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Bali Touristic

By Sista
how many airports in Bali | balitouristic.com

If you are flying to Bali on a regular commercial airline, there is one main passenger airport you need to know: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). It handles both international and domestic scheduled flights and is the airport normally meant when travellers, airlines, hotels, and booking sites refer to “Bali Airport” or “Denpasar Airport”.

Technically, Bali also has Letkol Wisnu Airport in Buleleng, North Bali, but it is not an alternative arrival airport for the normal scheduled commercial flights used by most visitors. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation lists both I Gusti Ngurah Rai and Letkol Wisnu in Bali.

For most travellers, then, the practical answer to how many airports in Bali is simple: plan your flight, arrival, and onward transport around DPS Airport. Once your flight is confirmed, the more useful question becomes how you will get from the airport to your first hotel, villa, harbour, or other destination.

your bali holiday dekstop

Quick Answer: How Many Airports in Bali Do Travellers Use?

For scheduled domestic and international passenger travel, DPS is Bali’s main commercial gateway.

Here is the distinction:

AirportLocationWhat Travellers Need to Know
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)Tuban, South BaliBali’s main airport for scheduled domestic and international flights
Letkol Wisnu AirportBuleleng, North BaliA smaller airport in North Bali; not the normal arrival point for visitors on scheduled commercial services

This matters when planning accommodation and transport. Seeing a hotel described as being in “Bali” does not mean it is close to the airport. Bali covers a large area, and your journey after landing depends much more on your actual destination than on the airport name.

If you already know where you are staying, you can arrange a pre-booked Bali airport transfer before arrival rather than working out your onward journey after collecting your luggage.

What Is the Bali Airport Name?

Bali’s main airport is officially I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, commonly shortened to Ngurah Rai International Airport. Its airport code is DPS.

That three-letter code is particularly useful when checking airline tickets, baggage tags, flight-tracking information, and booking confirmations. If your flight itinerary shows DPS, you are flying to Bali’s main airport. The airport’s official service documentation gives its name as I Gusti Ngurah Rai – Bali and its address in Tuban, Kuta District, Badung Regency.

Why Is It Called Denpasar Airport?

You may see several names while planning the same trip:

For normal travel planning, these references generally point to the same main airport.

The term Denpasar airport can be slightly confusing because the airport itself is in Tuban, Badung Regency, rather than central Denpasar. “Denpasar” remains widely associated with the airport through its DPS code and destination naming.

So, if one website says your flight arrives at Ngurah Rai while another describes the destination as Denpasar or Bali, check the airport code. If it says DPS, you are looking at the same airport.

Does Bali Use the Same Airport for Domestic and International Flights?

Yes. I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport handles both domestic and international passenger flights, with separate domestic and international terminal areas. The airport’s official website provides separate terminal information and flight guidance for the two categories.

Bali airport domestic and international arrivals concourse

This means you do not need to choose between a “Bali domestic airport” and a separate “Bali international airport” when booking a standard airline journey.

For example, someone flying into Bali from another Indonesian city and someone arriving directly from overseas can both land at DPS. Their arrival procedures differ, but their onward journeys begin from the same airport complex.

International Arrivals

International passengers generally need to complete the applicable immigration, baggage collection, and customs procedures before entering the public arrivals area.

Requirements can change depending on nationality, immigration rules, and current Indonesian entry regulations. Check official Indonesian immigration and customs information before departure rather than relying on an old travel guide or social media post.

Domestic Arrivals

Passengers arriving on domestic flights use the domestic side of the airport and do not go through international immigration procedures. If you are connecting through another Indonesian airport before Bali, check your airline itinerary carefully. Your flight into DPS may be treated as a domestic sector even though your overall journey started overseas.

For connecting itineraries, follow your airline’s instructions regarding baggage collection, terminal procedures, and onward check-in rather than assuming every connection works the same way.

Where Is DPS Airport in Bali?

Ngurah Rai International Airport is in Tuban in South Bali, close to the main tourism areas around Kuta and Jimbaran. The official airport address places it in Tuban, Kuta District, Badung Regency.

This southern location is important when choosing your first accommodation. Your hotel may use “Bali” in its address or marketing, but that tells you very little about the road journey from the airport. A property around South Bali and a resort in central or northern Bali can require very different onward travel plans.

Rather than asking only which hotel is “closest to Bali Airport”, check:

Traffic conditions can change significantly, so avoid planning a tight onward connection based only on distance in kilometres.

What Should You Do After Landing at Bali Airport?

Once you know that DPS is your arrival airport, plan the next stage before you fly. The best transport option depends on your destination, group size, luggage, budget, and how much organisation you want to handle on arrival.

