If you’re wondering what to wear in Bali for your Bali packing list then don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
From Bali dresses and bathing suits to guides on what to wear when visiting temples and visiting sacred sites, our guide will help ensure that you’re always dressed to impress when you visit Bali.
Shoes For Bali
Thongs (Flip Flops)
The most common form of footwear in Bali for visitors is a pair of thongs (or flip flops as they’re known in some parts of the world).
These are immensely practical for wearing by the beach or the pool and for wandering about in the areas directly related to them.
However, though we thoroughly recommend thongs for everyday use one of our key travel tips for Bali is that you can’t rely on thongs alone.
There will be times that you want more robust footwear with better grips, particularly in the rainy season when things can get a bit slippery, particularly if you’re hiking through the rice fields or jungles.
So, while thongs are as essential as bug spray in Bali, they’re not the only thing you should bring with you for your feet.
Sandals
The first port of call for a decent pair of walking shoes is, in fact, sandals.
If you go for a pair that offers decent ankle support and can grip when it rains, you can use them for hiking when the weather’s too hot for hiking boots.
They’re the ideal shoe for climbing up and down stairs on cliffs from some of Bali’s more remote beaches or for scrambling over rocks to get near to waterfalls here.
Tennis Shoes (Sneakers/Trainers)
We like tennis shoes because they can be worn in places that insist on shoes without being too heavy or formal. They’re also great for walking around Bali, doing some light trekking and for wandering among the stalls at a local market, etc.
They are also very lightweight and that means they won’t push you over your luggage allowance for your flight.
Walking Shoes
If you want to climb Mount Batur or Mount Agung, then sandals, trainers, and thongs aren’t really going to cut it.
You want hiking boots or walking shoes that protect your feet and offer enough grip for you to safely tackle the challenges in front of you.
While “what to wear in Bali” is often an open-ended question, we don’t recommend taking any risks when it comes to your personal safety, if you think you might need walking shoes, add them to your Bali packing list immediately.
Water Shoes
Crocs and other water shoes have their place in Bali and if you need to head out on a boat, they can be the perfect attire to help you keep your feet cool and comfortable while not sliding about all over the deck.
You might also need water boots if you’re a surfer and intend to tackle some of the beaches where there’s quite a bit of rock underfoot as you head out towards the breaks.
Whether you need water shoes or not is really going to depend on what you intend to do on your holiday. If you have feet that are less than a size 10 (Australian or US) for men or under a size 7 (Australian or US) for women, you can always buy these shoes in Bali.
However, it can be a real ordeal to try and find larger sizes in Indonesia and you might want to pack some if you know for certain that you’re going to need them.
What To Wear In Bali For Ladies
Dresses For Bali
If you bring long dresses or dresses that you can modify from long to short, they will help to keep you modest when visiting temples and look great when going out at night.
If your dress has no sleeves, then carrying your own shawl isn’t a bad idea (you can rent them or buy them at temples but you won’t find one that matches your dress unless you’re lucky).
A couple of short dresses are essential for the beach and pool areas, mind you, and we’d recommend packing a mixture of different dress lengths.
Tops For Bali
When deciding what to wear in Bali, we’ve got one golden rule – make it breathable. You don’t want to choose tops that trap moisture against your skin unless you want to look like you’ve showered in your clothes.
Cotton is the ideal fabric for your T-shirts, blouses, etc. You might also consider tank tops if you want something that lets your skin breathe more easily. Just don’t wear them to the temples without covering them in a shawl first.
We’d recommend buying nothing but short-sleeved items and then adding a couple of long-sleeve layers to your packing list that you can put over the top of your t-shirt when the wind blows hard or you find yourself somewhere that’s a little heavy-handed with the airconditioning.
Bottoms For Bali
Shorts are always a win in Bali and they’re perfect for nearly every occasion.
Denim is a great choice for a fabric for shorts as it’s hard-wearing, doesn’t need much in the way of washing and can be paired with almost anything both formal and informal.
If you prefer trousers, go for something with a shorter leg or flared slightly to allow your legs to breathe properly.
You can also bring skirts in various lengths, you will find that skirts are super popular in most places in Bali.
Outerwear For Bali
Every Bali packing list should include a light jacket and potentially also a hat and some sunglasses.
It does rain in Bali, even in the dry season and when it does, the rain can be pretty severe – a rain jacket will keep you dry and if it’s light, it won’t make you boil in the heat while it keeps you dry.
And while the rain can be intense, so can the sun and we recommend that hat to keep you safe from heatstroke (though you can buy one anywhere here) and sunglasses to shade your eyes in the bright midday light (be careful when it comes to buying cheap sunglasses in Bali, they often won’t have the appropriate UV protection and can be dangerous to your eyes rather than keep them safe).
