By Michèle · Updated on
Internet and eSIM in Bali: SIM cards, IMEI, coverage and wifi
eSIM or local SIM, the IMEI rule for foreign phones, mobile coverage in the east, north and mountains, and what wifi is like in homestays.
In short
- You set up an eSIM at home and it works as soon as you land. A local SIM from Telkomsel, XL or Indosat is cheaper if you stay longer.
- Buy a local SIM at an official shop or at the airport, with your passport. They register your phone there, and it then works for 90 days.
- Telkomsel has the best coverage in the mountains and the countryside. On mountain roads and in deep valleys the signal sometimes drops.
- Download offline maps before you go. Wifi is almost everywhere, but not always fast.
In Bali you have internet almost everywhere: wifi where you stay and 4G on the road. For most travellers an eSIM is the easiest option, because you set it up at home and it works as soon as you land. If you stay longer than a few weeks or use a lot of data, a local SIM is cheaper. Either way, WhatsApp keeps working with your own number, which is useful: in Bali almost everything is arranged over WhatsApp, from your driver to your homestay.
eSIM or local SIM?
An eSIM you buy online before you leave from an international provider, such as Airalo, Holafly or Saily. There are dozens; we have no preference and earn nothing from them. Expect to pay roughly €5 to €15 for 10 GB for a month (2026). Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Also check which network the eSIM uses in Bali: Telkomsel gives you the most coverage in the mountains.
A local SIM comes from Telkomsel, XL or Indosat. A Telkomsel tourist pack costs around IDR 150,000 (about €7.50) in a shop for 25 GB and 30 days; at the airport you often pay twice that (2026). You need your passport. Buy it at the airport or at one of the provider's official shops, such as a Telkomsel GraPARI. A SIM from a small phone shop or minimarket may work at first, but your phone often isn't registered, and after a few days you lose signal.
Do you need to register your phone (IMEI)?
Indonesia blocks foreign phones on local networks if their IMEI number isn't registered. These are the rules in 2026:
- Your own SIM on roaming, or an international eSIM: nothing to register.
- Indonesian SIM, stay of up to 90 days: the shop that sells the SIM (an official shop or the airport counter) registers your phone temporarily. After 90 days it no longer works on an Indonesian SIM, only on wifi.
- Indonesian SIM, stay of more than 90 days: register your phone with customs in the arrivals hall when you land. You declare it in advance on the All Indonesia arrival card (see Visa and tourist levy). The limit is two phones per person. Up to a value of US$500 this is free; for a more expensive phone you may have to pay import duty.
The rules change regularly. Check them just before you leave on the Indonesian customs website, beacukai.go.id.
What is coverage like in the east, north and mountains?
In the south, in Ubud and in the coastal towns, coverage is good. In the villages of the east (Sidemen, Amed), the north (Lovina, Pemuteran) and the mountains (Munduk, Jatiluwih) you usually have 4G too. On mountain roads, in deep valleys and along remote stretches of coast the signal sometimes drops, often just for a few kilometres.
Telkomsel reaches furthest. XL and Indosat work well in the south and in towns, but are more likely to let you down in the countryside. On Nyepi, the day of silence, mobile internet is sometimes switched off (see Best time to visit).
Wifi in homestays and hotels
Almost every hotel, homestay and café has free wifi. In the south and in Ubud it is usually fast enough for video calls. In small homestays in the mountains and the east it is sometimes slow, and in heavy rain or a power cut it can drop for a while. If you need to work on the road, ask about the speed in advance and keep mobile data as a backup.
Offline maps and useful apps
- Offline maps: download the map of Bali in Google Maps before you head into the mountains. Apps such as Organic Maps also show walking paths offline.
- Translation: download Indonesian in Google Translate so it works without signal too (see also Language and etiquette).
- Ride-hailing apps: Grab and Gojek only work with mobile data (see Getting around).
Frequently asked questions
Will my own SIM card work in Bali?
Yes, on roaming. Check what calls and data cost with your own provider before you go: roaming in Indonesia is often expensive. An eSIM or local SIM is usually much cheaper.
Do I need to register my phone if I use an eSIM?
Not with an international eSIM or your own SIM. Registration (IMEI) is only needed with an Indonesian SIM card. For stays of up to 90 days, the shop that sells you the SIM does it for you.
Rather have someone figure it out for you?
Michèle designs your trip around what you want and Dek Leonk drives you around the island. Ask your question in the chat.
You chat with Michèle (Dutch or English) or with Dek Leonk (English). Real people, not a chatbot. During the day in Europe you usually get an answer within a few hours.