December is just around the corner, and if you’re dreaming of a holiday escape that combines tropical vibes with festive cheer, Bali is calling your name! Imagine swapping snowflakes for sandy beaches and twinkling lights for palm trees – yep, that’s the kind of Christmas magic we’re talking about. Whether you’re a sun-seeker, adventure junkie, or just looking to relax and soak in the island’s charm, Bali has something special in store for you during the holiday season.

As we traveled to Asia via Space A last year, our goal was to travel as far as possible, and that led us to Bali. Despite it being the rainy season, we had the best time exploring Bali in December. Here’s everything you need to know to plan the best Bali vacation.

Best Bali Hotels to Stay at During December

Bali goes all out for Christmas! Think beautifully decorated resorts, festive markets, and special holiday menus at restaurants. The island embraces the season with a unique blend of local culture and international festivities.

Celebrate Christmas at Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa

Looking for a tropical twist on your Christmas festivities? Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa has you covered! Nestled on the stunning Legian Beach, this family-friendly resort transforms into a festive wonderland during the holiday season. We stayed here for Christmas and it was pretty awesome for the kids.

Christmas Events at Bali Mandira Resort and Spa

🎄 Christmas Eve Dinner: Indulge in a lavish buffet featuring international and Indonesian delicacies, accompanied by live music and a visit from Santa Claus himself. Perfect for families and couples alike!

🎅 Kids’ Christmas Party: Little ones will have a blast with fun activities, games, and treats at the Kids’ Club. It’s a merry time designed just for them!

✨ Christmas Day Brunch: Start your Christmas morning with a scrumptious brunch overlooking the ocean. Enjoy festive dishes, sparkling drinks, and the joyful atmosphere of the season.

🎶 Festive Entertainment: From traditional Balinese performances to live bands, the resort offers a range of entertainment options to keep the holiday spirit alive.

Experience the magic of Christmas at Bali Mandira and create unforgettable memories in this tropical paradise. The only thing we were not able to participate in was the Christmas Day Brunch but got lucky instead with being able to do the Christmas tea at their Azul restaurant.

Pro Tip: Book the activities right away! They will and do sell out. Book your stay now if you can and as soon as they drop the activities list on their IG or website snag up the activities you’re planning to do.

Hard Rock Hotel Bali

Located in the heart of Kuta, Hard Rock Hotel Bali is a vibrant, fun-filled resort perfect for families. With its rock ‘n’ roll theme, expansive pool area, and kid-friendly amenities, it’s a top choice for a memorable family holiday.

Christmas Events at Hard Rock Hotel Bali:

🎄 Rockin’ Christmas Eve Dinner: Enjoy a festive buffet dinner with a rock ‘n’ roll twist. The event features live music, entertainment, and a special appearance by Santa Claus to delight the kids.

🎅 Kids’ Christmas Party: The Roxity Kids Club hosts a Christmas party with games, crafts, and festive treats. Kids can meet Santa and take part in fun activities throughout the day.

🎁 Christmas Day Brunch: Indulge in a delicious brunch at Starz Diner, complete with festive dishes, live entertainment, and activities for the whole family.

🎶 Festive Poolside Party: Join the Christmas pool party with music, games, and holiday-themed activities for all ages.

The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali

The Westin Resort Nusa Dua is a luxurious beachfront resort known for its family-friendly atmosphere and excellent amenities. With its stunning location and a wide range of activities for kids, it’s an ideal spot for a Christmas getaway.

Christmas Events at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua:

🎄 Christmas Eve Dinner: Savor a sumptuous buffet dinner at Seasonal Tastes restaurant, featuring international and Indonesian cuisine. Enjoy live music, a visit from Santa, and a festive ambiance.

🎅 Westin Kids Club Christmas Party: The Kids Club hosts a special Christmas party with games, crafts, and holiday-themed activities. Little ones can meet Santa and enjoy festive treats.

🎁 Christmas Day Brunch: Celebrate Christmas Day with a lavish brunch at Prego, offering a wide array of festive dishes, live cooking stations, and entertainment for the whole family.

🎉 Family Fun Activities: Throughout the holiday season, the resort offers various family-friendly activities such as beach games, movie nights, and cultural performances to keep everyone entertained.

What You Should Know about Bali Weather in December

I have a degree in meteorology, and weather has always fascinated me. Traveling to new places like Indonesia gives me a deeper understanding of the Bali climate, especially the differences between the dry season and the monsoon season.

Bali in December: How Much Rain to Expect

I like to review the annual average rainfall and monthly totals to understand the weather patterns. In Bali, December sees an average of 12 inches of rain, making it the second highest month for rainfall, while January, the peak season of the rainy season, averages 13 inches.

