Bali Temple Dress Code: What To Wear In Bali Temples

When traveling anywhere, it’s always important to respect the customs of the country you are visiting, especially if you are heading somewhere with a lot of religious significance.

Known as the “island of the gods”, Bali is a religious epicenter, home to over 20,000 temples and shrines that receive visitors every day, so it’s no surprise that most tourists to Bali have a handful of temples to visit on their itinerary.

But before you embark, there are some key things to remember about visiting Balinese temples, and some rules you must follow.

In this guide, we’ll talk about what to wear when visiting temples in Bali and what rules you should be following.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

As with entering any sort of religious establishment, it’s important to wear appropriate clothing and to dress modestly and respectfully.

Both men and women visiting Balinese temples are expected to wear shirts that cover their shoulders and upper arms and to cover their legs with a sarong or temple scarf.

For the upper body, it is recommended to wear some sort of shirt or blouse that covers the arms, or else to cover up any short sleeves with a sash or other appropriate covering.

Some temples in Bali may allow you to rent a sarong or appropriate covering from them when you arrive, but it’s best not to rely on this and to bring your own.

A simple sarong can be purchased off Amazon, which is then wrapped around the waist before you enter the temple. 

There are no rules for shoes when visiting Balinese temples, so what you choose to wear will depend on your needs.

Flip flops or sandals are perfectly acceptable and are generally a popular choice overall for Bali, and you may choose to invest in a high-quality hiking sandal if you’re planning on doing lots of walking or trekking.

Watch your Feet

Speaking of your feet, regardless of what you’re wearing on them, you need to watch your step.

Remember that these temples are active places of worship for Balinese people, and there will likely be people praying inside the temples as you explore them.

Not only should you not touch or disrupt them in any way, but you should also make sure not to walk in front of anyone who is praying, as this is considered disrespectful.

Alongside this, be sure to watch your step and keep an eye out for any offerings left on the ground.

“Canang sari” offerings are small woven baskets containing gifts for the gods that are often left on the ground all around Bali, including within temples. It is considered incredibly rude to step on them, so watch your step.

It is not only important to ensure that you don’t disrupt anyone that is worshipping, but the way that you situate your feet is also significant.

In Balinese culture, feet are considered unclean, so you must try not to point them towards any shrines or altars. Because of this, praying women will often kneel while praying, and men will cross their legs.

As well as this, it is considered disrespectful to raise your feet too high, so refrain from doing any yoga while visiting a temple!

No Open Wounds or Menstruating Women

To most of you reading this, you’ll probably be shocked to learn that women aren’t allowed to enter Balinese temples while on their period.

Though this may seem unfair and contradictory to our own Western values, a menstruating woman is deemed impure in Balinese culture and, as visitors, we must respect their religious culture.

It might please you to know that it’s not just women being targeted by this rule, but that anyone with any kind of sore or bleeding is not allowed to enter the temple either, along with those that are recently bereaved.

Women who are more than seven months pregnant or have given birth in the last six weeks are also not allowed to enter.

These individuals are, however, allowed to explore the temple courtyard or its surroundings, but are just not permitted inside the temple itself. 

Show Due Respect

Alongside respecting the people praying at the temples, it’s important to show some general respect to Balinese temples and their processes.

For instance, it’s suggested that visitors enter into a temple and try to make themselves aware of the priest, or “manku”, of that temple, as there are certain rules that should be followed to ensure no disrespect is shown to him.

Do not sit beside or in front of the priest, and be careful not to stand or sit in such a way that brings your head higher than his, as this is considered disrespectful.

When exploring the temple, just take a moment to notice the priest, and continue exploring with an active awareness of him.

Furthermore, it’s best not to try to take a picture of the priest. While it’s generally okay to take photos inside temples, provided the flash is off, be sure to respect all those praying by not including them in your photos.

You should also try to not be too loud while exploring a temple, as this can cause disruption, particularly in areas where people might be praying. 

Along with respecting the people worshipping in the temples, it’s important to show respect towards the temples themselves.

Of course, you should not be climbing on any of the structures or statues, and it’s generally suggested that visitors refrain from posing disrespectfully, such as doing handstands or making rude gestures.

To avoid showing any disrespect, visitors should also be aware of any religious processions and keep clear so as not to get in the way, and refrain from any public displays of affection.

Make a Donation

Many temples require a fee for admission, though some rely solely on donations.

Generally speaking, these donations are not required per se, but they are expected. Some temples will provide a suggested donation, while others will leave it up to you.

A few dollars’ worths of rupees, around IDR 5,000-10,000, is the suggested guideline.

Not only are temples attractions that need upkeep, but they are active places of worship and need to be maintained for the benefit of their Balinese patrons.