December is when Bali's wet season settles in, and it is also peak holiday season. Rain falls on roughly 16 to 22 days of the month, yet the long-term average is still about six hours of sunshine a day. The sea stays warm and the waterfalls run at full force. Timing matters more than the weather: the first three weeks are far calmer than the Christmas and New Year rush.
This guide sets out the weather by coast with the official figures, compares early, mid- and late December, lists the events on the December 2026 calendar and picks the activities that make the most of the month, each with a rain plan. For the year-round picture, start with the best time to visit Bali.
In this guide20 sections
Is December a good time to visit Bali?
Yes, for most travelers, as long as you plan around the afternoons and book the holiday period early. December is the start of the wet season, not its peak. The long-term normal at Ngurah Rai airport is 327.4 mm of rain in December, compared with 350.7 mm in January, and Bali's climatology station (Stasiun Klimatologi Bali) expects the 2026–27 wet season to peak in February 2027. In the wet season, rain often falls as afternoon or evening downpours, so mornings are usually the best time for sightseeing.
The month rewards travelers who want green rice fields, full waterfalls, spa time, east-coast surf and New Year's Eve parties. It is a tougher month if the trip depends on calm boat crossings, clear volcano sunrises or long days on the west-coast beaches, where the monsoon brings onshore wind and washed-up trash. Families tied to school holidays should book flights and rooms early, because the second half of the month fills fast. For a closer look at November to March, read about Bali's wet season.
Bali weather in December
Expect warm, humid days all month. The figures below are the long-term climate normals for Ngurah Rai airport on the south coast. Indonesia's meteorology agency, BMKG, publishes none for the highlands, so figures for the mountains are model estimates.
- Rainfall: about 300–330 mm for the month (327.4 mm in the WMO 1991–2020 normal, 299.3 mm in the NOAA normal). November averages 131.2 mm, so the jump is sharp.
- Rain days: roughly 16–22, depending on the data series (15.9 days with at least 1 mm in the NOAA normal, 22 in the older BMKG series).
- Temperature: highs of about 30.8°C and lows of about 25.3°C on the coast, with a mean of 28.0°C.
- Humidity and sunshine: about 81% relative humidity and 6.0–6.3 hours of sunshine a day.
- Sea: around 29°C off Kuta (modeled data).
Averages hide wide swings. Ngurah Rai logged 849.9 mm in December 2024, about 2.6 times the normal, and 405.3 mm in December 2025, while December 2022 came in close to average at 307.1 mm. For 2026, the climatology station expects the wet season to begin during December in 85% of Bali's climate zones. It should reach the Denpasar zone between 11 and 20 December, and the north coast, the far east and Nusa Penida in late December.
West-facing coast: Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Jimbaran and Uluwatu
The wet-season wind blows from the west and northwest, so it is onshore on this side of the island. That means choppier surf and debris on the sand: Badung's environment agency hauled about 40 tons of washed-up trash a day from the beaches between Jimbaran and just west of Canggu in December 2025. Rip currents are a real risk on this stretch. Parts of Kuta and Seminyak also flood after heavy rain, and in December 2024, floodwater in Legian reached up to 60 cm.
East-facing coast: Sanur, Nusa Dua and Keramas
The same wind blows offshore on the east coast, which is why Keramas and the reef breaks off Sanur and Nusa Dua come into season for surfers. Flooding is not limited to the west, though. In February 2026, crews evacuated tourists from flooded streets in Sanur.
Central Bali and the highlands
In central Bali, where Ubud sits, wet-season rain often arrives in the afternoon. Higher up, it is wetter and cooler. In the wet season, afternoon thunderstorms are common in the highlands around Bedugul, Kintamani and Besakih, and nights around Kintamani drop to roughly 14–17°C (model estimate).
North coast, the far east and Nusa Penida
These areas are forecast to enter the wet season in late December. Here the sea matters more than the rain. Crossings between Sanur and Nusa Penida, and from Padangbai to Lombok, can be suspended when BMKG warns of high waves. Its risk threshold for small boats is 15 knots of wind or waves of 1.25 m.
Early, mid or late December?
December in Bali behaves like three different months. The comparison below uses last season's figures from PHRI Badung (the regency's hotel and restaurant association) and Ngurah Rai airport, plus Indonesia's official 2026 holiday decree.
| Early (1–11 December) | Mid (12–23 December) | Late (24 December–3 January) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crowds | The quietest stretch; Badung hotels ran at around 70% occupancy in early December 2025 | Building: Australian school holidays start, and PHRI placed the start of the peak after 20 December | Peak: last season, bookings were full from 24 December into the first week of January |
| Prices | Closest to low season | Rising; one Seminyak villa's peak rate starts 23 December | Highest of the month; New Year's Eve occupancy was projected at about 97% |
| Holidays | Tilem Kenam (9 December), a Balinese ceremony day | Queensland school holidays start 12 December; Western Australia and New South Wales follow from 18 December and Victoria from 21 December | Domestic long weekend 24–27 December; New Year's Day on Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Airport | Normal | Busier from mid-month | Busiest around 28 December and 2–3 January |
Early December is the pick for value and space. Foreign arrivals still rise from November (483,364 in November 2025, 572,668 in December 2025, up 18.5%), but hotels have room and the rain has not yet set in everywhere.
