Destination Guide · Central Bali

Ubud Travel Guide

Rice terraces, temples and Bali’s slowest mornings.

By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 15 October 2026

Area Brief

What Ubud is really like.

Ubud is Bali’s inland culture town, a cluster of villages on the ridges of Gianyar about 38 km north of the airport, or 75 minutes to 2 hours by car. It suits travelers who want temples, nightly dance, rice-field walks, yoga and good food more than beaches. Plan three days, or five if you add Mount Batur and the waterfalls.

Ubud is not one town but a string of villages on ridges between river gorges in Gianyar regency. The royal family still lives in the palace on Jalan Raya Ubud, temple ceremonies close roads most weeks, and a dance troupe performs somewhere in town every night. That living culture, plus rice fields that start a ten-minute walk from the palace, is why people come.

Be ready for the other side. Central Ubud is crowded, and its narrow streets were never built for tour buses and thousands of scooters. On 8 September 2026 Gianyar made Jalan Raya Ubud one-way eastbound and Jalan Raya Pengosekan one-way northbound, and the first day brought more than four hours of gridlock while drivers learned the new loop. Sidewalks on Monkey Forest Road and Jalan Hanoman are narrow and broken in places, and local transport groups still discourage Grab and Gojek pickups in parts of the center.

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Prices have climbed with the crowds. The Sacred Monkey Forest now charges IDR 130,000 for adults, and the swing platforms and cafés on the rim of Tegallalang have turned the famous terraces into a ticketed photo stop. A fire in August 2024 burned one of the two blocks of the Ubud market, and Sari Organik, the café that made the Subak Sok Wayah rice-field path famous, has closed. The path itself is still there.

Ubud is still the best base in Bali for culture and inland day trips. Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi, Goa Gajah and a ring of waterfalls are 15 to 60 minutes away, and Mount Batur sunrise treks pick up at 2 am. Mornings are the reward: at 6:30 the Campuhan ridge is quiet, the air is fresher than on the coast, and farmers are already in the paddies.

Compared with Canggu or Seminyak, Ubud has no beach, fewer late bars and far more yoga studios, galleries and cooking schools. The coast is for surf and sunsets; Ubud is for walking, temples and long breakfasts. Where you stay inside Ubud matters more than in most Bali areas. The center is walkable but noisy. Penestanan and Nyuh Kuning are quieter and still on foot. The resorts in Sayan, Kedewatan and Tegallalang give you valley views at the cost of a drive every time you want dinner.

Best for: Temples, dance, rice-field walks, yoga and food
Vibe: Green, arty and spiritual, with a crowded core
From the airport: 75–120 min by car (about 38 km)
Days needed: 3 days; 5 with Batur and waterfalls
Best time: April–October (dry); early mornings all year
Getting around: Walk the center; driver or scooter for day trips

Ubud is a good fit if…

First-timers who want temples, dance and rice fields in one base
Walkers: the ridge trail and rice-field paths start in town
Yoga, retreats and slow wellness trips
Day trips to Tirta Empul, Mount Batur and the Bangli waterfalls
Couples booking a valley-view villa or resort

Skip it if…

You want a swimming beach: the nearest is Sanur, 45–60 min away
Traffic ruins your day: the center jams most afternoons
You want nightlife that runs past midnight
Steep stairs are hard for you: waterfalls and valley resorts are full of them
You expect empty rice terraces at midday

Neighborhoods

Which part of Ubud to base yourself in.

Ubud is not one place. Each pocket has its own pace, noise level and walking distance to the things you came for.

Gold labels are the neighborhoods below. Numbered pins match the things-to-do list; zoom out for the day trips.

