Located near the geographical center of Bali, Ubud is also its artistic, cultural, and spiritual heart. The town is packed with attractions, including iconic temples, lively markets, art museums, and scenic walking trails through rice fields, while several magnificent waterfalls and must-see historic temples are just a short drive out of town. This makes it the perfect place to stay for several days while you explore both the town and the many nearby fantastic attractions that Bali has to offer. To help you plan your time here, we put together this Bali travel guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Ubud.

Disclosure: This page (Best Things to See and Do in Ubud – A Bali Travel Guide) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.

You might also be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali

Ubud – Location & Map

Ubud is located in south-central Bali, in the Gianyar Regency (link to Google Maps).

How to Get to Ubud

Drive times from elsewhere in Bali can be highly variable depending on the traffic conditions.

Distance from Kuta: 40 km // Average Drive Time: 1h20 – 1h40

Distance from Canggu: 30 km // Average Drive Time: 1h10 -1h30

Distance from Sanur: 25 km // Average Drive Time: 1h -1h20

Distance from Sidemen: 30 km // Average Drive Time 1h -1h20

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Transport Options

In our opinion, the two best transport options to get to Ubud from elsewhere in Bali are: renting a scooter (moped) or hiring a car and driver (which really isn’t as expensive as it sounds).

You can also use Bali ride-hailing apps such as Gojek or Grab, and make use of local taxis, but these options will typically cost more, especially if you plan on visiting several sites and attractions on the same day. Also, Gojek or Grab are not authorized to pick up people in certain locations where local taxi unions limit their services, including Canggu, Sanur, and Ubud. For more information on getting around the island and the different available options, check out our guide on How to Best Get Around Bali.

Getting to Ubud by Scooter: Once you get to Bali, you’ll quickly realize that scooter rental operators are everywhere. Although most street-side vendors will regularly be the cheapest option, they come short in several other aspects compared with more reliable and established vendors. For instance, most won’t offer roadside assistance or insurance that covers theft, nor do they regularly sanitize the helmets or have their scooters undergo regular maintenance. For this reason, we highly recommend using Bikago for your scooter rentals. Renting from them might be slightly more expensive (but still can be rented for as low as 12-15 US$/€ per day) but you get great peace of mind as among many other perks, all scooters undergo extensive quality checks.

What you get with your Bikago rental:
-Helmets
-Full tank of petrol and unlimited mileage
-Free Delivery and Collection at your Hotel
-24/7 Roadside Assistance and First Aid Medical Kit
-Charging Mobile Phone Holder

By Car and Driver hire: Hiring a car and driver to explore Bali can be a practical and cost-efficient way to experience a full day of sightseeing. Although this option is more expensive than renting a scooter (typically 40-60 US$/€ per day), you don’t have to worry about navigating the Bali roads and traffic. Also, most cars are modern and air-conditioned, which is welcome in Bali’s humid heat, and the local drivers always know the best routes to take and can optimize your ideal itinerary. Here are some of the best options to choose from:

Finding Parking

If you are driving your own vehicle or scooter, the main challenge if coming from out of town, is finding parking. The main parking lot is the Ubud Central Parking (link to Google Maps), but it only opens to cars around 10 am when the morning farmer’s market ends. Parking here is fortunately relatively cheap (5K IDR for vehicles, 2K IDR for scooters).

It’s often easier to find spaces in Ubud’s largest car park by the Monkey Forest (link to Google Maps). However, there are two drawbacks to using it: 1) it is more expensive (same rates as above but charged by the hour instead of a single fee), and 2) it is significantly further from the center of town (about a 30-minute walk).

About Ubud

Ubud is located between rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. Initially promoted as an arts and culture centre, it has developed a large tourism industry over the past few decades. Though the town only has a population of about 75,000 people, it receives more than three million foreign tourists every year.

Ubud has a tropical rainforest climate, meaning that it’s fairly hot and humid year-round. The mean daily maximum fluctuates between a low of 28^oC during the dry season (April to late October) and a high of 31^oC during the wet season (November to end of March).

