Tourists planning their vacations in Bali must leave plenty of time to travel to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
While apps like GoogleMaps and Waze give pretty accurate travel times, they should not be relied upon absolutely; with so much traffic on the roads, it’s essential to leave extra time.
Most international flights recommend that passengers check in three hours before take off, but most seasoned travellers prefer to rock up around the 2-hour mark.
Either way, regardless of the time needed at the airport, it is the amount of time given to travel from your accommodation back to Bali Airport that is the real focus point.
In the coming weeks, throughout Indonesia’s Hari Raya Eid- al-Fitr holiday, hundreds of thousands more travelers will be coming in and out of Bali Airport at both the international and domestic terminals.
Tourist should factor in there being far more vehicles on the roads in mid-April as Indonesia celebrates the biggest festival of the calendar year.
In 2024, Eid al-Fitr falls on April 9th and April 10th. The national holiday of Lebaran, also known as Hari Raya Eid al-Fitr, will be observed between April 9th and April 15th and the weekends on either side.
The General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International, Handy Heryudhitiawan, told reporters that the airport management teams are braced and ready to welcome and support the crowds of Eid al-Fitr travelers.
He said, “For this reason, from April 3rd until April 19th, 2024, together with all stakeholders in the airport environment, we will organise an integrated air transport post for Eid al-Fitr 1445 H.”
During the Eid al-Fitr festival Bali Airport is set to serve 473,000 domestic passengers and 538,000 international passengers, meaning the number of passengers passing through Bali Airport during this two week window will surpass one million.
Increased flight services have been booked to ensure that all travelers can get to where they want and need to be.
Heryudhitiawan said, “We’ve also recorded requests for extra flights for 216 schedules consisting of 108 more arrival schedules and 108 departure schooled with the airlines Indonesia Air Asia, Citilink Indonesia, Lion Air, Super Air, Jet, and Wings Air.”
Tourists in Bali can expect to experience a little of the Eid al-Fitr magic while on vacation.
There will be special events to mark the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, with epic feasts, buffets, and set menus available at many of Bali’s most loved eateries.
While Bali is a majority Balinese Hindu province, and many tourists visit the island to explore the iconic temples, culture-curious tourists should also explore some of the Islamic influence on the island.
One of the most beautiful mosques in Bali is the Al-Hikmah Mosque on Jalan Soka in East Denpasar.
The stunning building is one of the oldest mosques in Bali and spans over 800 square meters of land. The entrance to the complex is marked by an ancient and ornately carved Balinese gate.
The interior of the mosque is also adorned with Balinese and Javanese carvings.
Fahrozi Firdaus, the secretary of the Al Hikman Mosque, told reporters, “This mosque was built in Balinese style to promote local wisdom so that there are no clashes between Muslim families and the residents here; the arrival of Islam is accepted in society.”
He added, “Balinese architecture indicated in Islam that there is no conflict between culture and religion. In fact, religion must be supported by existing culture.”
As the is case when visiting any sacred space or religious building anywhere in the world but especially in Bali, visitors to mosques and temples are implored to adhere to dress codes and behaviour etiquettes.
