Can you bring sex toys to Bali?

Note: the following is not legal advice and is solely the opinion of the author.

It’s that time of year when Aussies everywhere start planning their next trip to Bali, and web searches asking ‘Can I bring sex toys to Bali’ start trending again. And those very same searches will give you a lot of confident opinions from a lot of people, ranging from ‘don’t, it’s illegal’, to ‘sure, just don’t flaunt it’, to ‘you’re a tourist you’ll be fine’.

The real answer is a bit more nuanced, but it basically comes down to sort of all of the above. The answer depends on what sex toys you’re wanting to bring into Bali, and how much risk you’re willing to take.

Are sex toys illegal in Bali?

Sex toys are not technically illegal in Bali. Under Indonesian law at the time of writing, it is illegal to possess or distribute pornographic or obscene materials inside Indonesia. This appears to be limited to media – so your hard drive of downloaded movies would definitely put you on the wrong side of the law. While sex toys aren’t specifically mentioned in the law, it’s possible for anything resembling genitalia or naked bodies get you in trouble. My recommendation is to err on the side of caution. If you’re going to do this at all, only bring in non-realistic sex toys. If it could be ornamental – like glass or metal – or be a personal massager like a wand, you’re more likely to be able to get it in without issues.

What are the potential penalties?

Up to 12 years in prison and/or fines of up to 6 billion rupiah (approximately $480,000 Australian dollars at the current exchange rate). However, the only case of an actual arrest we could find was for smuggling a certain white powder inside a sex toy back in 2025. The sex toy itself wasn’t the issue. Anecdotally, the main risk you face in bringing your vibrator into Bali is having it confiscated at customs. How often does this happen? I can’t say for sure, but in 2023 Bali welcomed some 5.2 million international tourists and held a press conference where they destroyed illegal contraband – including 27 sex toys. If you check out those photos you’ll also see the very realistic dildos front and centre.

Essentially, your odds are pretty good, but be smart about it.

Can you buy or sell sex toys in Bali?

Legally this is a grey area, but don’t. If you’re going into Bali on a tourist visa you shouldn’t be selling anything, let alone sex toys, and the public display of sex toys or advertising of them for the purpose of commerce would put you squarely in the crosshairs of Indonesian law enforcement. Even if sex toys themselves aren’t technically illegal, advertising them almost certainly is. In terms of buying toys – good luck finding them. And I’m not talking about the giant carved penis ashtrays and bottle openers.

An actual silicone or TPE sex toy is near impossible to find in Bali. I did find one specialist store for a niche community that had a tiny selection of discreet black toys. But that was maybe 4 products in clear packaging, no labelling saying what they were, and hidden behind a pile of clothing so they couldn’t be seen from the street. Satisfyer Pro 2 this ain’t.

Can I be arrested in Bali for having sex outside of marriage?

Good question. This one was hugely hyped up after it got legislated in 2022. Here’s what you need to know:

• It is illegal to have sex outside of marriage in Indonesia.
• It is illegal to cohabit with an intimate partner outside of marriage.
• This law does apply to tourists.
• The maximum penalty is 1 year in jail.

And if the fearmongering machine was all you heard, this is what you might already know. Here are some key things to consider:

• In order to be charged under this law a complaint has to be made to Indonesian police by one of your parents or your children.
• Since Indonesia doesn’t officially recognise same-sex relationships, gays and lesbians are going to be fine as marriage in Indonesia only refers to heterosexual couples.
• The police aren’t going to be barging into your hotel room or villa to check if you’re getting it on any more than they’re going to be searching for your sex toy stash.

My best advice? Don’t bring your parents on holiday to Bali if you’re in an opposite-sex relationship, aren’t married, and you think they might call the cops on you to send you to an Indonesian jail for a year. And maybe don’t tell your kids about this legal wrinkle if you think they’d be inconsiderate enough to weaponise that against you. Like if you don’t buy them that fifth ice cream of the day just because they walked past a shop.

