Things to Do in Ubud

Ubud sits at around 650 metres in Bali’s central highlands, 36km north of Kuta. The altitude brings a different character: cooler temperatures, a pace that slows compared to the south coast, and the heaviest concentration of what defines Bali culturally — Hindu temples, traditional dance, rice terrace landscapes shaped by an irrigation system that has run continuously for over a thousand years, woodcarving villages, and a wellness economy built around yoga and ceremony.

Two nights minimum makes sense here. The best experiences in Ubud — the Monkey Forest before the groups arrive, the rice terraces at first light, the morning market at its most alive — all happen before 9am. The rest of the day fills easily from there. Most of what is in this guide is within 20 minutes of the town centre by scooter. For wider Bali planning including entry requirements and areas to base yourself, see Travel to Bali. For activities across the whole island, see Things to Do in Bali.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

The Mandala Suci Wenara Wana — known as the Monkey Forest — is a functioning Hindu temple complex inside 12.5 hectares of dense rainforest in the south of Ubud. Around 700 Balinese long-tailed macaques move freely through the grounds. Three ancient temples sit inside the forest, the oldest dating to the 14th century, and ceremonies are held in them regularly.

Entry costs around IDR 80,000 (~USD 5). The forest takes around an hour at a relaxed pace; the temple interiors are accessible during non-ceremony periods. Before entering, secure everything. The macaques are not tame — they will take phones, sunglasses, earrings, water bottles, and loose food without hesitation. The forest has staff with sticks to manage aggressive behaviour, but the practical fix is not giving them a reason to approach. Do not bring plastic bags. Do not make direct eye contact with teeth showing. Do not crouch down at face level without knowing where others are behind you.

Go before 9am. By mid-morning, tour groups cycle through and the paths fill. An early visit means quieter paths and macaques that are calmer and less food-focused. The forest officially opens at 9am; check current times before visiting as early entry policies change.

Ubud Palace and Traditional Dance

Puri Saren Agung — the Ubud Royal Palace — sits at the main intersection of Jalan Raya Ubud and Jalan Suweta at the centre of town. Built in the early 20th century, it remains the residence of the Ubud royal family. The outer courtyards and pavilions are open to walk through during the day at no charge.

The main reason to come in the evening is the nightly dance performances staged in the palace grounds. Legong (a refined female court dance using intricate costume and gesture), Kecak (the male percussion chorus fire dance), and Barong (the mythological battle drama) rotate on different nights of the week. Tickets cost IDR 80,000–150,000 (~USD 5–9). Performances typically begin at 7:30pm and run 45–60 minutes.

The palace performances are widely considered the most authentic in Ubud — staged in an actual temple-palace setting, not a purpose-built tourist venue, with families who have performed here for generations. Pura Taman Saraswati, the lotus temple a few hundred metres west, also runs nightly dance at a similar ticket price. Check the weekly schedule posted outside the palace; the specific dance type varies by night. July and August seats fill before the performance starts — arrive 30 minutes early or arrange tickets through your accommodation the day before.

Pura Taman Saraswati (Lotus Temple). A few hundred metres west of the palace on Jalan Raya Ubud, the Lotus Temple sits behind a pond carpeted in lotus flowers — pink blooms that are fullest in the early morning. Entry is free. The outer compound and pond are open to visitors; the main temple interior is for worshippers. A café on the east side of the pond has direct views over the water. Nightly dance performances are staged in the pavilion extending over the lotus pond at similar ticket prices to the palace. If you are spending more than one evening in Ubud, splitting dance visits between the palace and the Lotus Temple lets you see different performance styles and settings.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

The Tegallalang rice terraces are the image most associated with Ubud internationally. Stepped paddies descend into a steep river valley about 7km north of Ubud town, shaped by the subak cooperative irrigation system that has managed water distribution across Bali’s rice-growing landscape since the 9th century. In 2012, the Bali Cultural Landscape — including the subak system — was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Entry. There is no single gate. Most viewpoints and paths through the fields now charge IDR 15,000–50,000 (~USD 1–3), collected by individual landowners at their access points. Some include a drink at a café terrace. Follow signs from the main road; the main cluster of cafés with terrace views is clearly visible from the Jalan Raya Tegallalang approach.

