Located in the heart of the beautiful island of Bali, you will find the popular town of Ubud. Anyone travelling through Bali can definitely not skip a visit to Ubud. It is the cultural heart of Bali and a fine place to spend a few days. You will find a huge number of restaurants, shops and beyond that breathtaking rice terraces and countless waterfalls. Everyone spends their time here differently, which makes this place so popular! We have since been there three times and share our best tips with you here!
General information on Bali
Are you working on a travel plan for Bali? Then check out our tips for the best travel period, daily budget and transport to and in Bali. You can find all the information you need about Bali here.
Table of contents
General information about Bali
How do you travel to Ubud?
How many days do you need in Ubud?
10x cool sights and activities
1. Tegalalang rice Terraces
2. Campuhan Ridge Walk
3. Holy spring water of Pura Tirta Empul
4. Walk among rice fields from Subak Juwuk Manis
5. Go tubing or whitewater rafting
6. Goa Gajah, Elephant Cave
7. Monkey Forest Ubud
8. Visit waterfalls around Ubud
9. Doing nothing at a pool bar
10. Explore Ubud's various markets
Useful tips for your trip!
Good restaurants in Ubud
The best stays in Ubud
Carefree travel to Bali
How to travel to Ubud?
Ubud is located in central Bali, and from the airport it is about 1 hour away by car. We always recommend that people download the Grab app to book a taxi or arrange a pick-up at their hotel. This is the easiest and safest way to travel around if you don't have your own scooter. Our favourite is definitely the Grab app, but should you arrive in the middle of the night and want more security, a pick-up is the best choice.
Not coming from the airport? No problem, Ubud is also easy to reach from Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur or Canggu. So there are several roads leading to Ubud.
How many days do you need in Ubud?
Let's just say you are short of time either way. So how much time you need depends on everything you want to do and see. We recommend spending at least 3 days (4 nights) in Ubud to see the highlights. Below, we share with you the best sights and activities so you can easily plan your own!
What to do in Ubud, Bali?
There is an awful lot to do and explore in Ubud. To easily explore all the sights, we recommend using a scooter or taxi. Our preference is the scooter, as it allows you to stop at local fruit stalls, enjoy the beautiful views and have the freedom to go wherever you want.
1. Tegalalang rice terraces
Near Ubud, you will find Bali's most beautiful rice terraces. An absolute favourite is Tegalalang. This is one of the more popular sights so we recommend going early in the morning; Rice and shine! This is btw not a punishment because in the morning you have the most beautiful light and can walk the small roads in peace.
The Tegalalang rice terraces are just a 20-minute drive north of Ubud and you can easily wander around for an hour or two. Make sure you bring your camera, because you'll definitely want to take some pictures during your walk.
The entrance fee is about IDR 20,000 (€1.25) p.p. In addition, at several points they ask if you want to give a donation, however, this is not compulsory.
Tip: Would you rather not have the tourist entrance? Then go to the entrance at Warung Pax Damex. Here, you will immediately imagine yourself in an oasis of peace and avoid hundreds of surging tourists and expensive restaurants. Check out the location Warung Pax Damex on google maps here
2. Campuhan Ridge Walk
In the Ubud area, you can go on several types of scenic walks. One such walk is the Campuhan Ridge Walk (free). Located close to the centre, this 2-kilometre trail is the perfect way to end or start a day of sightseeing. You will enjoy panoramic views here.
Tip: Take mosquito spray with you! Especially during sunset, these friends come at you in large numbers.
The trail starts at Campuhan Bridge, next to Pura Gunung Lebah temple, where the two rivers meet. It is a popular activity for locals and tourists alike, and you will see people walking their dogs, going for a run or taking pretty pictures.
3. Holy spring water of Pura Tirta Empul
Pura Tirta Empul is a sacred temple complex known for its holy spring water straight from the ground. The water is believed to have healing powers and is therefore a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking cleansing and rejuvenation. When you participate in the ritual, you walk through the water past all 30 stations and the purification is complete when you have had them all, from left to right.
Admission to the temple costs IDR 50,000 (€2.95) p.p and you can borrow sarongs for free. Besides the sacred water baths, you'll find beautiful courtyards and if you're lucky you can see various ceremonies.
Can't get enough of Balinese temples? Then a visit to the temple of Gunung Kawi highly recommended. Located one and a half kilometres from Pura Tirta Empul, this temple is ideal to combine. At this temple you will find, among other things, 10 impressive 7-metre-high statues carved out of rocks in honour of an ancient king. Do bear in mind that you have to climb 350 steps...but well...during your moments of recuperation you do have a beautiful view over the rice fields.
Tip: Always bring a sarong to temples or put on long trousers. At these two temples, you can borrow a sarong but this is not always the case.
4. Walk among rice fields from Subak Juwuk Manis
Another cool hike, perfect for the beginning or end of the day, is in the middle of Ubud. This trail leads you to a small road among the rice fields, where at the end of the day you can see locals working in the fields.
