What's the Weather Like in Bali in December?
December is a very popular time to visit Bali, where visitors from all over the globe travel to enjoy it's balmy temperatures. Australians are particularly fond of the resort's amazing surf and many choose to celebrate Christmas here.
What's Christmas Like In Bali?
Christmas Days are a tropical affair making it a favorite destination for people from chillier climates. In 2019 the average temperature was 26°C and in 2018 it was 28°C. In both years this would have risen to around 30°C at the warmest part of the day.
Is Bali Hot In December?
In Europe December is cold but Bali is delightfully hot. The average temperature in December is 27°C, with an average low of 23°C. The highest average temperature is 30°C.
Hottest and Lowest December Temperatures In Bali
The lowest ever recorded temperature in Bali in December is 18°C and the highest ever recorded temperature is 40°C.
How Wet Is Bali In December?
It's the wet season in December and theaverage amount of rainfallis 90mm, occurring over the span of 13 days.
Is The Sea Warm In Bali In December?
Even though it's the wet season it is still a great time to enjoy the beach. Theaverage sea temperaturethis month is 27°C, which is warm and enjoyable even for extended periods of time.
How Humid Is Bali In December?
Humidity totals in December are at an average of 75%, which is slightly uncomfortable.
Hotels for Bali in December
Alila Ubud
Alila Ubud is a hotel located on a remote hillside about the Ayung River. They have 56 rooms for guests to choose from, consisting of superior or deluxe rooms. Superior rooms are the smaller of the two, are located on the second floor, and come with a private balcony. The bigger deluxe rooms are on the ground floor and have private tropical garden terraces, as well as a bathroom and shower that is an open-air style.
There are also 12 villas available, each of varying size. Some have private pools and others have wraparound balconies. There are two places to eat here, a restaurant and a lounge. The restaurant serves traditional, local dishes in addition to a French menu, while the lounge offers a more casual menu. The Alila Ubud also has a spa offering massages, meditation practices, and other body treatments. They are located about a 15 minute drive from Ubud.
Ayung Resort
The Ayung Resort offers guests a variety of options for housing. They have deluxe twin and double bedrooms, superior twin and double bedrooms, two luxury suites, eighteen villas, and three private residences. The deluxe and twin options come with private balconies and marble bathrooms, whereas the villas, suites, and private residences come with more space, some with private gardens and pools.
If you book a room without a private pool, there is an infinity pool available for all guests. The resort also has a lounge with an "elegant club" feel offering snacks and drinks, and two restaurants, one offering local and international dishes, and the other focusing on Italian cuisine. The Ayung also has a spa offering massages, body scrubs, facials, and hair treatments. They are located about a 16 minute drive from Ubud.
Beaches for December for Bali
Candidasa Beach
Candidasa Beach is a secluded beach that is made up of black sand.The sand here is clean and it is a great place to go swimming, as the water is calm, safe, and shallow. Diverse sea life makes for amazing snorkelling. IThe beach area itself is relatively small and shrinks even more during high tide, as much of it has eroded due to construction in the 1980s. Due to the lack of visitors to this beach, there are not many accommodations, so don't necessarily expect to rent sunbeds and umbrellas.
There are however, great views of the islands off of the beach like Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, as well as the smaller islets. A short 15 minute walk off of the beach is Vincent's, offering a variety of seafood, meats, and salads, as well as fully-stocked bar. There is often live jazz played here as well. Candidasa Beach is about a 50 minute drive from Ubud.
Nyang Nyang Beach
Nyang Nyang Beach is considered one of Bali's "hidden beaches," as it takes a bit of effort to reach, but the journey is worth it. Getting here involves walking through a little forest, as well as down hundreds of potentially slippery steps, so this is not a beach for kids. Once you reach the beach, you will see a white sand beach with enticing, azure seas. Swimming is great here, but is recommended only during low tide, as the water can sometimes get rough during high tide, although high tide makes for great surfing.