Mid-December is when the Australians arrive. Australians made up 23.4% of Bali's foreign visitors in 2025, and 140,987 of them came in December 2025. Queensland's government-school summer break runs from 12 December 2026 to 26 January 2027. Western Australia's Term 4 ends on Thursday 17 December. New South Wales (Eastern division) is on break from Friday 18 December to Wednesday 27 January, and Victoria from Monday 21 December to Wednesday 27 January. Indian arrivals also climb in December: 57,263 in December 2025, up from 42,729 in November.
Late December adds Indonesia's own holiday rush. Thursday 24 December is a government-declared day off, and Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December, creating a four-day domestic long weekend from 24 to 27 December. In Indonesia, 26 December is a normal working day. Over the 20 days from 15 December 2025 to 3 January 2026, Ngurah Rai handled about 1.41 million passengers, or 70,438 a day. Departures dominated the last three days of that period. Rates climb too: one Seminyak villa lists its 23 December–6 January peak rate at about 32% above its low-season rate. If you'll be there on 31 December, check before you pay whether your hotel rate includes a New Year's Eve gala dinner or charges extra for one.
What's on in December 2026
Balinese ceremony days
- Wednesday 9 December: Tilem Kenam, the dark moon.
- Saturday 19 December: Tumpek Uduh (also called Tumpek Wariga), 25 days before Galungan, when Balinese Hindu households and farms make offerings to trees and plants.
- Wednesday 23 December: Purnama Kapitu, the full moon, a temple ceremony day across the island.
- Tuesday 29 December: Anggar Kasih Julungwangi, when temple cleaning begins ahead of Galungan.
Galungan itself falls just after December, on Wednesday 13 January 2027, with Kuningan on Saturday 23 January. The tall bamboo penjor poles go up on Penampahan, 12 January. For the rest of the ritual year, see Bali's festivals and cultural events.
Christmas
Bali's Catholic communities mark Christmas in their own style. In Palasari, a Catholic village in West Bali, the congregation attends Christmas Eve Mass in Balinese dress. The Holy Spirit Cathedral in Denpasar drew about 13,000 worshipers on Christmas Day 2025, with seats for roughly 8,000. The 2026 Mass schedules are not yet published. In Ubud, Copper Kitchen, Bar & Rooftop runs The Copper Christmas and Embers its Fireside Feast, both from 24 to 26 December.
Concerts, festivals and parties
- 4–8 December: Connections Bali at Bali Beach Glamping, Tabanan.
- 4 and 12 December: Defected (4 December) and CamelPhat (12 December) at Savaya, Uluwatu.
- 9 December: Luuk van Dijk at Zumana Bali, Kuta.
- 12 December: Bali Square Garden at GOR Purna Krida, Seminyak; George Harliono and Hera Hyesang Park in concert at Padma Resort Legian.
- 13 December: Bjorn Again, the ABBA tribute show, at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center.
- Late December: the Denpasar Festival (Denfest) is usually held in central Denpasar. The 2025 edition ran 20–23 December with free entry; 2026 dates have not been announced.
New Year's Eve
Beach clubs, hotels and restaurants already list 31 December events, including the Finns NYE Festival (30–31 December) in Canggu, Potato Head's party in Seminyak with a DJ set from The Avalanches, and Carl Cox, Nic Fanciulli and Prospa at Savaya. Do not count on public fireworks. For New Year's Eve 2025, Denpasar police refused permits for fireworks, concerts and large gatherings in Denpasar and parts of southern Badung, and GWK Cultural Park replaced its fireworks with a laser show. No policy on fireworks for this year's New Year's Eve had been published by early November 2026, so any venue countdown depends on permits. For tickets and the full lineup, browse the calendar of Bali events and parties.
Best things to do in Bali in December
Plan outdoor trips for the morning, keep one flexible day for anything on the water and have an indoor fallback for the afternoons. These 11 activities make the most of the month, each with a practical tip. For year-round ideas, see the list of unique things to do in Bali, or build a route from the best day trips from Seminyak.
01See the waterfalls at full flow
Rain feeds Bali's waterfalls, and flow is strongest from December to March. Tegenungan and Tibumana are the easy picks near Ubud. Sekumpul in North Bali is bigger and takes more effort, with hundreds of steep steps and a compulsory local guide beyond the viewpoint. The trade-off is brown water, slippery steps and sites that can close on short notice after heavy rain.