01
Central Ubud
The grid between Jalan Raya Ubud, Monkey Forest Road, Jalan Hanoman and Jalan Goutama holds the palace, the market, Saraswati temple and most cafés, spas and dance stages. You can walk everywhere, including to the Monkey Forest at the south end of Monkey Forest Road. The trade-off is noise, scooters and afternoon jams, worse while the September 2026 one-way scheme settles in. Goutama and the lanes off Hanoman are the quietest streets in the core, and Jalan Kajeng leads straight into rice fields.
Best for: First-timers without a scooter who want to walk to dinner and dance shows
02
Penestanan & Campuhan
Penestanan sits on the ridge west of the Campuhan bridge, reached by a long stairway off Jalan Raya Campuhan or by lanes too narrow for cars. Dutch painter Arie Smit encouraged village children to paint here in the 1960s, the start of the Young Artists style. Today it is guesthouses, villas and cafés between rice fields, about a 25-minute walk from the palace. Campuhan and Sanggingan, just north, hold the ridge walk and the Neka Art Museum.
Best for: Longer stays and walkers who want quiet without needing a car
03
Sayan & Kedewatan
West of town, the road through Sayan and Kedewatan runs along the rim of the Ayung River gorge. This is where the big valley resorts and villa estates sit, with pools facing a wall of jungle, and where many rafting trips begin. Central Ubud is 4 to 7 km away, 15 to 30 minutes by car depending on traffic. Ask whether your resort runs a shuttle into town; otherwise every dinner out needs a ride.
Best for: Honeymoons and resort stays where the view matters more than walking
04
Nyuh Kuning & Pengosekan
Nyuh Kuning is a small village of quiet lanes, guesthouses and villas just south of the Monkey Forest, joined to the bottom of Monkey Forest Road. Pengosekan, to the east, has ARMA, cafés and spas, with The Yoga Barn a short walk north. Both are 15 to 25 minutes on foot from the market. Jalan Raya Pengosekan has been one-way northbound since September 2026 and backs up at rush hour.
Best for: Couples and yoga students who want calm nights within walking distance
05
Tegallalang & Keliki
Tegallalang starts about 10 km north of the palace, along a road lined with craft shops that leads to the famous terraces. Keliki, on the ridge to the west, is a farming village known since the 1990s for miniature painting. Both have villas and small resorts with long rice-field and valley views, but you are 25 to 40 minutes from central Ubud in traffic and need a driver or scooter for everything.
Best for: Villa stays with rice-field views for people happy to be driven around
06
Mas, Peliatan & Lodtunduh
South and east of the center, these villages trade cafés for workshops and paddies. Mas is Bali’s woodcarving village, Peliatan has its own small palace, and Lodtunduh, south-west of Mas, is mostly villas among rice fields. Rooms cost less than in the center and the nights are quieter. The catch is distance: you are 4 to 8 km from the palace, a scooter or driver is essential, and Peliatan’s main streets became one-way in September 2026.
Best for: Budget-minded travelers and families who want space and a pool

Top Sights · 29 picks

Things to do in Ubud.

Ranked by how worth your time they are, with the practical detail you need before you go.

How we rank: how much each place adds to a first trip, weighed against cost, crowds and travel time from Ubud. Prices and hours checked 14 October 2026. Editorial policy

