Bali guide › Organise your stay
Should I use an eSIM or a local SIM in Bali?
Use an eSIM if your phone supports it: buy and install it at home, switch it on when you land, and you have data for Grab and maps before you reach the taxi rank. A local SIM card costs less per gigabyte, but it means a queue, your passport and some paperwork on arrival.
How an eSIM works:
- Check your phone first: most recent iPhones and many recent Android phones accept an eSIM, but only if the phone is not locked to your home operator. Look in Settings, or dial *#06# and check that an "EID" number appears.
- Install it before you fly: you need Wi-Fi to download it, and the airport is a poor place to try. Activate it on arrival by turning on data for that eSIM.
- Most eSIMs are data only: no local phone number. WhatsApp and FaceTime calls still work, and your home SIM stays active for bank texts, as long as you switch off its data roaming.
A local SIM is sold by Telkomsel, XL and Indosat (IM3), at airport booths and in operator shops in town (there are plenty everywhere). Bring your passport: the seller registers it with your phone's IMEI (its unique ID number). Airport tourist packages typically cost IDR 200,000 to 400,000 (about US$11 to 22) for 10 to 25 GB over 30 days, and shops in town are usually a little cheaper. In almost every shop the staff will do the whole set-up for you, which is the better option because the instructions you receive are all in Indonesian.
Roaming on your home plan works too, but check the daily pass price before you rely on it: it is often the most expensive option.
Coverage: Telkomsel has the widest signal, including Ubud, the Nusa islands, the north, the east and the mountains. XL and Indosat are fine in the tourist south, but signal drops around Munduk, Sidemen and the volcanoes, whoever your operator is. Accommodation Wi-Fi is common but not always fast.
Verdict: an eSIM suits most visitors. Choose a physical Telkomsel SIM if you want a local number, for restaurant bookings and drivers, if you are staying several weeks, or if your phone doesn't accept an eSIM. Roaming only makes sense for a very short stay with a fair daily pass.
Tip: install your eSIM at home and keep the QR code or confirmation email somewhere you can reach offline, because you need an internet connection to set it up and Wi-Fi at the arrivals hall after 24 hours of travel is the last place you want to be doing it.
Checked in October 2026. Prices and registration rules change: check the operator and Indonesian customs (Bea Cukai) before you travel.