The island of Bali, Indonesia was visited by greater than 6 million worldwide vacationers in 2024, and it’s one of the vital common journey vacation spot in Southeast Asia.
However how protected is it? The brief reply to this query is that Bali could be very protected. It’s safer than most locations on this planet. I’d additionally fortunately suggest it to households and solo vacationers.
Nonetheless, the lengthy reply is a little more nuanced and there are at the least just a few good issues it’s best to know earlier than you go to Bali.
On this weblog submit, I’ll tackle some frequent security questions akin to crime, site visitors, monkeys, volcanoes, and extra. I’ll additionally share my suggestions for staying protected from this stuff whenever you journey to Bali.
Background: My Expertise In Bali
To start with, let me introduce myself and speak about my degree of non-public expertise in Bali.
I’m an American who’s lived right here since 2019, and I married an area Balinese. My spouse Intan was born and raised on the island. Between the 2 of us, we’ve fairly a little bit of expertise in Bali, with a number of views (foreigner and native).
We’ve spent many days touring throughout each nook of the island, interacting with locals, mountain climbing the volcanoes, doing the standard vacationer actions, and likewise visiting many locations which are properly off the overwhelmed path.

Bali is our pleased place
Security In Bali: What To Know
• Violent Crime
Indonesia has one of many lowest homicide charges on this planet, with a price of 0.3 per 100k inhabitants, according to the United Nations yearly study. That is 92% decrease than the worldwide common.
In comparison with my dwelling nation, the US, the homicide price in Indonesia is sort of 20 instances decrease. It’s additionally safer than close by nations like Thailand and the Philippines. Weapons are strictly managed in Indonesia, and there aren’t any shootings.
In Bali, it’s uncommon to listen to about violent crime, and murders are nearly unparalleled. The Balinese locals are identified for his or her gentleness and friendliness. They’re a few of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet.

Balinese individuals are so pleasant
• Terrorism
There’s a threat of terrorism wherever on this planet, and that features Bali. The island was bombed by Muslim extremists in 2002 and 2005, however there haven’t been any incidents within the 20+ years since then.
The Indonesian authorities is critical about stopping terrorists, and there’s been a decline in these sorts of incidents throughout the entire nation lately, aside from some unrest from separatists in West Papua.
Bali is exclusive in Indonesia for being a Hindu majority island, whereas a lot of the nation is Muslim, however I’ve additionally spent years touring the opposite islands and people are protected too.

The 2002 Bali bombing memorial in Kuta
• Theft
Like all locations on this planet, there may be theft in Bali. It’s not exceptionally frequent. There aren’t iron bars protecting all of the doorways and home windows, such as you’d see in Central or South America.
Armed robberies don’t actually ever occur right here, and I’ve carried costly cameras and drones throughout Bali (and the remainder of Indonesia) with none points.
Nonetheless, burglaries and thefts do occur in Bali, and personal villas appear to be focused greater than inns as a result of thieves know they’re normally unstaffed. They’re additionally extra prone to be rented by well-to-do foreigners, in order that they know they’ve a greater likelihood of discovering valuables.
No matter whether or not you keep in a lodge or a villa, it’s a good suggestion to lock up or cover your valuables anytime you exit. Money is particularly simple to steal and it’s best to by no means depart it in a lodge room wherever on this planet.
One other factor to pay attention to in Bali is drive-by telephone snatchings. These are particularly frequent in areas like Kuta, so simply bear in mind to place away your telephone whenever you’re by a busy highway with passing motorbikes.

The monkeys might be thieves too!

Sanur is a pleasant and quiet space for households in Bali
• Scams
Bali isn’t the scammiest place on this planet, however it does have just a few frequent tips to be careful for.
To start with, there are many unofficial cash changers within the vacationer areas of Bali, and so they’ll short-change you or use sleight-of-hand tips to maintain one or two payments for themselves.
You possibly can keep away from this by solely utilizing ATMs or official cash changers, and counting your money twice earlier than leaving. The legit cash changers will at all times have a correct constructing with air-con.
Ignore the little avenue stands providing trade charges that appear too good to be true. These guys are at all times scammers.

Sekumpul Waterfall is gorgeous, however scammers abound!
One other pet peeve of mine is the native ‘mountain climbing mafia’ in Bali that tries to drive you to rent a information at common locations like Mount Batur or Sekumpul Waterfall, regardless that it’s not likely wanted.
The mountain climbing mafia will go to nice lengths to persuade you that the path is harmful or complicated, and also you want their assist to do it. In case you refuse, they could even threaten or intimidate you.
That is technically unlawful, and the Bali authorities has half-heartedly tried to place a cease to it at locations like Sekumpul, however enforcement is lax, so the scamming continues to today. The ‘mafia’ at Batur is the worst.
There are methods you possibly can keep away from the ‘mafia’ and hike with out a information, however it’s not precisely simple. I’ve written extra information about tips on how to do it in my particular person journey guides for every of those locations in Bali.

