Floods in Bali: Risk Areas and What Tourists Should Do

On 10 September 2025, heavy overnight rain triggered flooding at 163 locations across Bali, 81 of them in Denpasar, and at least 17 people died according to BPBD figures cited by Mongabay as of 14 September. Since then, the tourist areas of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak have flooded twice more. If you are visiting between December and March, here is how to prepare.

Areas that keep flooding

• Central Denpasar. Kumbasari and Badung markets on the Badung River were hit hardest in September 2025. Five days later BPBD Bali logged new flooding around Kreneng market, Monang-maning, Jl. Wibisana, Panjer and Jl. Gajah Mada.
• Kuta, Legian, Seminyak. Sunset Road, the Ngurah Rai Bypass, Kuta and Seminyak were still under water at midday on 10 September 2025. On 13-14 December 2025 waist-deep water filled Jl. Kunti in Seminyak when the Tukad Mati river overflowed, and some tourists were moved out of their hotels. On 24-25 February 2026, 30-50 cm floods returned to Seminyak, Legian and Jimbaran, spreading to Kartika Plaza, Wana Segara and Jl. Samudra; several hotels evacuated guests after water entered lobbies and rooms.
• Canggu. Jl. Pantai Berawa was among the flood points reported by BPBD Bali on 15 September 2025.
• Beyond Denpasar and Badung. Tabanan, Jembrana and Gianyar also logged dozens of flood points in September 2025; in the highlands the bigger risks are landslides and fallen trees.

The 2026/27 rainy season, according to BMKG

Bali's climatology station expects a late start. About 15% of the island begins its rainy season in late November 2026, the other 85% in December. Most areas peak in February 2027, while central Bali peaks in January. The season is forecast to be shorter, but BMKG warns that rain may fall harder in short bursts. For scale, January 2026 alone saw 495 disaster incidents in Bali, including 214 fallen trees and 106 landslides.

Before you travel

• Choose your room carefully. In Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, ground-floor rooms near drains or rivers are the most exposed. Ask the hotel whether it flooded in December 2025 or February 2026. If you are still deciding where to stay, AccessiaPass has hotel vouchers on higher ground, such as Ungasan, Uluwatu or Ubud, that are worth comparing.
• Check your insurance. Make sure it covers weather-related flight delays or missed flights, hotel cancellations and water-damaged belongings. What to look for is in our Bali travel insurance guide.
• Install the Info BMKG app and turn on early weather warnings for Bali.
• Save the emergency number 112 and your hotel reception's number.

When heavy rain hits

• Do not ride a scooter through floodwater. Currents on the road can be strong, and lifted drain covers are invisible under murky water.
• Postpone non-urgent trips until the water drops. In September 2025 and February 2026 most main-road flooding cleared within hours, not days.
• Stay away from riverbanks and slopes. The markets on the Badung River now have an early warning system on the bridges, but smaller rivers do not.
• Follow official instructions from BPBD, police and hotel staff, not viral videos that may show older events.

Getting to the airport during a flood

• Allow at least 1-2 extra hours. Sunset Road and the Ngurah Rai Bypass, the two main routes from Kuta-Seminyak to the airport, have both flooded before.
• From Nusa Dua or Sanur, the Bali Mandara toll road over the water can be an alternative that avoids Kuta's low-lying streets.
• Check your flight status in the airline app before leaving, and keep proof of any delay for an insurance claim.

What about earthquakes or tsunamis?

Those are different risks with different steps, covered in our guide to earthquakes and tsunami warnings in Bali. For rainy-day ideas, see Bali in the rainy season.

Bali is still very enjoyable in the wet season; heavy rain usually comes in the afternoon or evening, and mornings are often clear. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and keep afternoons for a spa, a museum or a café.