Ubud is actually composed of 14 small villages, each with its own temples and unique cultural practices. For most visitors, the borders between one village and the other are not obvious, and most don’t even realize that these are separate communities. Some of the more well-known villages are Campuhan (where the Campuhan ridge walk leads to), Penestan (primarily known as an artist’s village since the 1930s, west of Ubud center), and Kajeng (known for its lively market and scenic rice fields)

As beautiful and fascinating as Ubud is, it does suffer from over-tourism. Much of the infrastructure, and in particular the road system, wasn’t designed to accommodate so many people at once. Central Ubud and its main attractions can get quite crowded at times, and its main roads remain congested throughout most of the day. This is why we particularly recommend visiting Bali during the shoulder season, visiting under-the-radar and less popular attractions (which are typically no less beautiful or interesting to visit than the more popular ones), and hitting the more popular spots early in the day before everyone else shows up.

How to Get Around Ubud

Ubud is a very walkable town. In fact, we walked everywhere during our time in Ubud and only made use of a private driver and car for day trips designed to visit various temples, waterfalls, and rice terraces located outside the city limits. Almost all of the main attractions located within Ubud proper will be within a 30-minute walk from the town center, with the farthest being the Ubud Monkey Forest, near the southern end of town.

Like many other towns popular with tourists in Bali, it is impossible to order a metered taxi or to use a ride-sharing service for pickup within Ubud (ride-sharing services can drop you off in Ubud, however). Instead, a taxi and price must be negotiated with a member of the local taxi cooperative. This protectionist system ensures the driver is from the local area, and also keeps the fares inflated compared to elsewhere in Bali.

While we did consider renting a scooter but we decided that we didn’t want to add to the traffic problem that central Ubud struggles with every day. The worst street is Jalan Raya Ubud, which is the only major east-west road that runs through the town. This is in large part due to geography, with Bali’s many north-south rivers limiting the development of many east-west roads.

Ubud’s two main north-south roads are Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman, which extend south from Jalan Raya Ubud, and are where you will find the majority of shops and restaurants in Ubud.

As we mentioned, traffic through Ubud occasionally comes to a standstill. It is fairly congested every day between 10 am and 8 pm, not just during peak rush hours, and particularly along Jalan Raya Ubud. This is why we generally preferred to walk everywhere we could, as we tended to move faster than the traffic did.

Best Things To See and Do in Ubud

Visit Ubud Temples

Although Bali’s most impressive temples are located outside of the town limits, Ubud is still home to several fascinating temples that are definitely worth a visit. Moreover, for the most part, they are all fairly centrally located, making them fairly easy to visit from anywhere in town. These are some of our favorite temples to visit while in Ubud:

Pura Dalem Ubud

Located near the western edge of town, a few blocks west of the Ubud Water Palace, Pura Dalem Ubud is a unique temple in Bali, which is dedicated to Rangda, the Demon Queen. She is the personification of evil, often depicted with fangs, bare breasts and unkempt hair. The Balinese believe that recognizing evil is essential to fully appreciating the benefits of all that is good.

Pura Dalem Ubud is a very imposing temple from street level with a long stone staircase you need to climb to enter the temple. But once inside, it becomes a peaceful oasis that seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of Ubud’s busiest street. We are alone for part of our time in the temple, as given its location on the western side of town it doesn’t receive the same amount of visitors as Ubud’s more central temples. The stone carvings are particularly impressive as is the giant Banyan tree in the southwestern corner of the temple complex.

Temple Opening Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Temple entrance fee: 50,000 IDR per person (2025), which roughly amounts to 3 US$/€(includes sarong rental)

Another reason you might want to visit this temple is because it regularly hosts a fascinating Kecak Fire Dance show (every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased on-site for 100,000 IDR.

Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati (Ubud Water Palace)

Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati, also known as the Ubud Water Palace, is primarily known for its beautiful lotus ponds, fountains and water gardens. It’s located between the temple highlighted above (Pura Dalem Ubud) and Ubud Palace. Saraswati temple is a relatively new temple, having only been built in 1952, and is dedicated to Sarasvati, the Hindu deity of learning, literature and art.

It’s probably the most scenic and unique temple that you will find in Ubud. The lotus ponds create quite a scenic and relaxing ambiance, which are separated by a stone bridge decorated with sculptures of Hindu mythological figures.

