In a nutshell
- Ubud should absolutely be on your Bali itinerary. The city is the perfect base for exploring the best of Bali — temples and jungle, waterfalls, lush rice terraces, and volcanoes.
- The city itself has a monkey forest, markets, and walks through nature. Plan on 1–2 days for the highlights in town, plus 3 additional days for day trips from Ubud.
- We recommend staying at a hotel outside the city center — that way you won’t have to fight through traffic every time you head out on a day trip. For the sights in town, a taxi works fine. Our top pick is The Studios Ubud.
Ubud Sights on a Map
Ubud is located in the center of the island. The city isn’t very large, but it’s well known as a cultural hub. You can think of it a little like Weimar — just with a lot more traffic. The city has some beautiful sights and even rice fields as well as a small jungle. You’ll find the must-sees mainly in the center of Ubud.
Because of its location, Ubud is also a great base for day trips. We’ll show you the day-trip destinations too, of course, and explain how to get there from your hotel in Ubud. For most of them, you’ll need to head north from Ubud. There are also a few to the east.
Monkey Forest
What you need to know: The Monkey Forest is a dense jungle with ancient temples, beautiful paths, and — of course — monkeys. Over 600 roam freely here! Admission costs 80,000 IDR (about $5). You can buy bananas for the monkeys at the entrance.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. It’s seriously rare to see over 600 monkeys roaming free in a forest, even though the animals live almost everywhere on Bali. The Monkey Forest is also a great pick for a family vacation with kids.
Our tip: The Monkey Forest is the most famous of all the things to do in Ubud, so it gets crowded fast. Your best bet is to come early in the morning — it’ll be much more relaxed. Or, if you don’t mind a longer drive, check out the Sangeh Monkey Forest instead. It’s a bit smaller but far less touristy.
Book a ticket to the Monkey Forest with a guided tour
Sweet Orange Walk
What you need to know: Would you have guessed that there are rice fields right in the middle of Ubud? Neither did we — until we ducked through a narrow alley (to Google Maps) away from the busy main road and suddenly found ourselves surrounded by greenery. A roughly 20-minute path winds through the rice fields. It’s beautifully laid out, with palm trees lining the way.
Is it worth it? Definitely. The walk is a lovely break from the busy city and still a bit of a lesser-known gem on Bali.
Our tip: Look down at the ground too. There are sweet messages written into the concrete. If you’re lucky, you might even get to write on a concrete slab during your visit.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
What you need to know: Here’s a second hiking trail for you. The Campuhan Ridge Walk doesn’t go through rice fields — instead, it passes through a small stretch of jungle within Ubud itself, then follows a ridgeline.
Is it worth it? The ridge section is genuinely cool. But the beginning drags on a bit. That’s why we prefer the Sweet Orange Walk. Also worth knowing: the Campuhan Ridge Walk isn’t a loop.
Our tip: Going from south to north, the climb is more strenuous than the other direction. If you start from the south, make sure it’s not too hot out.
Ubud Market
What you need to know: The Ubud Market is impossible to miss. It’s enormous, spanning two market halls and several alleyways. At the stalls you’ll find all kinds of trinkets and souvenirs.
Is it worth it? If you’re after a souvenir, the market is worth a visit. Otherwise, the vendors can be pretty pushy, it gets crowded, and a lot of the stalls sell the exact same stuff.
Our tip: Check out the Sayan Night Market instead. There are fewer souvenirs, but the food is absolutely delicious. It’s also much smaller and way more authentic.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Getting there from Ubud: half an hour’s drive — best by scooter, taxi, or on a tour
What you need to know: A visit to one of Bali’s rice terraces should definitely be part of your time in Ubud. The Tegallalang Rice Terraces aren’t far away and are stunningly laid out. There are seating areas and other little things to discover. That said, plenty of touristy attractions have been added over the years, like giant swings. Admission costs 50,000 IDR (about $3).
Is it worth it? Yes, especially in the morning and late morning — crowds are thinner then.
Our tip: There are two sections. The first (entrance on Google Maps) is better for photos. The second (to Google Maps) is better if you want to walk through the rice terraces for longer. It’s also quieter, since most people stop at the first section. You can explore on your own or join a tour.
Book a tour to the Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Getting there from Ubud: 1.25 hours’ drive — best by scooter or taxi
What you need to know: The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are vast, but flatter than the Tegallalang ones. The area is crisscrossed by hiking trails of varying lengths. Admission costs 50,000 IDR ($3).
Is it worth it? Absolutely. The crowds spread out much more nicely here than at Tegallalang. Plus, the trails are seriously longer — so you get a real sense of being out in nature.