Tip: Find the exact location of the entrance, near the Puri Lukisan Museum. You can see a sign here that reads Subak Juwuk Manis
5. Go tubing or whitewater rafting
Need to do something completely different? Then go tubing or whitewater rafting! This might not be the first thing you think of but this activity is quite popular. Whether you are alone or with a group, during these adventurous activities you mix with the rest of the group. Ideal if you want to get to know some people.
6. Goa Gajah, Elephant Cave
As the name might suggest, you won't find any real elephants here, thankfully! This small temple, with a unique blend of Hindu and Buddhist architecture is entirely handmade. The temple is easy to reach from Ubud, as it is just 6 kilometres from the city. The entrance fee is IDR 50,000 (€2.97) p.p and you can borrow a sarong for free at the ticket counter.
7. Monkey Forest Ubud
Do you love monkeys? Then you can't skip this activity. You can certainly spend a couple of hours walking around in this beautiful park. However, it is important to prepare for your visit. Why? Simple, you are dealing with wild animals! Read our extensive blog on the Monkey Forest And you go out prepared!
The Monkey Forest is located in the city centre, making it easy to combine with other activities. You pay as an adult about IDR 80,000 (€5.00) and as a child 3 - 12 years old, IDR 60,000 (€3.80).
8. Visit waterfalls around Ubud
In the area around Ubud, you will find the most beautiful waterfalls. Most of them are a bit of a drive away, but it's definitely worth it. Cause. Besides being all impressive, they are also the ideal place to cool off. Our favourite is the Nung Nung waterfall, located between Ubud and Bedugul. Although it is a hefty 1.5 ride on the scooter, we loved riding through the Balinese countryside. If you are travelling north on your Bali tour, definitely consider taking the Nung Nung waterfall as a stopover.
The entrance fee is IDR 20,000 (€1.19) p.p, and parking will cost you IDR 2,000 (€0.12) per vehicle.
Location Nung Nung waterfall on google maps.
Other cool waterfalls near Ubud are: Tegenungan Waterfall (20-minute drive), Kanto Lampo Waterfall (30 minutes' drive) and the Tibumana Waterfall (30-minute drive). Want to visit several waterfalls in one day? Then check out Getyourguide for a waterfall tour!
9. Doing nothing at a pool bar
Of course, a few hours of relaxation during your trip is never a luxury. A visit to one of the pool bars in Ubud is therefore the perfect way to end a day full of activities. Some of the most popular bars are Wanna Jungle Pool, Kelapa Muda Ubud Pool Bar, Folk Pool & Gardens and Jungle Fish.
10. Explore Ubud's various markets
You'll find several markets in Ubud, but this one is our favourite. Every morning between six and nine you will find a local market right in the centre of Ubud, where they sell fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, herbs and flowers. Ideal if you've rented a flat with its own kitchen, want to take your fruit with you on your new adventure or just for a nice walk around. You will find baskets filled with food, flowers and other items. After nine o'clock, this market turns into a tourist market where you can score souvenirs.
Good restaurants in Ubud
Bali offers great food, and that includes Ubud. There are countless good restaurants, each with its own charm. Here are some restaurants to get you started!
Mudra: Here you can enjoy delicious smoothie bowls, avocado toast or order healthy pancakes. Perfect for a good start to the day or a sumptuous lunch.
Warung Makan Bu Rus: This restaurant is located in the ’garden’ of a family home. You can eat delicious curry here and escape from the hustle and bustle of Ubud for a while.
Puspa's Warung: Eat locally here! The menu features traditional Indonesian dishes such as mie goreng and Melvin's favourite gado-gado. All dishes are prepared with lots of vegetables and there are many veg options.
La Baracca Bali Ubud: Fancy a pizza or a plate of pasta? Then this is the place to be! La Baracca is a chain spread across Bali and you can eat delicious food here.
Flock: A hip restaurant with a cool industrial look and delicious Asian cuisine. Sounds crazy, but it is also one of the best places to eat burgers.
The best stays in Ubud
You can make it as crazy as you want in Ubud! There are many beautiful hotels and villas interspersed with cosy hostels and boutique hotels surrounded by rice fields, rivers and jungle vibes. For relatively little money, you'll soon have something insane. We recommend booking early as Ubud is very popular and the nicest places fill up quickly.
Stay in the centre of Ubud if you want to shop and be close to most restaurants. Choose the village of Penestanan for more tranquillity, or spend your days in a beautiful bamboo villa in the lush region of Tegalalang.
Carefree travel to Bali
We always arrange our flight tickets, hotels, transport and excursions separately (and last minute). This gives us the flexibility to stay somewhere longer & adjust our itinerary. Moreover, this is often a bit more economical. However, this is offset by the fact that planning the trip takes a bit more time and you often don't sleep in the popular affordable hotels. So we can imagine that some people prefer an organised trip. Is that your preference too? Then take a look at these parties: BaliTravel, Riksjatravel, 333travel and Sawadee.
We hope this information helps you plan your trip. Still have questions? Then feel free to send us a message via Instagram.
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