Things to Do in Ubud: Highlights, Where to Stay and How to Get Around
Ubud, in the heart of Bali, is the island's cultural capital: an artists' town surrounded by rice paddies, wooded ravines and craft villages. People come for the monkey forest, the palace, dance performances, markets, walks through the paddies and spas, and also as a base for temples, waterfalls and volcanoes in the centre of the island. The centre is lively and touristy; a few kilometres away is enough to find calm. Allow two to three days to enjoy it.
Highlights
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
The royal palace in the town centre can be partly visited during the day and hosts dance performances in the evening. The Ubud art market is just opposite, and the guide to dance shows helps you pick an evening.
The rice fields around Ubud
A few minutes' walk or scooter ride from the centre, paths cross the paddies. The Campuhan Ridge Walk is the best-known stroll, and the terraces of Tegallalang are about twenty minutes north.
The sights around
The Sacred Monkey Forest is south of the centre; Tirta Empul, the Tegenungan waterfall and Mount Batur are a few tens of minutes away by road. For a one-day plan, see Ubud in 1 day.
Practical info
Tips
- The centre can be covered on foot, but pavements are narrow, traffic is heavy and the heat is strong: bring a hat and water. To get out of Ubud, a private driver is simplest (see private driver in Bali); a scooter is an option if you are comfortable on the road (see the scooter rental guide). Ride-hailing apps may be restricted to certain pick-up points in Ubud: ask your accommodation. To choose an area to stay (centre, Penestanan, Sanggingan or a quieter village), read where to stay in Bali. To plan your stay, see also Ubud in a day: which tour to choose.
How to get there
Ubud is about one to one and a half hours by road from Bali airport (estimate, depending on traffic, which is often heavy); see from Bali airport to Ubud. From Canggu or Seminyak, allow about one to two hours. Private transfers are booked in advance and save you negotiating on arrival.
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