01
Nature
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Campuhan, 1.5 km west of Ubud Palace
A paved path along a grassy ridge between two river valleys, starting beside Pura Gunung Lebah at the Campuhan bridge and running about 2 km north to Bangkiang Sidem village. It is free, takes 1.5 to 2 hours return with stops, and puts palms, tall grass and jungle on both sides within ten minutes of Jalan Raya Ubud. Cafés at the north end, such as Karsa Kafe, make it an easy breakfast walk.
Tip: Go between 6:00 and 7:30 am or after 5 pm. There is no shade on the ridge, so midday is hard work.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
02
Nature
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
South end of Monkey Forest Road, central Ubud
About 12.5 hectares of forest, ravines and moss-covered statues at the south end of Monkey Forest Road, home to more than 1,000 long-tailed macaques. Three temples stand inside, including Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal; they are closed to visitors, but you see them from the paths. Come for the banyan-shaded ravine and old stone stairways as much as for the monkeys, and keep everything zipped. A first-aid clinic on site treats scratches and bites.
Tip: IDR 130,000 adults, IDR 100,000 children (checked Oct 2026). Open 9 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm. No food or plastic bags.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
03
Temple
Tirta Empul
Manukaya, Tampaksiring, 19 km north-east (30–40 min)
A water temple founded around a spring in 962 AD, where Balinese families bathe under rows of carved spouts to cleanse body and mind. Visitors can join the ritual in a rented green sarong, starting on the left and skipping the two spouts reserved for ceremonies for the dead. Even without bathing, watching families arrive with offerings is worth the drive. Tampaksiring Palace, the presidential retreat Sukarno began building in 1957, looks down on the pools.
Tip: About IDR 75,000 adults (checked Oct 2026), sarong included. Open 8 am–6 pm. Arrive before 10 am; full and new moon days are busiest.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
04Culture
Ubud Palace and the nightly dance
Corner of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road
Puri Saren Agung, home of Ubud’s royal family since the 19th century, faces the market at the main crossroads. Its outer courtyards, carved gates and pavilions are free to walk around by day; the inner compound is still a private home. At night the courtyard becomes a stage, and a dance with live gamelan starts at about 7:30 pm. Most often it is the Legong, traditionally danced by young girls who start training at about five.
Tip: Tickets about IDR 100,000 (checked Oct 2026), sold at the gate and by sellers on Jalan Raya Ubud. Seating is unreserved, so arrive 30 minutes early.
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05Temple
Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring
Tampaksiring, 18 km north-east (30–40 min)
Ten shrines about 7 m tall, carved into niches in a cliff on both banks of the Pakerisan River in the 11th century and thought to honor King Anak Wungsu and his queens. You reach them by a long stairway through rice terraces, then cross the river to the second group. It is a few minutes from Tirta Empul and much quieter, and the mix of carved stone, rushing water and paddies is the best of the Pakerisan valley.
Tip: Pair it with Tirta Empul on the same morning. Sarong required, and the climb back up is steep, so bring water.
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06
Viewpoint
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Ceking, Tegallalang, 10 km north (20–30 min)
The terraces that sell Bali on postcards: steep, coconut-shaded paddies dropping into a valley about 10 km north of Ubud. Be honest about what you will get. By late morning the rim is lined with cafés, swing platforms and zip lines, and farmers ask for small donations at path crossings. Come at 7 am, walk down into the valley and up the far side, and you will see why the place became famous before the crowds.
Tip: Bring small notes for the ticket, parking and donations. Skip midday; the paths are steep and slippery after rain.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
07
Temple
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
Bedulu, 5 km south-east (about 15 min)
A rock-cut sanctuary from around the 11th century, its doorway carved as a gaping demon face. Inside are a Ganesha statue and Shiva’s lingam and yoni. In front lie bathing pools that were only uncovered in 1954, and stairs lead down past a small Buddhist site to the Petanu River and a little waterfall. Allow an hour, more if you go down to the river.
Tip: About IDR 50,000 adults (checked Oct 2026), sarong included. Open 8 am–6 pm. The river stairs have no handrails.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
08
Temple
Pura Taman Saraswati
Jalan Kajeng, off Jalan Raya Ubud
A temple to Saraswati, goddess of learning and the arts, built for the royal family in the early 1900s and credited to the Ubud master builder I Gusti Nyoman Lempad. A stone causeway crosses a pond packed with lotus to a carved red-brick gate. It sits right behind Café Lotus on Jalan Raya Ubud, so you can see it in 20 minutes, then come back on a dance night, when the gate becomes the backdrop.
Tip: Late afternoon, around 4–5 pm, has softer light. Dances run most evenings at about 7:30 pm.
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09Nature
Rice-field walks from the center
Jalan Kajeng and Jalan Subak Sok Wayah, central Ubud
You do not need a driver to see paddies. From Jalan Kajeng, behind Saraswati temple, a lane climbs into Subak Juwuk Manis and loops back through fields and small warungs. Near the Campuhan bridge, Jalan Subak Sok Wayah leads onto a field path of about 15 minutes each way. Sari Organik, the café that made that walk famous, has closed, but the path and the farmers are still there.
Tip: Wear shoes with grip; field paths are narrow and muddy after rain. Walk single file and give way to farmers.
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10
