Ngurah Rai International Airport: The Basics
Ngurah Rai International Airport (IATA: DPS) is Bali’s only commercial airport, located in Tuban, a few kilometres south of Kuta. It’s well-positioned for the southern tourist areas — Kuta and Seminyak are 15–20 minutes away in normal traffic. Canggu is 30–45 minutes. Ubud is 1.5–2 hours depending on conditions. The airport serves both domestic and international routes, with Terminal 1 handling domestic flights and Terminal 2 handling international arrivals and departures.
A third terminal (Terminal 3) has been under development for some years — as of 2026, check the current status if you’re unsure which terminal your flight uses.
Visa on Arrival: Step by Step
Most Western passport holders can obtain a Visa on Arrival (VoA) at Ngurah Rai. This costs IDR 500,000 (approximately USD 30–35) in 2026 and gives you 30 days with one 30-day extension possible. For full nationality-specific requirements, see the Bali visa guide.
The Process
- Queue at the VoA counter — located before immigration. Signs are in English. Have your passport and cash (IDR or USD/AUD/EUR are accepted, though IDR is most reliable).
- Pay the fee — you get a receipt and visa stamp on the spot. No forms to fill at this stage.
- Proceed to immigration — queue at the immigration desks. Have your passport (now stamped with VoA), arrival card (distributed on the plane or available at the desks), and onward flight details if asked.
- Collect bags — baggage claim is past immigration. Carousels are marked by flight number on screens.
- Customs — standard green/red channel. Declaration required for goods over the duty-free allowance.
Queue Times
VoA queues can be long — 30–60 minutes during peak arrival times (afternoon international flights from Australia, evening flights from Asia). Arriving early morning usually means shorter queues. If you have an e-VoA (applied online in advance at molina.imigrasi.go.id), there are separate, faster queues. Pre-applying online for IDR 500,000 + service fee is worth it if you value time.
SIM Card on Arrival
SIM card counters are located in the arrivals area, past customs. Telkomsel (the strongest nationwide network), XL Axiata, and Indosat Ooredoo all have counters. A starter SIM with 10–25GB of data typically costs IDR 50,000–150,000 depending on the package. Staff speak English and will set up the SIM for you.
Bring your passport — registration requires ID. The full breakdown of which network to choose, current pricing, and setup steps is in the Bali SIM card guide.
Getting from the Airport into Bali
This is where many travellers get caught out. Options, honest assessments, and current approximate costs (2026):
1. Metered Taxi (Blue Bird)
Blue Bird is Bali’s only major metered taxi company with a good reputation. Taxis are available outside arrivals. The meter starts at Rp 7,500 and clicks up — typical costs to key areas from the airport:
- Kuta: Rp 50,000–80,000 (10–20 min)
- Seminyak: Rp 80,000–120,000 (15–30 min)
- Canggu: Rp 150,000–200,000 (30–60 min, traffic-dependent)
- Ubud: Rp 300,000–450,000 (1.5–2 hours)
Non-Blue Bird drivers at the airport often approach aggressively and quote fixed (inflated) prices. You’re not obligated to use them.
2. Grab
Grab (the Southeast Asian ride-hailing app) operates in Bali and is typically 20–40% cheaper than metered taxis. However, Grab cannot pick up from the official airport terminal zones — there’s an ongoing battle between Grab and conventional taxi operators. You’ll need to walk to a designated pickup zone (ask airport staff for the current location — it changes) or get a short official taxi to the main road and Grab from there.
Download Grab before arriving and have a local SIM or data roaming to use it immediately.
3. Private Transfer (Pre-Booked)
The simplest option for first-timers or families with luggage. Prices start around USD 15–25 to Seminyak, USD 35–50 to Ubud. Many accommodations offer airport transfers — worth asking when you book. If booking independently, use a service with reviews on Google or TripAdvisor and confirm the driver will meet you at arrivals with a sign.
4. Rental Car or Scooter
Several car rental offices operate at the airport. An international driving permit is required to drive legally in Indonesia. Bali’s traffic from the airport is genuinely confusing for first-time arrivals — we’d suggest settling in before attempting to drive yourself, particularly if it’s your first time in Bali.
Scooter rentals are not available at the airport itself — these are arranged in your area of stay. See the scooter rental guide for how that works.
Honest Travel Time Expectations
Bali traffic is genuinely unpredictable and often serious. The times above are approximate and assume normal conditions. During peak hours (7–9am, 4–7pm), Seminyak can be 45 minutes, Canggu can be 90 minutes. Plan accordingly — don’t book a spa appointment for 90 minutes after your flight lands.
What’s in the Terminal
International Terminal 2 has the usual: duty-free shops (alcohol, cosmetics, tobacco), a reasonable selection of food and drink post-security, currency exchange (rates are generally poor — use for emergency cash only), ATMs, and left-luggage facilities. The domestic terminal (Terminal 1) is smaller and more basic.
Departure Tips
- Arrive early — check-in queues, immigration, and security can all take time. Budget 2.5–3 hours before international flights, 1.5–2 hours for domestic
- Airport tax — international departure tax is included in your ticket price on most carriers. If travelling on very old budget carrier bookings, confirm this
- Domestic connections — if connecting to another Indonesian island (Lombok, Flores, Komodo, Labuan Bajo), give yourself at least 1.5 hours between flights for airport transfers between terminals
- Lounges — Plaza Premium Lounge operates in the international terminal and accepts Priority Pass or day entry (~USD 30–40)
Left Luggage
Left luggage facilities operate in both terminals, generally from 6am to midnight. Prices run Rp 30,000–50,000 per bag per day. Useful if you have a late flight and want to explore Kuta or Seminyak before departure without dragging bags.
Connecting Through Bali
Ngurah Rai is not a major connecting hub — most trans-Pacific or Europe-Asia routes use Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Jakarta. However, if you’re connecting to/from Australian cities, domestic Indonesian islands, or other SE Asian destinations, connections through DPS are increasingly common. For international-to-domestic connections, you’ll need to clear immigration and move to Terminal 1 — factor in significant time.
Once you’re out and settled, browse accommodation in Bali on Booking.com to find options near the airport (Kuta/Seminyak) or further afield. The Bali where to stay guide helps you figure out which area makes most sense for your trip, and the full Bali destination hub covers everything once you’ve landed.
