Cultural Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

1. Respect the sanctity of temples, pratimas (sacred statues), and religious symbols.\
2. Be mindful of local customs, traditions and observances, particularly when ceremonial processions or rituals are taking place
3. Observe the dress codes of sacred areas, which includes many tourist attractions and public spaces. It is highly recommended to dress modestly at all times.
4. Maintain respectful behavior in any public space, especially areas considered sacred to locals.
5. Engage licensed tour guides to help you navigate the cultural and also geographical landscape of Bali, especially when visiting tourist attractions.
6. Exchange your home country’s currency for Indonesian rupiah at authorized money changers. Look out for official authorization signage and QR codes issued by Bank Indonesia.
7. Use the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) to make cashless payments.
8. Only conduct transactions in Indonesian rupiah.
9. Comply with applicable traffic laws when operating any vehicle. A valid international or national driver’s license is required. Other major points in this regard include dressing appropriately when riding a vehicle, wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle, observing passenger capacity limits, and refraining from driving when under the influence.
10. Only use vehicles that are roadworthy and obtained from legitimate business entities or rental associations.
11. Seek accommodation from venues that are operating legally.
12. Be mindful of specific regulations that might be applicable in certain tourist attractions or pertaining to specific tourist activities.

Don’ts

1. Enter into sacred places such as pura or temples and pelinggih or shrines. In particular, the madyaning mandala and utamaning mandala (middle zone and inner sanctum of a pura, respectively) are out of bounds for most tourists. Exceptions can be made for those participating in traditional Balinese ceremonies. In these cases, traditional clothing is a must. Women experiencing their monthly period are forbidden to enter the aforementioned places.
2. Climb trees that are deemed sacred.
3. Disrespect places or symbols with religious significance, e.g., by climbing on sacred structures or taking photographs at sacred places or with religious symbols while being immodestly dressed.
4. Litter, particularly around bodies of water and public spaces.
5. Use single-use plastic products including, but not limited to, plastic bags, Styrofoam packaging, and plastic straws.
6. Use offensive language or display aggressive behavior when addressing government or state officials, local residents and fellow tourists. Hate speech and spreading misinformation is also strongly discouraged.
7. Engage in professional activities or conduct business activities without the necessary permits.

Violation of certain cultural norms can lead to legal action and/or penalties being issued.
Please refer to Bali Gubernatorial Circular No. 4/2023 on tourist obligations and prohibitions for further details.