Mount Batur is a well-known hike in Bali the place ‘mafia’ scammers will drive you to rent a information
• Roads & Site visitors
Bali has slim roads, heavy site visitors, and a mix of automobiles and motorbikes competing for the suitable of means, making it a tough place to drive.
Motorcycle accidents are one of many greatest security dangers in Bali, and it looks as if there are new tales each day of overseas vacationers getting killed or significantly damage on motorbikes. Normally they’re driving with out helmets.
I wouldn’t suggest driving a bike in Bali until you may have loads of expertise and know-how, and it’s best to completely put on a top quality helmet as properly.
Even then, you’re a lot safer in a automotive in this type of atmosphere. Sure, it prices extra, however it’s nowhere close to as costly as ending up within the hospital with main accidents.
Fortunately, it’s fairly reasonably priced to rent a personal driver in Bali. You possibly can even use the Seize or GoJek apps for brief distance taxi rides with both a automotive or bike. They’re low-cost, protected, and environment friendly.
For longer day journeys, GetYourGuide has drivers you can book online, and the costs begin at 700k Rupiah (~$48 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing with a automotive for as much as 10 hours, with 1-5 passengers!

Beep beep. Don’t do that on the primary highway!
• Meals Security (‘Bali Stomach’)
After a few years of visiting Bali, making an attempt all of the meals, and usually consuming like a pig, I’ve by no means gotten any type of illness from meals. And I eat every part, together with recent fruit, salad, spicy meals, and avenue meals.
In my view, ‘Bali stomach’ is overhyped. I don’t personally know anybody who has ever had it, together with any of my different expat or vacationer pals.
I believe a part of the ‘Bali stomach’ status got here from 20+ years in the past, when meals security in Bali was worse than it’s now.

Fruit smoothie bowl. Yum.
There’s additionally the chance that some folks suppose they’re experiencing ‘Bali stomach’ when it’s truly one thing else solely.
I’m certain there’s seasonal illness that will get carried into Bali from ‘snowbird’ vacationers escaping their dwelling nations within the winter, and a few folks in all probability mistake these regular viruses for ‘Bali stomach’ as a result of the signs are comparable.
In any case, each individual’s abdomen is completely different, so in the event you are typically delicate to new meals then chances are you’ll wish to begin out slowly and keep away from spicy meals whenever you first get to Bali.

I like Bali
• Volcanoes
Bali is dwelling to 2 lively volcanoes: Mount Agung and Mount Batur.
It’s doable for both of those to erupt at any time, and Mount Agung did have a major eruption in 2017-2019, when it exploded with an enormous 4 kilometer tall ash cloud.
In 1963, a catastrophic eruption from Agung worn out the close by villages and killed 2,000 native folks.
Nonetheless, these volcanoes are situated removed from the primary vacationer areas in Bali, in order that they pose nearly no threat to the common Bali vacationer, even when they erupt.
Folks even hike the volcanoes, and so they’re monitored for seismic exercise these days. I’ve hiked each of them a number of instances.

Mount Agung eruption in 2017 (© Shutterstock)

Mount Agung eruption in 2017 (© Shutterstock)
• Earthquakes
One of many unnerving realities of life in Indonesia is that the entire nation, together with Bali, sits straight on the Pacific Ring of Hearth, a tectonic belt of volcanoes and earthquakes. About 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur on this zone.
I used to be in Bali when the 7.0 earthquake hit Lombok in 2018, and it was a scary expertise. It rattled our lodge, spun our ceiling fan just a few instances, and even made waves within the pool.
On the close by island of Lombok, the earthquake did much more injury and killed nearly 600 folks. And that’s nothing in comparison with the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia, which killed nearly 230,000 folks.
What’s holding the identical tragedy (or worse) from taking place in Bali sometime? Nothing, actually. However the factor about earthquakes is that it’s not possible to foretell when the subsequent massive one may occur. It could possibly be tomorrow, or it could possibly be 1,000 years from now.
In case you’re ever caught in a robust earthquake that lasts a very long time, it’s best to attempt to get away from buildings and the seashore, and search greater floor in case the earthquake triggers a tsunami.
If that’s not doable, it’s best to at the least take cowl in mattress and shield your head and neck with a pillow. Keep away from home windows and glass. It’s also possible to obtain the BMKG app for real-time alerts and information about any close by earthquakes.

Well-known lake temple in Bali — Ulun Danu Beratan

A drone pic of the shoreline in Nusa Penida
What About Animals?
• Canine
Stray canines are frequent in some areas of Bali, and so they’re typically innocent, however in the event you occur to be bitten by one, it’s best to go get a rabies vaccine instantly.
Rabies was as soon as eradicated in Bali, however it’s rebounded lately and there have been critical outbreaks the place lots of of canines examined optimistic and a few folks even died.
Bali actually wants higher vaccination and sterilization applications. Canine are the primary vector for the rabies virus, and rabies has a 100% fatality price in people in the event you delay remedy lengthy sufficient to develop into symptomatic.
Don’t take an opportunity with this. Any canine chew in Bali must be handled with a rabies shot as quickly as doable.

