Is Bali Safe for Gay Travelers? A Gay Guide to Bali

For gay travelers, Bali is a different Indonesia. The island is mostly Hindu, it welcomes millions of foreign visitors a year, and it has a small but lively gay scene: a strip of bars in Seminyak with regular drag shows, and a weekly gay dinner in Ubud where visitors and locals meet. Indonesia as a whole is more conservative, and its new criminal code is worth understanding, but a case can only start if a spouse, parent or child files a complaint. This guide covers the good parts first, then the practical rules.

Bali Gay Friendly Verdict

• The short answer: yes. Expect warm hospitality, gay bars with drag shows in Seminyak and a friendly expat community in Ubud.
• The law: being gay is not a crime in Bali. Indonesia's criminal code penalizes sex outside marriage and cohabitation only on a complaint from a spouse, parent or child.
• Public affection: keep it low-key outside the gay bars. The UK government advises "caution and discretion, particularly in public spaces."
• Hotels: Bali's governor said in December 2022 that hotels would not check guests' marital status at check-in.

Why Bali Feels Different

About 87% of Bali's population is Hindu, according to Indonesian government religious-affairs data reported by Katadata, while Indonesia as a whole is mostly Muslim. In 2020, a spokesperson for Gaya Dewata, Bali's long-running health and support group for gay men and trans people, told Al Jazeera that "Balinese Hindus are more tolerant and more accepting than people are in other parts of Indonesia," and Al Jazeera described Bali as "a popular gay haven in Southeast Asia."

Tourism shapes the island too. Bali recorded 6,948,754 foreign arrivals in 2025, according to the provincial statistics office as reported by ANTARA, and long-stay expats have built communities in Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud.

Gay Bars in Bali: Seminyak's Strip

Seminyak, on the west coast north of Kuta, is the gay area of Bali. The main strip is Jalan Camplung Tanduk, a short street of bars that fill up late, with drag shows a regular part of the program. These were open when we last checked; confirm show nights on each bar's Instagram:

• Mixwell: Jalan Camplung Tanduk No. 6. A gay bar with regular drag shows and an active Instagram for show nights and parties.
• BaliJoe: Jalan Camplung Tanduk No. 8, next door. A gay bar known for its drag queens.
• Stonewall Bali: on Jalan Raya Seminyak, a few minutes away on the main road. A restaurant and bar with drag shows, a good choice for dinner before the strip.

By day, nearby Batu Belig Beach is described by the gay travel blog Nomadic Boys as Bali's "unofficial" gay beach.

Ubud and TuesGayUbud

Ubud, in the hills of central Bali, is the island's cultural center: rice terraces, temples, yoga studios and a large expat community. It has no gay bars, but it does have TuesGayUbud, a gay dinner held every Tuesday at 7 PM at a different restaurant each week, with each week's venue posted on its Instagram. It is run by local expats, and it is a simple way for a visitor to meet gay residents and get recommendations. Some of the group often moves on to The Blue Door on Jalan Monkey Forest afterwards.

If you want to support the local community, Gaya Dewata has worked on health and support for gay men and trans people in Bali since 1992.

Where to Stay: Gay Friendly Hotels and Villas

• Seminyak: for nightlife, the beach and walking distance to the gay bars.
• Ubud: for culture, rice terraces and the Tuesday dinner. Nomadic Boys wrote of Viceroy Bali, a resort in Ubud: "We felt completely welcomed as a gay couple."
• Nusa Dua or Uluwatu: for resort beaches and quiet.
• Private villas: a private pool villa is a Bali staple and gives a couple real privacy.

One easy split for a 10-day trip is a few nights in Seminyak and the rest in Ubud. Small family-run homestays are lovely but more traditional, so a little discretion goes a long way. In 2020, local officials targeted a Seminyak guesthouse marketed specifically to gay men, which then closed, and inspected three more villas, according to Al Jazeera, so a mainstream hotel or villa is the lower-key choice. We found no reported case of a same-sex couple turned away by a hotel or prosecuted under the new code in Bali.

