Travel Etiquette and Customs in Bali
Part of the Bali travel guide — see every topic in All Bali Guides.
Bali is Hindu in a way that is woven into daily life rather than confined to buildings. Offerings — small palm-leaf trays of flowers, rice and incense called canang sari — are placed on the ground outside every shop and house each morning. Processions close roads without notice. Ceremonies take precedence over everything, including your dinner reservation. None of this requires anything complicated from visitors, but a handful of specific customs are easy to get wrong and genuinely matter to people here.
Temples and dress
A sarong and sash are required to enter any temple and are usually available at the entrance for a small donation. Cover your shoulders. Do not enter if you are menstruating — this is a stated rule at temple entrances, and it is taken seriously. Never climb on a shrine or a temple structure for a photograph, and never stand higher than a priest or above someone who is praying. If a ceremony is happening, stay at the back, do not walk in front of praying people, and do not point a camera into it without permission.
The everyday things
Step around canang sari offerings rather than over them; accidentally treading on one is forgiven but noticed. Use your right hand to give, receive and eat — the left is considered unclean. Do not touch anyone's head, including a child's, which is the most sacred part of the body. Do not point with a finger or your foot; gesture with an open hand. Public displays of affection are best kept minimal. And dress with some modesty away from the beach: swimwear is for the beach and the pool, not for a warung, a shop or a village street.
The calendar
The Balinese use two calendars alongside the Gregorian one, so ceremonies move. Galungan and Kuningan, ten days apart every 210 days, are the biggest — tall decorated bamboo penjor poles line every street and many businesses close. Nyepi, the Day of Silence in March, stops the entire island for twenty-four hours: no flights, no vehicles, no lights, no leaving your hotel, and the airport closes. The night before is the ogoh-ogoh parade of giant demon effigies, which is one of the great spectacles in Asia. Plan travel around Nyepi, and enjoy the rest.
Interacting well
A smile and a slow pace go a long way; direct confrontation and raised voices are considered a serious loss of face and will not get you what you want. Terima kasih (thank you), permisi (excuse me) and tidak (no) cover most needs. Bargaining is normal in markets and rude in restaurants and shops with printed prices. Tipping is not traditional but is now expected in tourism: ten per cent at a restaurant without a service charge, 20,000–50,000 rupiah for a driver or spa therapist. And ask before photographing people, especially at ceremonies — the answer is usually yes.
Travel Etiquette and Customs at a glance
| Temple dress | Sarong and sash required; shoulders covered |
|---|---|
| Offerings | Step around canang sari, never over them |
| Hands | Give and receive with the right hand only |
| Never touch | Anyone's head, including children's |
| Nyepi | March — island shuts for 24 h, airport closed |
| Tipping | ~10% in restaurants; IDR 20,000–50,000 for drivers |