Travel guide · Indonesia
Ubud travel guide
Rice-field walks, temple dance and art museums in Bali's green hills
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Ubud is a cluster of villages in the hills of Gianyar regency, about 35 km north of Bali's airport, that grew into the island's centre for painting, dance, yoga and food. The town itself runs along Jalan Raya Ubud, Monkey Forest Road and Jalan Hanoman, with the palace and market at the crossroads; within a short walk the streets give way to rice fields, river gorges and family compounds with their own temples. It has no beach, so most visitors pair a few nights here with a stay on the coast. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- DPS
- Mid-range daily budget
- $80–$170 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Rice terraces, Balinese dance, Sacred Monkey Forest and Yoga retreats
Why visit Ubud
- Evening Legong, Barong and Kecak performances are staged almost nightly at Ubud Palace, Pura Dalem Ubud and village temples nearby.
- Rice-field walks start from the town itself: the Campuhan Ridge, the Subak Sok Wayah path off Jalan Kajeng and the terraces at Tegallalang 10 km north.
- The Neka, ARMA and Puri Lukisan museums trace Balinese painting from wayang-style works to the Pita Maha artists of the 1930s.
- Water temples and ancient sites — Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi and Tirta Empul — are all within about 30 minutes by car.
- Warung lunches of nasi campur, cooking classes with market visits and plant-based cafés make it one of the easiest places in Asia to eat well on any budget.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Nature · Padangtegal
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
About 12 hectares of rainforest at the bottom of Monkey Forest Road hold several hundred long-tailed macaques, mossy stone statues, a ravine with giant banyan roots and three temples including Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Tegallalang
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Terraced paddies carved down both sides of a valley about 10 km north of Ubud, irrigated by the traditional subak system.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Nature
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Palace · Central Ubud
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
The palace of Ubud's royal family stands at the main crossroads, with carved stone gates and pavilions in its outer courtyards that visitors can walk into by day.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes; 1.5 hours with a show
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Architecture
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Religious site · Tampaksiring
Tirta Empul
A water temple about 15 km north of Ubud founded around a holy spring, where Balinese Hindus queue in the bathing pools to purify themselves under a row of carved spouts.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Photo spot
Experience · Central Ubud
Kecak and Legong performances
Each evening several venues stage traditional dance: Legong and Barong with gamelan orchestras at the palace, and the Kecak fire dance, performed by a circle of chanting men, at Pura Dalem Ubud on Jalan Raya Ubud and in nearby villages.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- After dark
- History
- Kids
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Religious site · Central Ubud
Pura Taman Saraswati
A temple dedicated to Saraswati, goddess of learning and the arts, set behind a walkway across a pond filled with lotus flowers.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Architecture
Where to stay
Central Ubud is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, budget and solo travellers
Central Ubud
Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal
Shops, spas and cafés running down to the Monkey Forest
$$ · Best for solo travellers, food lovers, budget and quiet stays
Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan
Yoga studios, health cafés and the ARMA museum south-east of the centre
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and solo travellers
Penestanan
Hilltop village of painters, rice fields and villas reached by a long stairway
What to eat
- Babi guling — Spit-roasted suckling pig stuffed with base genep spice paste, served with crackling, lawar, blood sausage and rice.
- Crispy duck — Duck steamed in spices and then deep-fried until the skin shatters, served with sambal matah and rice.
- Bebek betutu — Whole duck or chicken rubbed with spice paste, wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked for hours until it falls off the bone.
- Nasi campur Bali — A plate of rice surrounded by small portions — shredded chicken, sate lilit, tempeh, long beans, egg and sambal — chosen from a counter.
- Sate lilit — Minced fish, chicken or pork mixed with grated coconut and spices, wrapped around lemongrass stalks or bamboo sticks and grilled.
- Lawar — A chopped mix of long beans, young jackfruit or green papaya with grated coconut, spices and often minced meat.
When to go
The best time to visit Ubud is April to June and September, when the weather is mostly dry, the rice fields are green and crowds are lighter than in July and August. The wet season from November to March brings heavy afternoon rain, but mornings are often clear and prices drop outside Christmas and New Year.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Early dry season | April–June | Showers fade, the countryside stays green and walking weather is comfortable; good value before the summer peak. |
| Peak dry season | July–August | The driest, coolest and busiest months, with high villa prices and heavy traffic at Tegallalang, the Monkey Forest and Tirta Empul. |
| Late dry season | September–October | Fewer visitors and settled weather in September; October turns hot and humid and hosts the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. |
| Wet season | November–March | Daily downpours, usually in the afternoon, high humidity and powerful waterfalls; quiet and low-priced except over Christmas and New Year. |
Getting there and around
Bali's airport (DPS) is about 35 km south of Ubud; the drive takes roughly 1–1.5 hours and can be longer in evening traffic. Most visitors book a hotel transfer or a fixed-price taxi from the official counter in arrivals; app-based rides can be booked from the airport's designated pick-up zones.
Central Ubud is walkable, but pavements are narrow, broken and interrupted by drains, and there is no public transport to speak of. Most visitors walk in town and hire a driver or scooter for temples, terraces and waterfalls outside it.
Plan your days
Two full days covers the Monkey Forest, the palace, a dance performance, the Campuhan Ridge and Tegallalang. Four days adds a temple circuit to Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi, a cooking class and the Mount Batur sunrise trek; a week suits yoga or a slower village stay in Sidemen.
Practical information
- Currency
- IDR
- Language
- Indonesian and Balinese
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is not drinkable; use bottled or filtered water, and refill stations are common in Ubud's cafés and guesthouses.
- Emergency number
- 112 (general emergency); police 110, ambulance 118
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in warungs, but leaving small change is appreciated.
The main risks are traffic and scooter accidents, broken pavements and monkey bites at the Monkey Forest and nearby temples; seek medical advice promptly after any bite or scratch. Petty theft and money-changer short-changing occur, so count cash at the counter.
Flights to Ubud
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Ubud?
Two full days covers the Monkey Forest, the palace, a dance performance, the Campuhan Ridge and Tegallalang. Four days adds a temple circuit to Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi, a cooking class and the Mount Batur sunrise trek; a week suits yoga or a slower village stay in Sidemen. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Ubud?
The best time to visit Ubud is April to June and September, when the weather is mostly dry, the rice fields are green and crowds are lighter than in July and August. The wet season from November to March brings heavy afternoon rain, but mornings are often clear and prices drop outside Christmas and New Year.
+What is Ubud known for?
Rice terraces, Balinese dance, Sacred Monkey Forest, Yoga retreats, Art museums, Cooking classes and Jungle villas. Evening Legong, Barong and Kecak performances are staged almost nightly at Ubud Palace, Pura Dalem Ubud and village temples nearby.
+Is Ubud expensive?
Ubud is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $80–$170 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Ubud?
Not for the town itself, which is walkable. A car with driver for a day or two is the easiest way to reach Tegallalang, Tirta Empul, Mount Batur and the waterfalls; self-driving is not recommended for visitors unfamiliar with Bali's roads.