The canines are cute, however they will carry rabies.
• Monkeys
One of many enjoyable issues about being in Bali is that you simply’ll generally see monkeys (lengthy tailed macaques), particularly in locations like Ubud, Uluwatu, and north Bali.
You possibly can take photos and even selfies with them on the Ubud or Sangeh Monkey Forests, that are dwelling to greater than 1,000 semi-wild monkeys.
Personally, I like the monkeys and it’s one of many issues that impressed my first journey to Bali.

Intan with a shoulder monkey
So are the monkeys harmful or not? Do they carry rabies or different ailments?
On web boards there’s a whole lot of worrying and hand wringing about this, however the easy reality is that there’s by no means been a case of rabies contracted at any Bali monkey forest regardless that they’re visited by as much as 10,000 vacationers per 30 days.
The monkeys have been studied and examined by worldwide scientists, and in 2023, the Bali authorities even began mass vaccinating the monkeys for rabies as a precaution.
You’ll nonetheless wish to comply with some guidelines to keep away from getting bit or robbed by the cheeky animals in the event you determine to go there. I wrote a whole information for visiting the Bali monkey forests, which you’ll learn within the hyperlinks beneath.
Learn Extra: Ubud Monkey Forest / Sangeh Monkey Forest

Monkey crossing! Take care your stuff! I like this signal.

Monkey making an attempt to steal my hat
• Snakes
Bali is dwelling to 6 completely different species of harmful / venomous snakes, and plenty of extra non-venomous species.
Usually you don’t want to fret about snakes within the touristy areas of Bali, and so they’re reluctant to chew until they’re grabbed or stepped on. In truth, they attempt to keep away from people altogether.
Nonetheless, in the event you do encounter a snake in Indonesia, it’s best to at all times assume it’s a venomous species until you’re certain it isn’t. And in the event you determine to go wherever off the overwhelmed path in Bali, working into snakes can develop into extra of a problem.

Island Pit Viper in Bali
One time I nearly stepped on a venomous Island Pit Viper whereas mountain climbing in Nusa Penida island, in a much less traveled a part of the island with plenty of foliage (this wasn’t in a preferred vacationer space).
My foot landed inside centimeters of the snake, which was coiled up within the heart of the trail, however fortunately its head was turned away from me and it didn’t see how shut my foot landed.
That was a really shut name. I backed up and watched the snake for awhile, after which he crawled away into the bushes.
In case you’re eager about studying extra about snakes in Bali and tips on how to determine the damaging ones, I wrote a whole information for this and took pictures of every of the species with assist from an expert snake catcher. You possibly can learn it within the hyperlink beneath.
Learn Extra: Snakes In Bali

Me with a King Cobra in Bali. This pic was taken with a professional snake catcher.
• Mosquitoes
Since Bali is a tropical island, there are additionally mosquitoes to be careful for.
Malaria is eliminated in Bali, which is nice to know, as a result of it’s the world’s most harmful mosquito-borne illness by far.
Nonetheless, there are three different ailments you possibly can catch from mosquitoes in Bali: dengue fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis.
These are hardly ever deadly, however they will trigger extraordinarily painful and debilitating brief time period illness. You don’t need them.
To guard your self from mosquitoes in Bali, keep away from sleeping together with your home windows open until you may have a internet over the mattress, and put on repellant whenever you’re lively open air, particularly in rural areas.
In case you’re on the seashore or indoors, mosquitoes normally received’t hassle you.

Calming panorama of the Jatiluwih rice terraces in Bali
Different Continuously Requested Questions
- Is Bali protected for solo vacationers?
Sure, Bali could be very protected for solo vacationers, together with females. A number of ladies journey to Bali alone. Simply comply with regular precautions. I used to be on my own on my first journey to Bali, and I stayed for two months with no points in any respect.
- Are any vaccines wanted?
Vaccines aren’t formally required for touring to Bali, and most of the people don’t hassle with it, however it’s a good suggestion to have updated pictures for Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A.
- What about LGBT vacationers?
Balinese individuals are very tolerant and the island is protected for homosexual or LGBT vacationers, however Indonesia is a conservative nation so it’s clever to be discreet and respectful. PDA is usually frowned upon for each homosexual and straight {couples} right here.
- Are there spiders in Bali?
Sure, there are a lot of sorts of spiders in Bali, however fortunately none which are identified to be harmful to people.
- Is there good healthcare?
Sure, Bali has some good hospitals these days. Just a few of the highest choices are BIMC, Siloam, and Sanglah, that are all situated close to the primary vacationer areas. They’re typically cheaper than Western hospitals, however can nonetheless be costly for main remedies, so that you may wish to have journey insurance coverage.
Extra Bali Journey Ideas
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved these security suggestions for visiting Bali.
I’ve written lots of of different journey guides for Bali, so don’t neglect to test these out whereas planning your journey!