Bali sits at 8 degrees south of the equator in the Indonesian archipelago. The climate is tropical year-round — there is no cool season — but it splits sharply into a dry half (April to October) and a wet half (November to March). What changes is the rain: temperatures stay between 25°C and 32°C from January to December. The island combines volcanic interior (rice terraces, temples, jungle), surf coasts on the south and west, and quieter coral coasts in the east and north.
May, June and September are the consensus best months: dry, less crowded than July-August, and humidity manageable. July-August is peak season with great weather but high prices. The wet season has its own appeal — empty beaches, lush landscape — but expect daily downpours.
December, January and February are the heart of the wet season. Daytime highs of 30-31°C are paired with high humidity and frequent heavy afternoon rain. Mornings are often clear; afternoons see thunderstorms. Surf moves to the east coast (Nusa Dua, Sanur). Prices drop and the rice terraces are at their greenest.
March is still wet but rain eases through the month. April marks the transition: humidity drops, sunshine increases, and by late April Bali enters its dry-season pattern. Sea temperatures stay around 28-29°C year-round.
June through August is dry, sunny and busy. Daytime highs 28-30°C, low humidity by tropical standards, and steady offshore winds for the surf coasts (Uluwatu, Canggu, Padang Padang). Bukit Peninsula sunsets are spectacular. This is also the most expensive period.
September and October stay dry and warm, with crowds easing after August. October is the last reliable dry month before the wet season returns. Many travellers consider September the single best month of the year.
November through March, peaking in January and February. Rain typically comes as heavy late-afternoon downpours rather than all-day greyness. Mornings are often sunny.
Surprisingly comfortable. Tropical proximity to the equator means temperatures stay 28-30°C year-round, but the dry season has lower humidity than the wet, making it feel cooler than equivalent temperatures in Mediterranean Europe.
Sanur, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran have calm, reef-protected water. Most Bukit and west-coast beaches have strong surf and currents and are not ideal for young children.
Yes — most week-long itineraries do three or four nights in Ubud and three or four on a coast. The two halves of the island feel completely different.