Adventure
Mount Batur sunrise trek
Kintamani, Bangli, about 1.5 hours north
The most popular day trip from Ubud starts in the dark: pickup around 2 am, a drive north to Toya Bungkah, and a guided climb from about 4 am that takes roughly two hours to the 1,717 m summit of an active volcano that last erupted in 2000. At sunrise you look across Lake Batur to Mount Abang and, on clear days, Mount Agung. It is uphill the whole way but not technical.
Tip: Local guides are officially required. Bring a warm layer and a headlamp; the summit is cold before dawn.
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11Culture
Kecak in a temple courtyard
Banjar Taman Kaja, north side of central Ubud
Kecak is the chant-driven dance in which dozens of men sit in rings calling ‘cak’ while the Ramayana plays out by firelight. Uluwatu’s clifftop show is the famous one, but Ubud stages Kecak in temple courtyards on set nights each week, close to your room and without the bus crowds. Indonesia’s tourism ministry lists Pura Dalem Taman Kaja on Monday and Friday at 7 pm.
Tip: About IDR 100,000–150,000. Schedules change, so confirm the night and venue with your hotel.
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12Nature
Tibumana Waterfall
Apuan, Bangli, 16 km east (30–40 min)
A single curtain of water falling into a round pool at the end of a mostly paved path through bamboo and farmland. The walk down takes about 12 minutes, the pool is usually waist deep, and swimming is allowed when the flow is safe. It is the easiest of the Bangli falls with children. Kanto Lampo is about 3 km away, so most people visit the two together.
Tip: IDR 25,000, cash (checked Oct 2026). Open 7 am–6 pm. Do not stand directly under the fall.
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13Nature
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
Beng, Gianyar, 11 km south-east (about 30 min)
A 15-metre waterfall that spreads across stepped rock, so the water fans into strands you can stand among. It is a 5 to 7-minute walk down concrete stairs from the parking area in Beng village. The catch is popularity: from about 10 am to 1 pm there is a queue for the photo spot on the rocks. Arrive before 9 am for softer light and far fewer people.
Tip: IDR 25,000 (checked Oct 2026). Open 6:30 am–5:30 pm. Wear sandals with grip; the rocks are slick.
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14Nature
Tukad Cepung Waterfall
Tembuku, Bangli, about 35 km east (45–60 min)
A waterfall that drops into a narrow rock chamber, so sunlight reaches it only through a gap in the cliff. On clear mornings between about 9 and 11 am, light beams cut through the spray, which is when the photo queue forms. The walk from the parking lot is 15 to 20 minutes on steep stairs with railings. The light show needs sun; on cloudy days it is a dim, wet canyon.
Tip: IDR 30,000, cash (checked Oct 2026). Open 7 am–6 pm. Avoid it during or right after heavy rain.
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15Culture
Museum Puri Lukisan
Jalan Raya Ubud, central Ubud
Ubud’s first art museum opened in 1956, growing out of the Pita Maha artists’ cooperative that the Ubud royal family founded in 1936 with the painters Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet. Its pavilions and lotus gardens on Jalan Raya Ubud trace Balinese painting and woodcarving from the 1930s on, including the Batuan, Ubud, Young Artist and Keliki styles. An hour here makes every gallery in town easier to read.
Tip: Visit in the heat of early afternoon; the gardens are shaded and it is a short walk from the palace.
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16Food & Drink
Balinese cooking class
Laplapan, Petulu, 4 km north-east
A cooking class is the quickest way to learn what goes into lawar, sate lilit and base genep, the spice paste behind most Balinese dishes. The better classes start at the market, picking herbs, vegetables and meat. Paon Bali, in Laplapan village north-east of town, runs morning classes from 8:30 am that begin at the Ubud market and afternoon classes from 3:30 pm, and you eat everything you cook.
Tip: Book a morning class if you want the market visit, and mention allergies or vegetarian needs when you book.
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17
Market & Shopping
Ubud Art Market and morning market
Jalan Raya Ubud, opposite Ubud Palace
Opposite the palace, Pasar Ubud is two markets in one. Early in the morning locals shop for produce, flowers and offering supplies; from mid-morning the craft stalls take over with rattan bags, sarongs, batik, carvings and silver of uneven quality. A fire on 17 August 2024 burned one of the market’s two blocks, and trading has carried on around rebuilt sections and temporary stalls, so the layout may not match older guides.
Tip: Bargain with a smile; opening prices are inflated for visitors. Cars park at Ubud Central Parking nearby.
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18Culture
Penestanan village walk
Penestanan, 2 km west
Climb the long stairway off Jalan Raya Campuhan and you are in Penestanan, where Dutch painter Arie Smit found village children drawing in the sand in the 1960s and encouraged them to paint. Their bright, flat village scenes became the Young Artists style. Lanes too narrow for cars run between rice fields, villas and small galleries. A loop through the village and back down to Campuhan takes about an hour.
Tip: Start in the morning, before the heat, and combine it with the Campuhan ridge on the other side of the river.
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19Adventure
Ayung River rafting
Ayung River gorge, west of Ubud (hotel pickup)
The Ayung is Bali’s longest river at 68.5 km, and its gorge west of Ubud is the island’s classic family rafting run: about 33 rapids of class II and III between jungle walls and side waterfalls. Trips include lunch, showers and transfers, and take about five hours door to door from Ubud, with morning and afternoon departures. Operators do not advise it for children under five or adults over 65.
Tip: One major operator starts at about IDR 795,000 per person (checked Oct 2026). The river runs higher and faster in the wet season.
