01January–March
The wettest stretch of the year, with January and February bringing the most consistent rain and occasionally rougher seas, particularly affecting west coast diving and boat crossings. March brings Nyepi, the island-wide Day of Silence (see our festivals guide) — a date worth planning around rather than being caught out by, since flights and daily life stop entirely for 24 hours.
02April–June
The transition into dry season, and arguably the sweet spot for a lot of travellers — reliably good weather without June's approaching peak-season crowds and pricing. April and May in particular offer some of the best value-to-weather ratio of the whole year.
03July–August
Peak season, driven heavily by the Australian and European summer holiday calendars — the driest, most reliable weather of the year, paired with the highest prices and biggest crowds at every headline attraction. Book well ahead if travelling in this window; see our budget guide for how pricing shifts.
04September–November
September holds onto much of the dry season's good weather with thinner crowds than the July–August peak, making it a strong alternative for the same reasons April–May works well. By October and into November, wet season begins reasserting itself gradually rather than abruptly.
05December
A second peak-season spike around Christmas and New Year, despite sitting within the wetter part of the year — expect a mix of tropical downpours and high-season pricing and crowds simultaneously, a combination worth being prepared for if this is your only available travel window.
06Choosing your window
If you have flexibility, April–June or September offer the best balance of good weather, lighter crowds and reasonable pricing. See our full best time to visit guide for the broader dry/wet season mechanics behind these month-by-month patterns.