Is Bali safe?
Safe for visitors with normal care. Scooter crashes, rip currents and petty theft cause far more harm than violent crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-07-06.
- Homicide rate in Indonesia: 0.3 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Indonesia: 11.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Bali at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Bag snatching from scooters, theft from unlocked villas and beaches, and card skimming at some ATMs. |
| At night | Tourist areas stay lively late and feel safe. Use Grab or Gojek rather than riding home after drinking. |
| Solo women | Easy for solo women compared with most of Indonesia. Expect catcalls from taxi touts and care with drinks; use app rides at night. |
| Other risks | Scooter crashes, the top cause of tourist injury; Rip currents on west and south coast beaches; Earthquakes and Mount Agung activity |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Money changers short-counting notes; use bank-run or well-reviewed changers
- Scooter rental damage claims; photograph the bike first
- Airport and street taxi touts quoting inflated fixed fares
Take care
- Kuta and Legian nightlife: spiked drinks and bootleg arak
- Surf beaches in wet season: strong rip currents
- Mountain and coastal roads: steep, narrow and crowded
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- From 2026, sex outside marriage and unmarried cohabitation are crimes, prosecuted only on a spouse's, parent's or child's complaint
- Drug trafficking can bring the death penalty; even small amounts mean prison
- Disrespecting temples or sacred sites in Bali can lead to deportation
How Bali compares in Indonesia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Nusa Dua | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bali | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ubud | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Canggu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seminyak | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluwatu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yogyakarta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gili Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Penida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Labuan Bajo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sanur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Raja Ampat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mount Bromo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bandung | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Lembongan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lake Toba | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kuta Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amed | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Batam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bintan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Malang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bukit Lawang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Surabaya | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manado | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tana Toraja | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jimbaran | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jakarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Kuta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Medan | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Bali safe for solo female travelers?
Easy for solo women compared with most of Indonesia. Expect catcalls from taxi touts and care with drinks; use app rides at night.
Is Bali safe at night?
Tourist areas stay lively late and feel safe. Use Grab or Gojek rather than riding home after drinking.
What is the crime rate in Bali?
Bag snatching from scooters, theft from unlocked villas and beaches, and card skimming at some ATMs. Nationally, Indonesia records 0.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Bali?
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
More about Bali
Going to Bali solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- Love Bali tourist levy
- Ngurah Rai Airport
- BIMC Hospital
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.