The island of Bali is located in the Indian Ocean and attracts people from all over the world every year – one reason for this, among many others, is the attractive climate. Due to its proximity to the equator, the island enjoys tropical temperatures all year round. The sea also scores points with a pleasant constant temperature of 28 degrees Celsius on average.
Pleasant temperatures all year round
There are no typical seasons like in Europe, i.e. spring, summer, fall and winter, in Bali. The differences in climate only form the months in which it rains more or less.
Around the coasts, visitors to Bali can expect pleasantly warm temperatures between 21 and 32 degrees Celsius. Even at night, temperatures rarely drop below 22 degrees, which is why the island can still be enjoyed in short clothing even at later hours.
It is considerably cooler at high altitudes, for example on the volcano Gunung Agung, than in the cities and on the coasts. Temperatures below ten degrees Celsius can be measured there, especially at night. However, not only are the temperatures lower at higher altitudes, but there is also more rain.
Climate table for Bali-Denpasar
Regional climatic differences
Bali owes its tropical climate to its proximity to the equator. The rainy season on Bali is influenced by the northwest monsoon. The dry climate from May to October, on the other hand, is caused by the southeast monsoon. Bali is located in the intertropical convergence zone, which is why there are major differences between the rainy and dry seasons.
The regional differences that can be observed in the weather on the island are due to the mountain ranges. The fact that the mountains are located quite centrally on the island results in the uneven distribution of rain.
In the south of Bali, rain generally falls more heavily and more often than in the north. In the south, an average of 2,000 millimeters of rain falls per year, while in the mountains it is as much as 3,000 millimeters. In contrast, the amount of precipitation in the north is only 1,000 millimeters. This can be explained by the fact that the weather fronts move from south to north and are then stopped by the mountain range.
Climate in Bali: dry and rainy season
The climate on the Indonesian island is highly dependent on the dry and rainy seasons. The rainy season extends from November to March.
During the dry season, the weather on Bali is particularly good for sun worshippers, as up to eight hours of sunshine per day can be expected. Most hours of sunshine occur between May and October. There is hardly any risk of rain during the dry months, and humidity is also significantly lower.
However, the situation is different during the rainy season in Bali. During this season, sunshine and monsoon-like rain showers alternate. At times, the downpours can last longer, but usually the spell is over after one to three hours and the sun comes out. However, humidity during the rainy season can reach up to 100 percent, which some tourists have problems with.
The best time to travel in terms of the climate in Bali
Generally speaking, it is certainly possible to explore and enjoy the Indonesian island even during the rainy season. Surfers find good conditions in Bali basically all year round. However, the months from December to March are not particularly recommended. The best time to travel for divers is between July and October, as visibility under water can be restricted during the rainy season. Strong currents and winds at this time also cause the larger amounts of rubbish in the sea and on the beaches to become a problem.
Those who want to be completely on the safe side when it comes to the weather should visit Bali in the months between May and October. However, the island is then of course also very well visited. If a few hours of rain per day are not an exclusion criterion, more peace and quiet can be enjoyed on the island in the low season. Flight and hotel prices are of course also much lower at this time than in the high season.
