Which Airport Do You Fly Into for Bali?
You fly into Denpasar — I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), the only international airport in Bali, on the island’s south coast about 4 km from Kuta. There is no airport in Ubud, Canggu, Seminyak, or north Bali; every visitor lands at DPS and continues by road. The nearest airport to anywhere in Bali is DPS.
- DPS — the only Bali airport
- Denpasar / Ngurah Rai
- South Bali, ~4 km from Kuta
- 24 hours, 1 international terminal
DPS Is the Only Airport in Bali
Bali is a single island with a single commercial airport: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, IATA code DPS, named after a Balinese national hero. It’s often called “Denpasar airport” after the provincial capital, but it actually sits in Tuban, on the narrow neck of land between Kuta and Jimbaran in the far south of the island. Whether your booking says Denpasar, Ngurah Rai, Kuta, or simply “Bali,” it’s the same airport — DPS.
That one detail shapes every arrival: no matter where you’re staying, you land in the south and travel overland from there. Ubud, Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Lovina, Amed — none of them has its own airport. The only question that matters is how far your accommodation is from DPS, and the table below answers it for the areas most travellers head to first.
| Destination | Distance from DPS | Drive Time | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuta | 4 km | 15–30 min | South |
| Seminyak | 10 km | 30–55 min | South |
| Nusa Dua | 13 km | 30–55 min | South |
| Sanur | 16 km | 35–60 min | Southeast |
| Canggu | 16 km | 40–75 min | Southwest |
| Uluwatu | 23 km | 45–75 min | Bukit Peninsula |
| Ubud | 37 km | 60–105 min | Central |
| Lovina | 87 km | 140–190 min | North |
| Amed | 97 km | 150–210 min | East |
Distances and drive times are measured from DPS by road. Southern Bali times swing widely with traffic; the longer end reflects the 16:00–19:00 peak.
The Nearest Airport to Ubud, Canggu & the Rest of Bali
Search engines fill up with questions like “nearest airport to Ubud” or “closest airport to Canggu,” and the answer is always the same: DPS. There is no closer option, because it’s the island’s only airport. What actually changes is the drive time, so here’s the plain-language version:
- — Nearest airport to Ubud: DPS, about 37 km and 60–105 minutes by car through central Bali.
- — Nearest airport to Canggu: DPS, 16 km and 40–75 minutes via Sunset Road.
- — Nearest airport to Uluwatu / the Bukit: DPS, 23 km and 45–75 minutes.
- — Nearest airport to Seminyak: DPS, 10 km and 30–55 minutes.
- — Nearest airport to north Bali (Lovina, Munduk): still DPS — 2.5 to 3 hours over the mountains — though a few travellers arriving from Java approach via Banyuwangi instead (see below).
If your route page or hotel confirmation mentions a “nearest airport,” it’s referring to DPS every time. For the full breakdown of the airport itself — terminals, immigration, and facilities — see our Bali airport guide.
When Another Airport Might Come Up
DPS is the answer for essentially every Bali trip, but two other airports occasionally enter the conversation, so it’s worth knowing when they’re relevant — and when they’re a red herring.
Banyuwangi (BWX), East Java. This small airport sits across the Bali Strait on Java’s eastern tip. It only matters if you’re travelling overland between Java and Bali via the Gilimanuk–Ketapang ferry, or combining Bali with Ijen volcano. For a normal beach-and-villa Bali holiday, you would not fly into Banyuwangi.
Lombok (LOP). Lombok International Airport serves the neighbouring island of Lombok and the Gili Islands — not Bali. Travellers sometimes see it in flight searches because the islands are close, but arriving in Lombok for a Bali holiday means an extra fast-boat or a second flight. Fly into DPS for Bali; use Lombok only if Lombok or the Gilis are your actual destination.
In short: unless your itinerary specifically involves East Java or Lombok, book your flights to Denpasar (DPS) and everything else falls into place.
Getting from DPS to Your Accommodation
Because you always land in the south and travel overland, the part worth planning is the ride from the terminal to your hotel or villa — especially after a long-haul flight or a late-night landing. You have a few options: a metered taxi from the official counter, a Grab or Gojek picked up from the designated ride-hail zone, or a pre-booked private transfer where a driver meets you at arrivals with your name on a board.
For most first-time arrivals, a private airport transfer is the smoothest choice: the price is fixed in advance, the driver tracks your flight, and there’s no negotiating with touts at the exit. Fares start at $95 to the nearest zones and are listed route by route on our Bali airport transfer price list. If you’re planning to explore beyond your hotel, the same service extends to a Bali private driver for full-day touring, and heading to the cultural heart of the island there’s a dedicated airport transfer to Ubud. New to landing at DPS? The step-by-step Bali airport transfer guide covers immigration, baggage, and exactly where to meet your driver.