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20Culture
Neka Art Museum
Jalan Raya Sanggingan, 2.5 km north-west
Founded by art dealer Suteja Neka and opened in 1982, this was Bali’s first privately owned museum. Its halls on the Sanggingan road cover classical Balinese painting, the largest collection of work by Arie Smit, a pavilion for the artist and builder I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, contemporary Indonesian art, and a hall of more than 300 keris daggers. It suits anyone who wants depth rather than a quick look.
Tip: Pair it with the Campuhan ridge; the Sanggingan road runs just west of the trail.
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21Culture
ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art)
Jalan Raya Pengosekan, 2 km south
Founded by collector Agung Rai and opened in 1996, ARMA holds classical Kamasan paintings, Batuan works and pieces by Raden Saleh and Walter Spies in two buildings set in a garden in Pengosekan. It is also a working cultural center, with performances on an open-air stage, children’s dance practice and painting and craft workshops, which makes it a good rainy-afternoon stop.
Tip: Ask at the front desk about that week’s performances and workshops; schedules are not always online.
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22Wellness
The Yoga Barn
Jalan Sukma Kesuma, Peliatan, south-east central Ubud
Ubud is Bali’s yoga town, and The Yoga Barn is its best-known studio: open-sided halls in a garden, drop-in classes through the day, ecstatic dance, kirtan and sound sessions, and 50 to 200-hour teacher trainings, with a garden café and rooms on site. Drop in once for the scene, then try a smaller studio near where you stay if you want quieter classes.
Tip: Check the schedule before you go; the studio changes hours or closes on some ceremony days.
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23
Nature
Tegenungan Waterfall
Kemenuh, Sukawati, 11 km south (25–40 min)
The big, powerful waterfall closest to Ubud, in Kemenuh village to the south. About 200 steps lead down to a wide pool edged with river stones, a walk of roughly 10 minutes each way. Swimming is allowed when the flow is calm but is restricted when the river runs high after rain. It is more developed and busier than the Bangli falls, with the peak from 11 am to 3 pm.
Tip: IDR 30,000 adults (checked Oct 2026). Open 6:30 am–6:30 pm. Arrive before 9 am.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
24Market & Shopping
Craft villages: Mas, Batuan and Celuk
Mas 5 km, Batuan 10 km, Celuk 13 km south
The road south from Ubud toward Denpasar runs through Bali’s craft villages. Mas is known for woodcarving, Batuan, about 10 km south, for a painting school of dense, dark scenes of legend and night, and Celuk for its gold and silversmiths. Stop at a workshop rather than a big showroom and you can watch carvers or smiths at work. Some silver workshops offer short classes where you make your own ring.
Tip: Go with your own driver rather than a tour with fixed shop stops, so you choose where to stop.
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25Temple
Pura Gunung Lebah
Campuhan, at the start of the ridge walk
This temple stands where two branches of the Wos River meet below the Campuhan bridge, a spot Balinese consider auspicious, which is what campuhan means. Legend ties it to the Javanese priest Rsi Markandya and the 8th-century founding of Ubud. Most people pass it at the start of the ridge walk; stop on the way back, when you are less rushed.
Tip: Free to view from the path. Wear or rent a sarong if you go into the grounds, and expect closures during ceremonies.
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26
Culture
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival and Ubud Food Festival
Venues across central Ubud; Taman Kuliner for the food festival
Two festivals fill Ubud’s guesthouses each year. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, started after the 2002 Bali bombings to bring visitors back, runs from 21 to 25 October in 2026, with talks and readings across venues in town. The Ubud Food Festival brought stalls, talks and ticketed dinners to Taman Kuliner from 28 to 31 May 2026; watch its site for the 2027 dates.
Tip: Book rooms early for festival dates; central Ubud fills first.
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27Family
Bali Bird Park
Singapadu, Batubulan, 11 km south (about 30 min)
The island’s bird park sits in Singapadu, on the road south toward Batubulan, with walk-through aviaries, a daily schedule of shows and feeding times, and a conservation program for endangered birds. It is one of the better family half-days from Ubud when rain rules out waterfalls, and it pairs well with the craft villages on the same road.
Tip: Check the daily show times on the park’s website and plan your arrival around them.
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28Food & Drink
Coffee plantation stops
Roads north of Ubud toward Tegallalang and Kintamani
On the roads north of Ubud toward Tegallalang and Kintamani, agro-tourism stops offer free tasting trays of coffee and tea, then a shop. The tasting is pleasant; the problem is kopi luwak. Investigations have documented civets kept in small cages and force-fed coffee cherries to produce it. If a stop shows caged civets, skip the luwak and buy plain Bali arabica instead.
Tip: Kopi luwak sold as “wild” is impossible to check. If animal welfare matters to you, do not buy it.
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29Adventure
Jungle swings
Tegallalang and the valleys around Ubud
Swing parks around Tegallalang and the valleys near Ubud sell the photo of you flying over the jungle in a long rented dress. Be clear about what you are buying: a short ride, a queue and a staff photographer. Prices are per package and often more than a good dinner in town. If you go, check for a full harness and a second safety line, and pick an operator with recent reviews.
Tip: Skip it on rainy days, when platforms and ropes are slippery.
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Itinerary

