When it comes to tropical destinations, both Bali and Fiji certainly head up some people’s bucket lists.
With private island resorts, natural beauty and island paradise available in both places, deciding whether to visit Fiji or Bali can be a challenge.
If island hopping is out of the question for your tropical vacation, then our head-to-head might help you choose between staying on the Island of Gods or in a traditional Fijian village.
Bali In Brief: What’s It Like?
Bali is a famous tropical paradise. It’s an island with black sand volcanic beaches and white sand beaches, with Mount Agung and Mount Bature, the two active volcanoes on the island, towering above much of the landscape.
It’s one of the most popular tourist spots in the Southern Hemisphere and it has nightlife, amazing dining, incredible resorts, boutique shopping and much more awaiting visitors.
Fiji In Brief: What’s It Like?
Fiji is made up of 300 islands. It’s an archipelago, and while most of those islands are uninhabited, there are different islands where you can stay. It’s far less developed than Bali overall.
The palm-fringed white sand beaches are world famous, and the tropical location means it has two seasons, like Bali, a dry season and a wet season.
Bali Vs Fiji: Head-To-Head Comparison
We find the easiest way to compare two destinations is to break them down into categories that visitors really care about and then compare them both using our local knowledge.
This also allows us to declare a “winner” at the end by counting up how many categories each destination triumphs in.
Beaches In Bali Vs Beaches In Fiji
Fiji is part of the coral coast, and there’s no doubt that its pristine beaches, often protected by soft coral reefs, are breathtaking in their whiteness and softness underfoot.
They are the highlight of this island paradise and are very popular for scuba diving as the marine life of the soft coral capital of the South Pacific is world famous.
Bali surely has great beaches too, but beach lovers may prefer the white sands of Fiji to the off-white to black sands of the volcanic island.
One of the big joys of Bali’s beaches is that you’re never far from a a bar or beach club, or restaurant to enjoy some refreshments, and sunset watching on the island paradise is always a joy.
However, in our first category, when we compare Fiji to Bali, we have to award it to Fiji. Both places have great beaches, but Fiji has the edge.
Water Sports In Bali Vs Water Sports In Fiji
However, while you can go swimming with the sea creatures in Fiji, the island’s watersports scene is far less developed than Bali’s.
This is, in part, because Bali is part of the pro-surfing tours and thus, there are a lot of surfers on the island.
But divers can swim with reef sharks and manta rays, and even the Giant Sunfish. Bali has kitesurfing, wakeboarding, white water rafting, and endless amounts of other watersports to enjoy.
Most importantly, watersports in Bali are among the most affordable on the planet, and if you were hoping to enjoy getting wet and sporty, then Bali is much better than Fiji for it. So, Bali wins this category.
Safety In Bali Vs Safety In Fiji
Both island destinations are considered to be relatively safe. However, there’s no doubt that Fiji affords more opportunities for petty crime.
Because it’s less built up and things are more spaced apart, it’s easier for criminals to burgle or pickpocket and in some of the most popular tourist areas like Suva and Nadi, there are muggings late at night.
In comparison, Bali is a safer destination, there are fewer cases of absolute poverty on the island, and those that do exist tend to be far from tourist areas.
Petty crime still does take place in Bali, but not at the same rate as in Fiji, and that makes Bali the safer destination, but we wouldn’t have huge concerns about visiting Fiji on a safety basis, either.
Things To Do In Bali Vs Things To Do In Fiji
While Fiji’s natural beauty is well suited to a romantic getaway of long walks on the beaches, there’s no doubt that Fiji doesn’t have a huge amount of things to do beyond the beaches.
You can visit the Fiji Museum, take part in a Kava Ceremony, explore the national park and visit a Fijian village, but after that, you’re going to be scratching around for more than a restaurant with fresh seafood and somewhere for souvenir shopping.
Bali, on the other hand, understands what it is to be a tourism hotspot and has made huge efforts to cultivate places of interest.
There are thousands of temples, dozens of museums, waterfalls, diving spots, then there are indoor theme parks, hair-raising mega swings, waterparks, and so much more.
On this, it’s surprising because Bali may be smaller than Fiji, but it has far more to do and thus, it wins this category.
