Ubud Bali Travel Guide: 33 Best Things To Do

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This Ubud travel guide is the culmination of my many years spent exploring the artistic and cultural center of Bali island. No trip to Indonesia would be complete without a visit to Ubud!

This town and tourist hotspot is full of interesting markets, palaces, jungles, and temples to see, and of course lots of great cafes, restaurants, and comfy luxury hotels. It has all the sights and charms of Balinese culture.

After you’ve exhausted all of the top things to do in Ubud, there are even more waterfalls and rice terraces to see in the nearby areas of Tegalalang, Gianyar, and Bangli, which can be reached in under 30 minutes.

Here’s my travel guide for the best things to do in Ubud!

Where To Stay

 
 

Best Things To Do In Ubud Bali

 

1. Visit The Monkey Forest

Seeing the cheeky Bali monkeys should be somewhere near the top of your Ubud to do list, and the Sacred Monkey Forest is the most popular place to do it.

Swing by the famous Ubud Monkey Forest for a funny experience getting your pic taken with the Balinese macaques.

There are hundreds of them living in the jungle here, and they’re (mostly) friendly to outsiders.

Read More: Ubud Monkey Forest

 
 

2. Visit The Ubud Royal Palace

On the corner of the Ubud town center is this fancy palace from the 1800s, with amazing Balinese stone carvings and courtyards.

This was an important building in the 1800s, when the top Balinese artists were flocking to Ubud to show off their skills.

Don’t expect something huge and grand like Buckingham Palace. This is more of a mini palace, and you can walk through the whole thing in 15 minutes, but it’s still very worthwhile!

The walls and doorways have intricate frog-like demon faces carved into the stone, and there’s a door at the back of the courtyard with some of the best designs — gold winged flowers and stone monkey carvings.

Morning is the best time to visit Ubud Palace, because it gets pretty crowded with tourists by noon. The whole place is free to visit.

If you want to continue the cultural experience, there’s also a traditional Balinese dance performance held here every evening.

 

3. Stroll The Traditional Market

Just up the street from the monkey forest, you’ll find the Ubud art market.

It’s full of interesting handmade Balinese souvenirs and trinkets for sale, including wood carvings, coconut bowls, rattan hats and bags, and paintings of rural life, with scenes similar to what you can witness in the Ubud area.

You can also find the usual tourist items like shirts and fridge magnets here. Feel free to haggle for lower prices, because some of the sellers start a bit on the high side. Haggling is expected, and it’s part of the fun.

 
 

4. Admire The Tegalalang Rice Terraces

Bali’s most famous rice terraces are at Tegalalang, just a 15 minute drive north of Ubud.

Here, you can see layered rice paddies with bright green colors. The water flows through the terraces in steps, irrigating the rice for the farmers while creating a beautiful landscape.

There are foot paths to walk through the whole valley and see the terraces up close. It’s one of Bali’s most iconic sights!

Read More: Tegalalang Rice Terrace

 
 

5. Try The Floating Breakfast

Have you ever seen those viral videos of the floating breakfast in Bali? Yes, you can eat in the pool. Now’s your chance!

We did this at Inara Alas Harum and it was fun. They have an infinity pool overlooking the rice terraces, which made it even better.

Almost any nice hotel in Ubud with a pool should be able to arrange something like this for you if you ask. Just remember to give them at least a day of prior notice so they have time to prepare it.

       
 
 

6. Go To The Bali Elephant Sanctuary

Mason Elephant Park is a rescue park opened in 1997, and they do a lot of great conservation work for the Sumatran elephants, which are critically endangered on their home island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

We had a great experience here, and I have to say every aspect of the park is very well managed and nicely maintained. The elephants are happy and healthy, and you can tell they love the attention from humans.

The park is a 30 minute drive from Ubud, and they even have a lodge if you want to stay overnight.

Read More: Bali Elephant Sanctuary

       
 
 

7. Visit The Water Temple

The Saraswati water temple features a lotus pond and some of the coolest wall patterns and carvings you’ll see in Bali.

The doors are incredibly detailed and elaborate. Flowers, dragons, demon figures, and more.

Tourists aren’t allowed to go through these doors to the main temple, but they’re still great for photos! My favorite is the west door (pictured below).

       

 
This temple was built by one of the Ubud princes in the 1950s and it’s dedicated to the Hindu goddess Saraswati (the goddess of learning, literature, and art).

The temple is located in central Ubud, so it’s super easy to visit, and you can combine it with other nearby sights like the Royal Palace.

Read More: Best Temples In Ubud

 

8. Ride ATVs In The Jungle

ATV riding can be a fun way to see the countryside around Ubud, and the terrain is well suited for it.