Bali airport transfer with luggage

If You Have a Pre-Booked Driver

Keep your booking confirmation and driver’s contact details accessible on your phone. Before travelling, confirm what information your transfer provider needs, such as your flight number, arrival date, passenger count, luggage requirements, and final destination.

Also check the provider’s current meeting instructions. Airport pickup arrangements and designated meeting locations can change, so the instructions supplied for your booking should take priority over screenshots or old online guides.

If You Are Arranging Transport After Arrival

DPS has ground-transport options for passengers leaving the airport, but availability, pickup procedures, and prices can change.

Instead of choosing solely on the first price you see, consider:

For a short trip to accommodation near South Bali, arranging transport after arrival may be manageable. For a longer route, a family group, substantial luggage, or a late arrival, having the next step organised in advance can reduce the number of decisions you need to make at the terminal.

Planning Your Journey From DPS to Your First Destination

The airport is only the starting point. Your next destination determines how you should plan the rest of arrival day.

Kuta, Jimbaran, Seminyak, Nusa Dua and Other South Bali Areas

Many well-known resort areas are in southern Bali, the same broad part of the island as the airport. Do not assume that a short distance on the map guarantees a short journey, however. Road conditions and congestion vary throughout the day.

Use a current navigation estimate close to your travel date and leave extra time if you have a restaurant booking, tour departure, boat connection, or other fixed commitment after landing.

Ubud

Ubud is inland, north of the main South Bali resort zone, so it requires a longer road journey from DPS than nearby airport areas. If Ubud is your first stop, it is worth arranging the onward journey before you arrive, particularly if you have several bags or are travelling as a group. See the Bali Airport to Ubud transfer page for route-specific transport information.

Arrival at a hotel in Ubud after a Bali airport transfer

Avoid scheduling an important activity immediately after your expected arrival. Landing time is not the same as the time you will leave the airport: passengers may still need to complete arrival formalities, collect luggage, find their driver, and travel by road.

Sanur and Island Connections

If Bali is only the first stage of your journey and you plan to continue towards another island, confirm the departure point for your next transport separately. Do not treat your flight arrival time as a reliable basis for a tight boat or other fixed connection. Airport processing and Bali road traffic can both add uncertainty.

Where possible, build a practical buffer into the itinerary and check the latest departure requirements with the operator handling the next leg.

A Simple Bali Airport Arrival Checklist

Before your flight to DPS, save these details somewhere you can access without searching through multiple emails:

If you are travelling with family or friends, share the accommodation address and pickup information with at least one other person in the group. A screenshot or offline copy can also be useful if you cannot immediately access mobile data after landing.

So, Which Airport Should You Book for Bali?

For almost every international holidaymaker and domestic airline passenger visiting Bali, the airport to look for is I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

That is the key answer when researching how many airports in Bali: although another smaller airport exists in northern Bali, DPS is the island’s main airport for normal scheduled commercial passenger arrivals.

You may see it described as Bali Airport, Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar Airport, or simply DPS. Check the airport code on your ticket and you can avoid most naming confusion.

After that, focus on your actual arrival plan: confirm your accommodation address, understand where it sits on the island, and decide how you will travel there from the airport.

If you prefer to have the first road journey arranged before you fly, you can book your airport pickup with Bali Touristic and provide your flight and destination details in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many international airports are there in Bali?

For normal scheduled international passenger travel, Bali uses I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) as its international gateway. This is the airport used by international visitors flying directly to Bali.

Is Bali Airport the same as Denpasar Airport?

Yes, in normal travel searches, “Bali Airport” and “Denpasar Airport” usually refer to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, airport code DPS. The airport itself is located in Tuban, Badung Regency rather than central Denpasar.

What airport should I fly into for Bali?

Look for DPS – I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport when booking a normal commercial flight to Bali. This applies to both international arrivals and domestic flights from other Indonesian cities.

Are the domestic and international airports in Bali separate?

No. DPS handles both domestic and international flights within the same airport complex, with separate domestic and international terminal areas. Check your airline itinerary and terminal information for the flight you are taking.

What is the airport closest to Bali?

If by “Bali” you mean the island itself, DPS is already located on Bali. You do not need to fly to another island and then travel to Bali by road or boat when a suitable flight to DPS is available.

If you mean the airport closest to a particular Bali destination, the answer depends on where you are staying. For the vast majority of visitors arriving by scheduled airline, DPS remains the relevant airport.

Is there an airport in North Bali?

Yes. Letkol Wisnu Airport is located in Buleleng Regency in northern Bali and is listed by Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. However, travellers should not treat it as an alternative to DPS for normal scheduled commercial arrivals unless a specific flight or aviation operator explicitly uses it.

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