good to know before you plan
The first half of October is very good: dry weather, low prices, and the fewest people of any month with reliable sunshine. That is a rare combination and it lasts about two weeks.
The second half is the transition, with the first afternoon rains returning. At around $100 to $180 per person for five days it is one of the cheapest months with sunshine you can count on, provided you book the right fortnight. We would take early October over late September purely on price, because the weather is barely different.
Bali in October: A 5-Day Ubud Itinerary in the Quiet Shoulder
Five days is the sweet spot for one region of Bali, and this plan spends all of it on Ubud. October is mostly dry early in the month, with the first afternoon rains returning towards the end.
You stay in Ubud the whole time and use it as a hub: temples and rice terraces on the clear mornings, the Campuhan ridge at first light, a waterfall when the rivers are running, and the craft villages when the weather turns. Nothing is more than a short drive, so a shower costs you an hour, not a day.
Five quiet days in Ubud in the last of the dry season
October
Week 1
day by day
One base in Ubud for all five nights. Everything sits within about forty minutes, so the days go into the places rather than into transfers.
Day 1: Arrive, settle, eat well.
Day 2: Temples in the morning, unhurried.
Day 3: Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise, Tegalalang in the afternoon.
Day 4: Waterfall day. Rivers are low, so pick the bigger falls.
Day 5: Slow morning, then the airport.
Where to Eat
Central Ubud for the broadest dining selection
Penestanan for cafés and relaxed healthy dining
Tegallalang for restaurants overlooking rice fields
Local villages for traditional Balinese warungs
Ubud markets for casual local food and snacks
Where to Stay
Central Ubud: best for walkable sights.
Monkey Forest Road: best for shops and cafés.
Penestanan: best for a quieter base.
Sayan: best for valley views.
Nyuh Kuning: best for a village setting.
Tegallalang: best for rice terrace stays.
best Things to Do
Explore Ubud’s cultural centre
Walk through rice fields and terraces
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
See Tirta Empul and nearby temples
Walk the Campuhan Ridge
Attend a traditional Balinese dance performance
Join a cooking, craft or wellness class
Explore waterfalls and river valleys
Take a day trip into Bali’s central highlands.
The quietest month with dry weather
Compare hotel prices while they are still at post-season levels, because October is one of the cheapest months with reliable sunshine and the gap against July for the same room is substantial. Activities are easy to arrange a day or two out. A car with a driver is the right call for an Ubud week: the sites are spread wide, and if a late-October shower arrives you want the option to change plan without getting soaked on a scooter. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Bali in October?
Mostly dry, with the rains returning late in the month. The first two to three weeks are usually clear and warm at around 27 to 31 degrees, then short afternoon showers begin to appear and humidity rises. It is a transition month, so early October behaves like September and late October behaves like November.
Is October a good time to visit Bali?
The first half is very good: dry weather, low prices and the fewest people of any month with reliable sunshine. The second half is a gamble as the rains return. If your dates are flexible, weight them towards the first two weeks. If they are fixed late in the month, plan like it is the wet season and you will not be disappointed.
When does the rainy season start in Bali?
Usually late October or early November, though the exact timing varies year to year. The first rains arrive as short afternoon showers rather than all-day downpours, and build through November into the December to February peak. October is the transition, which is why the first and last weeks of it can feel like different seasons.