We’ve done this and it’s a blast. You can drive through jungle trails and muddy rivers, and some of the tours even take you to hidden waterfalls and caves, with ornate carvings on the rocks.

Most of these tours include hotel pickup, safety gear, and local guides, so they’re very convenient.

Book Now: Ubud ATV Jungle Tour

       

 

9. Visit A Cultural Museum

Ubud has a bunch of nice museums that showcase the island’s art, culture, and history.

Here are some top recommendations:

• Neka Art Museum. A collection of over 400 works, including some ceremonial kris daggers that are just wonderful.
• Agung Rai Museum of Art. Lots of nice paintings and stone carvings, plus they have weekly dance and gamelan performances.
• Puri Lukisan. Bali’s oldest art museum, established in 1956. It features wood carvings and modern traditional Balinese paintings.

       

 

10. Learn How To Make Pottery

There’s a nice little shop in Ubud called Serayu Pottery, and it has rows upon rows of hand-painted, colorful terracotta pots.

You can take photos of the storefront for a small fee, and they also have pottery-making classes or painting classes.

The shop owner is friendly, and the staff can even help you take pictures!

       
 
 

11. Enter The Goa Gajah Elephant Cave

Goa Gajah is one of the oldest temples you can visit in Ubud, and also one of the weirdest. It dates back to the 9th century. The doorway to the cave is really bizarre and unique, and it feels like you’re walking into the belly of some rock monster!

The inside of the cave has a narrow path that goes about 15 meters deep, where you’ll find some Hindu incense baskets burning, and the outside of the cave has a photogenic banyan tree with giant roots.

Overall, Goa Gajah one of the most peculiar temples in the Ubud area.

Read More: Goa Gajah Temple

 
 

12. Enjoy The Restaurants

Ubud has great restaurants and cafes everywhere you look.

A lot of places serve familiar Western foods and fresh fruit juices (including smoothie bowls), but don’t forget to try the local Indonesian dishes too, like chicken satay and nasi goreng.

This is far from a complete list, but here are some great restaurants to check out in Ubud:

• Breakfast — Watercress Ubud, Milk & Madu, Suka Espresso, Social Monkeys, Bittersweet, and Lazy Cats Cafe
• Dinner — Restaurant Locavore, Copper Kitchen & Bar, Hujan Locale, Ibu Susu Bar & Kitchen, Embers Restaurant, and The Grill At Luxe
• Ethnic — Omiiku (Chinese), Fu Shou Noodle Club (Chinese), Toro Sushi Cafe (Japanese), Pesona Lounge (Indian), Uma Cucina (Italian), Nostimo Grill (Greek), Pica South American Kitchen (Peruvian), Sweet Orange Warung (Indonesian), Bebek Bengil (Balinese), and Wanara Spice (Balinese)
• Dessert — Caramel Patisserie & Cafe, Monsieur Spoon, Daily Baguette, Yogurt Republic, Room4Dessert, and Tukies Coconut Shop

Of course, Ubud also has plenty of cheap and authentic Indonesian ‘warungs’ (little family owned restaurants) if you look in the side alleys and outside of the main town center. Bali is pretty much a foodie paradise for any kind of budget.

We plan to cover food and restaurants in more detail with another Ubud travel guide later on, so remember to bookmark this blog and check back later!

 
 

13. Get A Balinese Massage

Practically every third building in Ubud is a massage shop.

Balinese massage is fantastic and the prices can be very affordable, at 150k Rupiah (~$10 USD) or less for a 1 hour body massage.

It’s the perfect way to unwind after a full day of hiking or touring.

 

See The Ubud Waterfalls

14. Layana Waterfall

This is one of the easiest waterfalls to visit in Ubud. Layana is just a 10 minute drive from the Ubud town center.

As an added bonus, there’s a warung above the waterfall where you can eat with the view, but it’s totally optional — you don’t have to order anything to visit the falls.

Read More: Layana Waterfall

 
 

15. Tibumana Waterfall

Tibumana used to be a secret waterfall, but it’s exploded in the last couple years and now every Instagrammer comes here. It’s still worth a visit!

The road to this one winds through some green rice fields and palm trees, so it’s a great scenic drive, and there are a couple of smaller waterfalls you can also see nearby.

Read More: Tibumana Waterfall

 
 

16. Suwat Waterfall

This waterfall is an up-and-coming hidden gem near Gianyar and Ubud. It’s good for swimming and there’s even a neat little bamboo raft you can paddle around on.

The hike to Suwat Waterfall is short and easy, and takes you through a small bamboo forest and other tropical foliage along the way.

