How To Get To Amed, Bali
Finding Your Way To Amed, Bali
Planning a trip to Amed, Bali and wondering about the best way to get there? After spending two months exploring Indonesia, including stays in Gili T, Ubud, Jimbaran, and Amed, I’ve experienced firsthand the various transportation options available to reach this beautiful coastal town.
Amed is a nice coastal area in the northeast Bali. While there are only a few ways to get to Amed, I will show you these options in the post below.
The best and easiest way to go to Amed is by private driver. It’s safer and much more comfortable than a motorbike or shared car.
Don’t forget to read my posts about the 15 Best Things To Do In Amed, 12 BEST Hotels in Amed Bali: Where To Stay and Lahangan Sweet: Bali’s Best Viewpoint
Let’s jump in!
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Map of Bali
How Do I Get To Amed From The Airport
Private Taxi is a great way to get from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to Amed.
We had ordered a taxi online to take us to Ubud from the airport. You can also get a private taxi to take you to Amed.
Bear in mind that traffic in Denpasar and Ubud is crazy, especially in the peak months of July and August.
It can take well over three hours to get to Amed from the airport in a car especially if there is an incident on the road.
When we left I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport around 09.00 PM to go to Ubud, it took us over 2 and a half hours, well over the stated time on Google Maps.
My point is traffic can slow down the journey, especially on Bali’s narrow windy roads.
Getting To Amed By Bus
Some travellers get to Amed using a shuttle bus (a shared van).
When we were in Amed in the high season, we saw the signs everywhere. advertising these services. You can use these shared minivans to get to Amed or back to the town mentioned in the image.
Shuttle buses are usually cheaper than shared or private taxis, but you need enough people to fill the van. If there aren’t enough passengers, you’ll need to pay extra to make up for the empty seats.
You can be picked up at your hotel too which is nice.
There is also the Perama Tour Agency which offer shuttle services and you can book tickets online.
How Do I Get To Amed By Boat
In the past, Amed had a pier in Jemeluk Bay that brought tourists in from the Gili Islands.
However, this service has been disbanded recently. Our driver in Amed told us that the service had been disbanded for money and political reasons though I have read the service was running back in late 2023.
When we visited Bali the only way to get to Amed by boat was to go to Padang Bai and get a driver from there which takes a little under two hours.
From a communication with him in December 2024 the service is not running.
Using A Motorbike To Get To Amed
If you have a licence and insurance I recommend using a motorbike to get to Amed.
We have heard countless tales of travellers getting injured with huge bills because they either had no experience using a motorbike and/or had no insurance.
We used Safety Wing and they came to our rescuer when Guada needed an urgent surgery in Kazakhstan.
Getting Around Amed
While we spent two weeks in Amed we found it hard to use Grab.
Some drivers took our booking but then wouldn’t show up or cancel the booking so we had a bad experience with Grab.
Most taxi drivers hate Grab and if you tell them you are waiting for a Grab they may get angry.
We mostly arranged a local private taxi on the road when we needed to go somewhere. We don’t have a licence for a motorbike so that wasn’t an option.
Additionally, we used the same driver repeatedly so if you’re in town for a few days and you trust a driver then get their number.
That would be my best advice.
How Many Days Should You Stay In Amed
I recommend spending a week in Amed.
If you don’t have much time then you could do a snorkelling tour, visit Lepuynag Temple, Tirta Gangga Water Palace and Lahangan Sweet in 3 or four days.
You can arrange with your driver to hit a couple of these places on the same day to save time.
We spent two weeks there and felt the last couple of days dragged on.
Ubud To Amed
Many people who visit Bali experience Ubud.
Again, I argue that the best way to get from Ubud to Amed is by hiring a private car.
You will see many taxi drivers on the streets of Ubud calling out and asking if you need a taxi for the day or the next.
Have a chat with them and speak to another couple of guys and see what the options are. Some will be cheaper than others and you can always try to haggle.
Some are more receptive than others but you can be prepared to walk away if the cost is too high.
Check out my 3-Day Ubud Itinerary post for more tips.
How To Get Back From Amed
When your time has finished in Amed you will need to get back to the airport or go elsewhere on the island.
When we needed to go to the airport we decided to stay a few days in Jimbaran.
It cost us 800,000 Rupees for two people in a private taxi with our trusted driver. You can order a minivan in Amed and it costs between 225,000 and 275,000 per person but we wanted our driver and it proved to be much more comfortable.
Again the cost is not set and there may be some leeway for haggling but keep it reasonable.
Is Amed In Bali Worth Visiting?
I would say Amed is worth visiting for the interesting black-sanded beaches, amazing temples, rice fields, snorkelling and scuba diving.
The stretch if coast along Pantai Amed is gorgeous and the fact that you have Mount Agung visible makes for an exquisite backdrop when strolling along the black beach.
Is there two weeks in Amed? Maybe not. So how long you stay will depend on your intentions.
If you’re limited on time then 5-7 days would be good.
In contrast, if you’re doing a slower more relaxed journey then why not opt for two weeks?
Final Thoughts/Conclusion
Bali is an incredible island to explore at least once.
You can find different opinions about Bali, but we loved it.
Getting to East Bali’s coastal town of Amed can be done through several transportation options, each with its own advantages depending on your travel style.
While a scooter or motorbike can be fun and faster, a private car ticks all the boxes for me.
There are plenty of places to explore in Bali and its surroundings like Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands. All of these places offer real beauty and fun activities.
Hopefully one day I will get to visit as will you if you haven’t already.
You can also find out the best way to travel from Ubud to Amed in my other post.
Thanks for reading,
James
