How to Get Around Bali: Private Guide, Driver, Grab, Gojek or Scooter?

There is one thing first-time visitors often discover very quickly in Bali:

Getting around the island requires a little planning.

Bali doesn't have a train network connecting its main tourist areas, and distances that look short on Google Maps can take much longer once traffic and local roads are involved.

Fortunately, getting around Bali isn't difficult once you know which transport option makes sense for which journey.

You can use private guides, private drivers, Grab, Gojek or scooters — and you don't have to choose just one for your entire holiday. In fact, the smartest Bali trips usually use a combination.

Quick answer: What is the best way to get around Bali?

Journey type	Best option
Short trips around town	Grab or Gojek
Full sightseeing days	Private vehicle with driver or local guide
Airport transfers	Pre-arranged private transfer or Grab
Families or groups	Private transport
Independent travellers, experienced riders	Scooter (with proper licence and insurance)
Cultural sightseeing	Local guide

1. A private local guide: Best when you actually want to understand Bali

First, a small distinction that matters:

A driver and a guide are not necessarily the same thing.

A private driver gets you from place to place. A good local guide can help you understand where you're going, what you're seeing, how to behave at cultural sites and which stops make sense together.

That's particularly useful in Bali because so much of what makes the island interesting isn't immediately obvious.

A temple is more interesting when someone can explain what's happening there. A village is different when you understand how people live. And a road through Bali becomes much more useful when somebody knows which waterfall, warung, market or viewpoint is actually worth stopping at.

A local guide is best for:

• First-time visitors
• Cultural sightseeing
• Full-day trips
• Families
• Groups
• Travellers who want local context
• More complex itineraries
• Visiting several locations in one day

This is also the kind of travel Kenali Bali is built around. We don't want you to simply sit in a vehicle while somebody transports you from Instagram location A to Instagram location B. The point is to get to know Bali along the way.

2. A private driver: Best for flexible sightseeing days

Sometimes you don't need a full guided experience. You already know where you want to go. You just need somebody to handle the roads.

That's when a private driver works extremely well.

You might use one for a route such as:

Hotel → waterfall → lunch → rice terraces → temple → hotel

rather than booking separate cars every time you move.

Private drivers are particularly useful for:

• Airport transfers
• Hotel-to-hotel transfers
• Long-distance journeys
• Full-day sightseeing
• Families with children
• Groups
• Travellers with luggage
• Remote attractions

3. Grab: Best for easy point-to-point trips

Yes — Grab works in Bali.

For many everyday journeys, it is extremely useful. Grab's current Indonesian services include GrabCar, larger GrabCar options, GrabBike and GrabRent. It also supports advance airport bookings at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

You put in where you are, where you're going, and the app gives you a fare before you confirm.

Grab is useful for:

• Going to dinner
• Short trips around southern Bali
• Getting back to your hotel
• Shopping trips
• Travelling between nearby areas
• One-way journeys when you don't need a car waiting for you

Where Grab becomes less convenient

Imagine you want to visit a waterfall, a temple, rice terraces, a village, lunch and a sunset in one day. You could try booking separate cars between every stop — but now you're spending your sightseeing day waiting, searching for pick-ups and organising logistics. That's when hiring someone for the full day becomes considerably more comfortable.

4. Gojek: Great for short journeys

Gojek is another Indonesian app worth downloading before you arrive.

Its two main transport services are GoRide (motorcycle) and GoCar (car). Gojek currently lists Bali, including Gianyar and Tabanan, within service areas for both.

Gojek is great for:

• Going to cafés
• Short hotel-to-restaurant journeys
• Solo travellers
• Getting through traffic more quickly by motorbike
• Everyday journeys where you don't need a guide

For short-distance travel, keep both Grab and Gojek on your phone. You can compare availability and choose whichever works better at that moment.

5. Scooter: Maximum freedom, but not for everyone

You will see scooters everywhere in Bali. And yes, having one gives you a huge amount of independence — you can leave whenever you want, stop wherever you want and avoid sitting in a car for every short journey.

But we need to say something that travel Instagram occasionally forgets:

Bali is not the place to learn how to ride a motorcycle for the first time.

Traffic patterns, road conditions, weather and unfamiliar routes can make riding much more demanding than cruising around an empty tropical island in a linen shirt.

Indonesian law requires drivers to hold the appropriate driving licence. Both motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear helmets meeting Indonesian SNI standards. Bali police have also specifically urged rental businesses to check renters' driving licences and remind tourists about road-safety rules. Make sure your travel insurance actually covers motorcycle use before you ride.

Scooter makes sense if:

• You already ride confidently
• You're comfortable in traffic
• You're travelling light
• You want independence
• You're staying somewhere for several days

Scooter probably isn't worth it if:

• You've never ridden before
• You're travelling with children
• You're uncomfortable in traffic
• You have luggage
• You want to cover long distances
• You simply want to relax

There is no Bali achievement badge for renting a scooter. If you don't feel comfortable, get in the air-conditioned car. 😂

So which Bali transport should you choose?

Here's our simple rule.

Going for dinner?
Grab or Gojek.

Spending the afternoon around town?
Grab, Gojek or scooter if you're an experienced rider.

Airport to hotel?
Pre-arranged transfer or ride-hailing service.

Moving from one part of Bali to another with luggage?
Private driver.

Exploring three or four attractions in one day?
Private car with driver.

Want to understand the places you're visiting rather than simply photograph them?
Local guide.

Travelling with children or a group?
Private vehicle.

There is no reason to use just one type of transport for your entire holiday.

The Kenali way

We think transport should be part of the trip, not just a logistical problem.

If you're going from Ubud to North Bali, there may be something worth seeing on the way. If you're travelling from Munduk to Ubud, don't necessarily rush straight there.

And if you're spending an entire day exploring Bali, having somebody local with you can make the experience much richer than simply following pins on Google Maps.

The best route isn't always the route with the most stops. It's the one that gives you enough time to actually enjoy them.