Timing matters more here than at almost any other site in Ubud. Before 8am, the eastern light falls directly across the stepped faces of the terraces and morning mist often sits in the valley below. Both disappear by around 9am. Tour vehicles and visitors begin arriving from around 9:30am and the area fills quickly. Before 8am on most non-peak days, the terraces are quiet.

The paddies are still working fields under the subak system. Farmers water, plant, and harvest them on rotating cycles managed cooperatively across the valley. Walk on the narrow earthen paths between the paddies rather than in the fields themselves. The Subak irrigation channels and wooden dividers that direct water through the system are visible throughout the terraces.

Bali Swing

Bali Swing parks are commercial experience venues on the jungle valley edge near Ubud, designed specifically for photography. Several operators — Bali Swing, Zen Hideaway, and others — have built swing structures suspended above jungle valleys or rice field views, ranging from seated platforms to larger setups positioned for aerial shots over the drop below.

Entry packages typically cost IDR 350,000–700,000 (~USD 22–43) and include access to multiple swings and photo stations. The quoted heights (often 78 metres or more) refer to the distance above the valley floor, not the height of the structure you step off from — set expectations accordingly. Most parks are 15–20 minutes from central Ubud by scooter.

The experience is designed for the shot. If that is the goal, it delivers consistently. Before 9am or after 3pm, queues at the more popular photo stations are short. In July and August, waits of 20–30 minutes per setup are common during peak hours.

Temple Sites Near Ubud

Three sacred sites within 30 minutes of Ubud are meaningful experiences rather than drive-by photo stops.

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave). A 9th-century cave temple reached through a carved stone entrance mouth — the face of which was buried under almost a millennium of earth before being cleared in the 1920s. Inside, Hindu carvings and a large stone lingam. Outside the cave, restored bathing pools fed by carved water spouts. Entry around IDR 50,000 (~USD 3), sarong required. About 4km south of Ubud on the road toward Gianyar. One hour is enough; this works as a short detour on the way to or from the south coast.

Gunung Kawi. A 1,000-year-old royal monument complex cut directly into the rock face of the Pakerisan river gorge. Ten 7-metre candi (shrine towers) are carved into vertical cliff faces on either side of the river, reached by descending around 300 steps through working rice paddies. Entry around IDR 50,000 (~USD 3). The scale and age of the site make it among the most undervisited significant historical monuments in Bali. Allow 90 minutes for the descent, the site itself, and the return climb. About 18km north of Ubud — combine with Tirta Empul on the same road for a half-day loop.

Tirta Empul. A holy spring temple where Balinese Hindus perform ritual purification bathing in sacred pools fed by natural springs that have been flowing since at least the 10th century. Visitors who want to participate in the melukat (purification ritual) are welcome, but this is an active place of worship. Bring a change of clothes — you will be fully immersed — and a sarong, available to borrow at the entrance. Entry around IDR 50,000 (~USD 3). Go early morning or late afternoon to see the ritual being practised, not just observed by visitors.

Art Museums

Ubud has three significant art museums within walking distance of each other. Together they hold the most complete survey of Balinese and Balinese-influenced art in existence.

Museum Puri Lukisan. The oldest fine art museum in Bali, founded in 1956. The permanent collection traces the evolution of Balinese painting from classical narrative works to the influence of Western artists who settled in Ubud in the 1930s — most significantly Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet, whose collaboration with local painters produced a distinct new style. The museum grounds are a traditional Balinese compound with rice paddies and garden pavilions. Entry around IDR 75,000 (~USD 4.70). Allow one hour.

Neka Art Museum. The largest of the three, with five separate galleries covering traditional Balinese painting, the Pita Maha art movement of the 1930s, documentary photography of Balinese ceremony and life, and the work of foreign artists who spent extended time in Ubud. Entry around IDR 100,000 (~USD 6.25). Two hours is more rewarding than a rushed one-hour visit — the breadth of the collection rewards time.

Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA). Set within a traditional Balinese compound that includes working rice paddies. The permanent collection emphasises Balinese and Indonesian contemporary art alongside classical works. Entry around IDR 80,000 (~USD 5). ARMA also hosts live dance performances, cooking classes, and cultural events — check their weekly schedule on arrival.

