The easiest way to get around Bali with kids is by hiring a private driver in Bali. It’s affordable, comfortable, and flexible for families who want to explore the island at their own pace. For short trips you can use taxis or ride apps like Grab, while fast boats connect Bali with nearby islands like Nusa Lembongan and the Gili Islands.
The best way to get around Bali with kids is by hiring a private driver. It’s comfortable, affordable, and gives you the flexibility to stop whenever your kids need a break. Most families hire a driver for a full day of sightseeing, which makes exploring places like Ubud, temples, waterfalls, and beaches much easier.
For shorter trips, taxis and ride apps like Grab or Gojek work well and are widely available in tourist areas. Some travelers rent scooters to get around Bali, but this is usually less practical for families with young children. If you plan to visit nearby islands such as Nusa Lembongan or the Gili Islands, fast boats are the most common way to travel. For longer distances within Indonesia with kids, domestic flights from Bali are also easy to arrange.
Quick Summary: Transport Options in Bali for Families
- 🚗 Private driver (best option for families) – The most comfortable and flexible way to explore Bali with kids.
- 📱 Grab, Gojek, and taxis – Easy and affordable for short trips between beaches, restaurants, and hotels in tourist areas.
- 🛵 Scooters – A common way to get around Bali for couples and solo travelers, but usually less practical with young children.
- ⛵ Fast boats – Used to travel from Bali to nearby islands like Nusa Lembongan, the Gili Islands, and Lombok. Choosing a reliable boat operator makes a big difference.
- ✈️ Domestic flights – Useful for longer distances within Indonesia, for example from Bali to Labuan Bajo or Jakarta.
We’ve now visited Bali three times with our kids, starting when they were just 1 and 3 years old. Over the years we’ve tried almost every way of getting around the island: private drivers, taxis, fast boats, and several longer cross-island drives. One thing we quickly learned is that travel in Bali almost always takes longer than expected, especially with young kids.
One drive we’ll never forget was our trip from Ubud to Lovina in the north of Bali. The road winds through the mountains with lots of curves, and halfway through the journey our daughter suddenly turned completely pale. It was her first time getting carsick. Our driver was incredibly patient and we ended up making several stops along the way so she could get some fresh air. We eventually made it to Lovina just fine, but it taught us a valuable lesson: always allow extra travel time and plan for a few breaks when driving longer distances in Bali.
Another memorable moment happened on the fast boat to Nusa Lembongan. The sea was a bit rough that day, and our daughter experienced seasickness for the first time. Luckily we had plastic bags within reach. Since then we always bring motion sickness tablets or seasickness tablets when traveling by boat between the islands.
Experiences like these are exactly why we often recommend hiring a private driver in Bali. It gives you the flexibility to stop whenever needed and makes traveling with young kids much more relaxed.
Planning Your Bali Trip with Kids
If you’re planning a family trip to Bali, these guides can help you choose the right areas, activities, and travel route for your trip:
👉 Read our complete Bali with Kids guide
👉 Find the best family-friendly areas in Where to Stay in Bali with Kids
👉 Discover our favorite Things to Do in Bali with Kids
👉 Plan your route with our Bali Itinerary with Kids
Helpful Bali Family Travel Resources
If you prefer something simple to start with, download our free Day-by-Day Bali Itinerary for Families. It gives you a clear overview of how to structure your trip with realistic travel times between the main areas.
Our kids love using the printable Travel Journal for Kids during longer travel days and restaurant breaks. It helps them draw, write, and remember their favorite travel moments.
And if you want a ready-to-follow route through Bali, our Bali Family Itinerary Guide includes realistic travel times, base locations, and family-friendly stop suggestions across the island.
Family travel resources for Bali trips
Bali & Lombok Itinerary Guide
a step-by-step family route with realistic travel times, base locations, and stay tips across both islands.
Bali Travel Journal for Kids
a fun printable journal to help kids draw, write, and remember their favorite moments from the trip.
Affiliate disclosure: We only recommend places and services we’d use ourselves. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hiring a private driver in Bali is one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to get around the island with kids. Many families hire a driver for a full day of sightseeing, while others use private drivers for transfers between areas such as Ubud, Canggu, or Uluwatu. It’s flexible, affordable, and much easier than arranging multiple taxis during the day.
Quick Facts: Private Drivers for Families
- 💰 Typical price (full day) – 600,000–800,000 IDR
- ⏱ Duration – usually around 8–10 hours for sightseeing
- 📍 Also used for transfers – for example airport → hotel or Ubud → Canggu
- 👨👩👧 Best for families – flexible stops and comfortable air-conditioned cars
- 🪑 Child seats – sometimes available but usually need to be arranged in advance
How Private Drivers Work in Bali
In Bali, private drivers are usually used in two different ways.
