Bali in December – is it a good time to visit? Rainy season meets peak season in Bali in the last month of the year. And if it weren’t for Christmas, this would be off season in the Island of the Gods. While Indonesia is a predominately Muslim country. And Bali is a predominately Hindu society. Nonetheless, Christmas is an official holiday. Moreover, legions of foreign tourists descend on the island to spend their end-of-the-year holiday in a tropical paradise.
In This Post
Bali December Weather
So how is the weather in Bali in December? First of all, Bali has two seasons: wet and dry. Wet season runs from October to April. And dry season runs from May to September.
Because Bali is near the Equator, there is little variation in temperature from month to month. However, there is more chance of rain during wet season. And the humidity tends to higher, as well. On the other hand. the average temperature is slightly lower.
In fact, the weather in December in Bali is the second wettest month of the year. Only January has more rainy days and more rainfall.
More importantly, when it rains, it pours. While the heavy rainfall might only last a few minutes, it can sometimes continue for several days.
IÂ addition, sea conditions in December can be rough. And trash tends to wash up on the beaches in Canggu, Kuta, and Seminyak in December. So it’s not the best time to go swimming in the sea.
| Â | Ave. High | Ave. Low | Ave. Rainfall | Rainy Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canggu | 33 C / 91 F | 22 C / 71 F | 11 inches | 22 |
| Denpasar | 33 C / 91 F | 24 C / 74 F | 11 inches | 22 |
| Kuta | 33 C / 91 F | 24 C / 74 F | 11 inches | 22 |
| Sanur | 33 C / 91 F | 24 C / 74 F | 11 inches | 22 |
| Seminyak | 33 C / 91 F | 24 C / 74 F | 11 inches | 22 |
| Ubud | 30 C / 86 F | 22 C / 71 F | 6.9i nches | 22 |
If you would like to know what Bali is like in other months, check out the following link: Best Time to Visit Bali>>
Visiting Bali in December
Rainy season coincides with the peak tourist season in Bali in December. And the number of tourists continues to increase as the month of December progresses.
In fact, clubs fly in famous DJs from around the world to spin the discs. So the island’s clubs will be hopping, especially between just before Christmas until early January.
While you might not be able to spend a lot of time by the pool or at the beach in Bali in December, you can discover some of Bali’s other attractions.
For example, you can visit museums and temples. In addition, you can shop till you drop. Bali has some great shopping! More importantly, you can luxuriate at some of the island’s sumptuous spas.
And I highly recommend the following show, which I absolutely LOVED: Devdan, Treasure of the Archipelago!
What to Do in Bali in December
With the chance to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year in a tropical paradise, it’s no surprise that December in Bali is peak tourist season in the Island of the Gods! And that is especially true towards the end of the month.
But another one of the highlights of visiting Bali is the chance to stumble upon an unexpected ceremony or festivity. However, they are far too many – and localized – to list.
But every month there is at least one island-wide Hindu celebration. And Bali in December in no exception. While they aren’t targeted at foreign tourists, they can be a feast for the eyes. So keep your eyes open. And have your camera ready!
Denpasar Festival – Ongoing
Denpasar, the capital and largest city in Bali, comes alive in November with the Denpasar Festival, which continues into December. And highlights include fashion shows, musical performances, a photo exhibition, a mask parade, live painting, a handicraft exhibition, and more.
Jalan Padang Galak No. Kesiman, Denpasar, Bali.
Christmas – 25 December 2025
Christmas is a national holiday in Indonesia. And Bali is no exception. But it is called Natal, the Portuguese word for Christmas.
According to Asia Exchange, there are a few Christian villages in Bali. Interestingly, Balinese Christians make Christmas trees from chicken feathers. In addition, they make street decorations from coconut leaves.
However, even non-Christian residents of the island celebrate Christmas. But they do it in a secular way. And you can expect Christmas decorations at shopping malls and Christmas dinners at hotels and better restaurants.
New Year’s Eve – 31 December 2025
Bali’s best bars, beach clubs. and hotels put on all manner of New Year’s Eve celebrations, from elegant dinners at fine dining restaurants to spectacular fireworks displays at beach clubs. And the hottest hot spots are Canggu, Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Seminyak, and Uluwatu. Moreover, the fun continues through early January.
Where to Stay
Top 10 Beachfront Hotels in Bali
How to Get ThereÂ
If you haven’t booked your airline ticket yet, AirAsia offers cheap flights to Bali from regional cities such as Jakarta, Singapore, Manila, Shanghai, New Delhi, Tokyo Narita, Perth, Solo, and Yogyakarta Adi Sucipto.
If you are traveling from Europe, Qatar Airways offers convenient connections to Bali by way of Doha, and Etihad Airways offers convenient connection via Abu Dhabi.Â
BTW, the official name of Bali’s airport is Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport. And the airport code is: DPS.
If You Are Visiting Bali
You Might Also Enjoy
- Bali: 700 Year Old Village Keeps Culture Alive While Welcoming Tourists>>
- Balinese New Year Demystified, or Why I’m Extending My Stay>>
Bali in December sounds like a dream come true! I’m particularly excited about the Denpasar Festival and the opportunity to witness traditional Balinese dances and music.
Bali is great! I’ve been there several times, and it never disappoints!
Traveled a lot in Asia, have yet to visit Bali, hopefully soon.
I’m sure you will love it! Bali is a very special place!
The many festivals around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays sound like a wonderful way to ring in the new year!
For me, the best time to visit is the Balinese New Year, which is also known as Silent Day. The entire island goes dark and quiet for 24 hours.
Bali in December sounds like the perfect school holiday!
Bali is a very special place! It’s like no other place I’ve visited
It looks like there is a ton of things to do in Bali in December. Great suggestion to have alternative plans for those rainy season days.
There seems to be a ton of things to do in Bali every month thanks to its amazing culture!
It looks like it would be super fun to spend New Year’s Eve in Bali. Thank you for the idea!
Almost any time is a great time to visit Bali!
I’ve never been in Bali in the wet season. But that chicken-feather Christmas tree is calling me 🙂
I would love to see how that looks!
The Balinese have an amazing aesthetic sense, so I’m sure the Christmas tree would be quite interesting to behold.
My family and I visited Bali in 2023. We stayed in the Seminyak area. I loved the beautiful beaches, especially those on another island, though I can’t remember the name right now. However, the traffic was bad, especially at night.
I absolutely love Bali, but you’re right about the traffic. It’s horrendous, and I believe it’s only gotten worse.
You have me in travel dreaming mode after reading through this article on Bali! I don’t think I would have considered it as a December travel destination due to the rains, but you bring up some great points on activities and exploring. Wonder if my family would go for this!?
Almost every month is a good month to visit! Bali is a very special place.
This is very helpful information that can be used to plan a trip to Bali.
Glad you found it useful!
Bali definitely sounds like a great place to visit someday and thanks for all these tips and detailed guide, will keep them in mind.
Glad you found the post helpful!