A trip through Bali isn’t complete without a visit to Ubud. It’s the cultural heart of Bali, where there’s so much to experience. You’ll find a mix of locals and creative expats who have chosen Ubud as their favorite place to settle down. Over the last 10 years, Ubud has become incredibly popular, making the center quite busy and touristy. But don’t be discouraged by that first impression—once you step out of the center, you’ll be surrounded by lush rice fields and traditional villages. We’ve been there several times over the past few years and continue to find it a magical place. Are you curious about what to do in Ubud? The following activities will make your visit complete!

Ubud Without the Crowds

You visit Ubud for the beautiful green surroundings, so it’s great to stay a bit outside the center. There, you’ll find some of the most beautiful hotels in a peaceful oasis, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle. At the bottom of this article, you’ll find our tips for hotels located right in the rice fields. Another way to avoid the crowds is to wake up early. Most attractions in Ubud can get quite busy in the afternoon. By getting up early, you’ll have these places to yourself, and it won’t be as hot.

Transportation in Ubud

The easiest way to see a lot of Ubud is by scooter, but you can also book a taxi through your accommodation. With your own scooter, you have the most flexibility, and it’s also the cheapest option. You can rent a scooter in the center or at your accommodation for about $4 to $6 per day. Outside the center of Ubud, it’s quieter, and even with little experience, you can drive here quite well.
Another convenient way to get around is by using a scooter taxi via the Grab or Gojek apps. Since there are so many of these taxis in the city, they often arrive within just a few minutes. They’ll take you quickly and easily to where you want to go for a small fee.

How Many Days Do You Need for Ubud?

How much time you need to explore Ubud greatly depends on what you want to do and how much you plan for each day. We recommend setting aside at least four days (5 nights) for Ubud because there’s so much fun to be had. Longer is certainly not a punishment. Below, you’ll read about the best things to do in Ubud, allowing you to create your own itinerary and get a good idea of how many days you want to allocate for Ubud.

What to Do in Ubud?

The following attractions and activities in Ubud are ones you definitely shouldn’t miss.

Visit the Morning Market in Ubud

Every morning between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM, there’s a local market in the center of Ubud where fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, spices, and flowers are sold. It’s a beautiful authentic market where you can taste the pure Balinese life. The baskets are filled with colorful goods, and it’s quite a bustling scene. After 9:00 AM, this market transforms into a tourist market where you can score souvenirs for a bargain—provided you’re good at negotiating.

Tip: Interested in getting to know Balinese cuisine better? Then the Balinese cooking class on an organic farm comes highly recommended. If you choose the morning class, you’ll start with a visit to the morning market to pick up fresh ingredients and learn all about the various products. Then, you’ll get a tour of the organic farm and begin preparing different delicacies. At the end, you’ll receive the recipes so you can take Balinese cuisine home with you.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

In the vicinity of Ubud, there are several beautiful walks through the rice fields. One of the most stunning walks is the Campuhan Ridge Walk. Part of this walk takes you over a large green hill with breathtaking views on both sides. It’s a 20-minute walk, but you’ll need to return the same way, making it a 40-minute round trip. This is the starting point. After the Campuhan Ridge Walk, it’s nice to walk back to the main street and then take this route that runs parallel to the Campuhan Ridge Walk. Here, you’ll walk through a beautiful area filled with rice fields. You’ll also find some nice restaurants like Organic Farmer and Monkey Bar.

Sweet Orange Trail Walk and Delicious Food Among the Rice Fields

In addition to the above routes through the rice fields, there’s another path you can take starting from the center of Ubud. The Sweet Orange Trail Walk is a beautiful narrow path along rice fields and through palm trees. Be sure to stop by Sweet Orange Warung. If you see a lot of quirky coconut head sculptures hanging, you know you’ve found the right place. This is a large, beautiful, and cozy warung with delicious food. Enjoy the lovely scenery and completely relax. This is the starting point of the trail, and you’ll walk approximately 15 to 20 minutes through the rice fields one way.

Better to Skip: Monkey Forest Ubud

In The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, located in the center of Ubud, you’ll find around 1,200 Balinese long-tailed macaques. This nature reserve and temple complex attracts large numbers of visitors daily who want to observe the monkeys’ antics up close. Unfortunately, the high volume of visitors disrupts the natural behavior of the monkeys, causing them a lot of stress and making them dependent on people for food. As a result, incidents often occur, such as monkeys biting visitors, who then have to seek expensive rabies treatment. The park is very beautiful, but for your own safety and the well-being of the monkeys, it’s better to skip Monkey Forest Ubud. This is also the advice from World Animal Protection.