This beach is so hidden, that you may not encounter a single other person, so if you enjoy privacy, this is the beach for you. Locals seaweed farmers and spear fishermen may be spotted here, but aside from them, that's about it. This is great for avoiding crowds, but it also means there are no accommodations at all. You will need to bring anything you would want for your stay at the beach.
Also, as this beach is close to lots of plant life, there can be mosquitos, so be sure to bring repellant. Leaving the beach for food is a must, but even then options are limited. Pura Bali Villas is just off of the beach and has a restaurant offering both local and international dishes. Nyang Nyang Beach is located about an hour drive from Ubud.
Restaurants and Bars for Bali in December
Potato Head Beach Club
Despite its odd name, Potato Head Beach Club is worthy of a visit. It opened in 2010 and has a lounge which is ideal for evening drinks. This area has a beachfront bar serving a variety of cocktails, as well as an infinity pool that looks out to the sea. In addition to the lounge space, the club has three restaurants, each serving a different style of food.
Their bistro offers "comfort food," the Lilin serves Asian tapas and seafood, and lastly Tapping Shoes offers some of their chef's specialties, as well as serving brunch on Sundays. The lounge is open from 11AM to 2AM, Lilin is open from 5:30 PM to midnight, and Tapping Shoes is open from 6 PM to 1 AM. All are open daily, except Tapping Shoes is closed on Mondays. The club is about a 40 minute drive from Ubud.
Kendi Kuning
Kendi Kuning is a restaurant that offers both local cuisine, as well as some international fare. They offer fresh seafood caught by local fishermen, Asian dishes like Thai green curry, "Western" meals like lamb shanks and fish and chips, as well as pizzas and pastas. They are located right on the beach, with amazing views of the sand and the water, and offer both indoor seating for a more formal feel, or outdoor seating for a more relaxed meal. They are open every day from 1 PM to 11 PM for dinner only and are located in Seminyak.
Things to Do in Bali in December
Rip Curl School of Surf
Although it's the wet season, surfing is still incredible in Bali during December, as the wind changes directions and begins to blow from west to east, creating perfect surfing conditions on the east coast. If you are interested in taking lessons and surfing some of these wonderful conditions, check out Rip Curl School of Surf. They have a staff of highly qualified instructors, capable of teaching surfers of all skill levels and ages.
Most lessons consist of three, two hour courses and private lessons are available as well. Their facilities have surfing gear such as wetsuits, changing rooms and bathrooms, as well as an area serving cold drinks and playing music. They have several locations, but during this time of the year, you will want to visit their Sanur branch, as they will have the best surfing conditions. Their Sanur branch is located about a 30 minute drive from Ubud.
Neka Art Museum
If you do happen to get stuck with a rainy day, head inside to the Neka Art Museum. The museum was opened in 1982 and hosts pieces from local Balinese artists, as well as foreigners who lived in Bali when creating their works. All of the pieces, which are mostly paintings, are inspired by Bali's culture and natural beauty, creating a unique collection. There are over 300 pieces in the museums multiple buildings.
In addition to paintings, the museum has also turned one of its temporary exhibits showcasing keris, "traditional Indonesian daggers," into a permanent one. Other temporary exhibits will be rotated throughout the year. There is an admission fee of Rp. 50.000 for adults and anyone 12 years and younger is free. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9AM to 5PM, and on Sundays from 12PM to 5PM. They are located about a nine minute drive from Ubud.
Tek Tok Dance
A great way to experience some of Bali's culture, while also being entertained, is to see a Tek Tok Dance show. This performance is a mixture of dancing and singing through chants, in order to tell a story for the audience. There are hundreds of both dancers and singers, each wearing elaborate and ornate costumes, designed in traditional Balinese manner. They also use special effects, fire, and huge, colorful settings to enhance the performance and the story. The dance is performed in the Bali Culture Center four times a week and contact them for show times. They are located in Ubud.
