What should I know before visiting Bali?

Entry and arrival

1. Most visitors need a paid e-VOA, not a free stamp. Americans, Britons, Australians and most Europeans need a Visa on Arrival (B1). Indonesian Immigration lists the fee as IDR 500,000 for 30 days; apply online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id before you fly, and you can extend once online for another 30 days. Indonesian media reported in 2026 that a fee rise was under discussion but not in force. Full rules in do I need a visa for Bali and the e-VOA application guide.

2. Bali charges its own levy on top of the visa. The tourist levy is IDR 150,000 per person, paid once per trip on the official Love Bali site (lovebali.baliprov.go.id), which emails a QR voucher. It is separate from the e-VOA and cannot be paid through it. Use only the .go.id address: copy sites charge extra. Our Bali airport arrival guide shows where the voucher is checked.

3. Fill in the All Indonesia form within 3 days of arrival. Since October 2025 one free online declaration at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id covers immigration, customs and health for every international airport. You get a QR code by email to show at the airport. Step-by-step screens are in our All Indonesia arrival card guide.

Money and costs

4. Change money only where Bank Indonesia's QR sign is displayed. The Governor of Bali's 2025 circular for foreign tourists (SE No. 7 of 2025) tells visitors to use only licensed money changers that display an official Bank Indonesia QR code. Street-side counters with better-looking rates are where short-changing happens. ATMs at or inside bank branches are the simplest option; decline any offer to charge you in your home currency.

5. Tipping is a kindness, not a rule. Many mid-range restaurants add a service charge and government tax to the bill, so read it before adding more. Drivers and guides appreciate a tip for a full day. Amounts are in tipping in Bali and Indonesia.

6. South Bali costs more than the rest of the island. Our daily budget by country puts Bali at about $30 to $60 a day on a budget and $80 to $160 mid-range; Seminyak and Canggu push the average up, while Sidemen and Munduk homestays pull it down. The full breakdown is in how much a trip to Bali costs.

Temples, ceremonies and the visitor rules

7. Temples have a dress code and off-limits areas. Cover shoulders and knees and wear a sarong and sash; most temples lend or rent them at the gate. The 2025 circular bars visitors from the inner sacred courtyards (Utamaning Mandala and Madyaning Mandala) unless they are worshippers in Balinese dress, and bars menstruating women from those areas. Details in Bali temple etiquette and what to wear in Bali.

8. Some behaviour is now formally banned. The same circular prohibits climbing sacred trees and monuments, taking nude or indecent photos at religious sites, swearing at or being rude to locals and officials, littering, and working without permission. A provincial taskforce enforces it, and the government has said offenders can be fined or deported. More in what is considered rude in Indonesia.

9. Step around the offerings. Small palm-leaf trays of flowers (canang sari) are placed on pavements, shop steps and dashboards every day. Do not step on them or move them. If a ceremony procession blocks the road, wait; it will pass.

10. The calendar can close the island. On Nyepi, the Day of Silence, Bali stops for 24 hours: no flights, no traffic, no going out, lights low. Nyepi 2027 is Monday 8 March 2027, with Eid al-Fitr two days later, so the whole week is busy; see our Nyepi 2027 guide. Galungan (13 January and 11 August 2027) fills villages with bamboo penjor poles; see Galungan and Kuningan dates.

Getting around and staying connected

11. Distances are short, journeys are not. Bali has no train, and roads between the south, Ubud and the north are narrow and slow. Allow most of a day to cross the island. The circular asks visitors to use only licensed car rental and transport services; private drivers booked through your hotel are the usual way to do day trips. Grab and Gojek work in much of the south, but some villages and beach areas have local taxi groups that object to app pick-ups, so watch for signs.

12. Do not rent a scooter without the right licence. The circular requires a valid international or national licence and a helmet. That means an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle category plus your home licence; without them, police checkpoints fine you and travel insurance may refuse claims. See Bali scooter rental rules.

13. An eSIM is the easy way online. Coverage is good in the south and Ubud and patchier in the mountains around Munduk and Kintamani. Buy an eSIM before you fly or a local SIM at the airport with your passport; the trade-offs are in eSIM or local SIM.

Health, law and practical details

14. Do not drink the tap water, and bring a refillable bottle. Use bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth if your stomach is sensitive; our Bali belly guide covers food too. The 2025 circular lists plastic-packaged drinks with plastic bags, straws and styrofoam among banned single-use plastics, and many cafés and guesthouses offer refills.

15. Keep your distance from monkeys and dogs. Bali has rabies in its animal population. Do not feed or touch monkeys at temples, keep food and sunglasses out of reach, and get medical advice the same day after any bite or scratch. Our Ubud Monkey Forest guide has the rules for the forest itself.

16. Indonesian law is strict. Drug offences carry very long prison sentences and the death penalty for trafficking. A new criminal code took effect on 2 January 2026; its articles on sex outside marriage and cohabitation can only be prosecuted on a complaint from a spouse, parent or child, and Bali's governor has said hotels will not check marital status. General safety is covered in is Bali safe to visit.

17. Plugs, voltage and emergencies. Sockets are the European two-pin type C and F at 230 V, so most visitors need an adapter; see what to pack for Bali. The national emergency number is 112, and police are 110.

18. Pick the season, and know Java is different. Bali's dry season runs roughly April to October and the wet season November to March, with afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain; see best time to visit Bali. Java, a short ferry ride west, is majority Muslim, so dress more conservatively there and expect daytime closures during Ramadan (Ramadan 2027 in Java and Bali). The usual Java add-on is Ijen from Banyuwangi: see Bali to Ijen by ferry. For the island itself, start with our Bali itinerary and Indonesia guide.

Frequently asked questions