History · Ubud · Indonesia
8 historic sites to see in Ubud
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung), Tirta Empul and Kecak and Legong performances. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 10–12 hours across 5 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 10–12 hours
- Areas
- Central Ubud, Tampaksiring and Bedulu
Historic sites in Ubud
Palace · Central Ubud
1.Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
After dark the courtyard becomes a stage for Legong and Barong performances with live gamelan, one of the most atmospheric settings for dance on the island.
- 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
2.Tirta Empul
Visitors may join the ritual in a sarong, following the order of the spouts as directed by staff. The presidential palace built under Sukarno overlooks the temple.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Photo spot
Experience · Central Ubud
3.Kecak and Legong performances
A programme board at the tourist office on Jalan Raya lists who is performing where.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- After dark
- History
- Kids
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Historic site · Bedulu
4.Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
Below it are ancient bathing pools with water-spouting figures, and a path leads down to Buddhist relics by a stream in the jungle.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Nature
- Photo spot
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Historic site · Tampaksiring
5.Gunung Kawi
Reaching them means about 300 steps down through rice terraces, which makes it quieter than Tirta Empul a few kilometres away.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
Museum · Sanggingan
6.Neka Art Museum
A separate pavilion holds a fine collection of kris daggers.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Pengosekan
7.ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art)
It also runs classes in dance, offering-making and gamelan, and stages performances in its open-air pavilion.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
- Kids
Museum · Central Ubud
8.Museum Puri Lukisan
It focuses on modern traditional Balinese painting and woodcarving from the 1930s onwards, displayed in pavilions around a lotus garden.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Central Ubud | Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung), Kecak and Legong performances and Museum Puri Lukisan | 30 minutes; 1.5 hours with a show + 1.5 hours + 1 hour |
| Tampaksiring | Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi | 1–1.5 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
| Bedulu | Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) | 1 hour |
| Sanggingan | Neka Art Museum | 1.5–2 hours |
| Pengosekan | ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art) | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 7 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Neka Art Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Central Ubud): Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) → Kecak and Legong performances → Museum Puri Lukisan, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Tampaksiring and Bedulu): Tirta Empul → Gunung Kawi → Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Sanggingan and Pengosekan): Neka Art Museum → ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art), at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- November: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds. The rainy season starts, usually as afternoon downpours with sunny mornings; rooms are good value.
- March: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 16 rainy days, quiet crowds. Rain begins to ease late in the month.
- February: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 18 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still wet and humid, but one of the quietest months, with lower villa prices and waterfalls in full flow.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Central Ubud — Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road
- Campuhan and Sanggingan — River confluence, the ridge walk and fine-dining restaurants on the road west
More of Ubud
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in 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.
+Which of these are free in Ubud?
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung).