Short answer
- Tap water
- Not safe to drink
- Wash a bite
- At least 15 minutes
- Ambulance
- 118
- Police
- 110
Start here
Seven things to know from the day you land.
Drink sealed or boiled water
Tap water in Bali is not safe to drink. Drink sealed bottled water or water you have boiled, and brush your teeth with the same. The tap water guide covers ice, refills and where to get drinking water.[1, 2, 3]
Know when Bali belly needs a doctor
Bali belly often clears in three to four days. See a doctor at once for a fever of 38°C or more, blood in your stool, severe pain or signs of dehydration; with none of those, see one if you are no better after three days. The Bali belly guide covers treatment and what to pack, and if you feel far sicker after a few drinks than you should, read its methanol warning at once.[4, 5]
Treat any animal bite the same day
Bali recorded 45,365 bites from animals that can carry rabies, and 7 deaths, from January to August 2026. Wash a bite or scratch with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, then get medical care the same day. The rabies guide sets out the treatment and where it can fall short.[6, 7]
Avoid mosquito bites in the daytime
Bali recorded 1,588 dengue cases from January to July 2026, and the mosquitoes that spread it bite during the day. Cover your skin and use repellent. The dengue guide lists the warning signs and who the vaccine suits.[8, 9]
Ride a scooter only if you are already skilled
Bali police counted 142 crashes involving foreigners in 2024, and 21 people died. Ride only if you are already skilled, and with the right licence. The scooter licence guide covers the licence and the fines.[13]
Pay fees only through official channels
The tourist levy is IDR 150,000 (about AUD 12), paid on lovebali.baliprov.go.id or the Love Bali app, at a counter at the airport or a port, or through a hotel, agent or attraction registered with Love Bali, by card, transfer or QRIS, never cash. The All Indonesia arrival card is free, so a site asking money for it is not the real one. The scams guide covers money changers, ATMs and rides as well.[10, 11, 14]
Know that Indonesian law applies to you
Indonesian criminal law binds visitors as it does locals, and drug penalties include death, with police targeting venues in Bali. Read the laws for tourists guide on couples, drugs, temples and speech before you go.[2, 15]
Questions
Bali belly: how to treat it and when to get help
Bali belly is travellers’ diarrhoea that often clears in three to four days: how to treat and avoid it, and when to see a doctor.
Is Bali tap water safe to drink, even boiled?
No, Bali’s tap water is not safe to drink: use sealed or boiled water, brush teeth with it, and skip ice you can’t vouch for.
Rabies in Bali: what to do after a bite
Rabies is active in Bali, with 45,365 animal bites by August 2026: what to do straight after a bite, and where treatment can fall short.
Dengue in Bali: the risk, symptoms and the vaccine
Bali records dengue every month, more in the rains: warning signs that need a doctor, how to avoid bites, and who the vaccine suits.
Bali scams: fake sites, money changers and ATMs
Bali’s recurring scams, from look-alike levy and visa sites to short-changing money changers and skimmed ATMs, and the counter-move that beats each one.
Bali laws for tourists: what changed in 2026
Indonesia's new criminal code applies to tourists: what it means for drugs, unmarried couples, temples and speech, with each penalty as the law states it.
Next steps
Sources
Our summaries of Indonesian rules are unofficial; the Indonesian text governs.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Indonesia travel advice: health
Australian Government, Smartraveller, Indonesia travel advice
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Travelers' Health, Food and drink considerations when traveling
National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), TravelHealthPro, Travellers' diarrhoea factsheet
Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Directorate General of Health Services, First steps for diarrhoea (Penanganan awal pada diare)
World Health Organization, Rabies fact sheet
Antara Bali, Beware dengue fever: two toddlers die in Bali
World Health Organization, Dengue and severe dengue (fact sheet)
Bali Provincial Government, Love Bali, FAQ
Bali Provincial Government, Love Bali, About Us
US Department of State, Travel advisories feed: Indonesia, Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution
TIMES Indonesia, quoting Bali Police traffic directorate, Bali Police urge foreigners not skilled at riding not to ride motorbikes
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Indonesia travel advice: entry requirements
Republic of Indonesia (BPK legal database copy), UU 1/2023 (Law 1 of 2023) on the Criminal Code (KUHP), with its elucidation: Articles 4, 79, 218 to 220, 240 to 241, 300 to 305, 316, 406, 411 to 412, 414, 609 to 610 and 624
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Indonesia travel advice: getting help
Ministry of Finance, Indonesia, Fiscal Policy Agency, Kurs Pajak (tax exchange rate), weekly
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