Athens , Bali: How long is the flight and how much do the air tickets cost?

The Athens – Bali flight is one of the longest a Greek traveller can undertake, and at the same time, one of the most rewarding. The Indonesian island is approximately 10,300 kilometres from Athens in a straight line and is located at the other end of Asia, meaning you should allow a full day of travel for each direction.

So, how long does the flight actually take, which airlines operate the route, what is the fastest journey, and how much do tickets cost depending on the season? Let’s look at each point, with realistic times and prices.

Athens – Bali: how long is the flight

There is no direct flight from Athens to Bali. All routes involve at least one stopover, usually at a hub in the Middle East or Turkey. The total travel time, including waiting time, ranges from 16 hours and 30 minutes to 22 hours.

The pure flight time, meaning only the hours spent in the air, is approximately 14 to 15 hours and is divided into two legs: a shorter 4-5 hour leg from Athens to the hub and a longer 8-10 hour leg to Denpasar (DPS), Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Times per route

Route	1st leg	2nd leg	Total time
Athens – Doha – Bali	4h 30m	9h 15m	16h 30m – 18h
Athens – Dubai – Bali	4h 40m	8h 55m	17h – 19h
Athens – Abu Dhabi – Bali	4h 35m	9h 05m	17h – 20h
Athens – Istanbul – Bali	1h 40m	11h 30m	16h 45m – 21h
Athens – Singapore – Bali	10h 30m (with connection)	2h 40m	19h – 22h

The return journey from Bali to Athens is usually a little shorter in pure flight time thanks to favourable air currents, but it feels more tiring because you “lose” fewer hours: travelling westwards means you gain five to six hours on the clock.

Which airlines operate the route

Four airlines dominate the Athens – Bali connection, and their choice dictates both the duration and comfort of the journey.

• Qatar Airways (via Doha): the fastest and usually the most comfortable option, with multiple daily departures from Athens and short connections of 1.5-3 hours at Hamad International.
• Emirates (via Dubai): excellent in-flight product and large A380 aircraft on the Athens – Dubai leg. See our guide for Emirates flight tickets.
• Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul): the shortest first leg (just 1 hour and 40 minutes) and often the lowest prices, in exchange for a very long second leg.
• Etihad (via Abu Dhabi): competitive prices, especially off-peak, but fewer daily departures.

There are also combinations with Singapore Airlines, Qantas or Scoot via Singapore, as well as cheap but tiring routes with two stops (e.g. via Doha and Kuala Lumpur). These might reduce the price but increase the total travel time to over 24 hours.

How much do Athens – Bali flight tickets cost

The cost depends dramatically on the season and how early you book. The prices that follow are for a return ticket in economy class, per person.

Period	Typical price	Comment
February – March	620€ – 780€	The cheapest period of the year
April – June	750€ – 900€	Ideal balance of price and weather
July – August	950€ – 1.300€	High demand, book 4-6 months in advance
September – October	700€ – 880€	Excellent choice for value
Christmas – New Year	1.100€ – 1.600€	The most expensive period

As a practical rule: for summer, book at least four months in advance, while for winter or spring, two to three months are sufficient. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are almost always cheaper departure days, while departing on Friday and returning on Sunday usually adds 80-150€.

Bali: what you’ll find when you land

Bali is not just a tropical island; it is an entire culture condensed into 5,780 square kilometres. It belongs to Indonesia but differs radically from the rest of the country, as its population is predominantly Hindu: everywhere you will encounter temples, daily offerings of flowers and rice outside homes, ceremonies and parades that stop traffic.

Geographically, the island is divided into four very different zones. In the south are the most touristy areas: Kuta with its nightlife and surfing lessons for beginners, Seminyak with its restaurants and beach clubs, Canggu which has become a global hub for digital nomads, and the Uluwatu peninsula with its dramatic cliffs, the temple above the sea, and the best beaches for swimming.

