How To Spend New Year's Eve In Bali

As Indonesia’s frontrunner in tourism, Bali still shines the brightest and booms the loudest during New Year’s. Whether you want to conclude the year trashed, tipsy, sober or even reflective, Bali’s wide array of experiences will have something just right for you. Read our guide on how to spend New Year’s Eve in Bali.

Make the last supper counts

Bali has numerous great restaurants to have a perfect last meal of the year. Fancy restaurants like Merah Putih and Metis will not only bring scrumptious courses to your table, they bring in the party too. If you prefer a quieter, more intimate place to welcome the new year, head to Ubud and feast on the NYE’s specials accompanied by cultural performances at Indus Restaurant or Bridges.

Merah Putih, Jalan Petitenget, Kerobokan Kelod, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 8465950

MÉTIS, Kerobokan Kelod, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 4737888

Indus Restaurant, Kedewatan, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 977684

bridges Bali Restaurant Ubud, Sayan, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 970095

Go party-hopping along Kuta

In a vibrant island where parties rise up as surely as the moon after the sun goes down, New Year’s Eve calls for a wilder measure. If you need house music and bottomless booze to march in the new year, simply head to Kuta. The whole area from Kuta, Legian, to Seminyak and Petitenget will transform into an extensive party ground. Kuta and Legian will be the places to host the maddest raves, and you can feel the atmosphere changing slightly to a more high-end vibe when you reach Seminyak. And the good news is you can experience it all. Just walk along the beach-side road and stop by the spots that entice you. Go on until the sun rises again, the start of a new day in the new year.

Tourists enjoy the sunset at a bar on Kuta beach in Seminyak, Bali

Watch fireworks by the Jimbaran Beach

What’s New Year’s Eve without the dramatic fireworks filling in the night sky? In Jimbaran Bay, you can watch the festive fireworks show while munching on fresh seafood in an outdoor beach setting. Feet on the sand, eyes up to the sky, surrounded by loved ones, you’ll wish the night never ends.

1. Attend a fancy masquerade ball

If you prefer cocktails over beer, gown and suit over casual beach wear and canapés over fries, head to Karma Beach Club for an extravagant masquerade ball on NYE. From cocktail party to dinner, followed by midnight countdown, you can usher in the new year in style. Throw in the blissful view of the private beach, and you’ve got the fanciest NYE you’ll ever experience.

Karma Beach Bali, Ungasan, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia, +62361 8482200

A jazzy evening in Ubud

Bali’s not all beach and rave parties. If you’re looking for a more soulful atmosphere for NYE, you can skip the Kuta nightclubs and head to the island’s art and culture capital Ubud. Along the streets, you’ll find bars and restaurants trumpeting their passionate but cultured event, from traditional dance and music shows to jazz music performance or Latin dance. Ubud also offers a more intimate scene to enjoy a low-key romantic or family dinner.

2. Celebrate the locals’ way in Denpasar

Head to the area surrounding Puputan Badung Park, in Denpasar city center, to celebrate the locals’ way. Despite being the province’s capital, Denpasar is a much less touristy town just 15 minutes away from Kuta. Starting with prayers and cultural parades, the night culminates in an exuberant fireworks show and shaking hands with strangers, wishing them a wonderful year ahead. Learn to say “Selamat Tahun Baru” (Happy New Year) and get ready to blend with locals for an authentic Balinese celebration.

New Year in Denpasar, Bali |© Everyone Sinks Starco / Flickr

Watch traditional performances in Sanur

While Kuta is pounding with EDM and submerged in booze, the beach town of Sanur remains as sober as it has ever been. NYE picks the neighborhood up to a more lively note than usual though, with cultural performances, from traditional dance, masks, to gamelan music all night long. In Sanur, the New Year’s celebration culminates in the glorious sunrise. Plenty of bars and restaurants that line up the coastline will also have special events to keep you entertained until the first rays of the new year arrive.

Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.

Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>

All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.