1. Full-Day Driver for Sightseeing
Many families hire a driver for a full day to explore the island. This allows you to visit several places such as temples, waterfalls, rice terraces, and beaches without having to organize new transport each time.
A typical sightseeing day lasts around 8–10 hours, and you can usually plan the route together with the driver.
2. Private Transfers Between Destinations
Drivers are also often used for point-to-point transfers between different areas of Bali.
For example:
- airport → hotel
- Ubud → Canggu
- Ubud → Lovina
- Uluwatu → Seminyak
This is often the easiest way to travel between regions with kids and luggage.
Child Seats in Bali
Child seats are not standard in Bali taxis or private cars, but many drivers can arrange one if you request it in advance.
We’ve also traveled several times without a child seat in Bali. In those cases, our child simply sat on our lap with the seatbelt, which is quite common in Bali. That said, whenever possible we prefer using a proper child seat, especially for longer drives.
How Much a Private Driver Costs in Bali
Prices vary depending on distance and duration, but a full-day driver usually costs around 600,000–800,000 IDR.
This usually includes:
• fuel
• parking fees
• up to about 8–10 hours of driving
Where to Book a Private Driver
Many families arrange a driver through their hotel or villa, which is often the easiest option once you arrive in Bali.
Another option is booking online through platforms like GetYourGuide (day trip) or Klook (airport transfer), where you can compare drivers, prices, and reviews before your trip. Booking in advance can sometimes be cheaper and also makes it easier to arrange things like child seats or specific pickup locations.
💡 Crew Tip: If you find a driver you’re happy with, ask for their WhatsApp number. Many families end up using the same driver multiple times during their trip, whether for day trips or transfers between different areas of Bali.
For short trips around Bali, taxis and ride apps are often the easiest option for families. Instead of hiring a driver for the whole day, you can quickly request a ride to a restaurant, beach, or nearby attraction.
The two main ride apps in Bali are Grab and Gojek, but for families Grab is usually the easiest and most reliable choice.
Grab vs Gojek in Bali
The two main ride apps in Bali are Grab and Gojek. Both apps allow you to request rides directly from your phone and see the price before confirming the trip.
In practice, most visiting families use Grab, because it’s widely available and very easy to use.
Within the app you can choose different ride options, such as:
• Car rides – the best option for families with kids
• Scooter taxis – popular for short rides if you’re traveling alone
• Food delivery – very convenient when staying at a hotel or villa
Because these apps require mobile data, it’s very helpful to have internet on your phone as soon as you arrive in Bali. Many travelers install an eSIM before their trip, so they can request rides immediately after landing at the airport.
We usually use Airalo, which lets you activate mobile data on your phone without needing a physical SIM card. If you book through our link, you’ll get 15% off your first eSIM.
Having mobile data also makes it easier to:
- request rides
- navigate with Google Maps
- message drivers through the app or via WhatsApp
Are Taxis Safe in Bali?
Yes, taxis are generally safe in Bali, but it’s important to choose the right company.
The most reliable taxi company is Bluebird Taxi, which has a good reputation and always uses a meter. If you take a street taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter at the start of the ride. If they refuse, it’s usually best to take another taxi.
Because of this, many travelers prefer using Grab, where the price is shown in advance and you don’t have to negotiate the fare.
When traveling with kids, it’s good to know that child seats are usually not available in taxis or ride apps in Bali. Larger cars may also not always be immediately available during busy hours. For short trips this usually isn’t a problem, but for longer sightseeing days many families prefer hiring a private driver where you can request a car seat in advance.
💡 Crew Tip: Grab is not only useful for rides. Many families also use the app to order food delivery when they want to relax at their villa or hotel. It’s perfect for an easy dinner or lunch while the kids are taking a nap.
When planning how to get around Bali with kids, many families also include nearby islands in their trip. Fast boats are the main way to travel between Bali and destinations like Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, and the Gili Islands.
These boat routes are very popular and make it easy to extend your Bali trip with a few days on nearby islands.
Quick Facts: Fast Boats from Bali
- ⏱ Travel time to Nusa Islands – about 30–45 minutes
- ⏱ Travel time to the Gili Islands – around 1.5–2.5 hours
- 📍 Main departure ports – Padang Bai, Sanur, and Serangan
- 🌊 Sea conditions vary – choosing a good boat operator makes a big difference
- 🎟 How to book – compare schedules and operators on 12Go Asia
Sea conditions and travel times between Bali and nearby islands can vary depending on the season. Before planning longer transfers or boat trips, it helps to understand the best time to visit Bali with kids and how weather patterns affect travel across the island.