Nightlife In Bali Vs Nightlife In Fiji
Fiji’s nightlife has been improving over the years, and the Pacific Island nation has some decent bars and clubs, particularly on Beachcomber Island, where there are live DJs and fire dancers.
However, Bali’s nightlife is legendary and one of the biggest draws to this island in the Southern Hemisphere. Once you’ve spent a day soaking up the vibrant culture and ancient temples, there are endless clubs, beach clubs, bars and pubs to enjoy.
The island is famous for having the world’s best beach club in the form of FINNS Beach Club, but people choose Bali specifically for the nightlife, and it’s become known as a travel destination for nighttime fun.
Sure, Fiji may have nightlife, but it’s nowhere near on the scale or professionalism of Bali’s scene, and that means Bali takes this category.
Culture In Bali Vs Culture In Fiji
Fijian culture is interesting and hospitable. There are plenty of places where you can witness local music and dance performances, and there is even a local museum.
The kava ceremony is open to all and is a key part of life on the island.
However, while both Bali and Fiji have rich cultural experiences, Bali is known throughout the world for its unique culture.
The people are warm, friendly and open to foreigners. This Hindu enclave in a Muslim nation has developed a strong sense of identity.
There are rituals, ceremonies, cultural performances, temples, and so much more to discover that it would take a lifetime in Bali to see it all.
Bali wins this category, but it’s not intended to diminish the fascinating culture of the Fijian people.
Food In Bali Vs Food In Fiji
Fijian food culture is very distinct, with a strong emphasis on locally caught fish and locally cultivated fruit. That’s because most other agricultural produce has to be imported, which significantly increases the cost.
Bali has its own unique food culture, and it also draws on the wider Indonesian archipelago for inspiration. You can find dishes containing most types of meat, and there’s a huge emphasis on rice and rice noodles.
When it comes to international fare, Fuji’s resorts tend to be where you find it, and it usually comes with a hefty price tag.
Bali, on the other hand, has a huge number of international restaurants to suit every budget. Many people consider Bali to be something of a foodie’s paradise, in fact.
So, Bali wins this category, it has more variety, better price points and much more choice.
Aesthetics Matter: Bali Or Fiji?
There’s no doubt that both Bali and Fuji have some incredible natural beauty. Fuji’s beaches are among the most beautiful on Earth, the unspoiled inner islands are lovely, and island hopping can reveal some real hidden gems.
Bali has volcanoes, mountains, rice paddies, black sand beaches, jungle and some of the most diverse landscapes on Earth. It also has a wide range of towns and fishing villages, some very photogenic, others less so.
Overall, we always find that this category is the most subjective on our head-to-heads, and we don’t think there’s a clear winner. So, we’re calling this one a tie between Bali and Fuji.
Which Has The Better Shopping? Bali Or Fiji?
While many resorts in Fiji will have some sort of shop attached to them and you can find some shopping streets, in the main, Fiji isn’t a great place for people to go shopping.
That’s because everything on this island paradise needs to be imported from somewhere much further away, and that dramatically increases the prices of goods. In many cases, it would be cheaper to shop for the same items in Australia or New Zealand than it is in Fiji.
Bali is something of a shopping mecca, and the streets of Canggu and Seminyak, in particular, are lined with boutique stores for the fashion-conscious traveller.
There are also some decent malls, surf shops, etc., on the island.
Some things are still not great value in Bali, particularly imported goods, but overall, it’s a much better shopping destination than Fiji, and thus, it wins this category.
Which Island Is Best For Digital Nomads Fiji Or Bali?
Digital nomads tend to be budget travellers, and while Fiji may have lovely local customs and be recommended by the Lonely Planet, it’s definitely not for those on a budget.
The island has also not yet embraced the coworking, coliving and digital nomad meetup culture that most nomads are searching for when they leave home.
We’re not saying that nobody has ever been a digital nomad in this part of the South Pacific, but the turquoise waters and local markets are more for well-heeled tourists.
Bali, on the other hand, is often at the top of the nomad’s list when they visit Southeast Asia, with both Canggu and Ubud appearing in top 5 lists of places for nomads in this part of the world.
There are coworking, coliving, and meetups galore and all the other facilities that nomads want and expect. So, it’s an easy win for Bali in this category.
