Bali vs Thailand: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

If you are planning a Southeast Asia holiday, you may well be asking yourself, should I go to Bali or Thailand? This is a tough choice since they are both beautiful destinations with fascinating cultures, excellent food, and plenty to do.

In this article, I will answer some of your burning questions in the Thailand vs Bali debate to help you decide which Southeast Asia destination is right for you. Where are the better beaches, which has better food, where is the nightlife better, which offers better value for money, and where should you book your honeymoon?

Bali vs Thailand: Main Differences Overall

As with most things, whether you should book a trip to Thailand or visit Bali depends on what you are looking for and also on when you intend to travel. The two destinations have opposing wet seasons, so as a general rule, if you are visiting between November and April, Thailand might be better, and between May and October, you will get less rain in Bali.

Another thing to consider is how long you have. Thailand is a large and diverse country, but that also means that you need time to explore it properly. Bali is much smaller and more self-contained, so it is easier to get around to all the best sights if your time is limited.

Visit Thailand if you want to mix the excitement of Bangkok with the beauty and serenity of the Thai Islands and the culture and jungle of Chiang Mai. Bali is great if you want to enjoy beaches ideal for surfing and scuba diving and pop around to gorgeous waterfalls and fascinating temples as day trips.

1. Bali vs Thailand: The Beaches

If you are booking a beach holiday, to most beach lovers, Thailand's beaches will probably have greater appeal. The islands offer white sandy beaches with calm crystal clear waters excellent for swimming and snorkeling.

Read my guide to the best Thailand islands to visit.

Of course, you will also find beautiful Bali beaches, but most are characterized by black sand and towering cliffs. But if you are interested in surfing, the Bali waves are definitely superior. You definitely will want to check out the beaches of Uluwatu or even go beyond Bali's shores to the Nusa Islands, which are increasingly rapidly in popularity.

2. Bali vs Thailand: Things To Do

There are amazing things to do in both Bali and Thailand and which is better depends on how much time you have. If you only have a short time, you will find a good mix of culture, beach, rice paddies, and jungle in Bali, all within a fairly easy distance. Bali is only 95 miles wide and 70 miles from north to south. Check out this list of the 19 best destinations in Bali.

But if you have time to explore, Thailand has much more to offer. The bustling city of Bangkok, the mountainous jungles and green rice terraces around Chiang Mai, and the beautiful beaches of the islands in southern Thailand. There are more than 40,000 temples to visit in Thailand.

3. Bali vs Thailand: The Food

Both Balinese and Thai cuisine are delicious, and whether you prefer Babi Guling or Pad Thai is down to personal preference. There is probably a greater range of local food to try in Thailand, with yellow, green, and red curries and hot and sour flavors. There are many affordable restaurants and street food vendors selling delicious Thai food, plus my favorite is to find great food markets and eat my way around all the things I've never tried.

In Bali, you will probably find yourself eating the same delicious local dishes, usually with fried rice, several times. But if you prefer Western food options, these tend to be more plentiful and better made in Bali. Bali also offers a lot of vegetarian, vegan, and raw food options. But Bali belly is no myth! There is something about the way food is prepared in Bali that doesn't always agree with the stomachs of visitors.

4. Bali vs Thailand: The Nightlife

Thailand and Bali both have an excellent nightlife scene, but Thailand's nightlife is definitely more “anything goes”. From ladyboys to weed (which is now legalized!), you can find a massive variety. Khao San Road in Bangkok definitely has one of the most notorious nightlife scenes in Thailand, while Kuta in Bali is the equivalent.

Bali has strict rules around drugs, so they are less common in Bali, and it is risky and not recommended to partake.

Both countries offer a varied party scene with everything from high-end bars to relaxing beach clubs. Both also host a lot of great festivals, such as Ultra in Bali and the monthly Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan.

5. Bali vs Thailand: Cost and Value for Money

I find that Thailand tends to be more budget-friendly than Bali, again, just because it is bigger. This means that there is more capacity and a bigger range of options to choose from when it comes to everything from hotels to restaurants to cocktails to experiences.

Firstly, Bali is an island, and many things need to get here. Overall, it's a smaller market and more focused on tourists coming for a shorter beach holiday (but it also has an ever-growing digital nomad and expat population), so everything is just a little more expensive. But both destinations offer excellent value for money for most Western visitors.

6. Bali vs Thailand: Yoga and Fitness

Both Thailand and Bali offer an incredible range of high-quality yoga and fitness retreats, and you can probably find exactly what you are looking for in either location. However, if you are looking for yoga teacher training programs, you will probably find more options in Bali. Bali also has better choices if you are looking for yoga-surf retreats or yoga retreats that focus on Ayurveda and clean eating.

Here's my guide to the best yoga retreats in Thailand and the best yoga retreats in Bali and where to book them.

7. Bali vs Thailand: The Culture

Thailand is a fascinating place to discover Buddhist culture, with more than 40,000 temples open to the public and monks in their distinctive orange robes highly visible in the streets in everyday life.

But Bali is the only Hindu island in Indonesia, and the type of Hinduism practiced there is different from Hinduism in India. Religion plays an important role in daily life, and you will see handmade statues of the Hindu gods on street corners and in front of houses with daily offerings made by the locals.

8. Bali vs Thailand: Travel Safety

Both Bali and Thailand are safe places to travel, with little violent crime. I have traveled to both countries by myself and feel that any solo female traveler can feel safe on the streets. Of course, you should beware of pickpockets (especially on scooters) and opportunistic criminals when openly displaying valuables.

