Ubud travel guide: temples, rice terraces, art and food

Ubud sits in the green hills of Gianyar, about 1 to 1.5 hours' drive from Kuta and the airport depending on traffic. For over a century it has attracted painters, dancers, writers and yoga teachers, and today it is the place most visitors go to experience Balinese culture.

In Ubud town

• Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) — the home of the royal family, with evening dance performances in its courtyard.
• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana) — a forest of giant trees, mossy temples and around a thousand long-tailed macaques. Keep food out of sight, don't touch the monkeys, and hold on to sunglasses.
• Ubud Market — crafts, sarongs and souvenirs; bargaining is expected, politely.
• Campuhan Ridge Walk — a free, easy ridge walk through grass and palm trees, best at sunrise or late afternoon.
• Museums — Museum Puri Lukisan, ARMA and the Neka Art Museum show the evolution of Balinese painting.
• Saraswati Temple — a lotus pond in front of a temple to the goddess of knowledge, right in the centre.

Around Ubud

• Tegallalang rice terraces — 20 minutes north, with swings and cafés overlooking the valley.
• Tirta Empul — the holy spring temple in Tampaksiring where Balinese families purify themselves in carved pools. Visitors may join respectfully, wearing a sarong.
• Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) — an ancient meditation cave with a carved demon-mouth entrance.
• Art villages on the road from the south: Batubulan (stone carving and Barong dance), Celuk (silver), Mas (wood carving) and Batuan (painting).
• Waterfalls — Tegenungan, Tibumana and Kanto Lampo are popular; go early.
• Ayung River rafting — gentle class II–III rapids through a jungle gorge, see our rafting trip.

Our Kintamani, Tirta Empul & Ubud tour combines the volcano view, the holy spring and Tegallalang in one day; the Barong, Celuk & Ubud tour focuses on dance and crafts.

Food to try

Ubud is known for babi guling (spit-roast suckling pig), bebek betutu (slow-cooked spiced duck), nasi campur at local warung, and an enormous range of vegetarian and vegan cafés. Cooking classes often start with a market visit.

How many days?

• Day trip from the south: possible, but long. Choose 4–5 sights maximum.
• 2–3 nights: ideal to enjoy mornings and evenings when the day-trippers have left.
• A week: for yoga, workshops, hiking and slow travel.

Getting around

Traffic in central Ubud is heavy and parking is limited. Walking is pleasant in town, but for the temples and terraces a private driver is easiest. A car with driver for 10 hours lets you set your own schedule.

Tips

• Visit popular spots before 9 am.
• Dress modestly for temples; carry a sarong.
• Mosquito repellent helps in the rainy season.
• Many places now prefer cashless payment (QRIS), but carry small notes for donations and parking.