Beyond the water ponds, you’ll find several Meru towers and a pavilion (bale) with three empty thrones dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Temple Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm (except Fridays until 9:30 pm)
Temple entrance fee: 60,000 IDR per person (2025), which roughly amounts to 3.25 US$/€(includes sarong rental)

Another reason you might want to visit this temple is that it regularly hosts a Balinese dance performance every night of the week at 7:30 pm (except on Fridays). Tickets can be purchased on-site for 100,000 IDR.

Goa Gajah

Located just outside Ubud (it’s best visited during a day trip excursion while either on your way out of or into town), Goa Gajah is a popular destination due to its famous “Elephant Cave”, whose impressive and ornate doorway is a unique attraction in Bali. The exact origins of the cave are uncertain, but it is believed to have been built as a sanctuary for meditation and spiritual reflection. Archaeological and historical experts believe Goa Gajah dates from the 11th-century Bali Kingdom.

Our favorite part of Goa Gajah wasn’t the elephant cave or any of the other temple shrines, but rather a lush jungle garden with a cascading river, beautiful stone bridges and a scenic waterfall.

Temple Opening Hours: 8 am to 6 pm
Temple entrance fee: 50,000 IDR per person (2025), which roughly amounts to 3 US$/€.

For more information on this temple and what to expect during your visit, check out our detailed Goa Gajah Temple Guide.

Go For a Scenic Rice Field Walk

Though not necessarily known as a major hiking destination, Bali does have its fair share of scenic walking paths, particularly amongst beautiful rice terraces, many of which you can access from Ubud. These are some of our favorites.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is probably Ubud’s most famous and popular walking trail. But unlike the other trails in town, this is not a true rice field walk. Rather, as the name suggests, you’ll spend most of the walk along a high ridgeline between two deep valleys filled with dense green vegetation.

If you walk to our suggested trail endpoint, you will however see some beautiful scenic rice fields. One great spot to admire the rice fields is from the rooftop outdoor terrace of Karsa Kafé, also a great spot to enjoy a refreshing drink on a hot day.

Although the first portion of the walk is along an uphill slope, it’s not particularly difficult or steep. Most people won’t have any issues walking this trail. It’s also a popular spot for sunset, so sunrise is your best bet to enjoy the scenery under beautiful golden light in a more intimate setting.

For more information on what to expect and how to get to the trail, be sure to check out our Campuhan Ridge Walk Guide.

Sari Organic Walk

Although not as popular as the Campuhan Ridge Walk, it’s probably Ubud’s favorite rice field walk. Also among the Ubud trails, it’s the one where you’ll spend the most time surrounded by rice fields. You’ll notice a mix of old farming buildings and the occasional luxurious home or resort in the distance – and, depending on the time of year, you are also quite likely to notice some farmers working their fields. There are also several great cafés and warungs that you visit along the trail for refreshments or a snack, as well as several artisan gift shops. It’s a very easy trail and is suitable for almost everyone.

For more information on what to expect and how to get to the trail, be sure to check out our Sari Organic Walk Guide.

Sweet Orange Walk

Unlike the previous two trails, the Sweet Orange Walk is a loop trail that combines two smaller rice fields: the Subak Juwuk Manis and the Kajeng rice fields. Of the town’s many rice field trails, it’s the most central and easily accessible, and it runs roughly parallel to the nearby Sari Organic Walk trail. You’ll cross many cafés, and stores along the way, particularly as you walk through Kajeng village towards the rice fields. Much like its Sari Organic neighbour, this trail is also fairly easy and for the most part, is along a flat surface. It however isn’t quite as busy as Sari Organic if you are looking for a trail with fewer other people around.

For more information on what to expect and how to get to the trail, be sure to check out our Sweet Orange Walk Guide.

Visit Ubud Monkey Forest

Officially named the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve that is home to over 1200 long-tailed macaques. It is also still used by the local community for worship as there are three temples within the forest grounds, including the impressive 14th-century Pura Dalem Agung. The walking paths are well-maintained and they scenically wind through the lush and dense forest. It’s definitely a nice change of pace from the noise of Ubud’s busy streets.

