Is There Uber in Indonesia in 2024? (Uber in Bali, Java, Lombok & Flores)

Are you planning a trip to Indonesia? or, more specifically, the Indonesian islands of Bali, Java, Lombok, or Flores? If so, you might be wondering if there is an Uber service on any of Indonesia’s 17,000+ amazing islands.

Unfortunately, the answer to your question is no. There is no Uber in Indonesia in 2022, and hasn’t been since Uber sold its majority stake to Grab in 2018. Grab is the Southeast Asian version of Uber.

But the good news is that Indonesia has its own ride-sharing apps and many other transportation options instead of Uber. Read on to see how to get around the most popular islands of Bali, Java, Lombok, and Flores when you are visiting Indonesia.

Are There Alternative Ride-sharing Companies Available in Indonesia?

Thankfully, yes. In Indonesia, the two leading ride-sharing companies are Grab and Gojek (IOS/Android). Grab is the Uber of Southeast Asia (in which Uber has a majority stake), and Gojek is a home-grown Indonesian company.

Indonesia is a vast archipelago, but ride-sharing services are unavailable on many of its islands – only the more developed ones. Ride-share services include various transportation options, from motorbikes to cars and lifestyle services like food, medicine, and grocery delivery. Both companies have been working hard to expand their services to smaller cities and rural areas.

On the other hand, they face stiff competition from traditional taxi unions, which have been known to harass or even be violent towards ride-hailing drivers. As a result, some areas have entirely restricted the use of these apps. Even with the bans, you may still be able to find a driver willing to take you where you need to go.

Where Do Grab and Gojek Operate in Indonesia?

Check to see if Indonesia’s available ride-hailing apps operate in the city, island, or town you will visit by checking out their official website: Grab.

Unfortunately, Gojek doesn’t have a neat list. If you’re unsure, just open the app, and it’ll let you know if coverage has arrived at your destination.

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Is There Uber in Bali, Indonesia?

All in all, I spend more than a month on the island of Bali. With very few public transportation services, the question has always been how to get around the island cheaply.

Even though there is no Uber in Bali, there are many other transportation options for getting around.

Ride-Hailing Apps in Bali

In Bali, both of the most popular ride-hailing apps, Grab and Gojek, are available almost everywhere touristy. The motorbike taxi option on ride-sharing apps is the cheapest option unless you plan on renting transportation and driving yourself.

In most of the bigger towns, finding a driver through either of these apps is usually no problem. However, traditional taxi drivers have formed unions to restrict their use in the city center of Denpasar and Ubud.

Signs posted in these areas state that ride-hailing apps are not allowed. But if you venture out to the outskirts of the town center, you’ll likely still find a driver willing to take you to your destination.

More remote areas, like the west or north of Bali near the Java-Bali ferry port, will say they have drivers, but the app will never find one.

Are There Traditional Taxis on Bali?

Taxi service galore on Bali. Stroll around the street, and you’ll find every hotel, restaurant, and street peddler all advertise private transport. The easiest way to get a taxi is by booking one in advance to make sure you’re not getting ripped off or just roaming around the street. If you’re doing the latter, ask a few people to ensure you don’t get wildly overcharged.

👉 For those arriving to Bali by plane, I recommend booking your private transfer from the airport here. This is honestly cheaper than what you will find in person. 

Bali Airport to Ubud Taxi Fare

A taxi is the only direct transfer option and only takes 40 minutes in normal traffic. The set fee is around 300,000 IDR. Taxis are available from Denpasar airport 24/7. Grab and Gojek cars will end up costing around the same.

After a long flight, the last thing you want to do is bargain for a taxi or figure out public transportation. Booking this online transfer from the airport to Ubud is cheaper than the set taxi fares. They’ll even come out with your name on a sign.

If you’re looking for the cheapest option, you can take the public bus. The journey will take more than double the amount of time, and there are no direct routes. But it will only cost a few dollars in total.

Hire a Private Driver for the Day

Since going city to city on traditional taxis costs so much, and you are skipping all the best things to do in Bali, you may as well pay a few extra dollars to hire a private driver for the day.

For around 500K IDR (30 USD), you can book a driver who will make as many stops as you want and get you to your final destination.

