Different countries and cultures have different expectations when it comes to appropriate levels of dress, what men and women should wear, and how people should act in public (especially with respect to being intimate in public).

Most expectations stem from religion and cultural beliefs, and you can therefore have some idea of what to expect before visiting a country. Although it is a predominantly Hindu island, Bali is no different. As a visitor to Bali, the respectful thing to do would be to wear appropriate clothing and to act in an appropriate manner when in public places. Wear what you want when you are staying in your Bali villa, but be respectful at other times. Although you probably won’t be penalised for failing to do so – since Bali is a huge tourist destination – it certainly doesn’t hurt to do what you can to fit in with local culture and traditions.

What is expected of female visitors to Bali?

As it is quite a touristy place, visited by millions of people every year, clothing requirements are neither strict nor enforced. However, it is never a bad thing to understand the culture and to try and fit in, rather than standing out as an obvious foreigner.

When you are in Bali, you will notice that most local women wear sarongs, nicely tied pieces of fabric which cover most of their body. Although you won’t be required to wear one of these in most places, they are comfortable, cool, and they look great – so why wouldn’t you!