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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Padang Bai
Padangbai
Stay 1 night only if you dive or take the ferry to Lombok; otherwise pass through Padang Bai in 2–3 hours on the way to Candidasa or Amed.
Padang Bai is a small port town in East Bali with a population of about 3,300. Its main job is moving people: slow ferries to Lombok, fast boats to the Gilis, and bemos up the east coast. The town itself is a compact bay with two quiet coves, five temples and a cluster of dive shops. Accommodation is mostly budget and mid-range, and there is no nightlife beyond a few reggae bars. Most travellers spend one night before or after a crossing, or use it as a base for diving and snorkelling.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Local name
- Padangbai
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (dry season)
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (rain and rough seas)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp 250,000–450,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp 450,000–900,000 excl. bed · High Rp 900,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Nasi or mie goreng at a warung | Rp 25,000–50,000 |
| Grilled fish or seafood plate | Rp 60,000–120,000 |
| Large Bintang beer | Rp 30,000–50,000 |
| Coffee or fresh juice | Rp 15,000–35,000 |
| Snorkel gear rental, one day | Rp 50,000–100,000 |
| Scooter rental, one day | Rp 70,000–100,000 |
| Taxi to/from DPS airport | About Rp 400,000 pre-paid coupon |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DPS · Ngurah Rai International (Denpasar)
- About 90 min by taxi; pre-paid coupon around Rp 400,000
Typical fares
- DPS airport → Padang Bai, taxi
- about Rp 400,000 pre-paid coupon, 90 min
- Padang Bai → Lembar, slow ferry
- about Rp 40,000, 4 h
- Padang Bai → Gili Trawangan, fast boat
- about Rp 660,000, 2 h
Get around
The town is 1–2 km end to end and everything is walkable. Motorbike and car rental are available for East Bali day trips. Bemos and minibuses stop at the port entrance; they are less frequent than they used to be, so have a taxi or ride-hailing fallback.The town is 0.6–1.2 mi end to end and everything is walkable. Motorbike and car rental are available for East Bali day trips. Bemos and minibuses stop at the port entrance; they are less frequent than they used to be, so have a taxi or ride-hailing fallback.
See and do
Known for
- Ferry and fast-boat port to Lombok and the Gilis
- Blue Lagoon snorkelling
- Bias Tugal (White Sand) Beach
- Dive centres and PADI courses
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Candidasa | Car or scooter along the coast road | About 30 min |
| Tirta Gangga | Car or scooter via Amlapura | About 1 h |
| Taman Ujung (Ujung Water Palace) | Car via Amlapura | About 1 h |
| Lempuyang Temple | Car or scooter, then shuttle | About 1 h 15 min |
| Amlapura | Bemo or car along the coast road | About 45 min |
| Klungkung | Car or bemo via the main road | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Jl Silayukti (beach road)
- Dive shops, bars, restaurants and most guesthouses; walkable to the jetty.
- Behind the port / Gang Segara
- Quieter lanes a few minutes from the ferry pier; mid-range rooms and homestays.
- Hill above the market
- Breezier budget rooms with sea views; a 5–10 min walk down to the beach.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Permisiper-mee-see |
| Thank you | Terima kasihter-ee-ma ka-see |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?be-ra-pa har-ga-nya |
| Can I pay by card? | Bisa bayar dengan kartu?bee-sa ba-yar de-ngan kar-too |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toilet?dee ma-na toy-let |
| I don't want it, thank you | Tidak, terima kasihtee-dak, ter-ee-ma ka-see |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- The slow public ferry to Lembar has a poor safety record and can run hours late in bad weather.
- Fast-boat prices are negotiable in low season but firm in high season; buy from a counter, not a tout on the street.
- Some ATMs run out of cash or reject foreign cards; Bank Mandiri near the harbour takes Visa and pays out more than the BRI machine.
- Swimming at Bias Tugal can be dangerous when currents are strong; ask locally before you go in.
The town itself is calm and safe for walking day and night. The real risks are the sea (strong currents at Bias Tugal, rough crossings in the wet season) and the slow ferry's poor safety record — take a fast boat if the weather is bad.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Padang Bai yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ferry and fast-boat port to Lombok and the Gilis
- Blue Lagoon snorkelling
- Bias Tugal (White Sand) Beach
- Dive centres and PADI courses
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Indonesia.travel — official tourism site: www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/home
- OpenStreetMap — Padang Bai: www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/-8.5319/115.5099
- Wikivoyage: Padang Bai, revision 5321460 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5321460
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Padang BaiPadangbai
Ke alamat ini, tolong
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Padang Bai; most are in Denpasar or Jakarta. The Australian consulate-general is in Denpasar.
Ferry and fast-boat timetables change with the season; confirm the day before you travel.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/padang-bai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.