Visit the Tegalalang Rice Terraces and Swim at Cretya Ubud

The Tegalalang rice terraces are the most beautiful rice terraces in Bali. Tegalalang is therefore one of the most popular attractions in the Ubud area, so if you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to go early in the morning. You’ll have great light from the sunrise and can explore the rice terraces in peace. The rice terraces are just outside Ubud, about a 20-minute drive away. You’ll pay a small entrance fee, and along the way, you might encounter a few donation boxes from the farmers.

Temple Hopping in the Ubud Area

In the Ubud area, there are several unique temples where you can learn more about Hinduism and Balinese culture.

• Pura Tirta Empul is a temple with water from the sacred Tampak spring, which is said to have healing powers. The temple is about a 40-minute drive from Ubud and is one of the most important temples in Bali. Balinese people visit here at least once a year to bathe in the hot springs. If you’d like to experience a purification ceremony and learn all about the religion and culture of Bali, the Pura Titra Empul Temple tour comes highly recommended. It can get busy at this temple. Prefer to visit a temple with fewer visitors? Then the next temple is a great option.

• Gunung Kawi is located about one and a half kilometers from Pura Tirta Empul Temple, making it easy to combine these two temples. At this less-visited temple complex, you’ll find ten 7-meter (23-foot) tall statues carved out of rock in honor of an ancient king. The story goes that these were chiseled out by the maker’s fingernails. You’ll also get a workout as you need to climb about 350 steps up and down. Luckily, you’ll enjoy views of beautiful rice terraces and palm trees along the way.

• Pura Taman Saraswati is a small temple located right in the center of Ubud. You can see this temple quickly, but it’s still very beautiful due to the many water lilies in the ponds in front of the temple.

Visit the Most Beautiful Waterfalls Near Ubud

In addition to temples and rice fields, you’ll find many beautiful waterfalls in the Ubud area that are perfect for cooling off on a hot afternoon. Kanto Lampo Waterfall and Tibumana Waterfall are both about a 30-minute drive east of Ubud. Kanto Lampo Waterfall, in particular, attracts many visitors with its wide wall of water. Kanto Lampo Waterfall is open from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and it’s wise to plan your visit early in the morning.
Afterward, you can drive a few minutes to Tibumana Waterfall. This waterfall is likely to be much less crowded, but it’s definitely not less beautiful. After a short walk through a stunning green landscape, you’ll arrive at a spot where a perfect stream of water cascades down. This little piece of nature feels straight out of a fairy tale and is a delightful place to cool off. Tibumana Waterfall is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Tegenungan Waterfall is also a beautiful waterfall in the Ubud area, but it’s a bit out of the way compared to the two waterfalls mentioned above.

Tip: With the Ubud Waterfalls and Rice Terraces tour, you’ll visit three waterfalls, including Kanto Lampo Waterfall and Tibumana Waterfall, with a private driver. You’ll also visit the Tegalalang rice terraces. This is ideal if you don’t want to ride a scooter yourself. Choose an early departure time if you want to avoid the crowds.

Discover the Spiritual Side of Ubud and Yourself

Ubud is the spiritual capital of Bali and, according to many, a place where you can feel the elusive magic all around you. It’s full of different types of yoga schools. Whether you’re interested in breath work, ecstatic dance, or a cacao ceremony, Ubud is the right place for you. The Yoga Barn is a well-known establishment in Ubud and the perfect place to explore your spiritual side. They offer a comprehensive schedule of activities held at a beautifully scenic location. Throughout the week, you can sign up for interesting classes from early morning until late at night. You’ll really get a sense of community here, making it a great place to meet new people. On their website, you can find the current schedule and more information about signing up.

Tip: Other places that offer great programs include Pyramids of Chi, La Portal of Shamballah, and Ubud Yoga House.

Cycling Through the Rice Fields

The best way to explore the Ubud area is with a cycling tour through the rice fields. With a comfortable e-bike featuring thick tires, you’ll embark on a beautiful journey through Ubud and the surrounding rice fields. An enthusiastic local will take you on an adventure for two to three hours, sharing all about daily life and local culture. You’ll pass temples and visit a viewpoint where you can admire the famous Tegalalang rice terraces from above. You’ll also visit a traditional Balinese house, which consists of several buildings for the whole family. The route is approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) long with gentle hills and narrow paths, which is a breeze with the sturdy electric bike!

Shopping on the Famous Street Jalan Hanoman

You can shop in many places in Ubud. You’ll come across boutique shops and souvenir stalls selling the cutest items everywhere. For a good shopping session, head to Jalan Hanoman. This street is home to many stores offering beautiful items like jewelry, home decor, and clothing. There are also plenty of restaurants where you can recharge your energy between shopping sprees.