What To Wear In Bali For Men
Tops For Bali
T-shirts or lightweight shirts are the order of the day. We don’t recommend tank tops for guys as you may find that they get you refused entry to some places here.
You should also avoid alcohol or sports branding on your clothing as you can also find yourself barred from venues for blatant displays of these brands.
Shirtless is permissible at hotels, the beach, the pool, etc. but it’s considered pretty bad manners, though you won’t get into trouble for it except at temples, elsewhere.
Bottoms For Bali (Don’t Just Wear Shorts)
Shorts are the ideal choice for swimming and on the beach. You can wear shorts on almost all of the island whenever you want too.
However, we’d bring, at least, one pair of trousers just in case you want to go somewhere with a dress code of an evening or if you want to visit any temple sites.
Outerwear For Bali
As with the ladies, we’d bring a light, breathable jacket that’s also waterproof. You never know when it will come in handy.
We would also note that we have a handy packing list for both men and women when they come to Bali. This can help you ensure you have the right clothes, a power bank, a plug adapter, and much more when you arrive on the island.
The dress code here only applies in temples and other religious places and places of cultural significance.
In these places, you are expected to be modest and this means covering your legs and your shoulders.
If your clothing does not measure up to these standards, you can rent or buy a shawl and a sarong at the entrance to most temples.
We should stress that this is not optional. If you enter a site with a dress code and don’t adhere to the code, you can get into trouble with both local people and the law.
It is possible to get arrested, fined, jailed and deported for extreme infringements of these rules and it’s better to conform as a mark of respect than to upset people and ruin your holiday.
Traditional Clothes In Bali
Balinese people have some wonderful traditional clothes and you are welcome to wear these clothes if you want to purchase some in Bali, you won’t give any offence.
It’s worth noting that it’s traditional to wear white on a day-to-day basis. That’s because the colour white is a symbol of purity in the Hindu faith and people like to send a message of purity when they dress.
The outfits themselves consist of different garments for men and women.
For men, they will wear an udeng (this is the traditional Balinese head covering which isn’t quite a hat and isn’t quite a headband), a collared jacket and a sarong and a shawl, these will be made from saput (the two-toned coloured textile that is commonly used to make sarongs) and kamen (a thin cloth used for ceremonies),
Women, on the other hand, wear a bun to keep their hair up, a kamben (which is a batik sarong), and a lace blouse and when taken together they are known as a “kebaya”.
What Do Most Tourists Wear In Bali?
There is no uniform for tourists here in Bali and most people wear whatever they want. Of course, around the pool or down on the sands of the beach or at FINNS Beach Club in the outdoor areas, most people will opt for beachwear.
It’s perfectly OK to wear a bikini or surf shorts/speedos when you’re having fun in these places, though we will note – that this is not necessarily true in all of Indonesia and you may want to opt for something a bit more conservative when on the beach in strongly Muslim parts of the archipelago.
However, Bali is Hindu and the people on this island are very tolerant and you’ll be able to wear anything on your Bali packing list by the sea as long as it covers your modesty. The same is true in most Bali hotels.
Elsewhere, pretty much anything goes from a nice dress and high heels to ultra-casual wear, however, beachwear tends to be frowned upon away from the beaches.
When you hit the temples, there is a dress code (see above) and you need to cover your legs and shoulders (usually in a shawl and sarong).
You should be aware that if you dress offensively in temples or other places of cultural or religious importance, you can get into a lot of trouble including, potentially, jail time, deportation, fines and being banned from Bali.
While this is also technically possible in the rest of Bali, you would have to try very hard to be deliberately offensive, and most of the time if your attire is considered immodest, somebody will simply have a quiet word with you to ask you to change your approach in future.
One thing we need to stress is that there are, contrary to what you might read elsewhere online, no nudist beaches in Bali. Public nudity is not acceptable anywhere on the island.
You might be able to sunbathe topless at your hotel or resort pool, but we would strongly suggest asking before you do so.
Things You Don’t Need To Add To Your Bali Packing List
There are things you don’t need to bring with you to Bail to wear here, though it’s a pretty short list:
A sarong – it’s best to buy one here, not only will you get something that is made from local materials and in local designs (so that you fit in better) but they’re going to be much better value than your local sarong maker’s offering too.
Expensive jewellery – we never recommend packing expensive jewellery, if it goes in your luggage it can get lost or stolen, and if you’re wearing it, you make yourself something of a target for petty criminals. If you swim in it, it’s super easy to lose. And so on… that doesn’t mean don’t wear anything nice, but we’d stick to cheaper pieces or even hit up a jewellery-making class here in Bali and make your own!
Any heavy winter clothing – even if you find yourself shivering thanks to a run-in with Bali Belly, you simply won’t need a heavy coat or jumper when visiting Bali. It will just take up space in your bag that you’d be better off dedicating to some extra T-shirts. Even in the Christmas holidays at the heart of the wet season, it will always be warm and pleasant when you visit Bali. So, pack light and save carrying anything too heavy.
