What to Pack for Bali (and What Not to Bring)

The short answer

Pack light, breathable clothes, one outfit that covers your shoulders and knees for temples, a good reef-safe sunscreen, a European-style plug adapter, a small medical kit with your prescriptions in their original packaging, and a packable rain jacket if you are traveling in the wet months. Leave behind anything that could be mistaken for drugs, every cannabis product, and more alcohol or tobacco than the duty-free allowance. Almost everything else you forget, from flip-flops to phone chargers, is easy to buy once you land.

The rest of this guide covers the details that catch people out: the temple dress code, the plug type, restricted medicines and the arrival paperwork you now do online.

Clothes for heat, temples and the highlands

Bali sits just south of the equator, so the coast stays hot and humid all year, with daytime temperatures around 30°C (mid-80s°F). Think linen, cotton and quick-dry fabrics rather than denim. Laundry services are everywhere and charge by the kilo, so a week's worth of clothes covers a month.

Temples are where packing actually matters. To enter almost any temple you need a sarong and a sash around your waist, and your shoulders should be covered. Big sites such as Uluwatu Temple, Tirta Empul and Besakih lend or rent sarongs at the gate, but owning one is easier and more respectful, and any market sells them cheaply. A light scarf or a T-shirt you can throw over a tank top solves the shoulder question.

The highlands are a different climate. If you are doing a sunrise trek on Mount Batur, which starts around 4 a.m., or staying in Munduk, Bedugul or Kintamani, bring a fleece or light jacket and long trousers. The summit wind before dawn is genuinely cold.

For shoes, one pair of sandals you can slip off easily (you remove shoes at homes, some shops and spas), one pair of trainers for hiking and waterfall trails, and that is enough. If you plan to ride a scooter, closed shoes and long sleeves will save skin in a fall.

Sun, sea and the reef

The equatorial sun burns faster than most visitors expect, even on overcast days. Bring a reef-safe sunscreen, meaning a mineral formula based on zinc oxide or titanium dioxide without oxybenzone or octinoxate, which damage coral. You can buy sunscreen in Bali, but imported brands in minimarts and pharmacies are usually pricier than at home and reef-safe options are harder to find outside the tourist hubs.

A long-sleeved rash guard cuts sunscreen use on snorkeling trips to Nusa Penida, Amed or Menjangan Island. Reef shoes help on the rocky, coral-strewn entries at Sanur and Amed. Add a hat, polarized sunglasses and a reusable water bottle. Bali's provincial government issued a circular in 2025 targeting single-use plastic, including bottled water under one liter, and refill stations are increasingly common in cafés, hotels and coworking spaces.

Plugs, power and drones

Indonesia runs on 230 volts at 50 Hz and uses the two-pin European Type C and Type F sockets. Travelers from the US, UK and Australia need an adapter. Most phone and laptop chargers handle 100 to 240 volts, so an adapter is all they need, but check single-voltage devices such as some hair straighteners, which need a converter. A power bank (in your carry-on, never checked) is useful on long drives and boat days.

Drones are allowed for recreational use, but the rules are strict. Flying is prohibited within 15 kilometers of an airport, which rules out much of Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran, as well as above 150 meters and at night. Flying over temples and ceremonies without permission is considered deeply disrespectful, and some sites charge a fee or require a permit. Commercial shoots need official permits, so check current Indonesian civil aviation rules before you pack one.

Medicines and a sensible first-aid kit

This is the part of your bag that can get you into real trouble. Indonesia's drug laws are among the harshest in the world, and some medicines that are routine at home are restricted here. According to Australia's Smartraveller, some ADHD medications are illegal in Indonesia, and cannabis-based products, including CBD and cannabis oil, remain illegal even with a prescription.

For any prescription medicine, carry only what you need for your stay, keep it in the original packaging, and bring a copy of the prescription plus a doctor's letter listing the drug names, doses and that they are for personal use. If you are unsure about a specific drug, contact the Indonesian embassy before you fly.

A practical kit for Bali:

• Oral rehydration salts and an anti-diarrheal for stomach upsets
• Antiseptic cream and plasters, because small cuts infect quickly in the humidity
• Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin against dengue-carrying mosquitoes
• Antihistamines and motion-sickness tablets for fast boats to the Nusa Islands or the Gilis
• Any personal basics you rely on, since brands differ locally

Pharmacies, called apotek, are easy to find across the south and in Ubud if you run out of anything.

Rain gear for the wet season

The rainy season runs roughly from November to March. Showers tend to be heavy but short, often in the afternoon, so a packable rain jacket or a poncho is more useful than an umbrella, especially on a scooter. A small dry bag keeps your phone and passport safe on boats and during downpours, and quick-dry clothes save you from damp laundry that never quite dries.

Customs: what not to bring

Indonesia's duty-free allowance per adult covers 1 liter of alcohol (age 21 and over), 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco, limited quantities of e-cigarettes and liquids, and personal goods bought abroad up to a value of USD 500. Excess alcohol and tobacco can be taxed or destroyed.

Prohibited items include narcotics and psychotropic substances, firearms, air guns, sharp weapons and ammunition, explosives and pornography. Carrying IDR 100 million or more in cash, or the equivalent in foreign currency, must be declared. Penalties for drug offenses can include the death penalty, and that applies to small amounts too.

Before you fly, complete the All Indonesia arrival card online within three days of arrival. It combines the immigration, customs and health declarations into one form and gives you a QR code to show at the airport. Bali also charges foreign visitors a tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (roughly USD 9), best paid through the official Love Bali website or app. Finally, check your passport: it should be valid for at least six months, and Indonesia has refused entry to travelers whose passports showed water damage or small tears.

What you can leave at home

Beach towels (villas and hotels supply them), heavy jeans, more than two pairs of shoes, a hairdryer, full-size toiletries and valuable jewelry can all stay behind. Casual snorkel gear is easy to rent, SIM cards and eSIMs are sold at the airport, and sarongs, flip-flops and light cotton clothes cost very little here. Pack for the temples, the sun and your medicine cabinet, and let the island supply the rest.