When to go · Month by month
Bali in March: weather, crowds, prices and what to know
March is the month of the switch. The rains drop markedly, the sun returns, the rice fields are still very green and the crowds stay low. It is also the month of Nyepi, the Balinese new year: a whole day of silence, airport closed. An interesting month, provided you fit your flight dates around the Balinese calendar.
- Updated on
- Verdict: transition
- 6 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
The month at a glance
- Temperatures: 31.0 °C average high, 28.0 °C mean, 25.0 °C average low (1991–2020 normals, Ngurah Rai airport).
- Rain: 213.9 mm on average over the month, spread over 13.3 rainy days.
- Crowds: low overall, with the end of the French winter vacations in early March.
- Verdict: the best month to combine green rice fields, few people and a living culture with Nyepi; to be avoided if your dates are not flexible around the day of silence.
Should you come to Bali in March? Yes, it is a good compromise: the rains recede (213.9 mm over 13.3 days on average), the rice fields stay green and the crowds are low. The only constraint: Nyepi, which generally falls in March and closes the airport for 24 hours. Check its date before booking.
In March, Bali gradually comes out of the rainy season. Showers remain frequent at the start of the month, rarer at the end. The general calendar of the seasons is in our best time to visit Bali guide; this page details March, figures and Nyepi included.
March weather, in figures
March gets on average 213.9 mm of rain over 13.3 days at the airport, markedly less than February. It is 31.0 °C in the afternoon and 25.0 °C at night. Sunshine rises to 222.1 hours over the month.
| Normal | February | March (this month) | April |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 30.9 °C | 31.0 °C | 31.0 °C |
| Mean temperature | 27.9 °C | 28.0 °C | 28.1 °C |
| Average low | 25.0 °C | 25.0 °C | 25.1 °C |
| Rain | 298.7 mm | 213.9 mm | 114.5 mm |
| Rainy days | 16.5 | 13.3 | 8.8 |
| Sunshine | 190.4 h | 222.1 h | 237.9 h |
Mornings are often clear, with storms in the late afternoon, especially in the first half of the month. Gray, rainy days in a row remain possible, particularly in Ubud and the highlands. The south and the east coast clear up faster.
Compared with February (298.7 mm, 16.5 days), March loses a little over a quarter of its rain. April continues the decline with 114.5 mm and 8.8 days: it is the start of the dry season.
| Month | High °C | Rain mm | Days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Bali in January | 30.9 | 388.4 | 18.8 | Rainy |
| February: Bali in February | 30.9 | 298.7 | 16.5 | Rainy |
| MarchThis page | 31.0 | 213.9 | 13.3 | Transition |
| April: Bali in April | 31.0 | 114.5 | 8.8 | Compromise |
| May: Bali in May | 30.5 | 72.8 | 6.5 | Balanced |
| June: Bali in June | 29.8 | 50.8 | 4.7 | Dry |
| July: Bali in July | 29.0 | 29.7 | 3.3 | Crowded |
| August: Bali in August | 29.1 | 16.1 | 1.9 | Crowded |
| September: Bali in September | 30.0 | 40.7 | 2.8 | Dry |
| October: Bali in October | 31.0 | 67.9 | 4.8 | Favorable |
| November: Bali in November | 31.6 | 149.4 | 10.3 | Transition |
| December: Bali in December | 30.8 | 299.3 | 15.9 | Rainy |
What March changes on the ground
The sea calms down gradually but stays variable. The rice fields are green, often close to harvest in some valleys. The paths dry out at the end of the month. Roads stay slippery after storms, and the waterfalls still have a lot of water.
- Swimming: waves still strong on some days on the west coast. Sanur, Amed and the sheltered beaches of the Bukit are safer.
- Snorkeling and diving: visibility improving as the month goes on. Amed and Tulamben are reliable; Nusa Penida still depends on the state of the sea.
- Surf: a transition season. The east coast still works, the Bukit starts to wake up at the end of the month depending on the swells.
- Rice fields: very green, with golden ears and first harvests in some valleys, according to the subak calendar.