In the centre lies Ubud, the cultural heart of the island. Here you will find the famous terraced rice fields of Tegalalang, the monkey forest, dozens of yoga studios, galleries, woodcarving workshops, and a culinary scene ranging from traditional babi guling to the most elaborate vegan menus. Ubud is also the best base for excursions to waterfalls such as Tegenungan and Sekumpul.

The north and east comprise the quieter side of Bali. Here are Mount Batur, which you climb at night to watch the sunrise from the summit, Lakes Bratan and Buyan with the photogenic Ulun Danu temple, the black volcanic beaches of Amed, and Tulamben with the USAT Liberty shipwreck, one of the most accessible dive sites in the world. Off the east coast, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan offer postcard-perfect landscapes, just a half-hour speedboat ride from Sanur.

The climate is tropical with stable temperatures of 26-32 degrees all year round. The dry season lasts from April to October and is ideal for travel, while from November to March we have the monsoon rains, which usually fall in intense but short bursts in the afternoon. The cost of living remains among the lowest for a tropical destination: a meal at a local warung costs 2-4 euros, a day with a scooter 5-7 euros, and a good boutique accommodation with a pool 40-70 euros per night.

If you are planning your first trip, read our detailed guide Trip to Bali – when, where and how to go as well as the article on Indonesia and its islands.

Time difference, visa and practicalities

Bali is in the WITA (UTC+8) zone. The difference with Greece is +5 hours in summer and +6 hours in winter. When it's 12 pm in Athens in August, it's 5 pm in Denpasar.

For Greek citizens, a visa on arrival is required, costing 500,000 Rupiah (approximately 30 euros) which covers a 30-day stay and can be renewed once for another 30 days. You need a passport valid for at least six months, a return ticket, and an electronic customs declaration that must be completed online shortly before arrival. There is also a tourist levy of 150,000 Rupiah which is paid electronically.

Ngurah Rai Airport is 15 minutes from Kuta, 25 minutes from Seminyak, and about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Ubud. Times can double during peak hours, as traffic in the south of the island is significant.

Tips for enduring the long flight

Seventeen hours of travel are manageable if you do three or four things correctly. First, consciously choose your connection: a two-hour stopover is ideal, while a stop under 75 minutes at a major hub is risky if the first leg is delayed.

Second, aim for a night departure for the long leg, so you can sleep in the air and arrive in Bali in the morning. Third, set your watch to Bali time the moment you board the plane and try to eat and sleep according to it — this is the most effective way to reduce jet lag, which, however, is mild on this particular journey due to the small time difference.

Finally, look after hydration and circulation: drink water constantly, avoid alcohol on the long leg, wear compression socks, and take a walk in the aisle every two hours. And don’t forget how long you should be at the airport before an intercontinental flight — we have analysed this in our relevant article. For international flights, allow three hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct flight from Athens to Bali?

No. There is not and never has been a direct route from Athens to Denpasar. All flights are made with at least one stop, usually in Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Istanbul.

How long is the Athens – Bali flight in total?

The total travel time ranges from 16 hours and 30 minutes to 22 hours, depending on the hub and the duration of the stopover. The pure time in the air is approximately 14 to 15 hours.

What is the fastest route to Bali?

The fastest option is usually Qatar Airways via Doha, with a total time that can drop to 16 hours and 30 minutes if you get a short connection.

How much does an Athens – Bali flight ticket cost?

A return ticket in economy class typically costs 620-780 euros in winter and spring, 950-1,300 euros in July and August, and up to 1,600 euros during the holidays.

What is the time difference between Greece and Bali?

Bali is five hours ahead of Greece during summer time and six hours ahead during winter time.

What is the best time to travel to Bali?

The dry season from April to October has the best weather. April, May, September, and October combine excellent conditions with significantly lower prices than July and August.

Read also

• Kilometric distances and tolls from Athens
• Nearby destinations from Athens by road
• How long is the flight from Athens to Bali
• Cheap flights