Basic Balinese Etiquette to Keep in Mind When Visiting Bali

Updated on December 8, 2025

Bali draws people in with its calm beaches, green rice terraces, and a pace of life shaped by centuries of ritual. Daily offerings sit on doorsteps, temple ceremonies fill the calendar, and community life is built on shared duty. The island’s culture blends art, dance, and spirituality in a way that feels both grounded and alive. Families take pride in tradition, creativity, and hospitality. Visitors who understand this context get a richer experience, because the warmth of Balinese people shines brightest when their customs are respected.

Good etiquette matters. Exploring and experiencing Balinese Culture create warmth, openness, and space for genuine experiences. Following these simple habits helps travelers move with the rhythm of the island and shows respect for the culture that makes Bali special and more meaningful.

The Dos

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Always Dress and Act Modestly

• Despite Bali being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, the island is still culturally conservative. While you can lounge around the beach and resorts in skimpy outfits or without a shirt, you must dress modestly when out in town, sacred places, or at the market. This doesn’t mean you need to wear long sleeves and pants amidst the hot climate, but appropriate clothes such as a shirt and long shorts or skirts are enough.

Inappropriate Touching

• Touching or unwarranted public display of affection, such as hugging or kissing, among the opposite sex is also not appropriate in public unless you’re within the confines of a resort or a popular area predominantly occupied by foreigners.

Greet Strangers with a Handshake (also known as the Salam)

• When meeting people for the first time, offer them a handshake and a slight nod of your head. When a man is introduced to a woman, wait for her to offer her hand first. If she doesn’t initiate one, it is a sign not to give out a handshake.

Learn Proper Gestures

• When offering handshakes to older people or those in authority, slightly bend your body facing the person as a sign of deep respect.

Leave Your Footwear at the Door When Entering a Home or Temple

• To show respect to a Balinese home or temple, people must leave their footwear at the door. Since homes and temples are considered sacred places, shoes and all types of footwear are seen as contaminating the cleanliness of such places.

Related Article: The Top 10 Temples in Bali

Observe Proper Use of Local Social Titles

• When referring to someone who’s older than you, use their social titles before their given name to show respect for the elders. Use “Pak” for “Mr.,” “Mas” for “Mrs.,” and “Mbak” for “Ms.” For a better context on how to use these honorifics, you may consult locals or tour guides.

Wear a Sarong and Sash in Temples

• A t-shirt and shorts combo is not appropriate for temple visits, and you certainly won’t be allowed to enter. Sarongs and sashes are available in temples, so make sure you wear these when visiting religious places and temples in Bali.

Learn Useful Balinese Phrases

• If you want to immerse better in the island’s culture, you need to at least know what language is spoken in Bali, such as their common expressions and greetings.

The Don’ts

Photo: Nova Kusady via Unsplash

Never Show Displeasure in Public

• If you are disappointed with someone or a service rendered to you, show your dissatisfaction privately. You can ask the person to have a talk in closed spaces, but never where there are other people who can see or hear you. Balinese people are very easily embarrassed, and saving their faces is very important to them.

Call Out in Private

• Honor the person’s dignity by expressing your anger or displeasure when other people are not around. Balinese are very tolerant and welcoming; it would be an offense to them to be treated poorly.

Never Touch Someone’s Head

• The Balinese believe that a person’s soul resides in the head, making it the body’s holiest part. As such, never touch anyone’s head or hair, and don’t even think about ruffling a little child’s hair.

Do Not Using Your Index Finger

• This is considered obscene and impolite in Bali. Use your thumb or a gentle whole-hand gesture (palm up) instead, which aligns with the island’s preference for subtle and respectful communication.

Never Use Your Left Hand to Hand Over Something to Another Person

• Balinese people believe that the left hand is dirty. They see the left hand as impure because it is the hand Balinese people use for hygienic purposes. So always use the right hand when paying or when handing an object to someone.

Never Point Your Feet at Someone

• Balinese people consider the feet the dirtiest part of the body and should never be used to point at someone or something. When sitting down, never cross your legs in the “4” position, where your feet rest on the thigh or knee.

Do Not Empty Your Plate

• When invited to dinner or a party at a local Balinese home, do not leave your plate empty, but leave a few pieces of food to symbolize an offering to the gods. This also shows the host that you had enough to eat.

Respect Balinese Religion

• The Balinese take their faith very seriously, so they never argue in public or with a local about religion or politics. Balinese women also frequently place religious offerings in many sacred places around the island. Outside areas of shops and homes may have flowers, food, and incense, so it is best to be careful about walking in the streets. Never step on them, as the Balinese believe you will upset the gods.

A Gentle Tip for Your Stay

Think of your time in Bali as an invitation to slow down. The island moves with a soft kind of grace, and it helps to lean into that pace. Plan your days with room to breathe and give yourself time to enjoy a quiet breakfast, chat with a local vendor, or watch the sky change color before evening prayers. When you show up with patience and curiosity, people sense it. They open up in small and genuine ways that make the trip feel richer. It is a simple approach, but much like a thoughtful cue to locals that you are there to respect their place. It adds more warmth and depth that makes your stay feel truly welcoming. Take these dos and don’ts to heart and enjoy your holiday vacation in Bali.

For those staying in private luxury villas in Bali, guests may ask their exclusive guest experience specialist or villa staff to help them learn more about the customs in Bali and how to make the most of their stay.