Naturism in Indonesia: laws and customs

At a glance

What the law says

Warning: in Indonesia, being naked in public is a serious crime, and LGBTQ+ people also face a real legal risk (see the end of this guide).

The 2008 pornography law (no. 44), in article 10, prohibits showing yourself or others, in a performance or in public, in a way that depicts nudity, sexual exploitation or sexual intercourse. The penalty, under article 36, is up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to 5 billion rupiah (JDIH BPK, UU 44/2008). The text does not define what counts as nudity.

Since January 2026 the new Criminal Code has also been in force. Article 406 punishes with up to 1 year in prison, or a fine of up to 10 million rupiah, anyone who violates decency in public, meaning anyone who displays nudity, genitals or sexual activity against the values of the local community at that place and time. The new code leaves articles 10 and 36 of the 2008 law in force (JDIH BPK, UU 1/2023). The same code also punishes sex and cohabitation outside marriage (ILGA).

Where you can be naked

We found no legal naturist beaches. Nudity is only possible inside closed private venues that can't be seen from outside: the 2008 law refers to performances or the public, but its severity calls for caution even there. You'll find the venues in the list of naturist stays in Indonesia: before you go, it's a good idea to ask the venue what its rules are.

No photos: the same 2008 law also punishes producing and spreading pornographic material, so taking or posting nude pictures is risky.

Tolerated beaches and bans

The local rules we found concern Bali. In 2023 the governor set out the rules for foreign tourists in a circular (Government of Bali, circular no. 04/2023):

• you must wear "decent and appropriate" clothing at sacred sites, tourist attractions and public places, and during activities on the island;
• desecrating sacred sites is prohibited, for example by being photographed in indecent clothing or with no clothes on;
• anyone who breaks the rules will be dealt with "firmly", in accordance with the law.

The local mood

Indonesia is among the most restrictive countries: nudity in public is a crime, and for 94% of Indonesians religion is "very important" (Pew Research Center). In Bali, which is mostly Hindu and very sensitive about sacred places, violations by tourists lead to expulsion, especially near those places: the authorities have announced a "no compromise" line, and many Balinese on social media have approved of it (BBC News, 2023).

Naturism is only possible inside a completely private place that cannot be seen from outside, and it is best not to take or post any photos.

Naturist associations

Indonesia does not appear in the list of federations of the INF-FNI, the International Naturist Federation.

LGBTQ+ travellers

ILGA classifies same-sex relations as illegal. The national Criminal Code does not explicitly ban them, but other laws have been used against LGBT people: public decency, sex outside marriage, vagrancy and the pornography law. The province of Aceh explicitly bans them (ILGA). For travellers, the legal risk is real.