FAQs
What Is Appropriate To Wear In Bali?
Within reason, it’s appropriate to wear what you feel like in Bali. The only two rules regarding dress here are a.) don’t wear beachwear anywhere but the beach, pool and gym and b.) dress properly – in a shawl and sarong – in the temples.
Many tourists carry a dry bag to ensure that they have a second set of clothes available just in case they get wet when visiting waterfalls, beaches, etc.
Is It OK To Wear Red In Bali?
Yes, it’s OK to wear red in Bali! Yes, red is traditionally the colour in which Balinese people express anger and you shouldn’t leave a note for someone written in red pen, for example, but for clothing, it’s just fine.
In fact, you will see many Balinese wearing red on special occasions and festivals.
The only time that it might be inappropriate to wear red is at a funeral or an event with a strict dress code.
What Should I Wear On A Plane To Bali?
We always recommend wearing loose and light clothing on a plane. When you’re in the air, your body swells up a little bit due to the difference in air pressure between the ground and the cabin.
If your clothing is not restrictive, you should find that it doesn’t become uncomfortable.
In addition, you might want to take a jumper or jacket as the cabin can get fairly cold when you’re at a high altitude.
If you do opt for something to keep you warm on the flight, make sure it’s easy to take off as it will be warm, no matter what time that you land in Bali.
Should I Wear Jeans In Bali? Should I Take Jeans To Bali?
You can wear jeans in Bali but whether you should is really down to you. While jeans are great in most situations as they are hard wearing and don’t get dirty or damaged easily, they are heavy and in the tropical climate of Bali (in both the wet season and dry season) you may find that you’re too hot in them.
However, there are some situations such as hiking Mount Batur where you decide that you’d rather be warm than covered in scratches if you fall over on the mountain trails.
Do I Need To Cover My Shoulders In Bali?
No, as a general rule, bare shoulders are fine in Bali (as you will be able to see the first moment that you walk down the road in one of the beach towns) but you shouldn’t have bare shoulders in a sacred or religious place.
If you’re expected to cover up, you will usually be given the opportunity to rent or buy a shawl and sarong if you don’t have one already.
What Kind Of Clothes Should I Wear In Bali?
It’s up to you as to what clothes you should wear in Bali. There are no clothing police in Bali and as long as you dress reasonably respectably away from the beaches (you don’t need to cover yourself from head to toe, but wearing a bikini in the supermarket will be frowned upon) and you dress appropriately in temples, you will be fine.
Plenty of Indonesian girls wear short skirts and sleeveless tops and many of the men here will wear shorts and a t-shirt. There’s no need to worry about offending anyone as long as you remember that this is a relatively conservative society overall and dress with a little sensitivity.
Can I Wear Sleeveless In Bali?
Yes! You can’t go sleeveless in the temples and in sacred and religious sites, however, as it’s expected that you will cover your upper arms and shoulders.
You may also find that certain venues have a restriction on tank tops (for example, if you go out for a nice dinner, they may expect you to dress up a little).
What Kind Of Clothing Is Banned In Bali?
There is no “banned clothing” in Bali. However, it’s important to recognize that many venues have rules for what you can wear inside.
We’d recommend staying away from tank tops, alcohol and sports-branded gear and if you’re in a stag or hen party, you shouldn’t wear matching attire without checking with the venue first if it’s allowed.
At temples and other important cultural sites, you will be expected to wear a shawl and sarong, but these can be worn over your other clothes, there’s no need to change the way you dress, as long as you’re covered up when you enter.
Where’s The Best Place To Buy Beachwear In Bali?
We’re a little biased but we think the stores at FINNS Beach Club and FINNS VIP Beach Club offer a very wide range of fashionable beachwear and for reasonable prices.
If you want to look awesome as you lounge by our infinity pools sipping cold cocktails then you will want to browse for the perfect beach garments in our stores before you get settled in for the day.
Final Thoughts On What To Wear In Bali
You don’t have to dress conservatively everywhere you go in Bali.
In fact, as you can see from our list above of what to wear in Bali, you’re fine to let your natural beauty shine forth and in most places, you can wear shorts and a t-shirt and be at no risk of offending anyone on your Bali trip.
However, when visiting temples, you’ll want to cover up a bit more and wear more modest attire and if you intend to go trekking then hiking boots, a rain jacket, a reusable water bottle, etc. can come in handy, particularly in the wet season.
Bali is a beautiful country and its people are very welcoming. As long as you don’t disrespect local culture at sacred sites, you will find that any mistakes you make when it comes to clothing will be overlooked and forgiven.
So, don’t worry too much about the way you dress, there’s no official dress code for every situation. You’ll be just fine coming as yourself.