👉 Depending on how many people are in your group, this 8 hour private driver hire may be cheaper than finding one off the street. 

Renting a Car Or Scooter On Bali

Car Rental

Car rentals are only available in the south of the island, which makes driving to the north and east Bali take quite some time.

To book your rental car, go to RentalCars.com by clicking here. With RentalCars.com, you’ll get the widest selection of cars in Bali.

Warning: Bali has some steep steep climbs in the north and east. Coupled with narrow roads, be extra vigilant on the road.

Public Transportation Options in Bali

Bali does have busses, but they are limited to the Southern areas and Ubud to Denpasar and the south. Tickets are cheap, but they will take a longer amount of time to arrive at your destination.

They are not some old, rusty minibus, but rather a large, modern-looking red bus.

Shuttle Service Around Bali

Tour operators advertise cheaper than private transport shuttle bus services all around Bali. These are typically only worth it if you are traveling solo. With 2+ people, you may as well get your own private transport.

The limitations: they typically only leave once a day, and it actually takes forever; think two times longer than it would’ve taken you by yourself. This service will stop and pick up many other tourists along its route and drop them off along the route as well.

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Is There Uber In Java, Indonesia?

Like Bali, Grab and Gojek are available in almost every city and large town in Java. Java is the most developed Indonesian island and houses half the country’s population, around 150 million people.

Are There Taxis In Java?

Taxis are abundant in Java. These will actually be cabs with assorted colors (although unmarked cars do exist too).

Sometimes local taxis will have meters, but they will rarely use them. It’s up to your negotiating skills to prearrange a price with the driver.

The only exception to this is the official Bluebird Taxi group. They may be a bit pricier than the other taxis, but they are the most reliable. You can order a Blue Bird driver through the Gojek app. The cars are distinctly a baby blue shade.

Do I Need A Car or Scooter In Java?

Java is huge! You will likely only be going in one direction and not returning. I do not recommend renting your own transportation to travel between cities. However, it is a great idea once you are in town. 

Just like renting scooters in Vietnam cities, Traffic is absolutely brutal in Java. I would be wary of renting in Jakarta and Bandung and would recommend hiring a driver in those cities.

Jogyakarta is much better traffic-wise, but be prepared to drive a lot to get to the city highlights. Because of this, I also recommend getting a car if you are with a group of people. I rented a scooter for a week and drove 500km in 6 days. My butt died a little.

I recommend using RentalCars.com for the best prices on average.

Is There Public Transportation In Java?

Trains are the best way to travel intercity in Java. It is faster and more comfortable than a bus.

If you are a person who uses google maps to route your public transportation, don’t. Go in person to directly find out train schedules or download an app called “Traveloka” to book your train tickets from them. This is the most used Indonesian app to purchase train, plane, and hotel reservations.

Bromo – Ijen Tours In Java

The only exception to all the above is visiting Java’s biggest landmark highlights, hiking to Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen. Because of the far distances, the mandatory guide requirement, and the need for a 4×4 jeep, it is much cheaper to book a group tour.

👉 If you are just looking for a one day trip to Mount Bromo, check out this highly rated one day tour to see the sunrise.

👉 For those looking to see the best of east Java, combine Mount Bromo, Mount Ijen, and the “thousand falls” Sewu waterfall in this 3D/2N group trip. Be prepared not to sleep much. 

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Is There Uber In Lombok, Indonesia?

Grab and Gojek only exists on the west side of Lombok. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the Gili Islands, so you are out of luck there.

In general, drivers are limited everywhere outside of Mataram, Lombok’s capital city, and nearby Sengiggi Beach. Most drivers are not willing to travel too far outside the town you are in, if there even is a driver.

The Lombok Praya International Airport has a Grab desk offering rides at a set price, but motorbike taxis are not available from that stand.

Are There Taxis On Lombok?

As per Indonesian usual, private transport is aplenty and is the best way to get around Lombok, unless you plan on driving yourself. Slightly cheaper than on Bali, you can get from north to south Lombok for around 20-30$ along a very well-paved highway.

If you’d like to book your transfer ahead of time, check prices with this private transfer option.

Shared Shuttle Services on Lombok

Like in Bali, tour operators offer cheaper shared shuttle services to all the major Lombok destinations, from the Bangsal ferry port to the famous waterfall towns like Senaru.

