Temple Etiquette & Dress Code

Bali has thousands of temples, and visiting one is often the highlight of a trip — Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Besakih, the water temples of Ulun Danu. But a temple is a living place of worship, not a photo backdrop, and there are a few simple rules that make the difference between being a welcome guest and an awkward tourist. None of it is complicated. Here's what to know before you go.

The dress code (this is the main one)

To enter any temple you need a sarong tied around your waist, covering your legs, and usually a sash (selendang) tied around it. This applies to everyone — men and women, shorts or long trousers alike. Shoulders should be covered too, so skip the tank top. Most major temples rent or lend sarongs at the entrance, often included in the ticket, so you don't need to buy your own — but having a light sarong in your bag means you're always ready.

Behaviour inside

• Don't stand higher than a priest or climb on shrines and structures for photos — height signals status at a temple.
• Never point your feet at a shrine or a person when sitting; feet are considered the least clean part of the body.
• Keep your head lower than sacred objects and statues where you can.
• Be quiet and calm — lower your voice, move gently, and give worshippers space.
• Ask before photographing people praying, and never use flash during a ceremony.

The one rule most people don't know

Menstruating women are traditionally asked not to enter temples, and you'll often see this on signs at the entrance. It's a matter of ritual purity in Balinese Hinduism, not judgement — it applies to Balinese women too. No one checks; it's on your honour, and respecting it is part of being a considerate guest. The same idea of purity is why anyone with an open wound is sometimes asked to wait outside.

If a ceremony is happening

You may arrive to find a ceremony in progress — processions, gamelan, offerings, people in white. This is a gift to witness, not an interruption to push through. Stay to the edges, don't walk in front of people praying or between them and the shrine, follow what locals do, and if you're unsure whether you should be somewhere, you probably shouldn't — step back. Quiet respect is always the right call.

Quick answers

Planning a temple sunset? Our Tanah Lot guide covers timing and dinner after, and the full Bali Guide has more routes and culture.