Our Review of Bali Airport - Denpasar (DPS)

Table of contents: Our Review of Bali Airport - Denpasar (DPS) Pros and Cons of Bali Airport - Denpasar (DPS) Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Bali Airport - Denpasar (DPS)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides, since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

This review summary is based on user feedback from Google Reviews and the Skytrax airport rating platform, two of the most widely referenced sources for airport experiences and quality assessments.

Summary of Reviews:

Skytrax:
Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) holds a 3-Star Airport Rating from Skytrax, reflecting an average performance in key areas such as facilities, comfort, cleanliness, shopping, food and beverage, and staff service. Skytrax highlights that DPS is a major tourist airport, but notes significant congestion during peak times, with slow immigration and security processing as common pain points. The domestic terminal is generally considered more pleasant, while the international terminal is seen as needing upgrades to reach a higher standard.

Google Reviews:
Travelers on Google generally appreciate the airport’s Balinese architectural touches, friendly staff, and the range of shops and restaurants available. Cleanliness and comfort are frequently praised, especially in the domestic terminal. However, many reviews echo Skytrax’s concerns about long queues at immigration and security, particularly during busy travel periods. The airport’s location close to major tourist areas and the availability of convenient transport options are seen as positives. Some travelers mention that the international terminal can feel crowded and that more seating and improved air conditioning would enhance the experience.

Highlights:

Friendly and helpful staff, especially in customer service roles
Clean and well-maintained facilities, particularly in the domestic terminal
Good selection of shops, restaurants, and lounges
Major drawbacks include slow immigration, crowded international terminal, and the need for expanded amenities during peak hours

Final Score and Justification:
Rating: 7/10

Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport offers a pleasant and culturally distinctive environment, with strong points in staff friendliness, cleanliness, and convenience for domestic travelers. However, persistent issues with congestion, slow processing at immigration, and the need for upgrades in the international terminal prevent it from reaching a higher rating. For most travelers, DPS provides a solid, if sometimes crowded, gateway to Bali, but improvements in efficiency and comfort—especially for international passengers—would significantly enhance the overall experience6.

Pros and Cons of Bali Airport - Denpasar (DPS)

Pros

Modern and Attractive Design: The airport features appealing Balinese-inspired architecture and underwent major renovations in 2013, making it visually pleasant and functional.
Comprehensive Basic Services: DPS offers free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, ATMs, currency exchange, VIP lounges, showers, prayer rooms, and smoking areas.
Excellent Location: It is conveniently close to Kuta, Seminyak, and other key tourist destinations, making airport transfers quick and easy.
Easy to Navigate: The airport is relatively compact and well-signposted, reducing confusion and long walks between areas.
Variety of Transport Options: Official taxis, ride-hailing apps (Grab, Gojek), car rentals, and public buses are available, allowing travelers to choose the most suitable option for their needs.

Cons

Limited Food and Shopping Choices: There are few restaurants and shops, and prices are higher than in the rest of Bali. Quality is sometimes inconsistent.
Congestion and Long Queues: During peak hours, immigration and security lines can be very long, and the terminals may feel overcrowded.
Lack of Entertainment: The airport does not offer many leisure or entertainment options for passengers with long layovers.
Air Conditioning Issues: Some travelers report that air conditioning is insufficient in certain areas, especially in the international terminal.
Limited Seating: Common areas can lack enough seating during busy periods, making it hard to find a comfortable place to wait.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is Bali’s main airport, located just 13 km south of Denpasar, between the popular tourist areas of Kuta and Jimbaran. It is Indonesia’s second-busiest airport and a major hub for both international and domestic flights, welcoming over 2 million passengers per month in 2025 and serving an average of 60,000–70,000 passengers daily.

Terminals and Facilities
The airport has two modern terminals:

International Terminal: Features Balinese-inspired architecture, 62 check-in counters, 10 jet bridges, and a spacious departure lounge with shops, restaurants, and lounges.
Domestic Terminal: Opened in 2014, it is four times larger than the old terminal, with 62 check-in counters, 8 boarding gates, and 5 baggage carousels.
Both terminals offer free Wi-Fi, prayer rooms, children’s play areas, showers, and multiple lounges for premium and pay-per-use access.

Transport Options

Official Airport Taxis: Fixed rates to popular destinations (e.g., Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud).
Ride-hailing Apps (Grab, Gojek): Book via app; pick-up zones are just outside the terminals.
Public Buses: Budget-friendly but slower, connecting to Denpasar and Nusa Dua.
Car Rentals: Available at arrivals; compact cars and SUVs are most popular for exploring Bali.
Hotel Shuttles: Many hotels offer pre-arranged pick-up services.

Parking

Multi-Level Car Park (MLCP): Indoor, near the international terminal, with 700+ spaces.
Premium Parking: Outdoor, right in front of the domestic terminal, for quick access.
Regular Parking: Outdoor, north of the domestic terminal, with 600 spaces.
Motorcycle parking is also available.

Popular Routes
Top international routes include Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne, with Singapore being the busiest in 2025. The airport can handle wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.

Recent Improvements and Rankings
DPS has undergone significant upgrades, including new terminals and expanded facilities. In 2025, it was ranked the 6th best regional airport in Asia by Skytrax and 72nd in the world, reflecting improvements in service and passenger experience.

Tips for Travelers

Use E-Gates for faster immigration if eligible.
Arrive early during peak periods (holidays, weekends) to avoid long queues.
Take advantage of the Festival Plaza for shopping and dining between terminals.
Book transport or car rental in advance for smoother arrivals.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation