What should I wear in Bali, and how should I behave at temples?
To enter a temple you need covered shoulders and knees, plus a sarong (a long cloth wrapped around the waist) and a selendang (the sash that goes with it). Don't panic if you have nothing with you: most sites lend or rent them at the entrance for a small donation, and thirty seconds later you almost look like a local.
Then look down. Those little palm-leaf trays of flowers and incense left outside doorways and shops are canang sari, daily offerings renewed every morning. You walk around them. You never step over them.
- On the beach: swimwear is fine, but pack a cover-up for when you leave it.
- In towns and villages: relaxed clothes are fine, but beachwear isn't.
- Manners: don't touch anyone's head (it is the most sacred part of the body), and give and receive things with your right hand.
- Photos: ask before photographing people who are praying.
Tip: keep a light scarf or sarong in your day bag. It gets you into any temple at a moment's notice.
Rules, fees and prices checked in October 2026. Confirm before you travel.