Bali trip practicalities
What to Wear to a Bali Temple
Cover your shoulders and knees, and wear a sarong tied with a sash around the waist; most temples either require or offer these for rent or loan at the entrance.
The core rule for what to wear to a Bali temple is simple: shoulders and knees covered, with a sarong wrapped around your waist and secured with a sash. This applies whether you’re visiting a major tourist temple or a small village one, and it applies to men, women and children alike, not just women, which surprises some first-time visitors.
Most well-visited temples provide sarongs to borrow or rent at the entrance if you arrive without one, so this isn’t a rule you need to solve entirely through packing. But bringing your own, or at least a general modest outfit as a base layer, makes the visit smoother and gives you a choice rather than relying on whatever’s available on the day.
The base rule, and why it applies to everyone
Balinese temple etiquette treats modest dress as a mark of respect for a place of active worship, not tourist theatre, so the expectation holds regardless of gender or how casually other visitors around you might be dressed. Shoulders should be covered by a shirt or top, not left bare, and legs should be covered from the waist to at least the knee, which is what the sarong achieves regardless of what you’re wearing underneath.
A sash, tied around the waist over the sarong, is the second half of proper dress at most temples and is also usually available to borrow or rent alongside the sarong itself.
What to actually bring or wear underneath
Since the sarong covers your legs, what you wear beneath it matters less than what’s on top. A t-shirt or blouse with sleeves, or a short-sleeved top, is a safe default; sleeveless tops are sometimes fine once a sarong and sash are on, but bringing a light layer to cover shoulders directly avoids any ambiguity at temples with stricter local custom.
| Item | Needed | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Sarong (lower body cover) | Yes, always | Bring your own or rent/borrow at entrance |
| Sash (waist tie) | Yes, at most temples | Usually included with sarong rental |
| Covered shoulders | Yes | Wear a top with sleeves, or bring a light cover-up |
| Closed shoes | Not usually required | Sandals are fine at most temples |
| Head covering | Not typically required | Occasionally requested at specific ceremonies |
Renting versus bringing your own sarong
Renting or borrowing at the entrance is the simplest option and works at the vast majority of temples that see regular visitors, often included in the entrance fee or available for a small additional cost. Bringing your own sarong avoids any queue or uncertainty about availability, particularly useful if you’re visiting outside main hours or at a smaller, less-visited temple with no formal rental setup.
If you plan to visit several temples during your stay, owning a lightweight sarong you can pack easily is more convenient than relying on rental at each stop, and it doubles as a beach cover-up or light throw for the rest of your trip.
Dressing during an active ceremony
If you happen to visit during a ceremony rather than a quiet period, the same base rules apply but it’s worth being more conservative: brighter, more formal traditional dress (often white or a specific colour depending on the occasion) may be more appropriate, and it’s respectful to ask locally or observe what other worshippers are wearing rather than assuming tourist standard dress is sufficient. Photography during active ceremonies also warrants more care and discretion than at an empty temple.
What doesn’t need to be covered strictly
Feet and lower legs below the sarong hem, and arms below the shoulder line, don’t have the same strict covering requirement, which is why short sleeves and sandals are generally fine. The core focus is the torso being covered on top and the legs covered from waist to knee via the sarong, not full-body coverage.
Common mistakes visitors make
The most frequent mistake is arriving in a sleeveless top or very short shorts assuming the temple’s sarong rental alone solves the dress code, when shoulders still need separate coverage that a sarong doesn’t provide. The second is skipping the sash, treating the sarong alone as sufficient, when most temples expect both pieces together as a set.
A less obvious mistake is dressing appropriately for the temple itself but forgetting that some temple complexes include a longer walk through gardens or up steps in full sun, where the modest outfit combined with no sun protection makes for an uncomfortable visit; a light, breathable layer under the sarong-friendly outfit helps here.
Packing this into your wider trip
If you’re planning multiple temple visits as part of a broader Bali itinerary, it’s easier to treat a modest outfit and lightweight sarong as a standing part of your daypack rather than something you plan around each specific outing. Our broader packing guide for Bali covers where this fits alongside sun protection, footwear and the rest of what you’ll want on hand.
What to do next
Cover shoulders and knees, wear a sarong with a sash, and expect most temples to offer rental if you arrive without one. Bring your own lightweight sarong if you’re visiting several temples during your stay, and dress more conservatively if you happen to visit during an active ceremony.
- Pack a lightweight sarong in your daypack if temple visits are part of your plans
- Browse our villas at /property-rental/ across Sanur, Canggu, Umalas and Ungasan
- Read our full packing guide for what else to bring on a Bali trip
Frequently asked questions
Do men need to wear a sarong at Bali temples too?
Yes, the dress code applies to everyone regardless of gender: shoulders covered and legs covered from the waist to the knee via a sarong and sash. It's a common misconception that this rule applies mainly to women.
Can I rent a sarong at the temple if I don't bring one?
Most well-visited temples offer sarongs and sashes to borrow or rent at the entrance, often included in the entrance fee. Smaller or less-visited temples may not have a formal rental setup, so bringing your own is a safer plan for those.
What top should I wear under the sarong at a Bali temple?
A top with sleeves that covers your shoulders is the safest default. Sleeveless tops are sometimes acceptable once the sarong and sash are on, but bringing a light cover-up avoids any doubt at temples with stricter expectations.
Is there a different dress code during an active temple ceremony?
The same base rules apply, but it's respectful to dress more conservatively and observe what other worshippers are wearing. Brighter, more formal traditional dress may be appropriate depending on the specific occasion.
Do children need to follow the same temple dress code?
Yes, the same shoulders-and-knees-covered rule generally applies to children as well, though enforcement is often more relaxed for very young children. It's still worth packing a light cover-up for them if temple visits are planned.
Written by The Host Bali team, who manage villas in Sanur, Canggu, Umalas and Ungasan. Prices, rules and visa details change; we date every guide and update it when something moves. Nothing here is legal or tax advice — for a purchase or a licence, check the specifics with a licensed notary or adviser in Bali.