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Bali is Indonesia’s tropical paradise known for its blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Visitors flock to its iconic white-sand beaches, Instagram-famous cliff views, green rice terraces, and ancient temples.
The island’s laidback atmosphere attracts surfers and digital nomads alike. While the south of Bali features some of the most stunning beaches, Canggu is known for its vibrant digital nomad scene and diverse dining options. If you head inland, you can find the renowned town of Ubud. You can go for a walk through the rice fields, discover waterfalls, visit the monkey forest and much more.
Besides its own heritage, Bali is also an ideal base for visiting nearby islands such as Nusa Penida or a side trip to nearby Lombok.
How to get from Yogyakarta to Bali
If you want to travel the 700 km journey from Yogyakarta to Bali in one go, you have 2 options. You can take a flight (2.5 hours incl. transfers), or you can take a combined train and ferry journey (16.5-19 hours excl. transfers). Rates start from 730,000 IDR ($47) and 225,000 IDR ($14.50), respectively.
Flying is by far the fastest and easiest way to reach Bali from Yogyakarta, but also the most expensive option. The flight takes only about 1.5 hours, plus another hour for the transfers to and from the airports. Tickets start from 730,000 IDR ($47).
If flight tickets are above your budget, you can also take a combined train and ferry ride from Yogyakarta to Bali. The train journey takes around 11.5-13 hours, followed by a 1-hour ferry ride and another 4 to 5-hour ride to central or south Bali. Combined costs start from 225,000 IDR ($14.50), but it still depends on the train you take and your destination in Bali.
PRO TIP: If you decide to go overland, we strongly recommend visiting the Bromo and Ijen volcanoes, as well as the Sewu Waterfalls.
There is also an option to take the bus from Yogyakarta to Bali, but this is an uncomfortable 20-hour journey that involves several transfers and is often impacted by delays. Long-distance buses can be very tiring and are not the safest way to travel, especially at night.
Visiting Bromo and Ijen volcano on the way to Bali
The journey from Java to Bali can be a real adventure if you have the time to stretch it out over a couple of days. You can make several stops on the way, visit the Sewu waterfall, and hike Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen on the eastern side of Java. If you’re interested in visiting Mt Bromo, you can read here which Bromo basecamp to choose.
Another option to include a visit to Mt Bromo and Ijne is to book an organised tour, including transportation. These tours from Yogyakarta are usually 3 day/2 night itineraries visiting Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen en route before taking the ferry to Bali. The tours include overnight accommodation and rates are around 1,500,000 IDR ($97) – 3,000,000 IDR ($195) per person inclusive.
Organised tours from Yogyakarta used to be popular pre-pandemic, but the slow recovery of tourism in Yogyakarta in 2022 and 2023 makes it hard to find these tours. Either way, in our opinion, you’re better off booking a train from Yogyakarta to Bromo and booking a Bromo tour from the destination you choose to be your basecamp.
Itinerary from Yogyakarta to Bali
Flight
- Yogyakarta City Centre
- 40 minutes
- Yogyakarta International Airport
- 1hr 20m
- Ngurah Rai International Airport
- 20 minutes
- Bali City Centre
Train
- Yogyakarta City Centre
- 11.5-13 hours
- Ketapang Station
- 10 minutes
- Ketapang Harbour
- 45 minutes
- Gilimanuk Harbour
- 4-5 hours
- Bali City Centre
Yogyakarta to Bali by Flight
The fastest way to travel from Yogyakarta to Bali is by flight. The flight takes only about 1.5 hours, and including the transfers to and from the airports, the overall travel time is about 2.5 hours.
All direct flights operate from the new Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA), about 42 km southwest of the city centre. The older Adisucipto International Airport (JOG) near the city centre also offers a few flights from Yogyakarta to Bali, but they make a stop in Jakarta.
See below for a step-by-step guide when taking a flight from Yogyakarta to Bali.