If you visit all three, Museum Puri Lukisan for historical context, then Neka for breadth, then ARMA for contemporary work is the logical sequence.

Campuhan Ridge Walk and Rice Field Walks

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a 9km return trail starting from a temple at the western edge of central Ubud, running along a jungle ridge through rice paddies and coconut palms before descending toward Sayan village. No guide required. No entrance fee. The path is clearly marked throughout.

Go before 8am. After that, the trail becomes noticeably hotter and more crowded. In the early morning the ridge is often mist-edged and largely empty, with the light on the paddies below at its best. The out-and-back walk takes 2–3 hours at a relaxed pace; most people turn around at the crest above Payogan before the trail descends into the village.

A quieter alternative is the rice field walk through Sari Organik farm, signposted from Jalan Raya Ubud toward Penestanan. A working organic farm with narrow paths through the fields, ending at a café that you have to walk through the paddies to reach. About 30–40 minutes return from the entry point.

Penestanan itself, reached by a steep staircase off the main road near the ridge walk start, is the neighbourhood where many Western artists settled in the 1930s. The area still has working studios, low-key cafés, and a pace several degrees removed from Ubud’s main streets. Worth 30 minutes on foot if you are in the area for the ridge walk.

Waterfalls Near Ubud

Several waterfalls sit within 30 minutes of Ubud, each with a different character. All three below can be combined in a single early morning run.

Tegenungan Waterfall. The closest major waterfall to Ubud — around 13km south, a 30-minute drive. The falls drop around 15 metres into a wide pool that is swimmable in normal conditions. Entry around IDR 20,000–30,000 (~USD 1.25–1.75); the steps down from the car park take about five minutes. Arrive before 9am or after 4pm — midday is the busiest period and the light on the falls is flat. After heavy rain, current in the pool can be strong and visibility drops; check with the ticketing staff before entering the water. A café at the top of the steps has a view directly over the falls.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall. About 8km east of Ubud, a narrow cascade over layered moss-covered volcanic rock into a natural pool. Entry around IDR 20,000 (~USD 1.25), with a 10-minute walk from the road. The waterfall is smaller than Tegenungan but the stepped rock face and geometry of the cascade are distinctive. Gets busy by mid-morning.

Tibumana Waterfall. About 30 minutes from central Ubud, hidden inside a narrow bamboo gorge. Entry around IDR 20,000 (~USD 1.25) with a 10–15 minute walk through the gorge. One of the quieter options near Ubud — the walk filters out casual traffic that Tegenungan’s short approach does not.

A practical morning order: Tegenungan first (southbound from Ubud), then Kanto Lampo, then Tibumana heading back north. All three done by 11am.

White Water Rafting on the Ayung River

The Ayung River runs through a forested gorge just west of Ubud. The standard rafting route covers around 9km of Grade II–III rapids — manageable for most adults without prior experience. The route passes through jungle canyon walls and past stone carvings cut directly into the cliff face. Water level varies by season: July to October (dry season) produces slower, calmer water suited to first-timers; December to March (wet season) raises the level and adds speed to the more technical sections.

Rafting tours cost around IDR 350,000–600,000 (~USD 22–37) per person, including guide, safety equipment, hotel transfers, and a meal after the run. The descent takes around 2–2.5 hours on the water. The starting point is above the canyon with a steep path down to the put-in point. Closed-toe shoes are required; most operators have water shoes to borrow if needed.

Sobek Bali, Mason Adventures, and Bali Adventure Tours are the established operators on the Ayung. All three use the same river section. Book directly through each operator’s website, or through Klook or GetYourGuide where prices are published. Arrive 30 minutes before your slot for the safety briefing.

Cycling Tours

The most popular cycling route near Ubud is a downhill run starting near the Kintamani volcanic rim, descending through highland villages, coffee and clove plantations, and rice farming communities into the lowlands — around 20–25km, mostly downhill. You are transported to the starting elevation by van, then ride down. No significant climbing is required, making it accessible regardless of fitness level.