The main attractions of Ubud Monkey Forest are obviously the playful long-tailed macaques. You’ll see monkeys of all sorts, small and large, adults and babies, active monkeys and sleepy monkeys.

In Ubud Monkey Forest you are free to walk around at your own pace while enjoying the wonderful forest scenery, and stopping to watch the monkeys behave, well, like monkeys! The forest is large enough that you should plan for at least an hour here and ideally an hour and a half.

Note that it is forbidden to either touch or feed the monkeys, and it is highly recommended to keep your belongings hidden (to avoid having them stolen by the monkeys). See the monkey safety tips in our travel guide for Bali’s Ubud Monkey Forest.

Ubud Monkey Forest Entrance fee: 100,000 IDR* per person on weekdays (2025), which roughly amounts to 6.00 US$/€. (120,00 IDR* weekends); * less expensive for children
Ubud Monkey Forest Opening Hours: 9 am to 5 pm.

If you would feel more comfortable with a guided walking tour of Ubud Monkey Forest, this is also an option that you can pre-book in advance (and includes the forest entrance fee price).

Take a Balinese Cooking Class

We think that taking a Balinese cooking class in Ubud is a must. It’s a lot of fun, you’ll learn a lot, you’ll meet new people, and at the end of it all, you’ll enjoy delicious food!

We had a great time with this Authentic Cooking Class by Paon Bali (rated 4.9/5 out of over 1100 reviews). They hold 2 daily classes: a morning class that starts at 8:30 am and begins with a visit to the local market to pick up fresh ingredients, and an afternoon class that starts at 3:00 pm and doesn’t include the market visit. We did the afternoon class, so we can’t comment on the market experience itself.

The class takes place in a beautiful outdoor kitchen-garden, group sizes are capped at 12, and the class price includes free hotel pick-up and drop-off from most locations around Ubud. With this class, you’ll learn to make 3 starters, 4 main course dishes and 1 authentic dessert.

Take A Silver Jewelry Class

This is a really fun activity. Even if you aren’t a fan of jewelry or don’t wear much silver jewelry, it’s definitely a fascinating experience to learn how to make your own under the guidance of an experienced silversmith. We can definitely recommend this silver jewelry class, which lasts two hours and from which you’ll leave with your silver ring, earring or pendant.

Visit the Hidden Riverside Moss-Covered Stone Carvings

A true Ubud hidden gem – we spent half an hour here and there was no one else around. Located in the village of Penestanan on the west side of town, along the shores of a narrow river you’ll be amazed by moss-covered stone carvings on either side of the river.

As you reach the valley floor next to the river, you will quickly be amazed by the multitude of moss-covered stone carvings on either side of the river.

It was so quiet with a soundscape created by nothing but the sound of the river and a few birds. Despite how unique this jungle treasure is, it doesn’t seem to be very well known by the tourist circuit. There were no signs indicating the carvings (or the river) and they were quite hidden and difficult to find.

For more information on what to expect and how to get to the trail, be sure to check out our Penestanan Rice Field and Riverside Moss-Covered Stone Carvings Guide.

Experience A Memorable Sunrise on Mount Batur

One of our favorite activities we did during our time in Ubud was the Mount Batur Sunrise Trek, an organized expedition that takes you to the summit of an active volcano to watch one of the most stunning sunrises you’ll ever see. This was definitely one of the activities we were most looking forward to while planning our trip to Bali, and the views from the summit during sunrise are simply spectacular.

The main drawback to this hiking activity is that you need to get up and leave Ubud around 2 am. The good news is that a hired driver will take care of the transport and drop you off at the base of the summit, where a hiking guide will lead a small group of five people up to the summit in the darkness, just in time to watch the sunrise. Headlamps, walking sticks and breakfast are provided and included in the organized hiking tour.

For more information on what to expect during your hike, be sure to check out our Mount Batur Sunrise Hiking Guide.

Visit One of Ubud’s Several Great Museums

Agung Rai Museum of Art – This cultural compound opened in 1996 and displays founder Agung Rai’s collection, one of Indonesia’s most impressive private collections of art.