Step 1: Yogyakarta city centre to Yogyakarta International Airport
You have three options when travelling from Yogyakarta city centre to the new Yogyakarta Airport in Kulon Progo:
- 40-minute train – 20,000 IDR ($1.30)
- 1.5-2 hour bus – 70,000 IDR ($4.50)
- 1.5-hour taxi – 205,000 IDR ($13)
We suggest taking a train from Tugu Station to the airport. The railway station is located next to Malioboro street and has a direct train line connecting with the airport. By taking the train you won’t need to worry about traffic congestion.
A bus or a taxi is a good alternative if you’re coming from other areas in Yogyakarta. You can visit our guide on Yogyakarta International Airport for more information.
Step 2: Yogyakarta to Bali by Flight
Both direct and indirect flights from Yogyakarta to Bali operate from Yogyakarta International Airport. For direct flights, you can choose between Lion Air, Air Asia, and Garuda Indonesia.
A direct flight to Bali takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. Airfares range between 60,000 IDR ($3.90) and 1,300,000 IDR ($84).
It’s best to check Skyscanner for the latest schedules and cheapest rates because they vary depending on your travel date.
Step 3: Bali Airport to Bali city centre by Taxi
Bali Airport, also known as Ngurah Rai or Denpasar Airport, is in the south of Bali island. From the airport, you can go anywhere in Bali via taxi or private car.
Airport taxis are easily available outside the arrivals hall. Keep in mind that rides are prepaid at the taxi counter and are more expensive than ordering a taxi online. Rates start at 120,000 IDR ($7.50) for the short trip to Kuta. Travel time is about 20 minutes, depending on where your accommodation is located.
Ride-hailing apps like Grab are sometimes cheaper, but it still depends on the time you’re booking. Grab has an air-conditioned lounge and pick-up point outside the arrivals area, so you can head here while waiting for your ride. It also costs around 120,000 IDR ($7.50) to Kuta.
The third option is to pre-book an airport ride at least a day prior to your arrival. Rates for a private car booked via Klook start from 110,000 IDR ($7), depending on the destination. You can book a ride through the link below.
Check Private Transfers with Klook
Yogyakarta to Bali by Train
Travelling via a combined train and ferry from Yogyakarta to Bali is long and fairly tiring. The train ride itself takes half a day, followed by a short ferry ride and a 4 to 5-hour bus or taxi ride to Denpasar.
This is an option to consider for travellers with time and a craving to see rural East Java beyond Indonesia’s famous tourist spots.
Considering the travel time of at least 16.5 hours, you can break up the journey to visit some hot spots like Bromo and Ijen volcanoes on the way. A dedicated multi-day overland tour is arguably a better option for the Yogyakarta to Bali route.
Step 1: Yogyakarta city centre to Ketapang Station by Train
From Yogyakarta city centre, you need to take a train to Ketapang Station in Banyuwangi. This town is on the far east side of Java, and ferries for Bali depart from this town’s port.
There are only two trains from Yogyakarta to Ketapang. You can take the cheaper morning train from Lempuyangan Station or the night train from Tugu Station. These stations are just 2 km apart in Yogyakarta city centre.
Train schedule from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi
The indicated prices are for economy class seats, but executive class seats are also available at Tugu Station with rates from 470,000 IDR ($30.50).
We suggest taking the night train from Yogyakarta to Ketapang. This way you can save your valuable day time and at the same time a night on accommodation. You’ll also have a shorter waiting time for the bus trip to central Bali for the last step.
Step 2: Ketapang Station to Ketapang Harbour by Foot
Ketapang Station is less than a kilometre away from Ketapang Harbour. You can reach it on foot in just 10 minutes.
If you are weighed down with heavy luggage, you can also take a taxi. Bear in mind the short distance and negotiate a price beforehand to avoid any expensive surprises.
Step 3: Ketapang Harbour to Gilimanuk Harbour by Ferry
The next step is to take a ferry from Ketapang Harbour to Gilimanuk Harbour on the northwestern tip of Bali.
As long as weather permits, ferries from Ketapang to Gilimanuk operate every hour, 24 hours a day. This is a car ferry, so you can also bring your motorcycle or car across to Bali.
