Staying Safe in Bali
Part of the Bali travel guide — see every topic in All Bali Guides.
Bali is a low-crime destination and violent crime against visitors is rare. The genuine dangers are mundane and statistically much more likely: road accidents on scooters, drowning in rip currents on the west coast, methanol poisoning from home-distilled spirits, and rabies from dog and monkey bites. Each is largely avoidable with specific precautions, and each catches out a predictable number of visitors every year precisely because they do not feel dangerous.
Scooters
This is the single biggest risk on the island. The roads are potholed, unlit at night, shared with trucks and dogs, and full of people riding without experience. Wear a proper helmet with the strap done up, not the token one supplied. Ride within your ability, not the local pace. Do not ride at night on unfamiliar roads, and never after drinking. Carry an international driving permit with a motorcycle endorsement plus your home licence: without it a police stop costs a fine, and, far more importantly, your travel insurance will decline the medical claim entirely.
The water
Rip currents on the west coast — Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu — kill people every year. Swim only between the red-and-yellow flags where lifeguards are on duty, and understand that outside the flags there is nobody watching. If you are caught in a rip, do not swim against it: swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the pull, then in. On the reef beaches of the Bukit, cuts from coral infect fast in the tropics and need proper cleaning. Boat crossings to the Nusa and Gili islands get genuinely rough after midday; take the morning boat.
Drink, drugs and health
Methanol poisoning from home-distilled arak and from spirits decanted into branded bottles has caused deaths and blindness on Bali. Buy sealed bottles from licensed shops, be wary of very cheap cocktails and free-pour spirits at budget bars, and stick to beer or bottled brands you recognise if you are unsure. Indonesia's drug laws are among the harshest in the world, with long sentences and, on paper, the death penalty for trafficking; there is no tolerance and entrapment does occur. On health: dengue is present year-round, rabies is endemic in Bali's dog population, and any bite or scratch from a dog, monkey or bat needs immediate medical assessment.
Money, scams and emergencies
Use bank ATMs inside a bank or a supermarket rather than street machines, and cover the keypad; card skimming happens. Unlicensed money changers offering rates well above the market are running a sleight-of-hand count — use a licensed changer with a proper counter, or an ATM. Common scams: rental scooters with pre-existing damage charged to you (photograph everything before you ride), and the "closed today" temple redirection. Emergency numbers are 112 for the general emergency line and 118 for an ambulance. BIMC and Siloam in the south are the international-standard hospitals, they are expensive, and travel insurance that covers scooter riding is essential rather than optional.
Staying Safe at a glance
| Biggest risk | Scooter accidents — helmet, licence, no night riding |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Void without a motorcycle-endorsed IDP |
| Swimming | Only between the red-and-yellow flags |
| Alcohol | Sealed bottles only — methanol in home-distilled arak |
| Rabies | Endemic — any dog or monkey bite needs immediate care |
| Emergency | 112 general, 118 ambulance; BIMC and Siloam hospitals |