Our tip: Take the yellow or blue trail. They run between one and two hours, which means you’ll leave behind the tourists who only walk one of the short trails to snap a few photos.
Mount Batur
Getting there from Ubud: 1.25 hours’ drive — best by taxi or on a tour
What you need to know: On Bali, you can watch the sunrise from an active volcano. The view from the summit is one of the most beautiful on the island. You’re only allowed to climb it with a guided tour, which you can easily book from Ubud. No need to worry about an eruption — early warning systems are in place.
Is it worth it? The sunrise tour on Mount Batur is one of the best activities on Bali as far as we’re concerned. That said, there were a lot of other people up there with us, and clouds often roll in right at sunrise. We still loved every minute of it, though.
Our tip: If you want fewer people around, book a sunset hike up Mount Batur. The summit is a lot less crowded at sunset than at sunrise.
Book a sunrise tour up Mount Batur
Here you'll find all our tips for the Mount Batur hike:
Nung Nung Waterfall
Getting there from Ubud: 1 hour’s drive — best by scooter or taxi
What you need to know: The Nung Nung Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls on Bali and one of our standout must-sees on Bali. Massive amounts of water plunge from a height of 70 meters (230 feet). You can swim in the pool at the base — just don’t swim directly under the waterfall, as that can be dangerous. Admission costs 20,000 IDR (about $1).
Is it worth it? The hike to the waterfall — and especially the hike back — is very strenuous. It’s about 500 tall steps down and then back up. But the waterfall is absolutely worth every one of them.
Our tip: Bring a change of clothes if you want to do a photo session. The water sprays everywhere. Even 20 meters (65 feet) away from the waterfall, you’ll get completely soaked.
Pura Tirta Empul Temple
Getting there from Ubud: half an hour’s drive — best by scooter or taxi
What you need to know: Pura Tirta Empul is a Hindu temple. What makes it special are the bathing pools, where you can purify yourself with holy water — tourists are welcome to take part. Entry to the temple costs 50,000 IDR (about $3). The purification ceremony costs an additional 35,000 IDR (about $2).
Is it worth it? Honestly, we found the temple complex way too crowded and touristy. The wait for the purification in the pools was so long that we ended up skipping it. And the exit is lined with a ton of small vendors.
Our tip: If you want to do the purification, come very early. Also consider hiring a guide to walk you through the individual steps.
Book a guide for Pura Tirta Empul
Goa Rang Reng Waterfall
Getting there from Ubud: half an hour’s drive — best by scooter or taxi
What you need to know: For more peace and quiet than at Pura Tirta Empul, head to the Goa Rang Reng Waterfall. The waterfall itself isn’t all that spectacular, but there’s a secret tour through a canyon to hidden waterfalls. When we were in the canyon, we had it completely to ourselves. You can only do the tour with one of the guides stationed at the entrance.
Is it worth it? Definitely. We did the tour and it was one of our absolute favorite experiences near Ubud — it’s still so wonderfully off the beaten path.
Our tip: Come in the morning. There are only a limited number of spots for the secret tour. Plus, the light falls more beautifully into the canyon earlier in the day.
Gembleng Waterfall
Getting there from Ubud: 1 hour’s drive — best by scooter or taxi
What you need to know: One of the most beautiful waterfalls near Ubud is the Gembleng Waterfall. It cascades over multiple tiers and has several natural pools. You hike up alongside the waterfall, with chances to dip into the pools along the way. From them, you get a stunning view of the jungle.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. The Gembleng Waterfall is unlike anything else you’ll find on Bali.
Our tip: If it’s too crowded when you reach the section with all the pools, keep hiking upward. Past the Warung Gembleng (an Indonesian restaurant) there’s another pool. It’s usually empty up there because most people stay lower down.
Frequently Asked Questions about Things to Do in Ubud
How many days do you need in Ubud?
For the attractions in Ubud itself, 1–2 days is plenty.
Ubud is also a great base for day trips into nature. For those, you should plan on at least 3 additional days.
How do you get around in Ubud?
In the center, you can get around easily on foot. Only the Monkey Forest is a bit further out. If you’d rather not walk the 20 minutes, a taxi will get you there for just a few dollars.
For the sights around Ubud, your best bet is to rent a scooter — that way you can go at your own pace.
If you’re not comfortable riding a scooter, you can also hire a private driver.
Is Ubud overcrowded?
Ubud is by now pretty busy — you’ll notice this especially on the main roads.
But there are places where it’s totally peaceful. The Sweet Orange Walk is a perfect example.
When is the market in Ubud open?
The Ubud Market is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.
There are also night markets in the area. The Sayan Night Market, for example, is open from 6 PM to 11 PM.
