What health precautions do I need for Bali?
Good news: no vaccine is compulsory for most travellers. (A yellow fever certificate is only asked for if you arrive from a country where the disease is present.) A few precautions are still worth preparing before you leave.
- Vaccines: see a doctor or travel clinic 6-8 weeks before you go. Make sure your routine vaccines are up to date (including tetanus). Hepatitis A is widely recommended, and depending on your trip you may also be advised typhoid, hepatitis B (long stays) and rabies.
- Rabies: Bali has had cases for years. Don't pet stray dogs or monkeys (not even the friendly-looking ones in Ubud). If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound for 15 minutes and get medical help immediately: a pre-travel vaccine does not replace treatment.
- Water and food: tap water is not safe to drink, even in Bali. Use bottled or treated water, including for brushing your teeth, and be wary of ice. "Bali belly" (traveller's diarrhoea) is common: it usually passes in a few days with rest and fluids, and oral rehydration salts help. See a doctor if you have a high fever, blood in your stool or symptoms lasting more than three days.
- Mosquitoes: dengue exists in Bali, so use repellent and cover up at dawn and dusk. If you get a high fever, see a doctor before taking anti-inflammatories. There is no malaria risk in Bali.
- Insurance: buy travel insurance with medical cover and evacuation before you leave.
For up-to-date advice, check your national health service: the CDC (opens in a new tab) in the US, TravelHealthPro (opens in a new tab) in the UK or Smartraveller (opens in a new tab) in Australia.
Tip: pack a small kit: plasters, antiseptic, sunscreen, repellent, oral rehydration salts, and your usual medicines in their original packaging with the prescription (see the safety and scams card).
Information checked in October 2026. This is not medical advice: talk to a doctor or travel clinic.