Where to Base Yourself in Indonesia as a Digital Nomad

The centre of Bali’s nomad world: a sprawl of villas, coworking spaces, cafes, gyms, surf breaks and beach clubs on the south-west coast. Berawa, Batu Bolong, Pererenan and Echo Beach are the main areas. It is the easiest place in Asia to meet other remote workers, but traffic is heavy, prices have risen fast, and construction is everywhere. See the Canggu digital nomad guide.

Bali’s cultural heart, in the hills among rice terraces and jungle, about an hour from the airport. Ubud is about yoga, healthy food, art and walks, with a quieter, more spiritual crowd than Canggu and a well-established coworking scene. There is no beach, and the town centre is busy with day-trippers. See the Ubud digital nomad guide.

The limestone peninsula at Bali’s southern tip, with clifftop villas, world-famous surf and white-sand coves at Bingin, Padang Padang and Uluwatu. It has a growing community of surfers and remote workers, with a few coworking spaces and laptop cafes. Distances are long and you need a scooter, but it is less built-up than Canggu.

A calm town on Bali’s east coast with a long beach path, reef-sheltered water, and a mix of long-term expats, retirees and families. It is close to the airport, has good cafes and medical clinics, and is the departure point for boats to Nusa Penida and Lombok. It lacks a big nomad scene, which suits people who want to work without distraction.

Bali’s upmarket shopping and dining district, just south of Canggu, with boutique hotels, beach clubs and some of the island’s best restaurants. It suits people who want comfort and walkable evenings out more than a nomad community. It is one of the more expensive areas.

Bali’s neighbour, a short flight or a few hours by fast boat away, is what Bali was decades ago: quieter, with empty beaches and great surf around Kuta Lombok and Selong Belanak. A small nomad and surf community has grown in Kuta, with a few coworking spaces. Lombok is a more conservative Muslim island, so dress modestly away from the beach. Internet and healthcare are more limited than in Bali.

Three tiny, car-free islands off Lombok. Gili Trawangan is the lively one, Gili Air the favourite for longer stays, and Gili Meno the quietest. Bicycles and horse carts replace scooters, the diving and snorkelling are excellent, and life is very simple. Internet is decent in the main areas, but medical care is basic, and the islands can feel small after a few weeks.

Java’s cultural capital, home to a royal palace, a big student population, batik, art and the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan nearby. It is one of the cheapest places in Indonesia, with good cafes and a lively creative scene, though very few foreign nomads. It is on UTC+7, an hour behind Bali.

Indonesia’s capital is a vast, congested business city with excellent malls, restaurants, nightlife and hospitals, and a growing MRT network. It suits people with work or clients in Indonesia, or who want big-city life at a lower price than Singapore. Traffic, flooding in the wet season and air pollution are the downsides.

• Start in Canggu or Ubud for the easiest setup and the biggest communities.
• Visit in the dry season. April to October is best across Bali, Lombok and the Gilis.
• Check the internet before you book. Ask for a speed test video, and whether there is Starlink or a second line as backup.
• Find villas on the ground. Facebook groups and local agents have better monthly prices than booking sites, especially outside peak months.
• Think about the hospital. On Lombok, the Gilis and in rural Bali, serious cases go to Denpasar, Jakarta or Singapore.