Ubud is Bali's cultural and spiritual heart — a town of rice terraces, temples, art villages and jungle, set inland among the hills. It's where you come for the other side of Bali: greener, calmer and richer in culture than the beach south. This complete guide covers everything worth doing, grouped so you can build the perfect Ubud days around your interests.
The rice fields are Ubud's signature. Two spots stand out:
~20 min north of central Ubud · small entrance donation
The famous tiered terraces, complete with the "Bali swings" and photo platforms. Go early (before 9am) to beat the tour buses and the heat, and walk down into the valley for the best views away from the crowds.
Central Ubud · free
A free, easy 2 km ridge path through open grassland and hills — best at sunrise or late afternoon. The perfect low-effort way to swap the town for greenery.
For a different angle, book a morning e-bike or cycling tour through the rice fields and villages, or a sunrise trek up nearby Mount Batur (see day trips below).
Ubud is dense with temples and living culture:
In the evening, catch a traditional dance performance (Legong, Barong or Kecak) at Ubud Palace or Saraswati Temple — one of the most atmospheric things to do in town.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary sits at the end of Monkey Forest Road, a short walk from the centre. It's a lush temple complex home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques. It's genuinely atmospheric — mossy statues, banyan roots and forest — but keep a firm grip on bags, sunglasses and phones: the monkeys are bold and will grab loose items. Don't bring food in, and don't feed them.
The area around Ubud has some of Bali's best waterfalls, most within an hour's drive:
Wear proper shoes — the paths down are steep and slippery — and go early to have them to yourself.
Ubud is Bali's wellness capital. Even if you're not a "yoga person," it's a lovely place to try:
The Ubud Art Market in the centre is the spot for sarongs, baskets, art and souvenirs — haggle politely and expect to pay roughly half the first price. The surrounding craft villages each have a specialty: Celuk for silver and gold, Mas for woodcarving, and Tegallalang/Batubulan for stone and art. For serious art, visit the ARMA and Puri Lukisan museums.
Planning your route through Bali?
Build it in the trip planner →Ubud is a great base for day trips into the interior and east:
| Day trip | Why go |
|---|---|
| Mount Batur sunrise trek | Hike an active volcano for sunrise above the clouds — start around 2–3am. |
| Kintamani & Lake Batur | Caldera views and coffee plantations, easily paired with Tirta Empul. |
| Tegallalang + waterfalls loop | Rice terraces and two or three waterfalls in one driver-led day. |
| Sidemen valley | Quieter rice-terrace scenery and villages east of Ubud. |
| East coast & Nusa Penida | Longer, but doable — see our Nusa Penida day trip. |
Ubud is about 1.5–2 hours from the airport and the south by car. There's no public transport, so:
Where to stay: central Ubud is best for walking to the market, restaurants and the Monkey Forest; the surrounding rice-field areas (Penestanan, Sayan, Tegallalang) are quieter and more scenic, with jungle villas and infinity pools. Compare places to stay in Ubud, and see our full Ubud destination guide for the area in depth.
Where to eat: Ubud has a superb food scene, from warungs serving nasi campur for a couple of euros to healthy cafés and fine dining. Don't miss trying babi guling (suckling pig) and a proper Balinese coffee.