When to go · Month by month
Bali in May: weather, crowds, prices and what to know
May is often cited as one of the best months for Bali, and the figures confirm it: the dry season has settled in, sunshine is the highest of the months published for the airport station, and the summer crowds have not yet arrived. The sea calms down, crossings to the islands become safer, the trails are dry.
- Updated on
- Verdict: balanced
- 5 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
The month at a glance
- Temperatures: 30.5 °C average high, 27.7 °C mean, 24.9 °C average low (1991–2020 normals, Ngurah Rai airport).
- Rain: 72.8 mm on average over the month, spread over 6.5 rainy days.
- Crowds: moderate, with peaks during the French May public holidays and the end of the French spring vacations.
- Verdict: the best month to combine everything, sea, surf, hiking and rice fields, without the crowds or the prices of July and August.
Should you come to Bali in May? Yes, it is one of the most balanced months: 72.8 mm of rain over 6.5 days on average, 264.6 hours of sunshine and 30.5 °C in the afternoon. The sea calms down, the crowds stay moderate and prices have not yet reached summer levels.
In May, the dry season has settled in without yet being that of the summer vacations. It is the month we most readily recommend for a first trip. The full calendar is in our best time to visit Bali guide; here is what May changes in practice.
May weather, in figures
May gets on average 72.8 mm of rain over 6.5 days at the airport. It is 30.5 °C in the afternoon and 24.9 °C at night, slightly less hot than in April. With 264.6 hours, it has the highest sunshine of the months published for the station.
| Normal | April | May (this month) | June |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 31.0 °C | 30.5 °C | 29.8 °C |
| Mean temperature | 28.1 °C | 27.7 °C | 27.1 °C |
| Average low | 25.1 °C | 24.9 °C | 24.6 °C |
| Rain | 114.5 mm | 72.8 mm | 50.8 mm |
| Rainy days | 8.8 | 6.5 | 4.7 |
| Sunshine | 237.9 h | 264.6 h | 239.8 h |
Days are most often clear from morning to evening. The rare showers tend to fall in the late afternoon, and mostly in the highlands of the center and the north. The air is a little less heavy than in the rainy season, and evenings in Ubud or Munduk sometimes call for a light layer.
April still got 114.5 mm; June drops to 50.8 mm over 4.7 days, with slightly lower temperatures. May is therefore already fully dry, without the relative coolness of July and August.
| Month | High °C | Rain mm | Days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Bali in January | 30.9 | 388.4 | 18.8 | Rainy |
| February: Bali in February | 30.9 | 298.7 | 16.5 | Rainy |
| March: Bali in March | 31.0 | 213.9 | 13.3 | Transition |
| April: Bali in April | 31.0 | 114.5 | 8.8 | Compromise |
| MayThis page | 30.5 | 72.8 | 6.5 | Balanced |
| June: Bali in June | 29.8 | 50.8 | 4.7 | Dry |
| July: Bali in July | 29.0 | 29.7 | 3.3 | Crowded |
| August: Bali in August | 29.1 | 16.1 | 1.9 | Crowded |
| September: Bali in September | 30.0 | 40.7 | 2.8 | Dry |
| October: Bali in October | 31.0 | 67.9 | 4.8 | Favorable |
| November: Bali in November | 31.6 | 149.4 | 10.3 | Transition |
| December: Bali in December | 30.8 | 299.3 | 15.9 | Rainy |
What May changes on the ground
The sea is calmer and clearer, crossings to Nusa Penida more regular. Surf on the west coast and the Bukit is in season. The rice fields are harvested in some valleys, replanted or still green in others. The trails are dry and the volcanoes more often clear at dawn.
- Swimming: good conditions on most coasts; stay alert to currents on the surf beaches of the west coast.
- Snorkeling and diving: visibility rising in Amed, Tulamben and Nusa Penida, where manta rays can be seen all year round.
- Surf: the season for the Bukit waves (Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin) and Canggu, with generally favorable winds in the morning.
- Rice fields: a varied landscape, from green to golden and freshly harvested fields, according to each subak’s calendar.
- Hikes: a good month for Batur, Agung with a guide, and the walks of Sidemen and Munduk.
- Roads and waterfalls: dry roads, waterfalls still fed after the rainy season.
Crowds and prices in May
May stays in the shoulder season: moderate visitor numbers and prices in the middle of the annual range. Demand rises during the French May public holidays, including Ascension, and the end of the French spring vacations at the start of the month. The most popular places in Uluwatu and Ubud are already booked in advance.
Prices are still far from those of July and August, and last-minute bookings remain possible outside the best-known places. Fast boat crossings to Nusa Penida are booked the day before or two days before. Orders of magnitude are in the Bali travel budget guide, and the budget calculator lets you adjust your stay.
May events
May has no major fixed-date event in Bali. Galungan and Kuningan, which follow the 210-day cycle of the Balinese calendar, fall in May in some years: find out the year’s dates before you leave.
Temple and village ceremonies take place all year round, and you often come across them on the road. They can slow traffic for a while: wait without honking. The customs are explained in Balinese temples and culture.
What to do in Bali in May
May lets you do everything: diving and snorkeling in Amed, cliffs and mantas on Nusa Penida, surf on the Bukit, sunrise on Batur, the rice fields of Sidemen. It is the right month for an itinerary that combines the interior and the sea.
- Amed: snorkeling from the beach, diving on the Tulamben wreck, sunrise over Agung. See Amed.
- Nusa Penida: the Kelingking cliffs, snorkeling trips with the mantas, on a more regular sea. See Nusa Penida.
- Uluwatu: surf on the Bukit, the temple at sunset and the kecak dance.
- Batur: a night climb, with good chances of a clear sky at sunrise.
Who May is the right month for
May suits almost every profile: first trips, divers, surfers, hikers, couples. Families tied to school vacations mostly have access to it during the public holidays. Only those looking for the lowest prices will find better in the rainy season.
Families
A good month during the May public holidays or outside school time: calm sea in Sanur, fewer people than in summer.
Surfers
The season of the Bukit and the west coast, with fewer people in the water than in July and August.
Divers
A very good month for Amed, Tulamben and Nusa Penida, with a calmer sea and clearer water.
Hikers
Dry trails for Batur, Agung, Sidemen and Munduk.
Small budgets
Average prices, lower than in summer. The east and north remain cheaper than the south.
Honeymoon
One of the safest months to combine a villa, beaches and sea outings.
The 2-week itinerary includes Nusa Penida; the crossing is detailed in Sanur → Nusa Penida. The packing list adapts your gear to the dry season.
Frequently asked questions
Should you come to Bali in May?
Yes. May combines the dry season, a calmer sea, moderate crowds and prices lower than in summer. It is one of the best months for a first trip.
What is the weather like in Bali in May?
Dry and sunny: 30.5 °C average high, 24.9 °C average low, 72.8 mm of rain over 6.5 days and 264.6 hours of sunshine on average at the airport.
Is May the rainy season in Bali?
No, May is in the dry season, which runs from about April to October. A few showers remain possible, especially in the highlands.
Can you go to Nusa Penida in May?
Yes, crossings from Sanur are more regular than in the rainy season. Leave in the morning, when the sea is calmest, and keep a margin in case of cancellation.
Where to stay in Bali in May?
Amed and Nusa Penida for the sea, Uluwatu for surf, Ubud or Sidemen for the interior. May lets you combine two or three bases without weather constraints.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 17, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