During our stay in November and December, we managed to have a great time and see many attractions without getting rained out. December typically has 16 rainy days, and while November brought occasional rain showers, December often had hours of rain at a time.

The heavy rainfall usually came in the afternoon, often accompanied by thunderstorms. These storms typically formed in the Nusa Dua beach area and moved up the hillside of Mount Batur.

Surface winds push humid air up the mountain side, and when it reaches the Lifted Condensation Level, clouds form and develop into thunderstorms, leading to heavy rainfall in cities and towns like Ubud. Be cautious around rivers and streams as flash floods can occur suddenly.

The Radar Map and Images

It took me longer than I expected to find the radar map associated with the corresponding government agency. If you want to see the radar images and find clear skies, click here.

Bali in December: How Humid and Sticky Is It?

During November, we experienced lower humidity levels because there was less rain resulting in less humidity. In December, however, the increased rainfall led to high humidity and a more humid climate, especially in the second half of the month.

Wearing breathable clothing helps you feel less sticky on those rainy days. I prefer wool t-shirts because they breathe well, dry quickly, and don’t retain odor.

Bali in December: What are the ocean temperatures?

The ocean’s water temperature directly affects rainfall and humidity levels across the island. Warmer waters invite water sports, thanks to Bali’s year-round average temperature of 83°F.

In December, the average water temperature is around 85 degrees Fahrenheit. At Kuta Beach, we found the water warm and pleasant, though sea conditions weren’t ideal due to summer weather. For optimal surfing, visit during the southern hemisphere’s cooler months for the best time.

How Much Sunshine Will There Be?

This trip marked my third time being south of the equator. The University of Oregon has a cool sun path chart you can create with GPS coordinates for any location. Check it out here if you’re into nerdy details.

Here are the reading notes for the Cartesian chart from the University of Oregon:

• The horizontal axis is the solar azimuthal angle (180 = South)
• The vertical axis is the solar elevation angle (90 = Straight up) 
• The blue curves are path of the sun through out the day
• The red curves is the position of the sun at every hour mark

The Polar Sun chart notes read below:

• The radial direction is the solar zenith angle (0 = Straight up)
• The angular direction is the solar azimuthal angle (180 = South) 
• The blue curves are path of the sun through out the day
• The red curves is the position of the sun at every hour mark

These sun charts show where the sun will be in the sky for a given month and time of day. The polar sun chart, for example, indicates that in December, the sun rises before 6:00 AM and sets after 6:00 PM, as shown by the bottom blue line.

In December, Bali gets about 13 hours of sunshine each day, the longest of the year. This means you’ll have plenty of sunshine hours to enjoy during your stay. But unfortunately, the chart does not predict how many sunny days you can expect.

Things to do in Bali in December 

There are so many outdoor activities and places to check out you’ll stay busy! Here are some of our favorites.

Ubud Monkey Forest

The Monkey Forest is one of the best places to see a variety of Bali temples and playful monkeys. The best time to visit is early in the morning, before the crowds and the afternoon rains.

Volkswagen Tour Bali

We absolutely loved our tour with Made from Toke Toke Bali Tours. He’s awesome and will customize your tour based on what you want to do and see. You have to pay your own entry for things but you’d be doing that anyway as it’s not included in the price tag for other similar tours. He arranged for us to get a one on one session at the elephant sanctuary, the kids loved this. We also got private insights on everything we did. Made took great photos and we highly recommend letting him plan your custom day. You can read a more in depth review on everything we did here.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

This iconic temple, perched on a lake, is absolutely gorgeous and situated towards the top of the mountain. The morning started with sunny and pleasant weather, but as we drove up the mountain, the weather turned rainy by mid-afternoon. Due to the rain, we had to cancel our plans to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary along the way.

Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple 

If it looks like it’s going to rain, it’s always a good idea to enjoy a holy water ceremony at a water temple because you’ll get wet anyway. We did this and had a great time indulging in cultural experiences with our tour guide, Made.

Ulu Petanu Waterfall

This waterfall is just minutes from the holy water temple and is a great follow-up activity because we were already in our bathing suits. The lush greenery was stunning, and the large waterfall added to the experience.

Should you visit Bali in December? 

There’s so much to see and do in Bali during the low season! We had a blast at Kuta Beach for the holidays, enjoying the sand and our hotel. Visiting during the rainy months might bring some challenging weather conditions, but if you plan for some relaxing days by the pool when the forecast isn’t great, you won’t be disappointed.

We loved visiting Bali in December for many reasons—it’s festive with Santa Claus, the rice paddies are lush green, and the sea temperature is warm, perfect for a family getaway making December a great month to visit.