Seasonal travelBy Clever Tourists · Published
December is Bali's wet season: expect warm weather, heavy afternoon rain on most days, and Christmas and New Year prices. Denpasar averages about 25 to 31°C (78 to 87°F), with roughly 299 mm of rain over 16 rain days and 186 hours of sun. Ubud and the hills are wetter, and Wikipedia's Ubud table shows about 292 mm, citing Climate-Data.org. The trade-off is greener rice terraces and fewer crowds in the first three weeks, against rough seas and sharp price spikes from about 20 December. We were in Bali from 19 May to 6 June 2023, in the dry season, so these are 1991 to 2020 climate normals and not our weather.
Free toolConvert to your own currency at live rates →Live mid-market rates for all 17 currencies we used, so you can see what a price actually costs.• Best weather: none. Warm and humid, with rain most afternoons.
• Best for lower prices: early December. Rates rise from about 20 December.
• Best base: Ubud and the highlands for culture, spas and food, rather than the beaches. See where to stay in Ubud.
• Avoid: beach-heavy plans, boat trips to Nusa Penida in rough seas, and anything that needs clear skies at sunrise.
• Plan around: the Christmas to New Year price spike.
Typical December figures from 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Denpasar:
• Temperature: about 25 to 31°C (78 to 87°F). Warm and humid all day.
• Rain: around 299 mm over 16 rain days and 186 hours of sun. Rain often falls in the afternoon or evening in heavy bursts, with mornings brighter.
• Highlands: Munduk and Kintamani are cooler and cloudier, so Mount Batur sunrise treks are often clouded in.
• Seas: rougher in the wet season, and west-coast beaches such as Kuta, Legian and Seminyak can have rubbish washed in by onshore winds, as our best-time page describes.
See what to wear in Bali and the Bali packing list for a rain jacket and quick-dry clothes.
• Christmas and New Year: the period from about 20 December to early January is among the most expensive of the year, because it is a holiday for visitors from Australia, Europe and Asia. Many restaurants and beach clubs run special dinners, so reserve ahead.
• Galungan and Kuningan: these do not fall in December. For the 2027 dates in January and August, see Galungan and Kuningan.
• Visa and levy: check the e-VOA guide and the All Indonesia arrival card guide before flying.
Our route covered Seminyak, Munduk, Ubud, Kintamani, Sidemen and Padangbai. In the wet season, Ubud is the best choice because most sights are covered or indoors: museums, cooking classes, spas and food. We spent 25 to 30 May 2023 in Ubud; see how many days in Ubud, day trips from Ubud and Ubud Monkey Forest tips.
Sidemen is quiet and green with terraces; see our Sidemen guide. Munduk has waterfalls, which are fuller in the rains; see how many days in Munduk. For food, see what to eat in Bali. Use how many days in Bali to trim the route.
The first three weeks of December are cheaper and quieter than July or August. Prices climb sharply from about 20 December and stay high until early January. Book rooms early for those weeks and check cancellation rules.
For overall costs, see how much does a trip to Bali cost. To compare with the dry season, see Bali in July.
In the wet season the usual pattern is a brighter morning and a heavy afternoon or evening burst, though some days are grey from start to finish. Put outdoor sights, terrace walks and waterfalls in the morning, and keep cooking classes, spas, museums and long lunches for the afternoon. Bring a light rain jacket rather than a heavy poncho, because it is warm all day.
Avoid riding a scooter in heavy rain: roads get slick and drains overflow. Use a driver or ride-hailing app instead; our scooter rental guide covers the checkpoints and licence rules if you do ride. Keep passports, phones and cards in waterproof pouches. If you are travelling with a long list of sights, cut it: a wet-season trip works best with two or three bases rather than six, which is why our 18-day Bali itinerary is better trimmed to Ubud plus one quieter stop such as Sidemen. Read the things to know before visiting Bali and the tipping guide before you arrive.
If beaches and sunsets matter, choose the dry season, April to October.
If you want to go on a budget, avoid Christmas week; early December or late January to March is cheaper.
If you are prone to stomach upsets, wet-season conditions can worsen food hygiene, so read the Bali belly guide. For more on the island, see best time to visit Bali and our Indonesia guide.
It is the wet season: warm, with heavy afternoon rain and high Christmas prices. Ubud and cultural activities work better than beaches.
Denpasar averages about 299 mm over 16 rain days. Ubud and the hills are wetter.
Yes, prices spike from about 20 December to early January.
Water is warm, but seas are rougher and west-coast beaches can have rubbish washed in. Check conditions each day.
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