Getting around · Ubud · Indonesia
Getting around Ubud
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
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. Not for the town itself, which is walkable.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- DPS
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
The palace, market, Monkey Forest, Jalan Hanoman and the Campuhan Ridge are all within about 20–30 minutes on foot of each other, and rice-field paths lead out of town in several directions.
Watch the pavement: open drains and missing slabs are common, especially after dark.
Car
A private car with driver, hired by the day, is the usual way to see the temples and terraces around Ubud. Guesthouses and hotels can arrange one, and drivers often double as guides.
Agree the route and the number of hours before you set off.
Scooter
Scooters are widely rented by the day and are the quickest way through traffic, but roads are narrow and busy and accidents involving visitors are common.
Ride only if you are experienced and licensed for motorcycles, and always wear a helmet.
Ride-hailing
Grab and Gojek work around Ubud, but local driver groups discourage app pick-ups in parts of the centre, so you may need to walk to a main road or use a local taxi stand.
Cycling
Downhill cycling tours start near Kintamani and freewheel through villages and rice fields back towards Ubud, usually with breakfast and a transfer included.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Batur sunrise trek | About 1 hour by car, plus a 2-hour climb | Organised trek with early-morning hotel pick-up |
| Besakih Temple | About 1.5 hours by car | Private driver |
| Sidemen valley | About 1–1.5 hours by car | Private driver |
| Jatiluwih rice terraces | About 1.5–2 hours by car | Private driver |
| Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | About 1.5 hours by car | Private driver |
| Sanur | About 45 minutes–1 hour by car | Private driver or app taxi |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Ubud?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Ubud?
Walking: The palace, market, Monkey Forest, Jalan Hanoman and the Campuhan Ridge are all within about 20–30 minutes on foot of each other, and rice-field paths lead out of town in several directions.