Where to stay · Ubud · Indonesia
Where to stay in Ubud
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Central Ubud. Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road. Best alternatives — families: Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal.
Key facts
- First visit
- Central Ubud
- Families
- Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal
- Budget
- Central Ubud
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Central Ubud | Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road |
| Families | Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal | Shops, spas and cafés running down to the Monkey Forest |
| Couples | Penestanan | Hilltop village of painters, rice fields and villas reached by a long stairway |
| Budget | Central Ubud | Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road |
| Luxury | Campuhan and Sanggingan | River confluence, the ridge walk and fine-dining restaurants on the road west |
| Food lovers | Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan | Yoga studios, health cafés and the ARMA museum south-east of the centre |
| Solo travellers | Central Ubud | Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road |
| Shopping | Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal | Shops, spas and cafés running down to the Monkey Forest |
| Quiet stays | Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan | Yoga studios, health cafés and the ARMA museum south-east of the centre |
Ubud neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, budget and solo travellers
Central Ubud
The streets around Ubud Palace, Ubud Market and Pura Taman Saraswati hold most of the restaurants, dance venues and guesthouses. Side lanes such as Jalan Kajeng, Jalan Goutama and Jalan Bisma are quieter, with family-run homestays set inside traditional compounds. Everything in town is walkable from here, including the Monkey Forest about 15 minutes south.
- Good
- Walk to dance shows and restaurants; Wide choice of homestays; Rice-field walks start a few minutes away
- Watch out
- Heavy traffic on Jalan Raya Ubud; Narrow, uneven pavements
- Nearby
- Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market, Pura Taman Saraswati, Museum Puri Lukisan
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal
Jalan Monkey Forest links the market to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and is lined with boutiques, spas, cafés and mid-range hotels. Padangtegal village, which manages the forest, sits around its southern end along Jalan Dewi Sita and Jalan Hanoman. It is convenient and lively by Ubud standards, though rooms facing the road can be noisy.
- Good
- Central and flat; Plenty of spas and cafés; Easy walk to the Monkey Forest
- Watch out
- The most commercial strip in Ubud; Monkeys roam into nearby guesthouses
- Nearby
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Football Field, Ubud Art Market
$$ · Best for solo travellers, food lovers, budget and quiet stays
Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan
Jalan Hanoman runs parallel to Monkey Forest Road with a denser mix of cafés, juice bars and small shops, and leads south to Pengosekan, home of the Yoga Barn and the Agung Rai Museum of Art. This is where many long-stay visitors and yoga students base themselves, with good-value guesthouses on the lanes behind the main road.
- Good
- Excellent cafés and vegetarian food; Yoga classes on the doorstep; Calmer than Monkey Forest Road
- Watch out
- Twenty minutes' walk from the palace; Busy road with no continuous footpath in parts
- Nearby
- The Yoga Barn, ARMA Museum, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and solo travellers
Penestanan
West of the Campuhan bridge, Penestanan sits on a ridge above the Wos river and is known for the Young Artists painting movement of the 1960s. Many lanes are footpaths through paddy fields, so it is quiet and largely free of traffic, with villas, yoga studios and small cafés. The steep staircase from Jalan Raya Campuhan is the quickest way in on foot.
- Good
- Rice-field views from many rooms; Little traffic noise; Long-stay villa rentals
- Watch out
- Steep stairs or scooter needed; Few evening options
- Nearby
- Campuhan Ridge Walk, Blanco Renaissance Museum, Sayan
$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and culture
Campuhan and Sanggingan
Campuhan means the meeting of two rivers, and the area around the bridge holds Pura Gunung Lebah, the start of the Campuhan Ridge Walk and the Blanco Renaissance Museum. Further up Jalan Raya Sanggingan are the Neka Art Museum and several of Ubud's more upscale restaurants and boutique hotels overlooking the gorge.
- Good
- Gorge views; Walk to the ridge at sunrise; Upscale dining close by
- Watch out
- Road walking into town; Uphill on the way back
- Nearby
- Campuhan Ridge Walk, Neka Art Museum, Blanco Renaissance Museum, Pura Gunung Lebah
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Sayan and Kedewatan
The villages of Sayan and Kedewatan sit on the rim of the Ayung river valley, where several of Bali's best-known luxury resorts have villas stepping down to the water. It is the area for infinity-pool views over jungle and river rafting from the doorstep, with most guests relying on hotel shuttles to reach the centre.
- Good
- Spectacular river-gorge views; Very quiet nights; High-end spas
- Watch out
- Expensive; Need a shuttle or driver to reach town
- Nearby
- Ayung River, Penestanan, Campuhan Ridge Walk
$ · Best for culture, budget and quiet stays
Peliatan
Peliatan is one of the villages that made Balinese dance known abroad, and its puri still hosts gamelan and Legong performances. It is residential, close to the ARMA museum and on the road towards Goa Gajah, with guesthouses that are generally better value than in central Ubud.
- Good
- Local village feel; Lower room prices; Close to eastern temples
- Watch out
- Walk or ride into the centre; Few restaurants after dark
- Nearby
- ARMA Museum, Goa Gajah, Nyuh Kuning
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and couples
Nyuh Kuning
Nyuh Kuning is reached through the southern exit of the Monkey Forest or along Jalan Raya Nyuh Kuning, and it keeps a strong village identity with carving workshops, a football field and strict local rules on building. It suits families and travellers who want calm nights while staying within walking distance of town.
- Good
- Very quiet and green; Walk to town via the Monkey Forest road; Good villa options for families
- Watch out
- Limited dining; Dark roads at night
- Nearby
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Pengosekan, Peliatan
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Central Ubud | $$ | Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market, Pura Taman Saraswati, Museum Puri Lukisan |
| Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal | $$ | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Football Field, Ubud Art Market |
| Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan | $$ | The Yoga Barn, ARMA Museum, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary |
| Penestanan | $$ | Campuhan Ridge Walk, Blanco Renaissance Museum, Sayan |
| Campuhan and Sanggingan | $$$ | Campuhan Ridge Walk, Neka Art Museum, Blanco Renaissance Museum, Pura Gunung Lebah |
| Sayan and Kedewatan | $$$$ | Ayung River, Penestanan, Campuhan Ridge Walk |
| Peliatan | $ | ARMA Museum, Goa Gajah, Nyuh Kuning |
| Nyuh Kuning | $$ | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Pengosekan, Peliatan |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Ubud for first-time visitors?
Central Ubud. The streets around Ubud Palace, Ubud Market and Pura Taman Saraswati hold most of the restaurants, dance venues and guesthouses.
+Where should families stay in Ubud?
Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal: Central and flat.
+Which area of Ubud is best for a budget stay?
Central Ubud ($$): Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road.