These are only worth it if you go alone. You may as well hire your own transfer from the street if you go with 2 or more people. They will also take a much longer time than going independently.

Should I Rent a Car or Scooter In Lombok?

Lombok has great road infrastructure and very little traffic outside of Mataram. This is a great place to learn if you have never rented a scooter before.

You can rent scooters in almost every town that tourists often go to in Lombok, and it will be cheaper if you rent for a longer amount of time. Scooter rentals are about $5-6 USD daily, about $1 more expensive than in Bali. We rented for one week and drove a circle along all the South Kuta beaches and circumnavigated Mount Rinjani.

If you’re more interested in renting a car or have a bigger group, check rentalcars.com for the most up-to-date prices.

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Is There Uber In Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia?

Most well-known as the only home of the Komodo Dragons, most people only visit Labuan Bajo, the starting point to the Komodo National Park. Gojek and Grab are only available in Labuan Bajo, and not anywhere on the rest of the island (so far).

Best Way to Get Around Flores

Since there is only one main road through all of Flores, it is relatively easy to get around this island. However, since this island is absolutely filled with volcanoes, it takes a lot of time to go up and down the winding paths and valleys of its terrain.

Public Transportation on Flores

Busses are the best way to get from town to town. From there, most people hire a driver or transport to get to the attractions.

Renting Your Own Vehicle on Flores

Outside of Labuan Bajo and Moni (the starting point of Kelimutu Volcano), it is very difficult to find scooters for rent. They also cost much more than Bali or Lombok.

Overland Flores Tours

Tour operators in Labuan Bajo offer 5-7 day overland tours across Flores, stopping at all the highlights the island has to offer.

Related Post: I have a post on the best things to see in Flores, of which most of the tours will take you too as well.

Although this is the easiest way to see everything on Flores, this is pretty expensive. Finding a group that will fill all the spots is hard. You will also need to pay for the driver/guide, and either torture yourself on the long drive back or take a flight back from Ende to Labuan Bajo.

👉 If interested, booking ahead of time for this 7 day overland Flores tour starting from the East and ending in Labuan Bajo might be a good option for you. 

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Uber In Indonesia: FAQs

I hope this blog post answered most of your questions regarding Uber in the most popular islands of Indonesia. If not, I’ve covered a few more hot questions that people frequently ask:

Do I Need An International Driver’s License In Indonesia?

Officially, you are supposed to, but literally, no one in Indonesia cares. Only in Java and Lombok did the scooter owners even ask me for a deposit of my passport.

Having an international driver’s license will only be important if the police stop you for any reason. So that is a risk that you must consider.

In any case, make sure you bring your passport and your driver’s license. Rental cars will accept credit cards. Unless otherwise pre-booked, expect to pay scooter rentals in cash.

Tips For Driving Around Indonesia

✅ Indonesia Driving Side: Indonesians drive on the left side of the road, opposite the US side.

✅ Honking: People honk all the time. Although the levels at which the locals honk are excessive, you should honk around the tight curves too.

✅ Fuel Cost: Indonesia has some of the cheapest gas in the world. It is highly subsidized by the government, and up until the summer of 2022, it was only 7650 IDR (50 cents) per liter for Pertalite. Now it is about 10,000 IDR (65 cents).

The smaller hand pumps or any international stations will charge much more than the large, domestic stations. On the other hand, the cheap stations sometimes have lines of over 30 minute waiting times.

✅ Speed: Speed signs are posted all along the road, but things are very relaxed in Indonesia for the most part. Don’t overdo it; there are many obstacles on the roadway anyway.

✅ 2-Wheel Limitations: If you are a motorbike, make sure not to enter 4-wheel-only highways. They will be clearly marked that pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes are not allowed. Set the driving path on your google maps to the motorcycle icon to automatically avoid these.

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Conclusion: Is There Uber In Bali, Lombok, Java, or Flores, Indonesia?

Although there is no Uber in Indonesia, there are plenty of other ways to get around the islands. Download the Gojek and Grab apps to see if they are servicing the town you are in. Taxis and private transfers are widely available, and renting a scooter is a great option for those who want to explore independently.