Ubud

Ubud sits in Bali's central highlands, about ninety minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The town is ringed by river gorges, working rice paddies, and forested hills, and it has become one of the island's most magnetic places to linger. Visitors come for the temples, traditional dance, cooking classes, and wellness retreats, but many stay for the slower rhythm and the green scenery.

What began as a cluster of villages has grown into a single, connected town with a very distinct personality. Central Ubud, built around the palace and market, is compact and easy to explore on foot. The surrounding neighborhoods of Penestanan, Sayan, and Nyuh Kuning spread into the valleys and rice fields, each with its own atmosphere. For most travelers, Ubud is less a stopover than a base for discovering the wider regency.

Top attractions

Ubud packs in more temples, rice terraces, waterfalls, and cultural stops within a short drive than almost anywhere else in Bali. You can cover the main highlights over two or three days without changing hotels, which is part of why it works so well as a base.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary sits at the southern end of Monkey Forest Road, about a ten-minute walk from central Ubud. The sanctuary covers twelve hectares of protected forest and is home to ancient banyan trees, mossy stone carvings, and three active Hindu temples: Pura Dalem Agung, Pura Beji, and Pura Prajapati. Around 1,200 Balinese long-tailed macaques live here, divided into social groups with their own territories.

The monkeys are used to people, but they are still wild and can be quite bold. Keep bags zipped, sunglasses tucked away, and food or plastic bottles out of sight. The sanctuary opens at 9:00 AM, and arriving early gives you better light through the canopy before the crowds build. Touching or feeding the monkeys is not allowed, and the rules are enforced.

Tegalalang Rice Terraces

Tegalalang is one of Bali's most photographed landscapes, located about eight kilometres north of central Ubud. The terraces follow the subak irrigation system, a UNESCO-recognized water-sharing network that has been used for more than a thousand years. From the upper viewpoints on a clear morning, the layered green fields fall down the valley in neat, stepped rows.

Entry costs Rp 50,000 at the gate. The paths are uneven and can get muddy from October to March, so shoes with good grip are a good idea. The famous photo swings and viewing platforms start to fill around 9:00 AM, and the site gets noticeably busier after that as tour buses arrive from across the island.

Alternative: Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Jatiluwih, about an hour northwest of Ubud, offers a wider and quieter alternative to Tegalalang. The UNESCO-listed site has four kilometres of marked trails through active rice fields and far fewer visitors. Entry is Rp 75,000 ($5).

Tirta Empul holy spring

Tirta Empul in Tampaksiring, about eleven kilometres northeast of Ubud, is one of Bali's most sacred water temples. The spring-fed purification pools have been used since the tenth century. Balinese Hindus and visitors can take part in the melukat ritual by moving through the waterspouts in a set order. It is a religious practice, not a spa experience, and it should be approached with respect.

Entry costs Rp 50,000. Sarongs are required and can be rented at the entrance for Rp 15,000 if you do not have one. The temple is open during daylight hours, and arriving before 9:00 AM helps you avoid the biggest crowds.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

The Campuhan Ridge Walk begins just past the Campuhan bridge on the western edge of central Ubud, near Pura Gunung Lebah temple. The path runs between two river valleys through open grassland and rice paddies, with the Gunung Batukaru range visible to the northwest on clear days. The full out-and-back walk covers around nine kilometres and takes two to two and a half hours at an easy pace. Bring water, as there are no shops until the far end near Kedewatan road.

Neighborhoods

Where you stay in Ubud changes the feel of the trip quite a bit. The town spans several distinct neighborhoods within a ten-kilometre radius, and each one offers a different version of Ubud.

Wellness and yoga

Wellness is one of the big reasons people come to Ubud. The town is full of yoga studios, meditation spaces, and traditional healing practices, from casual drop-in classes to longer retreats.

• The Yoga Barn: The largest and best-known studio in central Ubud, with multiple daily classes, workshops, and a cafe.
• Radiantly Alive: A studio focused on alignment-based yoga with small class sizes.
• Alchemy Yoga and Meditation Center: A plant-based cafe and yoga space in Penestanan.
• Intuitive Flow: A smaller studio in central Ubud offering vinyasa and yin yoga.
• Pyramids of Chi: A meditation center with a large pyramid structure near the rice fields.