How to Travel Safely

• Public affection: holding hands on the Seminyak strip is one thing; kissing in a temple or a village is another. Dress modestly and keep affection private at temples and ceremonies, as every visitor should.
• Dating apps: Grindr's help page lists Indonesia among "government restricted countries," where "internet censorship may prevent members from accessing Grindr." Apps may not work reliably, and the bars and TuesGayUbud are the easier way to meet people.
• Drugs: Indonesia's drug laws are severe, and the UK government says "police often raid venues popular with foreigners, especially in Bali." Don't carry or buy anything.
• Drinks: the UK government also warns about drink spiking and about methanol in counterfeit alcohol, including drinks bought at licensed bars in tourist areas. Watch your drink being made and never leave it unattended.
• Everyday crime: the US State Department says American citizens have been victims of violent crimes in Indonesia, "especially in Bali." Watch your bags and use booked or app-based transport at night.
• If something goes wrong: police are 110 and ambulance is 118 or 119. US citizens can contact the US Embassy in Jakarta on +62 21 5083-1000. The British Consulate in Bali is in Renon, Denpasar, and sees people by appointment.

Women and Trans Travelers

Bali's gay scene is mostly aimed at men, and we found few dedicated spaces for lesbian travelers. Gaya Dewata works with trans people as well as gay men. Indonesia does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions from abroad, according to the US State Department.

Indonesia's Criminal Code: What It Means for You

Indonesia's revised criminal code took effect on January 2, 2026. Article 411 penalizes sex outside marriage with up to a year in prison, and Article 412 penalizes unmarried couples living together with up to six months. Both are complaint-only: a case can start only if a spouse, parent or child of one of the people involved reports it. The UK government describes it this way: the code "imposes penalties for cohabitation and sex outside of marriage if certain members of either party's immediate family file a complaint."

There is no national law against same-sex relations. Aceh province, at the northern tip of Sumatra, criminalizes them under Sharia law, and the US State Department notes that "some local governments have laws criminalizing LGB relationships," while saying "LGB status or conduct is not illegal in Indonesia," though it adds that "local authorities may take legal action or tolerate harassment against LGB individuals." Because same-sex couples cannot marry in Indonesia, Human Rights Watch argues the new articles "effectively" cover all same-sex couples, but the family-complaint rule applies to them exactly as it does to unmarried straight couples, and the State Department notes that "implementation details are unclear."

Elsewhere in Indonesia, police have raided private gay parties in Jakarta and Bogor using pornography laws (Amnesty International). We found no police raid on a gay party in Bali.

More Gay Friendly Trips in Asia and the Pacific

If you are planning a wider trip, our guide to whether Japan is gay friendly covers Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chōme. For an island trip with marriage equality, our Honolulu guide covers Waikiki's gay bars and beaches, and our Puerto Vallarta guide covers a beach town with a big gay scene. For more countries ranked by safety, see our safest countries for gay travelers index.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bali gay friendly?

Yes. Bali is mostly Hindu and used to foreign visitors, with gay bars in Seminyak and a weekly gay dinner in Ubud. Keep public affection low-key outside the bars.

Is it illegal to be gay in Bali?

No. There is no law against same-sex relations in Bali. Indonesia's criminal code penalizes sex outside marriage and cohabitation only on a complaint from a spouse, parent or child, for straight and gay couples alike.

Can I be openly gay in Bali?

In Seminyak's gay bars and at TuesGayUbud, yes. Elsewhere, the UK government advises "caution and discretion, particularly in public spaces."

What is the gay area of Bali?

Seminyak, centered on Jalan Camplung Tanduk, where Mixwell and BaliJoe host drag shows. Stonewall Bali is nearby on Jalan Raya Seminyak.

Is there a gay scene in Ubud?

Ubud has no gay bars, but TuesGayUbud holds a gay dinner every Tuesday at 7 PM, with each week's venue posted on its Instagram.

Can gay couples share a hotel room in Bali?

Yes. Bali's governor said in 2022 that hotels would not check guests' marital status at check-in, and we found no reported case of a same-sex couple turned away.

Can you have a gay marriage in Bali?

No. Indonesia does not allow same-sex marriage, and the US State Department says same-sex marriages or civil unions from elsewhere are not legally recognized.

Is Grindr banned in Bali?

Grindr lists Indonesia among the countries where the government restricts access, so it may not work reliably in Bali. The Seminyak bars and TuesGayUbud are easier ways to meet people.

Is Indonesia gay friendly?

Less so than Bali. Indonesia is more conservative overall, Aceh province criminalizes same-sex relations, and police have raided gay parties in Jakarta and Bogor. Bali, mostly Hindu and built around tourism, is a different experience.