the route and tickets warrant it. A single delayed boat should not force you to race from the harbour to the airport.
October
The mean reaches 27.4°C. The official tourism pattern still includes October in the dry season, but keep wet-weather options as the seasonal change approaches. Choose a base for the activities you want to reach, including somewhere comfortable to spend downtime. On a short Australian break, Ubud and a southern coastal base can be more satisfying than moving accommodation every other night.
November
At a mean of 28°C, November is the warmest month in this station's series, although the annual temperature change is modest. It normally begins the wet-season period. For November 2026, use the specific outlook above alongside the local daily forecast: a predicted later onset is not a guarantee of clear holiday days. Keep an alternative for boat outings and avoid making the last day dependent on one.
December
The mean is 27.9°C. Plan for the usual wet season while arranging Christmas and New Year stays and arrival transfers in advance. Confirm meal arrangements if a late flight brings you to the accommodation after normal service. A December holiday works best when the enjoyment does not depend on completing an outdoor checklist; pick somewhere you want to spend time even when an excursion moves.
Busy dates, value and Nyepi 2027
Virgin Australia's seasonal overview, checked on 4 November 2026, identifies July–August and the Christmas/New Year period as peak times, with May, June, September and October as shoulder months. That is a useful demand guide, not a promised airfare or a measurement of crowds at every beach.
For Australian departures, price the complete holiday: flights, bags, airport transport, accommodation and the number of times you move. A short fare deal loses some appeal if the flight times leave little usable time. For visitors connecting from the UK or US, check the local arrival date before booking the first night. The Bali arrival guide explains how to plan that first transfer.
Nyepi falls on 8 March 2027, according to the Indonesian government's holiday calendar, checked on 4 November 2026. Arrange the day of silence with your accommodation and confirm transport restrictions before finalising flights. See Bali practical information for preparation. The published holiday date does not itself specify your airline's operational arrangements.
Boats, outdoor plans and what to pack
Use BMKG's marine service for port and route forecasts and wave warnings before a crossing; service checked on 4 November 2026. Ask the operator about changes before travelling to the harbour. Sunshine outside your room is not a marine safety assessment, and the usual dry season does not remove the need for this check.
Pack footwear with grip, a water-resistant layer and a protected pouch for electronics and paperwork. When heavy rain changes a day, swap activities within your current base instead of adding a long drive in search of clearer skies. The Bali itinerary leaves space for changes; use the Bali travel guide to choose which areas belong in the trip.
Staying connected
Keep mobile data available to read BMKG warnings and confirm changes with your accommodation or boat operator before setting off. Install your Indonesia eSIM before flying: the plan starts at the first connection in the destination, and downloaded maps give you a route to refer to when reception drops.