The journey takes only 45 minutes and tickets cost 10,000 IDR ($0.60). You can buy your ticket at the pier or online via Ferizy.
Step 4: Bus or taxi from Gilimanuk Harbour
Gilimanuk Port is located all the way in northwest of Bali. From here, it’s still a 3-hour drive to Canggu, 3.5-hour to Ubud and more than 4.5-hour drive to Uluwatu.
If you are heading to any of these destinations, you can choose between taking a taxi directly to your destination or taking the bus to Denpasar or Mengiwi.
By Taxi
If you have the budget for it, it’s possible to take a taxi from Gilimanuk Terminal all the way to your Bali destination. Expect to pay close to 1,000,000 IDR ($65) for popular destinations like Canggu, Seminyak or Ubud.
By Bus to Denpasar
From the port, Gilimanuk Bus Terminal is a just 10-minute walk. Here, you can take a bus going to Terminal Ubung in Denpasar. Tickets cost 50,000 IDR ($3.20) for the 3.5 to 4.5-hour bus ride.
You can then take a taxi from Terminal Ubung to your hotel in Bali. Expect to pay around 70,000 IDR ($4.50) – 100,000 IDR ($6.50) to Kuta, Seminyak or Canggu.
Bus schedule from Gilimanuk to Denpasar
By Bus to Mengwi
There are also buses from Gilimanuk to Mengwi Bus Terminal, which is more or less between Ubud and Canggu. A ticket costs around 65,000 IDR ($4.20) for the 3-hour bus ride. However, the last time we checked (March 2023), we couldn’t confirm the bus schedule for this route.
From Mengwi, you can book a Grab taxi to Ubud for around 50,000 IDR ($3.20), Canggu 80,000 IDR ($5) or Kuta for around 145,000 IDR ($9). The drive to Canggu and Ubud will take about 30-45 minutes and about 1 hour to Kuta.
Alternatively, you can pre-book the Perama Tour bus from Mengwi to Kuta with rates from 120,000 IDR ($7.50) on 12Go.Asia.
PRO TIP: Heading to northern Bali? From Gilimanuk, there is a direct bus service to Singaraja in North Bali. This passes through the main beach resort area of Lovina. Fares are from 45,000 IDR ($2.90) and it takes about 1.5 hours.
Frequently asked questions about travelling to Bali from Yogyakarta
What is the distance from Yogyakarta to Bali?
Yogyakarta and Bali are separated by a distance of 700 km.
How long does it take to travel from Yogyakarta to Bali?
Travel time between Yogyakarta and Bali takes around 2.5 hours by flight and 16.5-19 hours by train.
How much does it cost to get from Yogyakarta to Bali?
Fares for a flight from Yogyakarta to Bali start at 730,000 IDR ($47) when you travel in the off-peak season. Airfares rise considerably in the dry season (May to October).
If you’re taking the train, combined costs start from 225,000 IDR ($14.50) to get to Bali from Yogyakarta.
What can I expect from Bali?
Bali is beautiful temples, white-sand beaches, amazing waves, and vibrant nightlife all rolled into one.
Its beaches range from popular tourist spots like Kuta and Seminyak, to more secluded and quieter options like Nusa Dua and Lovina. As for temples, some of the must-visit are Uluwatu Temple, Pura Besakih, and Tanah Lot Temple.
Bali is a tropical island so you should expect hot and humid weather throughout the year. It is also a popular tourist destination and can be quite crowded, particularly during peak season.
How to get around in Bali?
There are several ways to get around in Bali. The most popular option among tourists is renting a car or a scooter. These allow you to explore the island at your own pace.
However, it’s important to note that traffic in Bali can be chaotic and driving can be dangerous. If you’re not comfortable driving on your own, you can hail a private car or a motorbike through apps like Grab and Gojek.
Public transportation in Bali includes bemos (minibuses), buses, and metered taxis. Bemos are the most common and affordable, but they can be crowded and do not always run on schedule.
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About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
