In 2025, 6,948,754 foreign tourists flew directly to Bali. The busiest month was July (697,107 arrivals), and the quietest of the months considered was February (450,697), that is 35% fewer. The dry season on the island usually runs from April to October, and the rainy season from November to March. The largest market is Australia: 23.44% of direct arrivals in 2025. Both a villa's occupancy and what you will see when you view a property depend on the season, and the most common mistake in calculating income is to assume the same occupancy all year round. This article shows how the flow of tourists changes by month, how to calculate a villa's annual revenue allowing for the seasons and what time to choose for viewing properties.
How to work out an owner's costs is described in the article on how to let a villa in Bali legally. The right to the land under a villa is covered in the article on leasehold in Bali.
Contents:
- The dry and rainy seasons
- How the flow of tourists changes
- What this means for a villa's occupancy
- A worked example
- When to view properties
- How to use the quiet months
- Who seasonality causes problems for
- What has changed
- Frequently asked questions
- Find property in Bali
The dry and rainy seasons
Bali has two seasons. The dry season usually starts in April and lasts until October, and the rainy season runs from November to March. The dates vary from year to year and are determined by Indonesia's meteorological agency (BMKG).
For 2026, BMKG forecast the start of the dry season in Bali in April and its peak in August. The length of the dry season in Bali was estimated at 190 to 290 days, and it was expected to be drier and longer than usual because of the El Niño phenomenon. The agency expects the next rainy season to begin around October, but the dates should be checked against the latest forecasts on the BMKG website.
How the flow of tourists changes
Bali's statistics office (BPS) publishes the number of foreign tourists who flew directly to the island. The monthly average for 2025, by our calculation, is about 579,000 arrivals.
| Month of 2025 | Direct arrivals of foreigners | Compared with the annual average |
|---|---|---|
| February | 450,697 | 78% |
| March | 470,851 | 81% |
| June | 637,868 | 110% |
| July | 697,107 | 120% |
| August | 682,866 | 118% |
| September | 635,149 | 110% |
| November | about 483,000 | 83% |
| December | 572,668 | 99% |
The figure for November is calculated: according to the statistics, there were 18.48% more arrivals in December than in November. The "Compared with the annual average" column is our calculation.
Most tourists arrive from June to September, with a second rise in December. The minimum falls in February–March and November. July is 55% higher than February.
What this means for a villa's occupancy
A villa's occupancy depends on the district, the price and the management, so there are no official statistics for villas. Consultants and managers publish their own estimates, and they differ:
- a rental market review for 2025 gives occupancy of 60% in July, 59% in August, 46% in January and 47% in November, with an average of about 52.5%;
- management companies, for well-managed villas in the south of the island, use planning figures of 80–95% in July, August and December and 40–60% in February and March.
Both sets of figures show the same thing: occupancy in the quietest months is noticeably lower than at the peak. So annual income is calculated month by month, not from the peak figure.
"Occupancy in February and March can be half what it is in July. So I calculate annual income month by month, rather than multiplying the peak figure by twelve," says a villa manager in Bali.
A worked example
A villa is let at $150 a night. Suppose that in the peak months (July, August, December, 93 days) occupancy is 85%, in the quiet months (February, March, November, 89 days) it is 45%, and in the remaining six months (183 days) it is 65%.
| Period | Days | Occupancy | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | 93 | 85% | 79 |
| Remaining months | 183 | 65% | 119 |
| Quiet months | 89 | 45% | 40 |
| Total | 365 | 65% | 238 |
Annual revenue is 238 nights at $150, that is $35,700. If you mistakenly assume 85% occupancy all year, you get 310 nights and $46,500, which is 30% more than the real sum.
When to view properties
It is best to see a property in both the dry and the rainy season. Each time of year has its advantages.
In the rainy season (November to March) you can see what you cannot see in the dry one:
- how the drainage works and whether the plot floods;
- whether the roof leaks and whether there are signs of mould and damp;
- whether a car can get along the access road after a downpour;
- how the electricity and the internet behave during rain.
In the dry season (April to October), you check other things:
- where the water comes from and whether there is enough in the dry months;
- how long the road to the beach and restaurants really takes at the peak, when there is most traffic on the roads;
- whether the area is noisy when it is full of tourists.
Accommodation on a property-viewing trip is usually dearer in the peak months, while in the quiet months sellers and agents have more time to negotiate.
How to use the quiet months
The quiet months are a convenient time for a villa owner to do work that is hard to carry out at the peak:
- planned repairs, repainting and replacing furniture while there are fewer guests;
- servicing the pool, the garden and the air-conditioning;
- checking the roof, gutters and drainage before or at the start of the rainy season;
- the owner's own use of the villa, if the owner visits the island;
- reviewing prices and the terms of the contract with the management company, so that the fee matches actual revenue by month.
Some owners offer longer stays at a reduced price in the quiet months. The terms and conditions for this are set out in the contract with the management company.
Who seasonality causes problems for
- Those who count on an even income every month: revenue at the peak and in the quiet months differs markedly.
- Those who plan to pay a loan out of rental income: in the quiet months, revenue may not be enough.
- Those who calculate annual yield from peak occupancy: the result will be overstated.
- Those who buy a villa outside the tourist areas: occupancy there depends more strongly on the season.
- Those who plan to live in the villa in the rainy months: the house must be protected from damp and flooding.
What has changed
- In 2025, 6,948,754 foreign tourists flew directly to Bali, 9.72% more than in 2024.
- In December 2025 there were 572,668 arrivals, 18.48% more than in November.
- In 2026, BMKG forecast a drier and longer dry season because of El Niño.
Frequently asked questions
When is the dry season in Bali?
Usually from April to October. The exact dates each year are determined by the meteorological agency BMKG.
When are there most tourists in Bali?
From June to September, especially in July and August, and also in December. In 2025 the busiest month was July: 697,107 direct arrivals of foreigners.
When is villa occupancy lowest?
According to consultants, in February and March, and also in November. In the arrivals statistics, the quietest of the months published was February.
Can you let a villa with the same occupancy all year round?
No. Occupancy at the peak and in the quiet months differs markedly, so income is calculated month by month.
What is the best time to view properties?
Preferably in both the dry and the rainy season. The rainy season shows the drainage, the roof and the state of the access road; the dry season shows the water supply and the traffic.
Find property in Bali
If you are choosing a villa in Bali, browse the listings in the Bali.Realestate catalogue. Before buying, calculate income month by month and view the property in different seasons.