- Hikes: Batur clears more often at sunrise. Agung remains for trained walkers, with a guide, and can be closed during major ceremonies. The walks in Sidemen are very beautiful.
- Roads and waterfalls: take care after storms; powerful waterfalls, slippery stairs.
Crowds and prices in March
March is part of the low season: low visitor numbers, available accommodation, prices at the bottom of the annual range. The French winter vacations end in early March. Around Nyepi, hotels near the airport and in the south fill up with travelers stuck by the closure.
Discounts on stays of several nights are common, and villas are easier to negotiate than in summer. On the day of Nyepi, your accommodation charges the night normally and generally provides meals, sometimes for an extra charge: ask before booking.
Orders of magnitude by profile are in the Bali travel budget guide. To simulate your stay, use the budget calculator.
March events: Nyepi
Nyepi, the Balinese new year, generally falls in March. Its date follows the Balinese calendar and is announced by the authorities; in 2027, it is expected in early March, official date to be confirmed. For 24 hours, the airport does not operate and nobody moves around.
- The days before: Melasti purification ceremonies, with processions to the sea or to springs.
- The evening before: ogoh-ogoh parades, large demon effigies carried through the streets and then burned. It is the most spectacular moment.
- The day itself, from one morning to the next: silence, no visible light, no traffic, no flights. Visitors stay in their accommodation. In some years, mobile internet has also been cut.
What to do in Bali in March
March lends itself to rice fields, walks and culture: the Sidemen valley, the terraces around Ubud, the ogoh-ogoh parades on the eve of Nyepi, diving in Amed. At the start of the month, keep a rain plan for the afternoons.
- Sidemen: a walk in the rice fields facing Agung, when the valley is at its greenest. See Sidemen.
- Ubud: the Tegalalang terraces early in the morning, Jatiluwih as a day trip, dances in the evening. See Ubud.
- Eve of Nyepi: watch the ogoh-ogoh parades in a village or in Ubud, keeping your distance from the bearers.
- Amed: snorkeling from the beach, on a coast that dries out faster than the rest of the island.
Who March is the right month for
March suits lovers of culture, green landscapes and quiet, as well as small budgets. It suits those whose flights cannot be changed, or who want a calm, clear sea from day one, less well.
Families
A good month outside French school vacations, with fewer people. Children often love Nyepi for the ogoh-ogoh, provided you plan for the day indoors.
Surfers
Transition: east coast at the start of the month, first sessions on the Bukit at the end of the month depending on the swells.
Divers
Amed and Tulamben are good options. Nusa Penida improves but remains weather-dependent.
Hikers
The walks in Sidemen and Ubud are very beautiful. Batur clears more often; Agung requires a guide and stable weather.
Small budgets
Low season: low prices and negotiable rooms, except around Nyepi near the airport.
Honeymoon
A villa in the rice fields of Sidemen or Ubud, with a Nyepi night under a sky without lights: a rare memory, if you like quiet.
The 10-day itinerary goes through Ubud and Sidemen; the transfer between the two is detailed in Ubud → Sidemen. For an in-between-season suitcase, see the packing list.
Frequently asked questions
Should you come to Bali in March?
Yes, if your dates avoid arriving or leaving on the day of Nyepi. March combines decreasing rain, green rice fields, low crowds and low prices.
What is the weather like in Bali in March?
Hot, with decreasing showers: 31.0 °C average high, 25.0 °C average low, 213.9 mm of rain over 13.3 days on average at the airport.
Is March still the rainy season in Bali?
Yes, it is the end of the rainy season, which runs from about November to March. Showers are less frequent than in January and February, especially at the end of the month.
When does Nyepi fall?
Generally in March, on a date that follows the Balinese calendar and is announced by the authorities. In 2027, Nyepi is expected in early March, official date to be confirmed. The airport closes for 24 hours.
Where to stay in Bali in March?
Sidemen and Ubud for the rice fields at their greenest, Amed for the sea. On the day of Nyepi, choose a place where you feel good shut in: garden, pool, meals provided.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 17, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