Go in the morning and stay out of the pools when the water is high. A waterfall and swing day tour from Ubud or a North Bali waterfalls trip saves the driving. For more options, see North Bali's most beautiful waterfalls. Fake roadside ticket counters have been reported near Sekumpul, so pay only at the official entrance.
02Walk the rice terraces at their greenest
Farmers plant the first rice crop as the rains arrive in November and December, so the terraces turn green again. Each plot runs on its own schedule, so a flooded, freshly planted field can sit next to one that is already tall. Jatiluwih, part of Bali's UNESCO-listed subak landscape, is the showpiece. Tegallalang, north of Ubud, is closer and busier.
Walk early, before the afternoon clouds build, and expect muddy paths. A Jatiluwih, Ulun Danu Beratan and Tanah Lot day tour pairs the terraces with the lake temple, while a Tegallalang and Monkey Forest tour stays close to Ubud.
At a glance
Walk the rice terraces at their greenest
03Raft the Ayung River
Higher wet-season water makes the Ayung River near Ubud faster and more exciting from December to March. Trips run all year, so this is one of the few adventure activities that December improves rather than spoils. The flip side is that operators may cancel after very heavy rain.
Choose a morning departure and pack a full change of clothes. Families with young children may prefer the gentler dry-season river; either way, check the operator's age limits before booking an Ayung River white-water rafting trip. Getting soaked is part of the deal, so a passing shower barely matters.
04Climb Mount Batur for sunrise, if the forecast is clear
The sunrise trek runs year-round, but wet-season mornings can bring cloud and fog that hide the view. BKSDA Bali grades the climb itself easy to moderate: about 1.5–2 hours to the 1,717 m summit on a sandy trail that turns slippery, especially on the way down. On 22 October 2026, Batur was at alert Level I (Normal); check the current level before you book.
Check the forecast the evening before, wear shoes with real grip and bring a warm layer, since nights around Kintamani drop to roughly 14–17°C. Book a Mount Batur sunrise trek (packages normally include the trail fee), or switch to a Kintamani bike tour if the summit is lost in cloud.
At a glance
Climb Mount Batur for sunrise, if the forecast is clear
05Take a Balinese cooking class
A cooking class is the classic rainproof plan. At Paon Bali, the day starts at the Ubud market, then moves to a family kitchen in a village just outside town. Pickup is free in the Ubud area.
Two sessions run each day: the morning class from 8:30 AM and the afternoon class from 3:30 PM. In December, the morning class is the safer bet, since wet-season forecasts typically put the rain in the afternoon. The cooking itself happens indoors, so a downpour only adds to the atmosphere.
At a glance
Take a Balinese cooking class
06Spend a wet afternoon at an Ubud spa
Afternoon downpours are the cue for a massage or a long spa ritual. Ubud has a wide choice, from simple day spas in town to resort spas above the river valleys. Few places make a tropical storm more pleasant than a treatment room with rain drumming outside.
Book ahead for the holiday weeks, when the island is at its fullest. A shortlist of the best spas in Ubud covers treatments and settings, while Bali wellness retreats work for longer stays. For another rainy-afternoon plan, try a silver-making workshop in Ubud.
07Surf the east coast at Keramas and Sanur
For experienced surfers, December's west and northwest winds are good news, because they blow offshore on the east-facing breaks. Keramas, a reef break on the Gianyar coast, works best in the wet season. The reef off Sanur, reached by local boat, is shallow and sharp and only works on some days.
Both are reef waves for advanced surfers. Beginners can still take a surf lesson in Kuta, but expect choppier, onshore conditions and trash on the sand this month. Check the swell and tide forecasts before paying for a boat out to the Sanur reef.
08Day-trip to Nusa Penida when the sea allows
A day on Nusa Penida is possible in December, but plan it around the sea. Speedboat departures from Sanur are postponed in extreme weather, and BMKG rates small boats at risk once waves pass 1.25 m or wind passes 15 knots. Suspensions usually last one to three days and happen in both seasons.
Schedule the trip early in your stay, never the day before your flight home. A full-day Nusa Penida tour takes care of the logistics. Independent travelers can book a fast-boat ticket to Nusa Penida and budget for the IDR 25,000 island visitor fee. To plan your stops, see the top spots on Nusa Penida.
09Pick the right coast for a beach day
Beach days still work, but the coast matters. On the west-facing beaches from Jimbaran to Canggu, December brings onshore wind, rip currents and monsoon trash. Badung's crews hauled about 40 tons a day off these beaches in December 2025. The east-facing beaches of Sanur and Nusa Dua sit on the offshore side of the wind.
Wherever you go, swim only between the red-and-yellow flags where Balawista lifeguards patrol, and stay out of the water when the surf is rough. More detail is in the roundup of the best beaches in Bali, and families can mix in ideas from things to do in Bali with kids.
