How to make friends in Bali
Meeting people in Bali is easy; keeping friends is the real challenge, because so many people are only passing through. The trick is to mix: join the open, sociable scene for quick connections, and build a few regular habits with people who are staying as long as you are.
Why friendships feel different on the island
Bali brings together very different people, and knowing who you are meeting helps:
- Travellers stay days or weeks. Open and easy to meet, but they leave soon.
- Remote workers and digital nomads stay a few weeks to a few months, often around coworking spaces.
- Expats and long-term residents have settled here, with families, businesses or both. Their circles are more stable but also more closed.
- Balinese locals, whose island it is, with their own community life and ceremonies.
The constant coming and going can make you feel lonely even when you meet new people every day. Having goodbyes often is normal here, not a sign that something is wrong.
Choose your area for the life you want
- Canggu and Pererenan: surf, cafés, coworking and a busy social life.
- Ubud: greener and quieter, with yoga, wellness, art and a slower rhythm.
- Uluwatu: surf, cliffs and beaches, more spread out.
- Sanur: calmer, with many families and long-term residents.
- Seminyak: restaurants, shops and nightlife.
Where you stay shapes who you meet. Spending your first weeks in the area that matches your interests saves a lot of scooter time.
Places where friendships actually start
- Surf lessons and surf groups: same break, same mornings, same faces.
- Yoga, fitness and sport classes: regular classes beat one-off retreats for meeting people.
- Coworking spaces: many organise talks, lunches and community events for members.
- Language classes: learning some Indonesian also brings you closer to local life.
- Volunteering with local organisations, beach clean-ups and community projects.
Make friends who stay
- Build a weekly routine: the same class, the same café, the same Sunday plan.
- Ask how long people are staying. It is a normal question here, and it helps you invest in the right friendships.
- Organise something simple: a sunset at the beach, a dinner, a day trip. Hosts become the centre of a group.
- Keep in touch with friends who leave: Bali friendships often continue elsewhere.
Practical tips for your first weeks
- Most people get around by scooter. Only ride with the right licence, a helmet and insurance, and if you are not confident, use ride-hailing apps instead.
- The rainy season usually runs from around November to March: plan indoor alternatives.
- Respect ceremonies and temples: they are part of daily life, not a backdrop.
Where IRLY fits in
IRLY helps you meet people around what you like and then meet in real life: join communities by topic, find or create activities (a surf session, a yoga class, a dinner) and talk in the group chat first. The app also has a guide to Bali’s areas. It is one way among others; the habits above are what turn meetings into friendships.