Choosing a Reliable Boat Company
When getting around Bali with kids and visiting nearby islands, the boat company you choose really matters.
Before we had kids, we took a few fast boats in Indonesia that were honestly a bit chaotic. Smaller boats, crowded seating, and rough rides were sometimes part of the experience.
Now that we travel as a family, we’re much more selective. These days we only book with Ekajaya, which has consistently been the most reliable option for us.
Ekajaya operates larger, more stable boats, and everything is generally better organized compared to many smaller operators. In our experience this makes the journey much more comfortable and reduces the chance of seasickness, especially when the ocean is rough.
Tickets are usually a bit more expensive, but the extra comfort and safety are absolutely worth it when traveling with kids.
👉 Check Ekajaya fast boat tickets on 12Go Asia
Boats to the Nusa Islands
The Nusa Islands are located just off the southeast coast of Bali and are one of the easiest island trips you can make.
Most boats depart from Sanur, and the journey usually takes around 30–45 minutes, depending on sea conditions.
If you’re planning a visit with kids, read our full guide here:
Boats to the Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are located near Lombok and are famous for their white sand beaches and laid-back island atmosphere.
Most fast boats depart from Padang Bai in east Bali and take about 1.5–2.5 hours, depending on the route and sea conditions.
If you’re planning a visit, you can read our full guide here:
And if you’re continuing your trip to Lombok, see our detailed guide on how to travel from Bali to Lombok with kids:
👉 Best Ways to Get from Bali to Lombok with Kids
What to Expect on Fast Boats in Bali with Kids
Fast boat trips between Bali and nearby islands are usually straightforward, but it helps to know what to expect, especially when traveling with kids.
At some ports, especially Padang Bai or Sanur, things can feel a bit chaotic before departure. The harbor areas are often busy with tourists, drivers, and people offering to carry luggage or sell snacks. Just keep an eye on your kids and stay close together while boarding.
Most fast boats have air-conditioned indoor seating, and many also have an outdoor upper deck where you can sit and enjoy the view. Seats on the upper deck are usually limited though, so if you’d like to sit outside it can help to line up a little earlier when boarding starts.
Large luggage, strollers, and suitcases are usually collected before boarding and stored separately on the boat. This means they won’t stay with you during the trip, so it’s helpful to keep essentials like snacks, water, or seasickness tablets in a small day bag.
Depending on the harbor and sea conditions, you may also board or disembark directly on the beach. In those cases you might need to walk a short distance through shallow water. When traveling with small kids, having a baby carrier can be much easier than using a stroller.
Sea conditions between Bali, the Nusa Islands, and Lombok can vary. If you or your kids are sensitive to motion sickness, it can help to bring:
- seasickness tablets
- water and light snacks
- a small plastic bag, just in case
Choosing a larger and more stable boat operator, like Ekajaya, can also make the journey much more comfortable.
If you visit Bali, one thing you’ll notice almost immediately: there are scooters everywhere. Sometimes it honestly feels like half the island is moving around on two wheels.
You’ll see locals riding scooters with groceries, surfboards, and sometimes even entire families on one bike. It’s very common to see parents riding with small children on the front or back seat.
For many travelers, renting a scooter is one of the most common ways of getting around Bali.
Are Scooters Safe for Families with Kids in Bali?
For most visiting families, scooters are usually not the best way to get around Bali with kids.
Traffic can be busy, roads are often narrow, and driving styles may feel very different from what many travelers are used to at home. For this reason, many families prefer using private drivers or taxis instead.
Another important thing to know is that scooters in Bali are usually 125cc or larger, which means they legally fall under motorbike regulations. To ride one legally, you typically need:
- a valid motorcycle license
- an International Driving Permit (IDP)
Without the correct license, travel insurance may not cover accidents, so it’s important to check your insurance policy before renting a scooter.
Our Experience with Scooters in Bali
Personally, we rarely use scooters when traveling in Bali with kids.
When our children were very young, we didn’t use scooters at all. Now that they’re older, we might occasionally use one for a very short ride in very quiet areas, but only where traffic is minimal.
One time in Lovina, our villa had a small electric scooter available for guests. Our oldest absolutely loved riding around the quiet streets with a parent. Because the area was calm and there was almost no traffic, it felt like a fun little adventure for her.
That said, for most trips around Bali we still find that cars, taxis, or private drivers are much more comfortable and practical when traveling as a family.
While most travel around Bali happens by car or boat, domestic flights can be useful when traveling to other parts of Indonesia.