How to spend your days in Ubud.

Routes that follow the light, the traffic and the opening hours, so you are in the right place at the right time.

One day in Ubud

On foot from central Ubud: about 12 km over the day with long breaks. Take a car for the 2 km hop from Campuhan to the Monkey Forest if the heat gets to you.

6:30
Walk the Campuhan Ridge from Pura Gunung Lebah to Karsa Kafe at Bangkiang Sidem, about 2 km each way, and have breakfast at the north end.
9:00
Walk about 2 km (30 minutes) along Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road to the Monkey Forest, and be at the gate at opening, before the tour groups.
11:00
Walk back up Monkey Forest Road to the market, about 1.5 km uphill, then the palace courtyards opposite.
12:30
Lunch at a warung, then an hour in the shaded gardens of Museum Puri Lukisan.
15:00
Pura Taman Saraswati, two minutes from the museum, then the Juwuk Manis rice-field loop from Jalan Kajeng; allow about an hour.
17:00
Back to your room to rest before the evening; this is when traffic peaks.
19:30
A dance at Ubud Palace. Buy the ticket at the gate and arrive half an hour early for a good seat.

Three days in Ubud

Day 1 on foot, day 2 with a driver for the temples, day 3 for waterfalls and a class.

Day 1, 6:30
Campuhan Ridge, then cross to Penestanan and loop back through the village.
Day 1, 10:00
Monkey Forest, the market and the palace courtyards.
Day 1, 19:30
Dance at Ubud Palace or Pura Taman Saraswati.
Day 2, 7:00
Tegallalang Rice Terrace before the crowds and the heat.
Day 2, 9:00
Tirta Empul, then Gunung Kawi a few minutes away.
Day 2, 14:00
Goa Gajah on the drive back to Ubud through Bedulu.
Day 2, 19:00
Kecak in a temple courtyard if it is a Monday or Friday; otherwise a different dance.
Day 3, 8:00
Kanto Lampo before the photo queue, then Tibumana for a swim.
Day 3, 15:30
Afternoon cooking class, or ARMA and a class at The Yoga Barn.

Rainy day in Ubud

For wet-season days when waterfalls and field paths are off.

8:30
Morning cooking class that starts with a market visit.
13:30
Museum Puri Lukisan on Jalan Raya Ubud.
15:00
ARMA in Pengosekan for its galleries and any workshop running that day.
17:00
A Balinese massage at one of the spas in town.
19:30
Check whether the evening dance is going ahead before you walk over.

Plunge-pool villas on Jalan Bisma above the Campuhan river valley, a short walk from central Ubud; suits couples, with a two-bedroom villa for families.

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9.6 / 10

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Dining Edit

Moroccan-styled all-day cafe on Jalan Sri Wedari in Tegallantang, north of central Ubud; come for smoothie bowls at breakfast or lamb kofta at dinner.

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Experience Edit

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A tighter shortlist of experiences and bookable moments that fit the same curated destination lens.

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Seasons

Best time to visit Ubud.

Ubud is wetter than the coast. It gets about 2,240 mm of rain a year, with January the wettest month (around 325 mm) and August the driest (around 90 mm). Daytime highs sit near 29–30°C all year and nights fall to about 21°C. April to October is the dry season and the best time for the ridge walk, waterfalls and the Batur trek. From November to March expect afternoon downpours, muddy field paths and waterfalls that turn brown and can be unsafe after heavy rain.

Early morning is the best time of day in any month: the light is soft, the paths are cooler and the big sights are quiet until mid-morning. Crowds peak in July and August and over Christmas and New Year, when central rooms cost the most and traffic is at its worst. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (21–25 October 2026) and the Ubud Food Festival (28–31 May in 2026) also fill central guesthouses.

Ceremony days change the town. On Galungan (next on 13 January and 11 August 2027) bamboo penjor poles line the streets and families crowd the temples, and Kuningan follows ten days later. Nyepi, the day of silence, falls on 8 March 2027: from 6 am to 6 am the airport closes and nobody goes out on the streets, so hotels keep guests inside. The evening before brings ogoh-ogoh parades and many restaurants close early.

Getting There

How to get to Ubud.

Travel times to Ubud
From	Time	How
Bali airport (DPS)	75–120 min	About 38 km by car. Pre-book a transfer, or use Grab or Gojek from the airport pickup zone. Evening arrivals hit the worst traffic.
Seminyak, Kuta or Legian	75–120 min	About 38–40 km by car or driver. The Kura-Kura tourist shuttle runs four trips a day from Kuta; reservations required.
Canggu	75–120 min	About 30 km by car or scooter, with no direct shuttle. Traffic around Denpasar sets the time.
Sanur	45–60 min	About 25 km by car. Sanur is also the harbor for fast boats to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.
Uluwatu or Nusa Dua	1.5–3 hours	About 45–60 km by car. The slowest common transfer on the island at rush hour; leave early.
Padang Bai (boats to Lombok and the Gilis)	About 1.5 hours	About 37 km east by car.
Kintamani and Mount Batur	About 1 hour	About 34 km north by car. Batur trek pickups leave Ubud at about 2 am.

Getting around Ubud

Central Ubud is walkable: the palace, market, Saraswati temple, Monkey Forest and most cafés are within about 1.5 km of each other. Sidewalks are narrow, broken in places and often blocked by parked scooters, so walk single file and watch for open drains. Penestanan, Nyuh Kuning and the Campuhan ridge are all reachable on foot from the center.