Museum Puri Lukisan – Set in a beautiful garden, this museum displays works from all schools and periods of Balinese art, with a focus on modern masters such as I Gusti Nyoman Lempad (1862–1978), Ida Bagus Made (1915–99) and I Gusti Made Kwandji (1936–2013). It is not only Ubud’s prettiest museum, but it is also the birthplace of the modern Balinese art movement.

Antonio Blanco Museum – This museum showcases the ‘Dali of Bali’, an expressionist from Spain who came to Ubud from Spain via the Philippines and was noted for his eccentricity and for his collection that is more notable for its gaudily grandiose surrounds than its quality.

Explore Udud’s Markets

The most popular market is the Ubud Art Market, located in central Ubud along Jalan Raya Ubud (link to Google Maps), and it spreads out into the neighbouring streets. These markets are a great place to find traditional Indonesian textiles featuring unique patterns and vibrant colours, exquisite wood carvings including sculptures and ornate furniture, silvery jewelry, Handwoven baskets and bags, various items of clothing and Balinese masks.

There’s also a nice market along Jalan Kajeng street, on the other side of Jalan Raya Ubud.

Go on a Day Trip to Visit Stunning Waterfalls, Rice Fields & Temples

Ubud’s strategic location in south-central Bali makes it an excellent base from which to explore several of the island’s most stunning temples, villages, rice terraces and waterfalls.

Also, even if you don’t have time to spend a night, you can also fairly easily take a day trip to the stunning Nusa islands.

For information on all the great day trip options and how to package specific attractions within a day-trip itinerary, be sure to check out our guide on the Best Day Trips from Ubud.

Ubud – How Long Do You Need?

For a 2-week Bali trip, we recommend spending at least 4 days in Ubud, which is the minimum needed to fully experience everything it has to offer. After that, it depends on how much you want to move around Bali. You can choose to stay longer and use it as a base to explore other areas of Bali via several day trips, and this is what we generally recommend. Our preferred Bali itinerary skips south Bali and focuses on Ubud and east Bali (based on Sidemen), along with the Nusa Islands (Lembongan & Penida) and the Gili Islands.

Best Time to Visit Ubud

The best time to visit Ubud is during the dry season, which typically runs from late April to late October. This period offers the most favorable weather with less rain and lower humidity.  The rainy season also comes with an increased risk of mosquitoes, particularly around the rice terraces and in more rural areas.

You may also want to consider off-peak months like May-June or September-October for a more personal experience with fewer crowds.

Where to Eat in Ubud

There are so many places in Ubud from which you can enjoy great food. These are some of our favorites:

This is Bali (link to Google Maps) – Balinese restaurant offering a create-your-own dish experience in a modern and lively decor.

Lazy Cats Cafe (link to Google Maps) – A vegetarian restaurant that doubles as a café, bar and art gallery, all beautifully decorated with a distinct vintage look.

Plant Bistro (link to Google Maps) – Large open-concept vegetarian restaurant surrounded by lush vegetation, with both balinese and italian meal options.

Sananda Coffee & Food (link to Google Maps) – Delicious authentic food in a no frills authentic but modern setting.

Umami Bali Ubud (link to Google Maps) – If you are not sure what you are in the mood for, this is a good option as it serves diverse dishes from sushi and noodles to pizza and burgers, in a cozy Ubud setting.

BGS Ubud – Coffee Bar (link to Google Maps) – Our favorite spot for coffee and pastries (located in Penestanan).

Where to Stay in Ubud

All of the following are some of the best mid-range hotel accommodations located within walking distance from Ubud center:

Komaneka at Rasa Sayang Ubud Hotel

Ubud Village Hotel

Adiwana Resort Jembawan

Kajane Mua Villas

Alaya Resort Ubud

Planning a Trip to Bali?

You might be interested in these pages: (coming soon)
Best Things to See and Do in Bali
Best Things to See and Do in the Gili Islands
The Perfect Three-Week Bali Itinerary
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Bali

We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Bali: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide
Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok & Nusa Tenggara

Photography Gear

If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.

Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug

Other Travel Essentials

Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.

e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.

Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.

Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).

Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).

Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)

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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Bali Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Ubud and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.

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