good to know before you plan
October is a genuinely good month here and almost nobody talks about it. You get most of September's conditions at a lower price with fewer people again.
The honest risk is the last week. The wet season can arrive quickly, and there is a real difference between the first and final weeks of the month. If your dates are early you are getting a bargain. If they are late, read the January and February pages on this site as well, because that is closer to what you will find.
Bali in October: A 7-Day Kuta and Legian Itinerary
October is the quiet month on this coast. High season is long gone, the September bargain hunters have left, and the wet-season crowd has not arrived. The beach is warm and mostly clean, the surf is still working, and the rooms are at their lowest since April.
What changes through the month is the sky. The first two or three weeks are typically dry and clear, then the afternoon showers begin returning towards the end. Those first showers are short and the beach recovers quickly from them, so October rarely has the debris problem that January and February bring. It is the last of the good beach weather at close to the lowest price of the year.
Warm, empty and cheap before the rain arrives
October
Week 3
day by day
One hotel, everything on foot. October traffic is light, which makes the Uluwatu run the easiest it is all year.
Day 1: Arrive, check in, sunset on the beach.
Day 2: Surf lesson at first light.
Day 3: Waterbom Bali. October is the emptiest it gets with the sun still out.
Day 4: Slow day. Massage, long lunch, Jalan Legian after dark.
Day 5: Uluwatu for the temple and the Kecak dance. The easiest drive of the year.
Day 6: Second surf lesson, beach afternoon, best dinner of the trip.
Day 7: Last swim, checkout, airport.
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 last cheap month with a dry beach
Compare hotel prices while they sit near their yearly low with the weather still holding, because October is one of the best value windows on the calendar. Surf lessons and Waterbom are easy to arrange a day out. A car is only needed for the Uluwatu run, and October traffic makes that the easiest it will be all year, so it is worth doing properly. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Kuta in October?
Warm and mostly dry, with rain returning late. The first two to three weeks are typically clear at around 27 to 31 degrees with light wind, then short afternoon showers begin appearing towards the end of the month. The sea is warm and the beach has not yet started collecting the wet-season debris.
Is Bali quiet in October?
It is one of the quietest months with good weather. The high-season crowds left in August, the September value travellers have gone, and the wet season has not yet started attracting the budget crowd. Beaches, restaurants and popular attractions are all noticeably emptier than at any point since April.
Can you still surf in Bali in October?
Yes. The west-coast swell that Kuta and Legian rely on continues through October, and the lighter wind of the shoulder months often makes conditions cleaner than in the windiest part of the dry season. As the wet season begins the swell direction shifts, which favours the east coast, but for beginner lessons this coast works year-round.