From Ngurah Rai International Airport, you can fly to many destinations across the country, which can save a lot of time compared to long boat or land journeys.
Some common routes families take from Bali include:
- Bali → Labuan Bajo (for visiting Komodo National Park)
- Bali → Jakarta
- Bali → Surabaya
Flights are usually quite affordable and the airport in Bali is modern and easy to navigate with kids. If you’re planning short flights within Indonesia, our flying with kids guide explains what to expect when traveling by plane with children.
For nearby islands like the Gili Islands or Nusa Lembongan, fast boats are still the most common option.
But for longer distances within Indonesia, flying from Bali is often the fastest and easiest choice for families. For slightly longer flights across Indonesia, these plane activities for kids can make travel days easier.
If you’re flying to Bali with young children, our Carry-On Packing List for Kids helps you prepare snacks, entertainment, travel essentials, and backup clothes for long travel days and unexpected delays.
If you’re booking domestic flights in Indonesia, we usually start by checking Trip.com, which is easy to use and often shows a wide range of airlines. For some local routes, Traveloka can also be worth checking, as it sometimes lists additional Indonesian airlines or cheaper options.
Traveling around Bali with kids is usually quite easy, but a few small tips can make things much smoother.
- Plan realistic travel times – Distances on the map can be misleading. Traffic in Bali can be slow, so a short drive can easily take 1–2 hours.
- Limit activities per day – One main outing per day usually works best with kids. It leaves room for breaks, snacks, or a swim back at the hotel.
- Use private drivers for longer trips – They’re comfortable, flexible, and make sightseeing days much easier with kids.
- Use Grab for short rides – Ride apps are perfect for quick trips to restaurants, beaches, or shops.
- Choose reliable boat operators – When visiting islands like the Gili Islands or Nusa Islands, a larger and well-organized boat company makes the trip much more comfortable.
- Stay flexible – Traffic, weather, and tired kids can always change your plans. A flexible schedule usually makes traveling in Bali more relaxed.
Walking with Kids in Bali: Stroller or Carrier?
When getting around Bali with kids, you’ll likely do quite a bit of walking as well, especially around beaches, markets, and restaurants.
In areas like Sanur, Seminyak, or parts of Ubud, walking can be fairly easy. However, sidewalks in Bali can sometimes be uneven, narrow, or even disappear completely.
Because of this, many families find that a baby carrier is often more practical than a stroller, especially when exploring temples, markets, or smaller streets.
That said, a compact travel stroller can still be very useful in places like resorts, shopping areas, or larger streets. During our trips we’ve actually used both depending on the situation.
For day trips and busy areas, we often prefer a baby carrier, while a stroller works well for airport days, resorts, or evening walks.
👉 See our full guide: Essential Travel Gear for Kids in Southeast Asia
If you’re curious, these are the ones we personally use and travel with:
- 👉 Our favorite travel stroller for Southeast Asia trips
- 👉 Our go-to baby carrier for travel days and sightseeing
Planning a bigger Southeast Asia trip?
You might also enjoy:
- Lombok with Kids
- Thailand with Kids
- Kuala Lumpur with Kids
- Borneo with Kids
- Malaysia Itinerary with Kids
📥 Want more tips? Visit our Family Travel Shop for printables, travel journals, and guides to make your trip smoother.
Check our socials:
Enjoy getting around Bali with your family and have an amazing trip! 🏖️
The Little Passport Crew
For most families, the easiest way to get around Bali is by hiring a private driver. It’s comfortable, flexible, and surprisingly affordable. For short trips, ride apps like Grab are very convenient, while fast boats connect Bali with nearby islands like the Gili Islands and Nusa Lembongan.
Yes, traveling around Bali with kids is generally quite easy. Private drivers, taxis, and ride apps make it simple to get between places. The main thing to keep in mind is that traffic can be slow, so travel times are often longer than they appear on the map.
No, child seats are usually not available in taxis or ride apps in Bali. Some private drivers can arrange a child seat if you request it in advance, but this is not always guaranteed.
Scooters are very common in Bali, but they are usually not the best option for families with young children. Traffic can be busy and helmets for kids are not always available. Most visiting families prefer using taxis or private drivers instead.
Travel times in Bali are often longer than they appear on the map because of traffic and winding roads. As a rough guideline:
• Ubud → Canggu: about 1–1.5 hours
• Ubud → Lovina: about 2.5–3 hours
• Ubud → Amed: about 2.5–3 hours
• Canggu → Uluwatu: about 1.5–2.5 hours
Because of this, many families choose one main activity per day and keep the rest of the schedule flexible.