As Bali reopens, here’s where to eat, party and soak up culture in the ‘Island of the Gods’

The quarantine requirement was lifted in Bali on March 7 for foreign travellers who’ve had three shots of a WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccine

Some famous spots remain closed, but temples like Tanah Lot are open. Visitors can feast on vegan-friendly food and at some clubs, it’s like the partying never stopped

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Tourists arrive at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Indonesia. Photo: EPA

Published: 9:00am, 13 Mar 2022Updated: 8:37am, 14 Mar 2022

Bali is gearing up for an influx of foreign travellers now that the Indonesian government has reduced quarantine requirements for international tourists.

Now, all foreigners and Indonesians returning from abroad who have received at least three shots of a World Health Organization-approved Covid-19 vaccine need to quarantine for three days, down from five.

They will still have to undergo a PCR test and stay in their pre-booked accommodation until they get their test result. Those with only two shots must quarantine for five days and those with only one shot must quarantine for seven days.

Tanah Lot, located on top of a rock some 300 metres offshore, is among Bali’s most famous temples. Photo: Shutterstock

Jakarta’s main goal is to lift the quarantine requirement for all foreign arrivals to the country, preferably by April. Direct flights to Bali have been operating since February 4, and the island’s airport has recently been welcoming a handful of flights daily from Singapore and Japan.

The requirement for foreign travellers to quarantine was lifted in Bali on March 7 and the government now plans to roll out a similar programme nationwide in the near future, if the island’s quarantine-free trial is deemed successful.

To attract tourists, Indonesia is marketing the required quarantine as a “warm-up vacation”, as visitors can leave their rooms in the preapproved hotels and take part in activities or mingle with the group that they came with in a designated bubble area in the hotels.