If you actually find yourself thinking that one of those scenarios might apply to you, I am very sorry and I hope things improve for you soon. Would you like a new vibrator for some stress relief?

What are the best sex toys to bring into Bali?

‘Best’ is subjective, but here’s my non-exhaustive list of great toys that are safe to bring into Bali. Generally, my checklist is very simple: non-realistic, non-vibrating, or could conceivably have another use. Travel lock is a bonus. With that in mind, here are my picks.

Wild Secrets Glimmer Glass Dildo

It’s just a glass object. Massage stick. Ornamental paperweight gift for a friend. Most non-realistic glass or metal dildos will be fine – just watch your weight allowance.

Screaming O My Secret Lipstick Vibrator

I’ll always go back to recommending a lipstick vibe when you need a discreet travel vibe. Sure, they’re mostly going off the images on the X-ray machine, but a novelty lipstick isn’t obviously obscene. This one doesn’t have a travel lock, though, so just make sure it’s in a case with padding and isn’t going to turn on in your luggage if jostled the wrong way by baggage handlers.

PDX Deep Cream Bottle Stroker

Yes, there are other models, but for travel to Indonesia I specifically recommend the Deep Cream because it has a non-realistic opening, so if for some reason customs does want to check it, there are no moulded vulvas in sight that could put you on the wrong side of Indonesian law. As a bonus, it’ll probably be overlooked by the cleaning staff.

Lelo Gigi 3 G Spot Vibrator

The Gigi 3 is a versatile toy that’s great for travel where multi-use options are amazing. It can be used internally or externally on the clitoris or anywhere on the body for foreplay. It’s beautiful, non-realistic, and you could probably just say it’s a personal massager and be fine. It also has a travel lock and app control, so if you’re not travelling with your lover and want some long distance play, it’ll do that too.

Pipedream Limited Edition Satin Blindfold

It’s just my sleep mask, bro. Also, you may want one on the plane depending on what flight you’re catching.

Wild Secrets Forte Wrist and Ankle Cuffs

These are harder to explain at customs, but they don’t vibrate, don’t have any electronics airport staff might have concerns about, and don’t look like any part of the naked human form. You’ll be fine. I was.

Wild Secrets Bliss 2 Wand Massager

Almost any wand massager will be fine, but I rate the new Bliss 2 for a couple of reasons. It has a travel lock so you can turn that on to ensure it won’t go off in your bag. It really doesn’t look suggestive, especially in black. And it’s powerful enough to actually work on sore muscles. If you’re doing a lot of walking around Bali, you’ll probably end up using it for that as much as for self-pleasure. I also like that it’s a more compact wand than say, the full-sized Le Wand – saving on both weight and packing space. Also, it’s USB-C chargeable, so that’s one less cable to manage. It is quite loud though, so best packed if you’re staying in a private villa.

Other honourable mentions go to bullet vibrators and non-vibrating butt plugs, which will probably be fine.

Isn’t there still a risk of being targeted for having sex toys in Bali?

Bali police have bigger things to worry about than you bringing in an actually legal sex toy for personal use. Like tourists getting drunk and riding around on scooters without helmets. Or taking nude photos at sacred sites. Bonnie Blue was only arrested in Bali after her presence became a crowd control issue – yes they deported her for other reasons, but she wasn’t profiled at the airport and prevented from entering. If she wasn’t a target, you’re not going to be one just because you’re a tourist.

To be clear, I’m not saying the risk is zero, or you shouldn’t consider what you bring and how much you bring. I’m not a lawyer and this isn’t legal advice. What I am saying is if you’re the ‘not without my vibrator’ sort of traveller, you’ll be able to bring something with you that’ll see you through your holiday when you do need it. But go, have fun, enjoy the local culture, food, and the experiences on offer.

And be more worried about whether Australian customs are going to let you back into the country with that two-foot carved wooden penis statue than whether you’ll have your favourite vibe confiscated at Ngurah Rai International Airport.