Ubud, Indonesia: travel guide
Cultural Heart of Bali — an artistic village of rice terraces, temple complexes, traditional crafts, and spiritual retreats.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Currency
- IDR
- Time zone
- Asia/Makassar
- Nearest airport
- DPS
Top places to visit in Ubud
Tegenungan Waterfall
Waterfall · about 1 h · entry IDR 20,000
Popular waterfall near Kemenuh village south of Ubud, accessible via a stepped path down a river gorge.
Blanco Renaissance Museum
Museum · about 0.8 h · entry IDR 100,000
Museum and former home of painter Antonio Blanco, showcasing his erotic-themed and illustrative artwork above the Campuhan ridge.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry IDR 15,000
Bali's most iconic landscape — emerald-green rice terraces cascading down a deep river gorge using the ancient subak irrigation system (UNESCO Intangible Heritage). The best vantage points are from the roadside cafés at the rim. Sunrise…
Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Wildlife · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry IDR 80,000
A 12-hectare ancient forest in the heart of Ubud hosting three sacred temples and 1,260+ Balinese long-tailed macaques. The forest is a living spiritual and natural reserve — visitors walk jungle paths past moss-draped stone carvings while…
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
A 2.5 km trail along the ridge between the Oos and Wos rivers, offering unobstructed views across Ubud's forested gorges. The grassy path runs past sacred Pura Gunung Lebah at the start, through organic farming plots, and into Bangkiang…
Ubud Art Market (Pasar Seni Ubud)
Market · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h
A bustling traditional market directly opposite the Ubud Palace selling hand-woven sarongs, silver jewellery, woodcarvings, batik textiles, and Balinese handicrafts. The ground floor is touristy; the upper floor is frequented by locals for…
Pura Tirta Empul
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry IDR 50,000
One of Bali's holiest water temples, built around natural spring pools fed by the legendary Tirta Empul spring. Pilgrims wade through a series of purification bathing pools (petirtaan), moving from fountain to fountain in ritual cleansing.…
Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h
The ancestral home of the Ubud royal family, built in the mid-19th century in the ornate Balinese palace style. The inner courtyards and carved gates are open to visitors by day; at night the outer pavilions host nightly Kecak fire dance…
Pura Taman Saraswati
Temple · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · entry IDR 10,000
Ubud's most photographed lotus-pool temple, designed by the renowned Balinese artist I Gusti Nyoman Lempad in the 1950s. Dedicated to Saraswati (goddess of learning and arts), the temple is set in a lotus pond that fills the forecourt —…
Pura Gunung Kawi
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry IDR 50,000
An extraordinary 11th-century royal shrine carved directly into a cliff face above the Pakrisan River gorge, commissioned by King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty (r. 1049–1077). Ten two-metre-high candi (memorial shrines) are cut from…
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
Temple · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · entry IDR 50,000
A 9th-century meditation cave and bathing site at Bedulu village near Ubud. The cave entrance is carved in the form of a gaping demonic face (the "elephant" was a later European misidentification of the demon). Inside are stone niches used…
ARMA Museum (Agung Rai Museum of Art)
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry IDR 80,000
The Agung Rai Museum of Art occupies a lush 4-hectare compound in Pengosekan, Ubud. Founded in 1996, it focuses on modern and traditional Balinese art alongside works by expatriate artists who shaped Ubud's art scene — including the only…
Things to do
- Mount Batur Sunrise Trek Nature · 6 h · from USD 45 per person
- Ubud Traditional Cooking Class with Market Visit Culinary · 4.5 h · from IDR 400,000 per person
- Ubud Royal Palace Kecak Performance & Temple Walk Cultural · 1.5 h · from IDR 100,000 per person
- Campuhan Ridge Walk & Artist Village Tour Outdoor · 2.5 h · from IDR 50,000 per person
- Tegallalang UNESCO Rice Terrace Sunrise Tour Outdoor · 2 h · from IDR 200,000 per person
- Ayung River White Water Rafting Outdoor · 3 h · from USD 45 per person
- Ubud to Kintamani Downhill Cycling Tour Outdoor · 5 h · from USD 35 per person
Where to stay in Ubud
- Art Village about IDR 2,000 per night
Cultural heart with galleries and workshops
Hotels
- Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve 5-star · IDR 5,500,000 to IDR 16,000,000 per night
- Komaneka at Tjampuhan 5-star · IDR 3,500,000 to IDR 12,000,000 per night
- Capella Ubud 5-star · IDR 7,000,000 to IDR 20,000,000 per night
- Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan 5-star · IDR 6,500,000 to IDR 18,000,000 per night
- Komaneka at Bisma 5-star · IDR 3,200,000 to IDR 9,500,000 per night
- Bisma Eight 5-star · IDR 2,200,000 to IDR 7,000,000 per night
Where to eat
- Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka 3 Balinese, Indonesian · about IDR 55,000 per person
- Locavore Modern Indonesian, Fine Dining · about IDR 850,000 per person
- Naughty Nuri's Warung Ubud Indonesian, BBQ · about 150,000 per person
- Kafe Batan Waru Indonesian, International · about 85,000 per person
- Sari Organik Organic, Vegetarian, Indonesian · about IDR 95,000 per person
- Bridges Restaurant Ubud Indonesian, Mediterranean, Asian Fusion · about 350,000 per person
- Mozaic Restaurant French, Modern European, Balinese · about IDR 750,000 per person
- Hujan Locale Indonesian, Regional Indonesian · about 280,000 per person
Getting around
- Scooter Rental main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Scooter rental damage claim
Ubud Art Market fake-antique sellers · Campuhan Ridge rental shops · bogus temple-donation requests at village entry points
Pre-existing damage is invoiced when you return the scooter — often Rp 2–5M.
How to avoid it: Video the scooter on pickup. Rent only via your hotel.