10Catch a sunset at a beach club, with a rain plan
December sunsets are hit-or-miss, but the beach clubs run a packed program, with DJ days at Savaya through the month and countdown parties on 31 December. A clear evening on the west coast is worth chasing, so watch the sky after lunch and decide late.
Reserve a table or daybed under cover rather than on open sand, and keep a dinner reservation inland as the fallback. Venue-by-venue picks are in the best beach clubs in Bali, and the calendar of Bali events and parties lists December lineups.
11Join a Christmas Mass in Palasari or Denpasar
Christmas in Bali has a distinctly local side. The Christmas Eve vigil in Palasari, a Catholic village in West Bali, takes place at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (Gereja Hati Kudus Yesus), with the congregation in Balinese dress. In Denpasar, the Holy Spirit Cathedral drew about 13,000 worshipers on Christmas Day 2025, and visitors from abroad attend as well.
Anyone is welcome to attend respectfully. Dress modestly and arrive early, since the cathedral had about 8,000 seats for that crowd. The 2026 Mass times have not been published yet, so check with the parish in mid-December before you set out.
At a glance
Join a Christmas Mass in Palasari or Denpasar
Where to stay in December
Base yourself in Ubud for culture, rice terraces, waterfalls and spa afternoons. Start with the best hotels in Ubud, or search hotels and villas in Ubud. For beaches, beach clubs and New Year's Eve parties, head south and compare stays in Seminyak. For late December, book early: last season, Badung hotels were full from 24 December into the first week of January.
What to pack
- A light rain jacket or poncho, plus a dry bag for your phone on boat days.
- Quick-dry clothes for the humidity, which sits around 81%.
- Sandals with grip, and closed shoes for Mount Batur and waterfall steps.
- Insect repellent with at least 20% DEET. Dengue cases usually rise from late November with the rains, so cover your skin as well.
- A warm layer for the highlands, where Kintamani nights drop to roughly 14–17°C.
- Sunscreen: there are still about six hours of sunshine on an average day.
More practical advice is in the Bali tips for first-timers.
Before you fly
Every foreign visitor pays Bali's tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person, once per trip, through the Love Bali website or app, or at counters at the airport and ports. The guide to the Bali arrival card and entry requirements walks through the rest of the paperwork, and the roundup of the best Bali apps lists what to download before you land.
The airport is at its busiest around 28 December and 2–3 January, so pre-book an airport transfer from Ngurah Rai rather than waiting in line for a ride. Set up an Indonesia eSIM before you leave. The CDC recommends hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines for most travelers to Indonesia and suggests travel health and medical evacuation insurance. Keep away from dogs, since rabies is present. See a doctor if a sudden fever lasts more than two days.
Bali in December: FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Bali?
Yes, if you want green landscapes, full waterfalls, spas and holiday parties, and you can plan around afternoon rain. Early December offers the best value. The period from 24 December into the first week of January is the most crowded and expensive stretch of the month.
Does it rain all day in Bali in December?
Usually not. Rain falls on roughly 16–22 days of the month, and it often comes as an afternoon or evening downpour. The long-term average is still about six hours of sunshine a day, though some years are far wetter: December 2024 brought about 2.6 times the normal rainfall.
What is the temperature in Bali in December?
On the coast, highs average about 30.8°C and lows about 25.3°C, with humidity around 81%. The sea is around 29°C. The highlands are cooler, with nights around Kintamani at roughly 14–17°C.
Is early or late December better for visiting Bali?
Early December is quieter and cheaper: Badung hotels ran at around 70% occupancy at the start of December 2025. Australian school holidays begin in mid-December. Then the 24–27 December domestic long weekend and New Year push hotels to near capacity, with New Year's Eve occupancy projected at about 97% last season.
Is Bali crowded and expensive at Christmas and New Year?
Yes. Last season, hotels in Badung were full from 24 December into the first week of January, and the airport handled an average of 70,438 passengers a day over the holiday period. One Seminyak villa charges about 32% more from 23 December to 6 January. Book flights and rooms as early as you can.
Is it safe to swim in Bali in December?
Swim with care. The west-facing beaches from Jimbaran to Canggu get onshore wind, rip currents and washed-up trash in December. Swim only between the red-and-yellow flags where Balawista lifeguards patrol, and stay out of the water when the surf is rough.
Can you visit Nusa Penida in December?
Yes, on calm days. Speedboat departures from Sanur are postponed in extreme weather, and BMKG considers small boats at risk once waves pass 1.25 m. Suspensions usually last one to three days, so keep the trip flexible and never plan it for the day before your flight.
What should I pack for Bali in December?
Pack a light rain jacket or poncho, quick-dry clothes, sandals with grip and closed shoes for treks. Add insect repellent with at least 20% DEET, a warm layer for the highlands and a dry bag for boat trips.
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