Bali Safety Tips

Scooter accidents are the single most common cause of injury among tourists in Bali. The island's roads are narrow, often poorly maintained, and shared by a chaotic mix of scooters, cars, trucks, dogs, and pedestrians with very little separation between them. Traffic rules exist but are loosely enforced, lane markings are more suggestions than boundaries, and the general flow of traffic follows an organic pattern that can be bewildering to newcomers. If you choose to ride a scooter, which many visitors do, always wear a helmet. This is both legally required and genuinely life-saving, as head injuries are the leading cause of fatal scooter accidents. Rent only from shops that provide helmets and check that the helmet actually fits properly rather than just perching on top of your head. Avoid riding at night when visibility drops, stray dogs are harder to spot, and the likelihood of encountering drunk drivers increases significantly. Drive defensively and much more slowly than you think necessary, especially in congested areas like Seminyak, Canggu, and Ubud center. The most dangerous moments are intersections, where the right-of-way concept barely exists, and blind corners on narrow village roads. Rain transforms road surfaces into slippery hazards, particularly on painted road markings and metal manhole covers. If you have no prior scooter experience, seriously consider using a ride-hailing app like Gojek or Grab instead, which costs a fraction of what taxis charge and keeps someone experienced behind the handlebars.

Bali's beaches are beautiful but the ocean conditions can be dangerous, especially for swimmers unfamiliar with tropical surf. Riptides are the primary hazard and are responsible for multiple drownings every year, including experienced swimmers who panic when caught in a strong current pulling them away from shore. Riptides occur at many popular beaches, including Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and parts of the Bukit Peninsula coast. The key to surviving a riptide is knowing what to do: never swim directly against it. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current's pull, then swim back to the beach at an angle. Riptides are typically narrow channels, so moving sideways even 20 to 30 meters can put you beyond their grip. If you are too tired to swim, float on your back and raise an arm to signal for help. Lifeguards at popular beaches like Kuta and Seminyak are generally attentive, but many of Bali's more remote beaches have no lifeguard presence at all. Always check for warning flags before entering the water. Red flags mean swimming is dangerous or prohibited. Yellow flags indicate caution. If there are no flags and no other swimmers in the water at a beach that looks otherwise inviting, that is usually a signal that conditions are too dangerous rather than that you have found a hidden gem. Reef breaks, strong shore breaks, and submerged rocks are additional hazards at beaches along the southern coast and around Nusa Dua.

Violent crime against tourists in Bali is rare, but petty theft is common enough that it deserves attention. The most frequent type is bag snatching by motorcycle-riding thieves who grab purses, backpacks, or phone from pedestrians and scooter riders as they pass. This happens most often on busy streets in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Denpasar, particularly after dark. To minimize risk, carry bags on the side away from the road, or better yet, use a cross-body bag worn in front. Never hang a bag from your scooter handlebars where it can be easily grabbed. Keep your phone in a zipped pocket rather than in your hand while walking along roads. At beaches, never leave valuables unattended on your towel. Use a waterproof pouch for essentials or take turns watching belongings if you are with a travel companion. Common scams targeting tourists include taxi drivers running rigged meters or taking unnecessarily long routes (use Grab or Gojek for transparent pricing), money changers who use sleight of hand to shortchange you during the counting process, and street vendors who quote inflated prices to tourists while selling the same items to locals for a fraction. ATM skimming has also been reported at standalone ATMs in tourist areas, so prefer machines attached to bank branches with security cameras. Another increasingly common scam involves rental shops inflating damage claims on returned scooters or surfboards, which is why photographing equipment before and after rental is important.

Drink spiking and methanol poisoning are serious safety concerns in Bali that every visitor should understand. Methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol, has been found in cheap local spirits, particularly arak (a traditional rice or palm spirit) that is produced without proper quality controls. Consuming methanol can cause blindness, organ damage, and death. Multiple tourists and locals have died from methanol poisoning in Bali over the years, and incidents continue to occur. The highest-risk scenario is purchasing extremely cheap cocktails from street bars, beach vendors, or establishments that are cutting costs by using unregulated arak or industrial spirits in place of legitimate alcohol. A cocktail that costs IDR 20,000 to 30,000 (USD 1.30 to 2) when standard bar drinks go for IDR 70,000 to 120,000 should raise immediate red flags. Reputable bars and restaurants that source their spirits from licensed distributors carry very low risk. Drink spiking with sedatives or other drugs also occurs, though it is less common than methanol risk. The same precautions that apply anywhere in the world apply in Bali: watch your drink being made, do not accept drinks from strangers, and never leave your drink unattended. If you feel suddenly and disproportionately intoxicated after consuming a small amount of alcohol, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of methanol poisoning include nausea, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, and abdominal pain, typically appearing 12 to 24 hours after consumption.

Bali sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means earthquakes and volcanic activity are part of life on the island. Mount Agung, Bali's highest peak and most sacred volcano, erupted as recently as 2017-2019, disrupting flights and causing evacuations in the surrounding area. While a major eruption during your visit is statistically unlikely, minor seismic activity and tremors are relatively common. If you experience an earthquake, follow standard safety protocols: drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table or doorframe, and hold on until the shaking stops. If you are near the coast, move to higher ground immediately after a strong earthquake as tsunamis can follow. Indonesia has a tsunami early warning system, and most coastal tourist areas have evacuation route signs posted, though they are not always easy to spot. Take a moment to note the nearest evacuation route and higher ground when you first arrive at a coastal location. Bali's wet season, roughly November through March, brings heavy afternoon rainstorms, occasional flooding in low-lying areas, and increased risk of landslides in mountainous regions. Flash flooding can affect roads in Kuta, Seminyak, and Denpasar where drainage infrastructure struggles with heavy downpours. During this season, avoid driving through flooded roads, be cautious on mountain routes, and stay informed through local news and weather apps. The Indonesian government disaster agency BNPB and the BMKG meteorological agency both provide alerts through their websites and social media channels.

Travel insurance is arguably the single most important thing to arrange before visiting Bali, yet many travelers either skip it entirely or purchase a basic policy that does not cover their actual activities. A comprehensive travel insurance policy for Bali should cover medical treatment, emergency evacuation (including helicopter evacuation from remote areas), scooter and motorcycle accidents (only covered if you hold a valid international driving permit with motorcycle endorsement), surfing and water sports injuries, trip cancellation, and lost or stolen belongings. Medical care in Bali varies dramatically in quality. BIMC Hospital in Nusa Dua and Kuta, and Siloam Hospital in Denpasar, provide international-standard care but charge accordingly. A scooter accident resulting in a broken bone can easily generate a hospital bill of USD 3,000 to 10,000, and emergency medical evacuation to Singapore or Australia for serious conditions can cost USD 50,000 to 100,000 or more. Without insurance, you are personally liable for these costs. Save these emergency numbers in your phone before arriving in Bali: Police (110), Ambulance (118 or 119), Fire (113), Tourist Police (+62 361 224111), BIMC Hospital Kuta (+62 361 761263), and your country's embassy or consulate in Bali or Jakarta. The tourist police in Bali have English-speaking officers and handle issues specifically affecting foreign visitors, including theft reports needed for insurance claims. For non-emergency medical needs, many areas have reputable clinics and pharmacies where basic treatments and common medications are available without appointment and at very reasonable costs.