Solo Travel in Bali
🌺 The honest guide for going alone
Bali is doable solo but takes more planning — strong solo-dining culture and low single-supplement cost burden. Here's everything you actually need to know: safety realities, where to base yourself, solo-dining culture, and how to meet people without trying too hard.
Why Bali is harder for solo travellers
- ✦Strong solo-dining culture
- ✦Low single-supplement cost burden
Is Bali safe for solo travellers?
Bali is generally safe for solo travellers — including solo female travellers — provided you follow the usual urban precautions. The main thing to watch out for is this:
Money changers in Kuta routinely short-change. Use ATMs or stick to official Central Kuta Money Exchange.
General solo safety tips that apply here: keep your phone in a zipped pocket, don't flash valuables, take Uber/Bolt/Grab over street taxis at night, and let someone know your rough plans for each day.
Where to stay solo in Bali
For solo travellers, base yourself somewhere central enough to walk to dinner safely after dark. Avoid pure-residential areas — you want a neighbourhood with restaurants, cafés, and street life. A boutique hostel with private rooms gives you the best of both worlds — privacy at night, social hub during the day.
Eating alone (and not feeling weird about it)
Bali has strong solo-dining culture. Counter seating at smaller restaurants is normal — chefs often chat with single diners. Real Balinese food (babi guling, lawar) is in warungs. Skip tourist restaurants in Seminyak.
How to meet people in Bali
- ✦Walking tours on day 1 — free or cheap, and the best way to meet other solo travellers in your first 24 hours.
- ✦Group food tours or cooking classes — guaranteed conversation over food.
- ✦Co-working cafés and digital nomad meetups (Nomad List has the local Slack).
- ✦Travel apps: BumbleBFF, Travello, and Backpackr work in most cities for finding meetup buddies.
Getting around solo
Use Grab or hire a private driver for the day (~$45). Scooter rentals are risky for first-timers.
Best time to visit Bali solo
April and May are the best months — good weather and lots of other travellers around (which means easier to meet people). If you want fewer crowds, try shoulder months: July, August.