Traditional Balinese massage and flower-bath treatments are available at most spas. A sixty-minute massage usually costs between 150,000 and 350,000 IDR depending on the venue.

Where to eat

Ubud's food scene ranges from humble warungs to polished restaurants, with plenty of plant-based and vegan options along the way. The town is easy to eat well in, whether you want a simple local meal or something more design-forward.

• Fair Warung Bale: A social enterprise restaurant serving Indonesian dishes, with proceeds funding local health projects.
• Zest: A plant-based restaurant in a open-air bamboo building north of the center.
• Kafe Batan Waru: A long-running restaurant serving Balinese and Indonesian classics in a garden setting.
• Lazy Cat Cafe: A casual spot on Hanoman street with coffee, smoothie bowls, and light meals.
• Alchemy: A raw vegan cafe and juice bar in Penestanan with an attached yoga studio.
• Melting Wok Warung: A small restaurant serving Indonesian and Western dishes with a limited daily menu.
• Taco Casa: A popular Mexican spot with affordable prices and quick service.

Nearby day trips

Ubud is a very practical base for exploring central and northern Bali. Private drivers usually charge between 500,000 and 800,000 IDR for a full day, while scooters can be rented for around 70,000 to 100,000 IDR per day.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Ubud ranges from hostel dorm beds at 150,000 IDR to private pool villas well above 2,000,000 IDR per night. Mid-range hotels and guesthouses usually fall between 500,000 and 1,200,000 IDR.

• Central Ubud: Walking distance to the palace, market, Monkey Forest, and most restaurants. Best for first-time visitors who want to be at the center of activity.
• Penestanan: A quieter artists' village ten minutes from town with boutique villas, vegan cafes, and rice field views. Requires a scooter or taxi.
• Sayan and the Ayung Valley: Luxury jungle resorts perched over the Ayung River. Best for honeymoons and high-end stays away from the town center.
• Nyuh Kuning: A quiet village feel near the Monkey Forest, good for slower stays with easy access to central Ubud.
• Tegalalang: Rural area near the famous rice terraces, ideal for villas with infinity pools overlooking green valleys. Less convenient for town nights.

Practical tips

Best time to visit

The dry season, from April to October, brings the most sunshine and the most reliable conditions for outdoor activities. Ubud stays warm year-round, with temperatures averaging around 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. The higher elevation keeps it a few degrees cooler than the coast, while the wet season from November to March brings more humidity and frequent afternoon rain. The rice terraces are at their lushest during that wetter period.

Getting around

Central Ubud is compact and easy to cover on foot, especially around Monkey Forest Road, Hanoman Street, and Jalan Raya Ubud. For places outside town, including Tegallalang, Tirta Empul, and the waterfalls, a scooter or private driver is usually the easiest option. Grab and Gojek operate in Ubud, though some areas have restrictions on pickups and drop-offs. Walking between outer neighborhoods such as Penestanan and central Ubud can take twenty to thirty minutes along roads without continuous footpaths.

Suggested itinerary

A first-time stay of three nights gives you enough time for one day in central Ubud, one day for the rice terraces and temples, and one day for waterfalls, a cooking class, or rafting.

1. Day 1: Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise, Monkey Forest mid-morning, Ubud Palace and market in the afternoon, Legong dance performance in the evening.
2. Day 2: Tegallalang Rice Terraces before 8:00 AM, Tirta Empul purification ritual, afternoon at a local cooking class.
3. Day 3: Waterfall visit (Tegenungan or further north), afternoon for spa or yoga, final dinner in Ubud.

What to know before you go

• Wear a sarong when visiting temples. Sarongs are available for rent at most temple entrances for Rp 15,000.
• The Bali Tourist Levy of Rp 150,000 must be paid online before arrival.
• ATMs in central Ubud are readily available. Smaller warungs and market stalls prefer cash.
• Monkey Forest Road and the central market area are the busiest parts of town. Side streets are significantly quieter.
• Most visitors stay two to four nights. A common Bali itinerary is three nights Ubud, two nights Seminyak or Canggu, two nights Uluwatu.
• The town is about 90 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport by car, longer during peak traffic hours.