Which Island Is Best For Expats Fiji Or Bali?
There are certainly some expats in Fiji, many of whom are working att the resorts on the largest island.
However, it’s fair to say that the high cost of living in Fiji tends to deter retirees and many of the more budget-conscious expats.
Bali also has plenty of expats who work in the island’s thriving tourism trade, but it’s also home to countless retirees who come for the island’s high standard of life, but low cost of living.
So, the numbers speak for themselves, for most expats Bali is simply the better deal between the two islands.
Bang For Buck: Which Is Better Value Fiji Or Bali?
We’ve touched on this quite a lot during our head-to-head, but there’s simply no comparison between these two destinations when it comes to value for money.
Fiji is somewhat isolated in its position among the crystal clear waters of the ocean, and that means a huge markup on most types of imported goods, and with no real industry to speak of, Fiji imports pretty much everything.
Bali, on the other hand, while it does have to import some goods, the majority of goods that aren’t locally made only have to make the short trip from Java, the main island of Indonesia and its next-door neighbour.
Bali isn’t the cheapest destination in South East Asia, but it is far cheaper than Fiji and that makes it a hands-down winner in this category.
In fact, the cost differences are so substantial between these two places that for many visitors, it’s the single most important factor in making a decision as to where to come on holiday.
You can stay in a 5-star resort in Bali for less money than you can stay in an average resort in Fiji and have more to spend every day.
Final Round Up Bali Vs Fiji
So, Fiji wins for the best beaches, and there is a tie for the most aesthetic place in our head-to-head.
But Bali wins every single other category in our Bali Vs Fiji round up, it has more to do, it’s better value for money, there are more watersports opportunities, better food, better nightlife and much more.
So, for the vast majority of people, Bali is going to prove the better tourism destination.
FAQs
Is It Better To Go To Fiji Or Bali?
As you can see from our round-up above, while the Pacific Island of Fiji certainly has its charms as part of the coral coast, most people will find that if they visit Bali, they’re going to have a better time of things.
Bali is the ultimate tropical escape, and the main island of Bali gives you the chance to enjoy true island life, with direct flights from most destinations and enjoy all the comforts of modern life. There’s so much to see and do in Bali that many people come back year after year.
Is Fiji Bigger Than Bali?
Yes, Fiji is about three times the size of Bali by land area. Fiji is over 7,000 square miles, and Bali is just over 2,000 square miles.
What’s quite incredible is how much more Bali manages to pack into its relatively small area compared to Fiji.
Is Fiji Or Bali Closer To Australia?
It depends on where you live in Australia. In fact, Bali is closer to the majority of Australia than Fiji is, but there are parts of Australia where direct flights to Fiji are faster than flights to Bali.
However, if you’re flying out of Australia’s major airports, a typical flight to Fiji is around 10 hours, whereas a flight to Bali is more like 4 hours.
This is one big difference between the two destinations, as an extra 6 hours on a plane can mean spending a day on Fiji’s beaches feeling tired and grumpy, rather than having the kind of energy that you would hit the beautiful beaches of Bali with.
Is Bali Or Fiji Hotter?
There’s not much in it as both Fiji and Bali are tropical destinations, but you will find that Fiji is ever so slightly cooler than Bali for most of the year.
Bali offers one of the most temperate climates on the planet, and it’s perfect weather for exploring the beautiful temples, cultural experiences, etc. that make Bali one of the top tourist spots on the planet.
Is Fiji Or Bali Better For Families?
While both Balinese and Fijian cultures are extremely happy to welcome children and to make a real effort to show them warm hospitality and care, there’s no doubt that Bali has an edge for families.
There are more choices of accommodation in Bali, and it’s much easier to find a kids club or surf lessons or mountain biking to keep your children happy.
Child care is offered by many resorts in Bali, and there are also nannying services from highly reputable providers that can ensure you can nip out to spend some time at FINNS while your children are safely cared for.
Final Thoughts On Bali Vs Fiji
As you can see from our round-up, Bali offers more to do, more to see and much better value for money than Fiji does.
They’re both great places to visit, and if you can afford the time and money to see both, we’d recommend that you do so.
But if you can only choose one, then for most people, Bali is the best tropical destination.
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