Full-day guided tours including transport to the start point, guide, lunch at a local warung, and hotel transfers cost around IDR 350,000–550,000 (~USD 22–34) per person. The descent passes through working villages where the route slows and guides explain the farming systems, the role of the subak irrigation in the rice fields below, and the compound architecture of the homes you pass. Bali Cycling Adventure and Mason Adventures are established operators on this route.

If time is limited, rice field cycling loops operating directly out of Ubud — through Nyuhkuning village, the artisan communities, and back through the paddies — run IDR 200,000–350,000 (~USD 12–22) per person for 3–4 hours. Flat, slow-paced, and bookable through most Ubud accommodation or independent guides in town.

ATV Quad Biking

ATV tours near Ubud run through rice field tracks, jungle paths, small river crossings, and in some operations through carved stone tunnels and past waterfall spray. Routes run 1–3 hours depending on the package. Single-rider and tandem ATVs are both available.

Standard 2-hour tours including safety gear, guide, and hotel transfers cost around IDR 350,000–600,000 (~USD 22–37) per person. Several operators package ATV riding with Ayung River rafting as a combined half-day activity for IDR 600,000–900,000 (~USD 37–56) — a practical option if you want to cover both in a single day without separate transfers.

The ATV experience prioritises physical activity over scenery — you are riding tracks built for the purpose, not moving through the landscape the way a cycling tour does. The rafting combination makes the most of the format if you are fitting both into one day.

Cooking Classes

Ubud has the highest concentration of cooking classes in Bali. The format across most of them is similar: a morning market visit at Pasar Ubud to buy ingredients, followed by a 3–4 hour class in a family kitchen preparing 5–7 dishes. You eat what you cook.

What you will prepare. Most classes cover a spice paste (base genep or base wangi), lawar (a spiced vegetable and meat salad), satay lilit (minced fish or chicken on lemongrass skewers grilled over coconut husks), and a slow-cooked dish like bebek or ayam betutu — duck or chicken wrapped in banana leaf with the full spice paste inside. These are ceremonial dishes, the food made for Galungan and family ceremonies, not the everyday warung menu.

Half-day classes cost IDR 350,000–550,000 (~USD 22–34) per person including the market visit and the meal. Full-day formats that extend into afternoon preparations run IDR 600,000–900,000 (~USD 37–56). Class sizes are kept small, usually 8–12 people. Paon Bali, Lobong Cooking Class, and Casa Luna Cooking School are among the established operators.

Book 3–5 days ahead outside peak season. In July and August, book 1–2 weeks ahead — good classes fill and the morning slots go first.

The morning market portion is as much a part of the experience as the cooking itself. Arriving at Pasar Ubud around 7am with a guide puts you there before the tourist-facing stalls take over, when the fresh produce, spice, and flower-offering vendors are still the dominant activity.

Wellness: Yoga, Sound Healing, and Massage

Ubud’s wellness infrastructure is not a resort add-on — it developed to serve long-stay visitors over two decades and is accessible at the drop-in level without committing to a retreat.

Yoga. Yoga Barn is the anchor institution in Ubud: multiple daily classes across styles (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative), taught by rotating international teachers, drop-in from IDR 120,000–180,000 (~USD 7.50–11). The weekly schedule is published online and updated regularly. Early morning classes fill first in July–August; drop-in is straightforward most other times. Radiantly Alive and The Yoga Society are other established studios within walking distance of the centre.

Sound healing. Singing bowl and gong sessions — typically 60–90 minutes, conducted lying down — are offered at several Ubud studios. Practitioners move through a sequence of bowls and instruments while participants remain still. Sessions cost IDR 200,000–400,000 (~USD 12–25). A meditative alternative for travellers who find movement-based practice less suited to them.

Balinese massage. Available at every price point. Local warung-style shops on the side streets off Jalan Raya Ubud offer one-hour full-body Balinese massage from IDR 80,000–130,000 (~USD 5–8). The technique uses long, firm strokes with pressure-point work on the neck, scalp, and reflexology points on the feet. Resort spas charge IDR 400,000+ (~USD 25+) for the same treatment in a more composed setting. No booking required at most street-level spots; walk in.

