Massage Etiquette in Bali: The Unwritten Rules Visitors Ask About
The practical etiquette questions visitors actually ask about massage in Bali, answered without the myths.
6 min read Updated 31 October 2026 Most etiquette questions about massage in Bali have simple answers, and the simple answers are almost always 'ask, and it is fine'. Here is what to do so the session is comfortable for you and straightforward for the therapist.
Undress to the level you are comfortable with and get under the sheet. Underwear can stay on. The therapist works around the sheet and only uncovers the area being treated. Nobody expects you to be naked and nobody comments on it either way.
- Before the therapist arrives
- What to wear and what to remove
- Talking during the massage
- Late arrivals and cancellations
- Payment and tipping without awkwardness
- Requests that are always acceptable
- Frequently asked questions
- Book a massage at your villa or hotel
- More massage guides