Bali etiquette: things not to do as a visitor (2026)

Bali is Hindu, deeply ceremonial and extremely tolerant, which visitors sometimes mistake for an absence of rules. There are rules, most of them are easy, and following them changes how you are treated. The provincial authorities have also published a visitor code of conduct and have deported people for disrespecting sacred sites, so this is not purely a question of manners.

At temples

• Cover shoulders and knees, and wear a sarong and sash. These are provided or rented at every major temple, usually for a small fee or donation.
• Do not climb on shrines, gates or walls to take a photograph, and do not pose on the altars.
• Never walk in front of someone who is praying, and do not stand higher than a priest.
• Women are asked not to enter temples while menstruating. The rule is posted at the entrance and is taken seriously.
• Follow the signs about restricted inner courtyards, which are often open to worshippers only.
• Ask before photographing people during prayer or ceremonies. Most will say yes.

On the street

• Do not step on the canang sari, the small palm-leaf trays of flowers and rice placed on pavements, in doorways and on walls every morning. Walk around them.
• Give way to ceremonies. Processions have absolute priority: pull over, switch off the engine, wait, and never cut through a line of people carrying offerings.
• Dress for the setting. Swimwear is for the beach and the pool. Walking into a shop, a warung or a temple area in a bikini or shirtless reads as rude, and in some places you will be asked to leave.
• Use your right hand to give, receive, eat and point. The left is considered unclean.
• Do not touch people's heads, including children, and do not point the soles of your feet at people or at offerings.

Tone and temper

Balinese social life runs on calm. Raising your voice, losing your temper in public or humiliating someone over a mistake is far more damaging here than in most Western cultures, and it will not get your problem fixed faster. Smiling and patience genuinely work better. Aggressive haggling falls into the same category: negotiate lightly in markets, do not negotiate at all in restaurants and shops with marked prices, and do not grind someone down over the equivalent of a dollar.

Sacred nature

Mountains, certain trees, springs and waterfalls are sacred. Do not climb or pose nude or semi-nude at sacred sites, do not swim in holy springs without following the ritual order, and do not take coral, sand or temple items as souvenirs. The high-profile deportations of recent years have almost all involved nudity or stunts at sacred places.

Nyepi, the one day with absolute rules

On the Day of Silence nobody leaves their accommodation, the island goes dark and the airport closes. Visitors are included. See the Nyepi guide before booking March travel.

Other practical points

• Shoes off entering a home, and often a guesthouse or a small shop. Follow the pile by the door.
• Drones near temples, ceremonies and some beaches are restricted. Ask first.
• Drugs. Indonesian penalties are among the harshest in the world, including the death penalty for trafficking. There is no tolerance and no grey area.
• Drunkenness in public is tolerated in nightlife areas and nowhere else.
• Public affection beyond holding hands is best kept private.
• Photographs of children, in villages or schools, need a parent's agreement.
• Learn two words. Terima kasih, thank you, and permisi, excuse me, will change half your interactions.

Where it comes up most

At Uluwatu Temple, Tanah Lot and Tirta Empul, where the ritual bathing order matters; in the Monkey Forest, which is a temple complex as well as an attraction; and in village Ubud, where ceremonies happen constantly. The rest of the practicalities are in the getting around guide and the FAQ.

And where you live

Renting in a Balinese neighbourhood comes with the same courtesies: greet your neighbours, accept that ceremonies are loud and frequent, do not park across a family compound entrance, and keep music down at night. Renting direct from the owner means a manager who can explain the local customs and the banjar, the community council, rather than a platform that takes 15 to 25 percent and tells you nothing. See the rentals catalogue.