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Bali vs Bangkok: Jungle-temples or street-food chaos?

Bali is calm + nature: rice fields around Ubud, surfing in Canggu, jungle temples. Bangkok is big-city energy: temples, street food, sky bars.

Plan your trip to Bali: flight, hotel and total price in one go

Updated: 12 September 2026 · compiled by the CheapTrips editors

Quick answer

Choose Bali for rice fields, temples and surf beaches. Choose Bangkok for street food, temples and buzzing city life. Flights from the Netherlands take about 16 hours with a stop to Bali and about 11 hours to Bangkok. On price, Bangkok is a little cheaper. For a first visit most travellers pick Bangkok.

OPTION A

Bali

Bali is paradise for anyone who wants to escape: jungle temples in Ubud, surfing in Canggu, coral reefs at Nusa Penida and the most beautiful rice fields on earth.

Flight from NL: €650 return

View Bali →

OPTION B

Bangkok

Bangkok is sensory overload: golden temples, floating markets, the best street food in the world from €1 a dish and sky bars with views of millions of lights.

Flight from NL: €500 return

View Bangkok →

Bali vs Bangkok at a glance

	Bali	Bangkok
Return flight from NL	€650 return	€500 return
Flight time from Schiphol	about 16 hours with a stop	about 11 hours
Coast / beach	Yes	No
Museums	Limited	Good
Nightlife	Decent	Lively
Winter weather	Mild and sunny	Mild and sunny
Best months	May, June, July, August, September	November, December, January, February
Ideal length	9 days	4 days
Price level	€€	€

Bali and Bangkok are both popular for a trip from the Netherlands, but they feel quite different. Bali is known for rice fields, temples and surf beaches, while Bangkok is about street food, temples and buzzing city life. On price, Bangkok is a little cheaper. Bali also has beaches within reach, Bangkok does not. Bali ideally needs 9 days, while you can see Bangkok well in 4 days.

The best months are May, June, July, August, September for Bali and November, December, January, February for Bangkok. Want to combine them: A flight of about 4 hours links Bangkok and Bali, a classic combo for a Southeast Asia trip. All prices below are indicative and based on return flights from Schiphol or Eindhoven outside the school holidays.

Best time to visit compared

Bali

April to October: dry season, 27-30 degrees. July and August are the busiest but more expensive. November to March is the rainy season, sometimes rain all day but much cheaper.

Bangkok

November to February: dry, 25-30 degrees, low humidity. March to May is scorching (35+). June to October is the rainy season (refreshing, cheap, but daily showers).

Flights + transfer from the Netherlands

Bali

Directly from Schiphol to Denpasar (DPS) in 16 hour (1 stopover). KLM, Garuda, Singapore Airlines. Taxi/Grab to Ubud €15 in 70 minutes.

Bangkok

Directly from Schiphol to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) in 11 hour. KLM, Thai. Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai €1.50 in 30 minutes.

Costs compared

Bali

Hostels from €5, mid-range hotels €30 to 80, villas €70 per night. Food: warung meal €2, beach restaurant €10, fancy dinner €25. A cheap base for a round-the-world trip.

Bangkok

Hostels from €5, mid-range hotels €25 to 70, vacation rentals €40 per night. Food: street food €1, restaurant €5 to 15, Singha-beer €2. Bangkok is huge cheap.

Who is it for?

Choose Bali if you are...

Yoga retreat seekers and surfers (Canggu, Seminyak), couples for a romantic honeymoon, cultural travellers wanting temples and rice fields, longer trips of 10+ days.

Choose Bangkok if you are...

First Asia trip with limited time (4-5 days is enough), foodies who want to try the best street food scene in the world, city travellers looking for temple culture, winter sun seekers (Bangkok is dry season November-February).

Our verdict

Choose Bangkok if you have limited time (4-5 days is plenty), it's your first trip to Asia, you want to experience street food and vibrant city life, or you travel in the Dutch winter (Christmas, February).

Choose Bali if you have at least 7-10 days, want rest and nature alongside culture, surf or do yoga, or are planning a honeymoon or romantic trip. Bangkok is 20-30% cheaper on average. For the perfect combined trip: fly into Bangkok, return from Denpasar. The Bangkok-Bali flight costs around 60-100 euros.

Plan your trip

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Frequently asked: Bali or Bangkok

Is Bali or Bangkok cheaper?

Bangkok is generally a little cheaper. Flights, hotels and food tend to be lower there, so the same city break easily costs a few tens of euros less per person.

Which is better for a first city break?

For a first visit most travellers pick Bangkok, with street food, temples and buzzing city life close together. The other city rewards those who stay a little longer or come back.

Bali or Bangkok with kids?

Bali is often the easier choice with kids thanks to the beach and outdoor space. Bangkok works too, but lacks the sea.

Which city has better weather in winter?

Bangkok clearly wins in winter. November to February is Bangkok's dry season: 25-30 degrees, little rain, pleasant. Bali is in its rainy season (November to March): daily afternoon showers and higher humidity. For a winter sun holiday from the Netherlands (Christmas, February half-term) Bangkok is the better choice.

How long should you stay?

For Bali about 9 days is ideal, for Bangkok around 4 days. That way you catch the highlights without rushing.

Can you combine Bali and Bangkok in one trip?

Yes, and it works well. A flight of about 4 hours links Bangkok and Bali, a classic combo for a Southeast Asia trip. A popular route from the Netherlands is to fly into one city and back from the other.

What is the best way to fly from the Netherlands to Bali or Bangkok?

KLM flies daily non-stop from Amsterdam to Bangkok in about 11 hours, return from around 500 euros. Thai Airways also flies direct. To Bali (Denpasar) there is no direct flight from the Netherlands: the shortest route is via Singapore (Singapore Airlines, KLM) or Kuala Lumpur (KLM or AirAsia), total around 15-17 hours, return from around 650 euros. Book at least 3 months ahead for the best price on both routes.

Discover these destinations

See the individual travel guides with live prices from the Netherlands.

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