Read More: Suwat Waterfall

 
 

17. Taman Sari Waterfall

Just 500 meters from the entrance to Tibumana is a separate path that leads to Taman Sari Waterfall.

Also called the Pengibul Waterfall, it’s a small 2-step cascade with no crowds, and you can reach it in 5-10 minutes of walking, so it’s definitely worth checking out while you’re at Tibumana!

Read More: Taman Sari Waterfall

 
 

18. Goa Rang Reng Waterfall

Watch out for slippery rocks! Goa Rang Reng has 3 different waterfalls, but my favorite is the first one, a big sloped cascade that looks like a natural Slip N Slide.

 
 

19. Kanto Lampo Waterfall

Kanto Lampo is a cascade of waterfalls running over the rocks into a natural pool below. As an added bonus, you get to see some creepy carvings in the rock walls nearby.

This is a really nice waterfall and I’d definitely rate it as one of the best things to do in Ubud!

Read More: Kanto Lampo Waterfall

 
 

20. Tegenungan Waterfall

Tegenungan is the busiest and most touristy waterfall in Bali. Don’t go here to escape the crowds, but it’s still a nice spot for lunch, and chances are you’ll be driving past it at some point anyway!

Read More: Tegenungan Waterfall

 
 
 

Other Top Things To Do Near Ubud

21. Hold Butterflies At Kemenuh Butterfly Park

This is a small park with hundreds of butterflies, but the best part is getting to hold an Atlas Moth, the biggest moth in the world. They also have giant stick bugs from Borneo.

Read More: Bali Butterfly Park

 
 

22. Enjoy The Bali Zoo

The Bali Zoo has a lot of great wildlife, including some species that are local to Indonesia. You can get your picture taken with tropical birds here, and the park facilities and animal care seem to be top notch too.

Read More: Bali Zoo Review + Photos

 
 

23. Visit The Bali Bird Park & Reptile Park

This park has more than 1,000 birds and reptiles ranging from tropical parrots to Komodo dragons. The grounds have an ancient ‘Angkor Wat’ theme that fits perfectly with the wildlife, and everything is very well managed.

 
 

24. Browse The Mas Wood Carving Village

Balinese wood carvings are some of the best in Southeast Asia, and the carvers at Mas village are known for being some of the very highest quality. Warning though, some of these can be very pricey. Research and haggle before you buy.

 
 

25. Discover Even More Waterfalls

The Bangli area has lots of great waterfalls and it’s not far from Ubud.

Start with Yeh Bulan waterfall, in the north. To get to this one, you have to walk down a bunch of concrete stairs, cross a bamboo bridge, and then walk through some ankle deep water in the shallow stream.

At the end of the hike, there’s a natural pool for swimming, and a big waterfall with several cascades!

Read More: Best Waterfalls Near Ubud

 

26. Escape The Crowds At Goa Garba

This is an ancient cave temple and 12th century archaeological site in Pejeng village.

Goa Garba was a school and place of study for the Balinese kings and their children. Today, it’s a peaceful hidden spot in the jungle where you can see some ruins and escape the tourist crowds.

Read More: Goa Garba Temple

 
 

27. Explore The Gunung Kawi Ruins

Of course I can’t do an Ubud travel guide without mentioning Gunung Kawi!

This is a bit like Bali’s own Valley of the Kings, where ancient royal tombs were carved into a steep cliff wall at the bottom of a river valley.

It’s an 11th century temple, and the age of everything here is obvious when you look at it. In my opinion, this is one of the most unique and interesting temples in Bali.

 

28. Visit Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple

The name and location of this temple is very close to Gunung Kawi, but this one is not near as famous. This is a water temple with a nice jungle setting.

 
 

29. Bathe At Tirta Empul Spring

This is one of the most well known temples near Ubud, partly because of the Hindu holy spring where visitors (including tourists) are allowed to bathe and pray, if that’s your thing.

The traditional Balinese doorways and statues also make for great photo spots, along with a koi pond and huge banyan tree.

I would plan to spend up to 1 hour looking around the place, or longer if you want to bathe in the pool.

       
 
 

30. Visit The Batuan Temple

This is an ancient 10th century temple located in Batuan village, halfway between Ubud and Sanur. The whole temple grounds are open to tourists, and a lot of the buildings and carvings are different from what you normally see at other Balinese temples.

 
 

31. See The Other Monkey Forest (Sangeh!)

The Sangeh Monkey Forest is another protected jungle area in central Bali with hundreds of friendly (but wild) monkeys to play with.

If the Ubud Monkey Forest is too crowded for your liking, you might want to check out the one in Sangeh instead. It’s only 30 minutes from Ubud, but it’s quieter, cheaper, and less crowded.

