Travel tips · Ubud · Indonesia
Ubud travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Ubud is a working Hindu community where every family compound has a shrine and every day brings offerings of flowers, rice and incense on doorsteps, shop counters and even scooters. Temple ceremonies, processions and cremations are frequent and can close roads; visitors are welcome to watch respectfully. The banjar, or village council, still organises much of daily life, including the dance troupes and the Monkey Forest.
Key facts
- Language
- Indonesian and Balinese
- Currency
- IDR
- 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…
- Emergency
- 112 (general emergency); police 110, ambulance 118
Things to know
- Wear a sarong and sash to enter any temple; most temples lend or rent them at the gate.
- Do not step on canang sari offerings on the pavement; walk around them.
- Women who are menstruating are traditionally asked not to enter temples, and signs at many gates say so.
- Use your right hand to give or receive things, and avoid pointing with your index finger; use your thumb instead.
- Never sit higher than a priest or climb on shrines and temple walls for photos.
- If a procession passes, step aside and do not walk through it.
- Book Balinese cooking class ahead: Reserve a day or two ahead in July, August and December, when classes fill.
- Eat lunch at warungs, where a full plate costs a fraction of café prices on Monkey Forest Road.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in warungs, but leaving small change is appreciated. Restaurants often add a service charge; drivers, guides and spa therapists appreciate about Rp 20,000–50,000 for good service.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Om swastiastu | Balinese Hindu greeting |
| Suksma | Thank you (Balinese) |
| Terima kasih | Thank you (Indonesian) |
| Berapa harganya? | How much is it? |
| Tidak pedas | Not spicy |
| Permisi | Excuse me |
What to wear
Light, loose clothing works in the heat, but cover shoulders and knees at temples and in villages; a sarong in your daypack covers you for any temple visit.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking 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
- Phone and internet
- Wi-Fi is fast and free in most guesthouses and cafés; local SIM cards and eSIMs are widely sold at the airport and in town.
- Time zone
- Asia/Makassar
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Indonesia's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Ubud?
Tipping is not expected in warungs, but leaving small change is appreciated. Restaurants often add a service charge; drivers, guides and spa therapists appreciate about Rp 20,000–50,000 for good service.
+Can you drink the tap water in Ubud?
Tap water is not drinkable; use bottled or filtered water, and refill stations are common in Ubud's cafés and guesthouses.
+What plugs are used in Ubud?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Ubud?
Indonesian and Balinese.