Tip: Another fun street in Ubud is Jalan Goutama. This cozy lane is filled with delightful shops and restaurants. It’s super pleasant to stroll through and browse around.

Create Your Own Jewelry at a Silversmith

About a 45-minute drive from Ubud, you can participate in a really fun activity. You can make your own jewelry during a workshop at a silversmith. Making silver jewelry is an ancient Balinese craft that is still widely practiced on the island. During this workshop, you can try your hand at this art under the guidance of a silversmith in a traditional workshop. Learn how to shape, cut, and finish your design before taking it home as a souvenir.

Tip: You’ll receive 7 grams of silver and can make either a ring or a pendant. If you want to create a larger piece of jewelry, like a bracelet, that’s also possible, but you’ll pay extra for the additional grams of silver on-site. Think ahead about what kind of design you like or choose from one of the designs they show you there.

Watch the Sunrise at the Top of Mount Batur

Feeling up for a challenge? Then climbing Mount Batur is highly recommended! Mount Batur stands at  1,710 meters (5,577 feet), and from the top, you have an incredible view—especially at sunrise! You’ll be picked up early in the morning from your hotel and then drive to the foot of the volcano. In about four hours, you’ll hike to the summit, where you can watch the sunrise while enjoying a well-deserved breakfast. Afterward, you’ll visit hot springs, which are perfect for relaxation after the climb. To wrap up the morning, you’ll also visit a Balinese tea plantation.

Recommendations for Good Restaurants in Ubud

• Mudra – Enjoy a delightful breakfast or lunch at Mudra. Start your day right with a delicious smoothie bowl, avocado toast, or healthy pancakes.
• Puspa’s Warung – The menu features traditional Indonesian dishes like mie goreng, gado-gado, and jackfruit rendang. All dishes are prepared with plenty of vegetables, and there are many vegetarian options.
• Zest – A plant-based restaurant with a fantastic eclectic and bohemian interior.
• Tukies Coconut Shop – All treats here are made with coconut. Be sure to try the famous coconut ice cream.
• Laughing Buddha – A cozy restaurant with live music every evening. They offer a mix of Asian and Western dishes, including delicious tapas and sushi.
• Sage – A great vegan restaurant with a wide range of dishes, from salads and bowls to curries and desserts.
• Bali Bohemia – It’s a lively place on Thursday nights because they have an open mic night.
• Mother – Mother focuses on organic and sustainable food. Here, you’ll find nutritious dishes like freshly made bowls, salads, wraps, and smoothies.
• Donna – A slightly fancier restaurant with beautiful decor. The menu features a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisines and includes an extensive wine and cocktail list, perfect for a night out. Reservations are necessary.
• Sweet Orange Warung – Seek peace among the rice fields of Ubud. Here, you can enjoy lunch or dinner with a view of the rice fields.
• Taco Fiesta – Taste the flavors of Mexico in Ubud. Here, you can enjoy delicious tacos, burritos, fajitas, and quesadillas.
• Nostimo Greek Grill Ubud – A Greek restaurant with an extensive menu and generous portions.
• Kebun Bistro – A super atmospheric restaurant with fantastic decor. It’s a bit pricier than most restaurants in Ubud, but dining here is a real treat.

Where to Stay in Ubud?

The center of Ubud is busy and hectic with a lot of traffic. But just outside, you’ll find an oasis of calm. Therefore, it’s recommended to stay in accommodation outside the center. You’ll find beautiful lodgings among the rice fields, often with stunning views. Just don’t stay too far from the center, as you’ll always have to drive a long way to reach restaurants and attractions. We’ve searched for the best accommodations within a reasonable distance from the center of Ubud. Below, you’ll find our tips for the nicest places to stay in Ubud.

Our Favorite Places in Ubud

In a beautiful setting are the idyllic bamboo accommodations at Le Sabot Ubud. Here, you’ll sleep in a charming bungalow or villa made entirely from natural materials. The villas are partially open, allowing the room to cool down nicely at night. Of course, there’s a good mosquito net. Enjoy the lovely pool overlooking the rice fields during the day. Prefer to stay in a room with air conditioning? Then Taman Amartha Hotel is a wonderful base for Ubud. In this small-scale hotel, you can enjoy a lovely pool surrounded by tropical plants. In the morning, you’ll receive a delicious breakfast, and the location is nice and quiet, despite being just a 10-minute walk from the center. Tigata Ubud Cottage is only a 5-minute walk from the main street of Ubud, yet you can still enjoy peace and quiet. The hotel is beautifully designed in Balinese style. Find a nice spot in the garden or take a refreshing dip in the lovely pool.

Le Sabot Ubud More Information

Taman Amartha Hotel More Information

Tigata Ubdu Cottage More Information