For everything else you need wheels. A car with a driver for the day is the easiest way to link Tegallalang, Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah in one loop. Scooters are quick, but the traffic is heavy and the valley roads are steep. Since 8 September 2026, Jalan Raya Ubud runs one-way eastbound from the Monkey Forest junction to the Arjuna statue and Jalan Raya Pengosekan one-way northbound, and tour buses are barred from the center and drop off at Dalem Puri. Allow extra time while the scheme settles. Cars park at Ubud Central Parking near the market; roadside parking is what jams the center between 1 and 3 pm and 5 and 7 pm.

Grab and Gojek drop you anywhere, but local transport groups still discourage app pickups in parts of central Ubud, especially around the palace and the Monkey Forest. Drivers may cancel or ask you to walk a few hundred meters to a side street. Your hotel’s driver or a pre-booked transfer avoids the problem, and for full-day trips a hired driver is simpler than chaining app rides.

Know Before You Go

Ubud tips that save time and trouble.

01Monkey Forest: bring no food or plastic bags, and keep nothing loose on your head. Avoid eye contact and never touch the monkeys; the clinic inside treats scratches and bites.
02Temples require a sarong and sash. Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah include one with the ticket; carry your own for smaller temples.
03Buy dance tickets at the gate or from sellers on Jalan Raya Ubud from late afternoon; the price is the same and seating is first come, first served.
04Start early. Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and the waterfalls are quietest before 9–10 am and busiest from late morning to early afternoon.
05Carry small notes. Waterfall tickets, parking and donations at Tegallalang are often cash only.
06Stay away from waterfalls and steep field paths during or right after heavy rain; water rises fast and stairs get slippery.
07Avoid driving across the center between 1 and 3 pm and between 5 and 7 pm, when parking and traffic lock up the main streets.
08Temples close to visitors during ceremonies, and Tirta Empul is busiest on full and new moon days, so keep a backup plan.
09Choose your base by how you will move: stay central without a scooter, and in Sayan or Tegallalang only if you are happy to be driven everywhere.

FAQ

Ubud questions, answered.

Is Ubud worth visiting?

Yes, if you want Bali’s culture, rice fields and temples more than beaches. Ubud has a dance show every night, the Campuhan ridge, the Monkey Forest, and Tirta Empul and Mount Batur within day-trip reach. It is not worth it if you only want beach time or hate traffic: the center is crowded and jams most afternoons.

How many days do you need in Ubud?

Three days covers central Ubud, a temple loop to Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi, and a waterfall morning. Add one or two days for a Mount Batur sunrise trek, a cooking class or a trip to Sidemen. One day is enough only for the ridge walk, the Monkey Forest, the market and an evening dance.

What is the best time to visit Ubud?

April to October, the dry season, is best for walks, waterfalls and the Batur trek; August is the driest month. November to March brings heavy afternoon rain but greener fields and fewer visitors. Avoid July, August and the Christmas holidays if you dislike crowds, and check the Nyepi date, when the whole island shuts down for 24 hours.

How do I get from Bali airport to Ubud?

By car. Ubud is about 38 km from the airport, a drive of 75 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. A pre-booked transfer or your hotel’s driver is easiest. Grab and Gojek can be booked from the airport’s pickup zone, and the Kura-Kura shuttle runs four trips a day from Kuta if you start in the south.

Where should I stay in Ubud?

Stay in central Ubud, around Monkey Forest Road, Hanoman or Goutama, if you want to walk everywhere. Pick Penestanan or Nyuh Kuning for quiet within walking distance, Sayan or Kedewatan for valley-view resorts, and Tegallalang or Keliki for rice-field villas where you will need a driver. The hotel guides below name specific places.

Is Ubud walkable?

The center is. The palace, market, Saraswati temple and Monkey Forest are all within about 1.5 km, and the Campuhan ridge starts at the edge of town. Sidewalks are narrow and uneven, and some streets have none. Anything farther out, including Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and the waterfalls, needs a driver or scooter.

Can you use Grab or Gojek in Ubud?

Yes for drop-offs, less reliably for pickups. Local transport groups still discourage app pickups in parts of central Ubud, so drivers may cancel or ask you to walk to a side street a few hundred meters away. For day trips, hire a driver for the day instead of chaining app rides.

Does Ubud have a beach?

No. Ubud is inland, in the hills of Gianyar. The nearest calm swimming beach is Sanur, 45 to 60 minutes away by car. If you want beach days as well as Ubud, split your stay between the two rather than commuting from Ubud every day.

How much is the Ubud Monkey Forest ticket?

