Best time to visit · Southeast AsiaOriginal Research
When to go to Indonesia
The dry season (April–October) is the reliable window across Bali, Java, and Komodo, with July–August as peak. The wet season delivers cheaper rates and dramatic afternoon storms; Maluku and Papua run the opposite calendar.
Best: April–OctoberPeak: July–August, December
Month-by-month
Jan
Okay
24°–31°C · 345mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Expect daily thunderstorms; interior waterfalls impressive but roads may flood in Ubud area.
Feb
Okay
24°–31°C · 275mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Humidity peaks now; south coast surf on offshore reefs is at its most powerful.
Mar
Good
24°–31°C · 215mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Airport and beaches close entirely on Nyepi; plan accommodation with pool and food ahead.
Apr
Great
24°–32°C · 90mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Visibility improves for divers at Nusa Penida and Menjangan; Mount Batur sunrise treks are reliable.
May
Great
24°–31°C · 75mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Uluwatu and Padang Padang surf breaks come alive as the dry-season swell fills in.
Jun
Great
23°–30°C · 65mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Book accommodations weeks ahead; humidity drops noticeably and mosquitoes ease off.
Jul
Great
23°–29°C · 50mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Traffic on Canggu and Seminyak roads is heavy; consider staying east in Sanur or Amed.
Aug
Great
23°–29°C · 40mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Australian school holidays boost crowds around Kuta and Legian; villa prices peak mid-month.
Sep
Great
23°–30°C · 50mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Ideal window for Komodo boat trips departing Bali; seas remain calm through mid-October.
Oct
Good
24°–31°C · 95mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Rates soften after school holidays end; humidity rises steadily toward month's close.
Nov
Okay
24°–31°C · 175mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low
Crowds low · Prices low
Waterfalls at Sekumpul and Tibumana flow at full force; slippery trails demand proper footwear.
Dec
Okay
24°–31°C · 300mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Prices spike sharply from December 20; book restaurants and airport transfers well ahead.
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Festivals worth timing your trip around
Jan
Siwaratri
Balinese Hindu night of Shiva involving fasting, meditation and temple vigils. Devotees stay awake through the night reflecting on wrongdoings and seeking spiritual purification at temples across the island.
Feb
Chinese New Year
Balinese-Chinese communities light firecrackers, host lion dances and family reunions at klenteng temples. Denpasar's Gajah Mada Street sees red lanterns and street food stalls draw curious visitors.
Mar
Nyepi (Balinese Day of Silence)
Bali shuts down completely for 24 hours of silence, fasting and meditation marking the Saka New Year. The prior evening features spectacular Ogoh-Ogoh parades with giant demon effigies burned to expel evil.
May
Waisak (Vesak Day)
Buddhist celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing. Bali's Buddhist minority gathers at Brahma Vihara Arama in Banjar for chanting, meditation and candle-lit processions culminating around the full moon.
Jun
Bali Arts Festival
Month-long showcase at Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre featuring traditional dance, gamelan orchestras, wayang shadow puppetry and craft exhibitions from every regency. Opening parade through Denpasar draws thousands of performers.
Jul
Bali Kite Festival
Seasonal competition where village teams launch enormous traditional kites—bebean, janggan and pecukan—up to ten meters long. Rooted in Hindu offerings for good harvests, it draws crowds to Sanur's east-coast beaches.
Aug
Indonesian Independence Day
National celebration commemorating 1945 independence from Dutch rule. Villages hold flag ceremonies, panjat pinang greased-pole climbing contests, sack races and evening cultural performances in schools and community halls across Bali.
Sep
Ubud Village Jazz Festival
Two-day international jazz gathering hosted at ARMA Museum drawing artists from across Asia, Europe and the Americas. Open-air stages, workshops and jam sessions run in Ubud's rice-terrace setting.
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Common questions about Indonesia
- When is the best time to visit Indonesia?
- April–October. The dry season (April–October) is the reliable window across Bali, Java, and Komodo, with July–August as peak. The wet season delivers cheaper rates and dramatic afternoon storms; Maluku and Papua run the opposite calendar.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Indonesia?
- Prices bottom out in Nov — typically 20-40% below peak-season rates on hotels and flights.
- What months should I avoid in Indonesia?
- There's no single "avoid" month — every season in Indonesia has something to offer.
- When is peak tourist season in Indonesia?
- July–August, December
See also the full Indonesia climate deep-dive with temperature heatmap and daily-rainfall breakdown.
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— How we report this guide
What you read here, and where it came from.
- Climate data — temperature, rainfall, and humidity numbers cite WMO 30-year normals plus the most recent decade where available, cross-checked with the destination's national meteorological service.
- Crowd & price calls — sourced from our editors' on-the-ground reporting in Indonesia plus published hotel ADR and visitor-arrival data. We tell you which months bottom out, not which ones marketing departments push.
- Festivals & seasonal flags — verified against the official tourism authority and re-checked at every review. Where dates shift year-over-year (lunar calendars, religious festivals), we flag it explicitly.
- Updates — this guide is reviewed by destination.com editors at least once a year and any time conditions on the ground change materially. Send corrections and we'll log them publicly.
✓ Last verified August 9, 2026