Denpasar

By Bemo

The bemo centre of Bali is here. Inconveniently, bemo terminals are scattered all around town, and transfers between them can be time and money consuming. The major ones are:

Batubulan
6 km northeast, for points central and east: Besakih, Candidasa, Kintamani, Klungkung, Padangbai, Ubud.
Tegal
to the west, for southern Bali: Kuta, Legian,Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Uluwatu.
Ubung
to the north, for points north and west: Gilimanuk, Negara, Singaraja, Tabanan.

Always ask a local for the normal price before getting in or expect to be charged a price up to ten times what it should be.

Don't forget that a bemo departs when it wants usually when it is "full enough", which can last for several hours, except in the early morning, where they are rather frequent.In any case, you won't find any bemo after 4PM.

By road
By road

Denpasar is centrally located and easily reached by car or taxi from the main tourist regions of south Bali. A trip from Kuta, Legian and Seminyak will take 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Sanur is just 15 minutes to the east and Ubud about 30 minutes to the north. [2012: Due to traffic, allow 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the airport from Ubud.] Tabanan is about 40 minutes to the northwest.

A pre-paid taxi from the airport will cost between Rp 70,000 and 100,000, depending on exactly where in Denpasar you are heading to.

By bus
By bus

The main bus terminal of Denpasar is Ubung, which is also a bemo terminal.

Most buses to and from Java depart from here.

To and from Surabaya, Java: expect to pay Rp 120,000 by eksekutif night bus, including the ferry trip between Banyuwangi and Gilimanuk, mineral water and a meal. Buses arrive in the Bungurasih bus terminal in Surabaya. Depart everyday 7pm, duration 10 hours.

Other bindings to and from most big cities in Java, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Semarang.

By train
By train

There is no train station in Denpasar, since there are actually no trains in Bali. But a travel agency in the Ubung bus terminal has an agreement with Kerata Api (http://kereta-api.co.id/), the Indonesian train company.

You can buy so-called "train tickets" to and from Surabaya, including a bus air-conditioned to Banyuwangi, and the ferry between Gilimanuk and Ketapang, and then a train from Banyuwangi to Surabaya. Price: Rp 154,000 weekend, Rp 139,000 weekday in bisnis no a/c in the train, or Rp 169,000 in eksekutif a/c. Those prices include a small commission of the travel agency. There are two services in each direction, each day:

10:30PM from Surabaya arrival 5:25AM in Banyuwangi, arrival approx noon in Denpasar.

9:15AM from Surabaya arrival 4:04PM in Banyuwangi, arrival approx 10:30PM in Denpasar.

4PM from Denpasar, train departing 10:25PM from Banyuwangi, arrival 5AM in Surabaya.

5AM from Denpasar, train departing 9AM from Banyuwangi, arrival 4PM in Surabaya.