What to wear in Bali

What to Wear in Bali

Top style tips for Bali

  • When deciding what to wear in Bali, remember it is a  tropical country, so dress is generally informal.
  •  Shorts and t-shirts are great for resorts and tourist hot spots. However, they are not recommended outside of hotels and well-defined tourist areas, or you may get more than your fair share of unwanted attention and offend the local people.
  • Pack at least one long-sleeved shirt for protection from the sun, the mosquitos and unwanted stares.
  • For the humidity pack lightweight, loose fitting clothes in natural fabrics such as linen, silk and cotton that will keep you cool and are easy to wash and dry.
  • Wear plenty of sunscreen (we love the Riemann P20 range for 10 hour protection), sunglasses and a sunhat.
  • If you are looking for a highly versatile travel jacket to bring along we recommend the SCOTTeVEST range. Their range of jackets have been specifically designed with traveling in mind and include RFID security (to protect your passport information), 23 secure pockets and personal connectivity integration.

Shoes to pack for Bali

  • Pack good sturdy shoes with you since your feet will be dusty and dirty while sightseeing and the roads outside of the major cities are very rough. We love Hotter shoes, for total comfort along with style.
  • And we like Thorlos hiking socks – they're especially designed to keep your feet dry and comfortable when trekking in hotter climates.
  • For evenings it is best to avoid dangerously high heels – flat sandals will do just fine. Try the Lindsay Phillips Switch Flops range – using the interchangeable shoe and flip-flop bases with snap-on decorations, you can change your look from day to evening in an instant whilst still packing light.

Clothing tips for women

  • A skirt or loose-fitting pants are good in the heat and will protect you from the sun.
  • Opt for longer skirts, below the knee.
  • A sarong is a valuable cover-up for the beach and whenever a little more modesty is required.
  • When visiting sacred sites avoid shorts or short skirts – wear shirts or blouses with sleeves and carry a sarong or wear a long skirt.
  • The humidity can play havoc with your hair – so think about accessories or a scarf to keep it looking neat and tidy.

Clothing tips for men

  • If you're looking for versatile and stylish beachwear, try the Madda Fella range of shirts, shorts, polos and swimwear.

Pack for the weather

  • You will enjoy cool breezes in the dry season of April, May, June, July, August and September.
  • October, November, December, Janaury, February and March are wet and humid – a small travel umbrella will come in handy, or pack a light but breathable raincoat.
  • We love the Weather+ app – it gives an accurate 6 day forecast for day and night, which when you're planning from home is really helpful. You can keep all the places you've been to too – a nice way to remember your trip 🙂 Download for iPad/iPhone orAndroid

Regions of Bali

  • If you are planning to visit the Highlands, our advice is to wear long cotton pants or lightweight trekking pants, plus a sleeveless top under a thin cotton shirt.
What to wear in Bali when trekking Mount Batur

Trekking Mount Batur, Bali

Bali travel essentials

  • The tap water in Bali is not safe to drink. Avoid brushing your teeth with the water or swallowing water in the shower. Consider taking a LifeStraw Filtration Water Bottle. It will filter any water source making it safe to drink.
  • To use electrical gadgets you may need a travel adapter plug, and also a step down voltage converter if your devices are not designed for the local voltage (230V).
  • When packing your carry-on luggage think about using one of these handy digital organizers to keep all of your electrical accessories well sorted, easy to find and protected. They are a good way of preventing damage to your fragile gadgets because they are waterproof and have customizable padding inserts. 
  • A bag or soft-sided rucksack is a more practical option than hard cases when traveling around the country, and using packing cubes can help to keep your belongings tidy whilst compressing the volume too.
  • Combine your main bag with a beach bag or backpack that will carry your day trip essentials.
  • Avoid paying unexpected baggage fees – use an accurate luggage scale to ensure you keep within the weight allowance. Don't forget to leave room for souvenirs on the way home! Sarongs are a good buy, or look for cinnamon or coconut shell bowls.

Community photos of Bali

Here are some photos sent in by our amazing community members. Have you visited Bali? Share your photos with us at hello@whattowearonvacation.com and we will post them on our site. Also, tell us all about your adventures in the comments below (please wait a few days for comments to appear as they are manually moderated for spam).

3 Comments

  • Reply
    Georgia Grey
    October 5, 2019 at 9:25 am

    My biggest tip is to wear clothing that comes below the knees when visiting temples. Some temples hand out cover-ups for tourists, but you will feel much more comfortable if you are already dressed respectfully.

  • Reply
    Joanne
    December 30, 2019 at 8:42 pm

    What has happened to the download list?

    • Reply
      Maria Oanca
      January 2, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      Hi Joanne,

      We will be making all the download files free to download (without a login). It will take a while tho. Let us know if you need a copy and we will email it to you.

      X Maria from What To Wear On Vacation

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