good to know before you plan
November empties this coast. The dry season is over, the rains are back as heavy afternoon showers, and room rates fall to their annual floor of around $110 to $220 per person for the week.
What is left is a beach with space on it and the conditions that made the space: debris returns with the rain and the swell turns messy. Over seven days that is a long time to spend hoping. We would take November here for the nightlife and the prices, and it is not the month we choose for surfing.
Bali in November: A 7-Day Kuta and Legian Itinerary
November empties this coast. The dry season is over, the rains are back as heavy afternoon showers, and the room rates fall to their annual floor. What is left is a beach with space on it, bars that still fill every night, and prices that make a longer stay affordable.
The trade is the water and the sand. As the rains build, the debris that this stretch collects in the wet season starts appearing after heavy downpours, and the swell direction shifts away from its dry-season best. Mornings are usually clear and the beach is at its best then. If your holiday is built around the evening rather than the afternoon, November barely costs you anything.
The emptiest beach of the year, at the lowest price of the year
November
Week 3
day by day
One hotel, everything walkable. In the wet season, not needing a vehicle to reach dinner is the single most useful thing about staying here.
Day 1: Arrive, check in, out for the evening. November nights are unaffected by the rain.
Day 2: Surf lesson at first light while the water is cleanest.
Day 3: Waterbom Bali. Empty this month, and an outdoor water park in the rain matters less than you would think.
Day 4: Nothing until the evening. Massage, long lunch, then Jalan Legian.
Day 5: Uluwatu for the temple and the Kecak dance. Leave early, the wet road south is slow.
Day 6: Second surf lesson, or let the weather choose. Best dinner of the trip in the evening.
Day 7: Checkout, airport, extra time for traffic.
Where to Eat
Seminyak for the widest range of restaurants
Canggu for cafés, brunch and international food
Jimbaran for fresh seafood by the beach
Sanur for relaxed local and international dining
Uluwatu for cliffside restaurants and sunset venues
Local warungs throughout the region for Balinese favourites
Where to Stay
Kuta Beach: best for beachfront access.
Jalan Legian: best for nightlife and shops.
Poppies Lanes: best for budget guesthouses.
Tuban: best for airport proximity.
Jalan Pantai Kuta: best for beach and malls.
Legian border: best for a calmer base.
best Things to Do
Watch sunset from the beaches of Seminyak or Canggu
Explore Uluwatu’s cliffs and beaches
Visit Uluwatu Temple and watch a Kecak performance
Relax on the beaches of Nusa Dua or Sanur
Enjoy a seafood dinner in Jimbaran. Surf or take a beginner surf lesson
Explore cafés, boutiques and local markets
Spend a day discovering the Bukit Peninsula.
The cheapest week of the year on this coast
Book the room first, because November rates are the lowest of the year and the difference between a basic hotel and a beachfront one is at its narrowest right now. Activities need almost no forward planning this month, though the morning surf slot is worth reserving the day before, since that is when the water is cleanest. A car matters least here of anywhere in Bali, which is exactly why Kuta handles the wet season better than most areas. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Kuta in November?
The rains return. Expect 27 to 31 degrees, rising humidity, and heavy afternoon showers that become more regular through the month. Mornings are usually the clearest part of the day. The sea is warm and the swell shifts away from its dry-season direction, though beginner conditions remain workable.
Is November a bad month for Bali beaches?
For the west coast, it is the start of the difficult period. Heavy rain brings debris onto Kuta and Legian and the swell turns messier. The east coast, Sanur and Nusa Dua, is more sheltered and holds up better through the wet season. Mornings are consistently cleaner than afternoons wherever you are.
Is Kuta nightlife still good in November?
Yes. Kuta and Legian are among the few parts of Bali where the wet season barely registers after dark, because the nightlife is indoors and the crowd that comes for it comes year-round. The strip runs every night. What November changes is the price of your room and the state of the beach, not the atmosphere on Jalan Legian.