Bali may sometimes be considered slightly safer than Thailand because the threat of terrorism is a little higher in Thailand.

The main areas of threat are Bangkok, as the airport acts as a hub for international terrorists, and threats from ethno-nationalist insurgents in the south. There were at least five terrorist incidents in 2020. While the threat of terrorism is relatively high in Indonesia, Bali is not often targeted. The main exception was, of course, the Bali bombings of 2002.

9. Bali vs Thailand: Weather

Bali and Thailand both offer amazing weather, with temperatures rarely dropping below 20 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) even in winter and summer, hitting the low 30s (95 degrees Fahrenheit), though it can get hotter.

Both have a dry and a rainy season, but at different times of the year, so your best choice can depend on when you are traveling. In Thailand, the rainy season happens between May and October, which means it is better to visit between November and April. In Bali, the rainy season is between November and March, which means it is best to travel between April and October.

10. Bali vs Thailand: More Beautiful and Instagrammable Places

Grain of sand for grain of sand, Thailand's white sand beaches are probably more photogenic than Bali's, and if you are staying on the West Coast, you will get some amazing sunsets over the Indian Ocean. But the problem is the number of people who you will be sharing those sunsets with! It can be hard to get a photo without background extras and hard to get a unique snap that hasn't been done before.

Bali is still incredibly beautiful and will more than satisfy even the most discerning influencer, especially with its pretty cafés, beach clubs and jungle swings.

But if you are looking for truly amazing photos and fewer crowds, I highly recommend taking a trip to one of the three nearby islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, or Nusa Ceningan for some truly idyllic beaches with dramatic cliff lookouts and coastlines. You can also catch amazing sunsets looking back over Bali.

11. Bali vs Thailand: Honeymoons

Honeymooners might prefer Thailand beaches and the wider choice of private eco resorts and villas, luxury tree houses, and deluxe hotels available for newlyweds. The hospitality industry in Thailand also knows how to provide luxury, so you can expect plenty of special touches, such as champagne on arrival.

But there are also many beautiful places for honeymooners in Bali, and you are certain to find something perfect if you book in advance. Bali can also be a great choice if you plan to spend time together as just the two of you and want peace and privacy. Check out my ultimate Bali honeymoon itinerary.

12. Bali vs Thailand: Better Accommodation

Both Bali and Thailand have a huge range of accommodations for every preference and budget. Of course, you will get a bigger selection in Thailand because it is a larger market, which also usually means more competitive pricing. But the reality is that there isn't much difference and if you do your research and book in advance you can find great accommodation whether you want a villa for a group visit or a cozy place for two.

Check out these resorts in Thailand that you will never want to leave, there are truly some dreamy places! If you're leaning towards Bali, my guide on where to stay in Bali, Canggu, Ubud, and beyond should be helpful.

Bali vs Thailand – Frequently Asked Questions

🏝️ Is Thailand or Bali better?

Determining whether Thailand or Bali is better depends on your preferences and what you're seeking in a travel experience. Thailand offers a diverse range of experiences, from bustling cities like Bangkok to serene beaches in Phuket and cultural wonders like Chiang Mai's temples. Bali, on the other hand, is known for its lush landscapes, vibrant spirituality, and unique artistry. If you're looking for a mix of cultural exploration and vibrant nightlife, Thailand might be more appealing. If relaxation in a tropical paradise with a strong emphasis on spirituality and wellness is your goal, then Bali could be the better choice.

⭐ Is Thailand or Indonesia more beautiful?

Both Thailand and Indonesia are beautiful countries and it is difficult to say which is more beautiful. Thailand probably takes the crown for the best beaches, and the forested interior is also gorgeous, especially along the River Kwai and the mountains in Northern Thailand. But Indonesia is also known as a nature lover paradise and has unique habitats that you won't find anywhere else in the world, such as the Komodo Islands, home to giant lizards, and the Gili Islands for rare species of coral and tropical fish.

✈️ Is traveling to Bali still worth it?

Many people ask whether traveling to Bali is still worth it since it has become such a popular tourist destination and therefore has gained a reputation for being too “touristy”. While this is true to an extent in certain areas, Bali still has many undiscovered areas and is one of the most beautiful places on earth, home to a fascinating culture. While it might welcome more travelers these days, it also has more facilities and infrastructure. However, you can still go off the beaten path and find pieces of untouched paradise.

❓ Should I book my honeymoon in Thailand or Bali?

Whether you should book your honeymoon in Bali or Thailand depends on what you prefer and when you are looking to travel. Bali and Thailand have opposite wet seasons, so you can avoid being “rained out” if you choose your travel date accordingly. Outside of this, if you want to spend your days relaxing on the beach in an affordable but luxurious hotel, I'd say book Thailand. If you prefer island hopping, diving, and surfing, I'd say book Bali.

Bali vs Thailand – Final Words

Bali and Thailand are both incredibly beautiful destinations, and it is well worth visiting both!

But if you have to choose, I would suggest Thailand if you have a fairly long holiday and want to split your time between relaxing on a white sand beach, shopping in busy Bangkok, and exploring jungles and visiting elephant sanctuaries in northern Thailand.

I would suggest Bali if you only have a short holiday but want to do as much as possible and enjoy an active holiday with surfing, diving, yoga, and more.