Read More: Sangeh Monkey Forest

 
 

32. Visit Taman Ayun Temple

I think this is one of the best temples in Bali — very photogenic, but away from the major tourist areas so it doesn’t get too crowded.

It’s a water temple built in 1634 in the western village of Mengwi, and it’s UNESCO recognized for its culture and history.

Together with the Sangeh monkey forest, you can visit it as a nice little side trip from Ubud.

 
 

33. Hike Mount Batur For Sunrise

The Mount Batur hike in east Bali is a popular day trip from Ubud, especially for sunrise, where you can catch epic morning views from the top of an active volcano!

Read More: Mount Batur Sunrise Trek

 
 

Suggested Itinerary For Ubud Bali

Here’s what a sample itinerary for 3 or 4 days in Ubud could look like:

• Day 1: Ubud Center. Visit the Ubud Monkey Forest, Ubud Market, Ubud Palace, and Saraswati Temple. If monkeys aren’t your thing, substitute that for the Campuhan Ridge Walk or Sayan Point.
• Day 2: Ubud Terraces & Temples. Visit Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Gunung Kawi Sebatu Water Temple, Tirta Empul Temple, Gunung Kawi Temple, and Goa Gajah Temple. If you want to focus less on temples, you could substitute one of these for a visit to a scenic Bali swing instead.
• Day 3: Waterfalls Near Ubud. Visit some nearby falls like Goa Giri Campuhan Waterfall, Kuning Waterfall, Tibumana Waterfall, Taman Sari Waterfall, and Goa Rang Reng Waterfall.
• Day 4 (Optional): Explore South of Ubud. Visit sights south of Ubud like the famous Mas wood carving shop, Kemenuh Butterfly Park, Tegenungan Waterfall, and the Bali Bird Park & Reptile Park.

You can take a look at my full blog post about this Ultimate Ubud Itinerary for more detailed information and photos!

 

How To Get Around Ubud Bali

If you’re staying near the Ubud town center, it’s pretty walkable and most things are close enough to be reached on foot.

However, if you want to do some exploring outside of town, you’ll need to rent a scooter or hire a private car and driver (both of these can be booked online). Airport transfers to Ubud from the Bali airport can also be arranged with your hotel or booked online.

Taxis are available for short rides around Ubud, but the prices are wildly inflated for tourists.

It’s possible to use ride-hailing apps like Grab and Go-Jek, but you have to be discreet because the local taxi mafia is very protective of their turf, and may cause trouble if they see you using one of these apps in Ubud.

 

Is Ubud Safe?

Yes, Ubud is very safe. It gets more than 4 million visitors a year, and it’s generally known as one of the safest areas in Bali. Just take normal precautions and you shouldn’t have any issues.

I’ve often brought my camera gear all over Ubud photographing the markets, temples, and rice terraces, and there are usually plenty of other photographers doing the same.

Even around sunrise, people are already jogging the path at Campuhan Ridge Walk and other places in Ubud. Violent crime is rare in Bali, and Indonesia in general.

The main thing to watch out for is drive-by phone snatchings, which do happen in some parts of Bali from time to time, so just remember to put away your phone when you’re near a busy road with passing motorbikes.

Read More: Safety In Bali

 
 

When To Visit Ubud

The best time to visit Ubud depends on what you’re looking for:

☁ Bali’s rainy season runs from November to April. The weather during the day can be hot and humid, at 32 to 35 °C (90 to 95 °F), but it’s less crowded during this time, and the rain is normally in the evening or at night.

☀ From May to August, the temps are cooler, and it’s more breezy and sunny. This is the windy season and it’s the nicest weather. It’s also the high season for tourists, so it’s generally more crowded.

In any case, it’s generally possible to experience the sights in this Ubud travel guide all year round!

 

More Bali Travel Tips

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this list of the best things to do in Ubud, Bali!

We plan to add more tips to this travel guide in the future, so check back later.

Don’t forget to check out my other travel guides for Bali before you go!
 

Ubud Hotels

 

Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental

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We've used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.

Book Now: Bali Private Driver / Scooter Rental

 

 

See Also

• Bali Travel Guide – Info, Pictures, & Blog
• Ubud Travel Guide – Best Things To Do In Ubud Bali
• 3-Day Ubud Itinerary – Touring Bali’s Cultural Center
• Ubud Temple Guide – Best Temples In Ubud Bali
• Ubud Waterfall Guide – Best Waterfalls Near Ubud Bali
• Bali Beach Guide – The Best Beaches In Bali
• Bali Waterfalls Guide – The Best Waterfalls In Bali
• Bali Temple Guide – The Best Temples In Bali