Bali Etiquette: Temple Dress, Offerings and Everyday Customs
Bali etiquette comes down to a few habits: dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, wear a sarong and sash at temples, stay in the outer courtyard unless you are there to pray, step around the daily offerings on the ground, and watch ceremonies quietly from the edge. Bali is a Hindu island in majority-Muslim Indonesia, and visitors are welcome at most temple outer areas. Rules vary by site, so check the signs at the entrance. For the wider trip, start with the Bali destination guide; the island’s government sets the baseline in Governor’s Circular 7 of 2025.
Bali Etiquette: Six Rules That Cover Most Situations
- Dress. Cover shoulders and knees at temples and wear a sarong and sash.
- Courtyards. Stay in the outer courtyard; the inner ones are for worshippers.
- Offerings. Step around the small trays on the ground and never touch or move them.
- Ceremonies. Watch from the edge, ask before taking photos and switch the flash off.
- Hands, heads and feet. Use your right hand, do not touch heads and keep your feet away from altars.
- Swimwear. Keep it for the beach and the pool.
Bali Temple Dress and Conduct
You are at a temple entrance: this is the usual drill. Cover your shoulders and knees, tie on a sarong and sash, and walk in through the outer courtyard. Most temples lend or rent the sarong and sash for around IDR 10,000–20,000 (~USD 0.60–1.25) or a donation, but not every temple has them, so the temple kit in the packing list is worth carrying.
| Where you are | What to wear | Usually provided |
|---|---|---|
| Outer courtyard of a tourist temple | Covered shoulders and knees, sarong and sash | Lent or rented at the entrance at most temples |
| Inner courtyards | Traditional prayer attire; worshippers only | Not open to visitors |
| Water temple with pools, such as Tirta Empul | Sarong plus a change of clothes for the pools | Sarong at the entrance; bring your own dry clothes |
| Village temple or ceremony | Modest dress, sarong and sash; ask first | Often not provided |
The official guidance says non-worshippers may not enter the inner and middle courtyards, and the outer courtyard (nista) is open to visitors. Shoes often come off at the gate, so slip-ons help. Other entry limits are posted on signs, so follow them. Do not climb sacred trees or monuments, and keep photos respectful. At Tirta Empul, the Ubud temple and day-trip notes cover the purification pools.
Offerings on the Ground in Bali: Canang Sari and Where to Step
Canang sari are small palm-leaf trays of flowers and incense that Balinese families set out every day. You will see low ones on pavements, doorsteps, shop thresholds and crossroads, and raised ones on shrines and above doorways.
- Walking. Step around any offering on the ground. Bali’s travel guidelines say not to step on, damage or interfere with religious offerings.
- Touching. Never pick one up, move it or tidy it away, even if it looks old.
- Photos. Photograph them from standing height, without crouching over the tray or blocking the doorway.
Bali Ceremonies, Processions and Photos
Ceremonies happen all year, often with little notice. If you come across one, stop at the edge and watch quietly.
- Position. Do not walk between worshippers and the shrine, and sit or stand no higher than the locals around you.
- Photos. Ask before photographing people praying, and never use a flash.
- Processions. Roads near a temple can close for a procession. If you are on a scooter, park and walk; the scooter rental guide covers road closures.
- Nyepi. Ogoh-ogoh parades and the Day of Silence have their own rules; the Nyepi guide covers them.
- Drones. Check the drone rules before flying near temples or ceremonies.
Everyday Customs in Bali: Right Hand, Heads, Feet, Greetings
- Right hand. Give and receive with your right hand, or with both hands. The left is seen as unclean.
- Heads. Do not touch anyone’s head, including a child’s.
- Feet. Keep them away from altars and shrines.
- Pointing. Gesture with an open hand or your thumb, not one finger.
- Greeting. Say Om Swastiastu with your palms together. It is the Balinese Hindu greeting.
Tipping is covered in the Bali trip budget.
Beach, Street and Scooter Dress in Bali
Swimwear belongs at the beach and the pool. A bikini or going shirtless in a shop, restaurant or village is seen as disrespectful, and the official guidance asks visitors to wear modest, respectful clothing in public spaces. Throw a cover-up or shirt over swimwear when you leave the sand. If you ride a scooter, keep a sarong in the bag for any temple stop on the route. Find more practical guides under Bali Travel Tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a sarong at Bali temples?
Yes at most temples. Cover your shoulders and knees and wear a sarong and sash, which most temples lend or rent for around IDR 10,000-20,000 (~USD 0.60-1.25) or a donation. Not every temple provides them, so check the signs.
Can tourists enter the inner courtyards of a Bali temple?
No. The official guidance says non-worshippers may not enter the inner and middle courtyards. Visitors use the outer courtyard, and worshippers wear traditional prayer attire inside.
Can women visit a Bali temple on their period?
It is a Balinese Hindu religious custom, and the official guidance also lists it among the rules for the sacred temple areas. Many temples post a sign at the entrance, so follow it.
Can I step over a canang sari offering?
No. Step around it. Never step on, touch or move an offering, even if it looks old or sits in the middle of the pavement.
Can I take photos at a Bali ceremony?
Often yes from the edge, but ask first. Do not use a flash, do not walk between worshippers and the shrine, and stay lower than or level with the locals.
Is swimwear okay in Bali towns?
Only at the beach and the pool. A bikini or going shirtless in a shop, restaurant or village is seen as disrespectful, so cover up when you leave the sand.
Prices and practical details on this page are approximate and may have changed. Verify with the venue or booking platform before your visit.