Retreat programmes. Ubud has a full ecosystem of structured retreats: 3-day yoga intensives, week-long wellness programmes, silent meditation courses. Most specific retreat dates book months in advance. Single drop-in sessions at most studios are straightforward to arrange within a day or two of arrival.

Ubud Morning Market

Pasar Ubud operates on two levels and serves two entirely different purposes depending on when you arrive.

Before 9am, the ground floor is a genuine local market: fresh produce, spices, flowers for temple offerings, and cooked food vendors. Balinese cooks arrive early to buy the day’s ingredients. The spice stalls carry the base components of Balinese cooking — galangal, turmeric, pandan, fresh coconut — and the flower sellers build towers of offerings for the morning temple rounds. Arrive at 7am to see both operating simultaneously before the pace changes.

After 9am, the ground floor transitions toward tourist-facing vendors and the upper floor — which sells batik cloth, silver jewellery, carved wooden goods, and woven bags — becomes the dominant activity. The transformation is quick. Arriving at 10am means seeing a market primarily oriented to visitors.

For shopping on the upper floor: prices at Pasar Ubud are negotiable and the starting price tends to be higher than shops further from the centre. Knowing what comparable items cost at the artisan villages — Celuk for silver and goldwork, Mas for woodcarving, Batuan for traditional painting — gives you a reference before bargaining.

Day Trips from Ubud

Ubud’s location in the central highlands puts most of northern and central Bali within two hours.

Kintamani and Mount Batur. The volcanic caldera of Mount Batur is 30km north of Ubud, accessible for a non-hiking visit in half a day. The rim road at Kintamani is lined with restaurants and warungs positioned to face the caldera view — the lake below and the cone rising behind it. Sunrise hikers start from Toya Bungkah village at 2am and need separate accommodation there or a very early private transfer from Ubud. Combine Kintamani with Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi on the same road north for a full day loop.

North Bali loop. From Ubud: north through Kintamani, west to Ulun Danu Beratan (the lake temple), on to Munduk for its waterfall and highland coffee and clove plantations, then south through the winding descent back toward the coast. This is a full day — roughly 150km by scooter or private driver. The road through the highland plantation area between Munduk and the north coast is among the most scenic in Bali. A private driver costs IDR 500,000–700,000 (~USD 31–43) for the day.

Sidemen valley. 45 minutes east of Ubud, the Sidemen valley is a working rice terrace landscape with Mount Agung rising behind it on clear mornings. Almost no commercial tourism compared to Tegallalang. A handful of small guesthouses and family homestays use the silence and the mountain view as their draw. Worth a half-day loop from Ubud or one night for a slower pace than the town centre.

East Bali. Amed, on the northeast coast, is 90 minutes from Ubud. Black sand beaches, shore snorkelling from the beach — the Japanese shipwreck in Jemeluk Bay is a 5-minute swim from the shore — and accommodation prices significantly lower than the south coast. Reachable as a long day trip or as an overnight if you want a quiet contrast to Ubud’s activity pace.

When to Go and Getting Around

The dry season (April to October) is the standard recommendation: stable weather for outdoor walks and temple visits, better summit visibility at Kintamani, and the rice terraces at a consistent stage of growth. May, June, and September offer dry conditions without the July–August surge in prices and visitor numbers. The wet season (November to March) brings afternoon showers rather than all-day rain — most activities remain possible, mornings are typically clear, and prices across accommodation and tours are lower.

Mornings matter more than season in Ubud. Before 9am, the Monkey Forest, Tegallalang, the Campuhan Ridge, and the morning market operate at a scale and pace that the midday version does not. Build the highest-priority sites into the early part of each day.

The town centre — the palace, morning market, Monkey Forest gate, and most restaurants — is walkable. The surrounding sites (Tegallalang, Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul, the Campuhan ridge trailhead) require a scooter or private driver. Renting a scooter from one of the shops in town costs around IDR 60,000–80,000 (~USD 4–5) per day and lets you time each visit precisely. See the scooter rental guide for Bali for documents, deposit, and what to inspect before riding. Private drivers can be arranged through your accommodation for IDR 400,000–600,000 (~USD 25–37) per day.