IDR 130,000 for adults and IDR 100,000 for children (checked Oct 2026). The sanctuary is open 9 am to 6 pm with last entry at 5 pm. Come at opening for calmer monkeys and fewer people, bring no food or plastic bags, and secure your phone and sunglasses.

Is Tegallalang Rice Terrace worth visiting?

Only early. At 7 am the terraces are quiet and the light is soft; by late morning they are crowded, with swing platforms, cafés and donation points on the paths. If you want rice fields without the crowds, walk the Juwuk Manis or Sok Wayah paths in Ubud or drive to Jatiluwih in Tabanan.

Ubud or Canggu: which is better?

They suit different trips. Canggu is for surf, beach clubs and cafés; Ubud is for temples, dance, rice-field walks and yoga, with no beach and quieter nights. Many first-time visitors split a week, with three or four nights in Ubud and the rest on the coast. The drive between them takes about 75 minutes to 2 hours.

Nearby

Where to go after Ubud.

Areas that pair well with this one, with honest door-to-door times.

About 1 hour by car
Kintamani & Mount Batur
The Mount Batur sunrise trek, the caldera lake and highland coffee farms.
About 1.5 hours by car
Sidemen
A quieter rice valley under Mount Agung, for walks without the Tegallalang crowds.
Stays in Sidemen
45–60 min by car
Sanur
The nearest calm beach, and the fast-boat harbor for Nusa Penida and Lembongan.
Sanur guide
75–120 min by car
Canggu
Surf, cafés and sunsets for the beach half of a split stay.
Canggu guide
1.5–2 hours by car to Jatiluwih
Tabanan (Jatiluwih & Tanah Lot)
Jatiluwih’s UNESCO-listed rice terraces, wider and calmer than Tegallalang.
Tabanan (Jatiluwih & Tanah Lot) guide

Ubud’s Must-Visit Bars: Perfect Spots for Cocktails & Chill

How we researched this

Sources and fact checks.

Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Ubud guide were checked against official sites, government tourism pages and recent reporting on 14 October 2026. Where sources disagreed, we give the official figure and say so. Rankings are our editorial judgment, set out in our editorial policy.

We re-check the guide at least every three months and whenever we hear about a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Show all 56 sources ↓

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Ubud Travel Guide

What Ubud is really like.

Ubud is a good fit if…

Skip it if…

Which part of Ubud to base yourself in.

Central Ubud

Penestanan & Campuhan

Sayan & Kedewatan

Nyuh Kuning & Pengosekan

Tegallalang & Keliki

Mas, Peliatan & Lodtunduh

Things to do in Ubud.

Ubud Palace and the nightly dance

Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring

Pura Taman Saraswati

Rice-field walks from the center

Mount Batur sunrise trek

Kecak in a temple courtyard

Tibumana Waterfall

Kanto Lampo Waterfall

Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Museum Puri Lukisan

Balinese cooking class

Ubud Art Market and morning market

Penestanan village walk

Ayung River rafting

Neka Art Museum

ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art)

The Yoga Barn

Craft villages: Mas, Batuan and Celuk

Pura Gunung Lebah

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival and Ubud Food Festival

Bali Bird Park

Coffee plantation stops

Jungle swings

How to spend your days in Ubud.

One day in Ubud

Three days in Ubud

Rainy day in Ubud

Where to stay in Ubud.

Alaya Resort Ubud

Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort

Bambu Indah Resort

Ayurvedagram Bali - Wellness & Retreat Resort

Natya Resort Ubud

Tejaprana Bisma

Where to eat around Ubud.

Copper Kitchen, Bar & Rooftop

PASIR Restaurant

Mori Teppanyaki

Folk Pool & Gardens

Maluku Contemporary Asian Cuisine

Melali Ubud Restaurant

Things to book while you are in Ubud.

Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour & Trekking

Ubud ATV Quad Bike Ride Experience

Mount Batur Jeep Sunrise Day Tour

Combo ATV and Ayung River Rafting

Ubud Highlights Private Day Tour

Picheaven Bali Swing Ticket

Best time to visit Ubud.

How to get to Ubud.

Getting around Ubud

Ubud tips that save time and trouble.

Ubud questions, answered.

Is Ubud worth visiting?

How many days do you need in Ubud?

What is the best time to visit Ubud?

How do I get from Bali airport to Ubud?

Where should I stay in Ubud?

Is Ubud walkable?

Can you use Grab or Gojek in Ubud?

Does Ubud have a beach?

How much is the Ubud Monkey Forest ticket?

Is Tegallalang Rice Terrace worth visiting?

Ubud or Canggu: which is better?

Where to go after Ubud.

Kintamani & Mount Batur

More Ubud guides.

7 Incredible Places to Visit in Ubud