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20 Things to Do in
Ubud, Bali
ERIN
(HTTPS://WWW.NEVERENDINGVOYAGE.COM/AUTHOR/ERI
N/) • FEBRUARY 14, 2018
(HTTPS://WWW.NEVERENDINGVOYAGE.COM/THINGS-TO-
DO-IN-UBUD/) • 33
(HTTPS://WWW.NEVERENDINGVOYAGE.COM/THINGS-TO-
DO-IN-UBUD/#COMMENTS)
 This page may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure
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Ubud isn’t the kind of place where you need a long to-do list.
None of the sights or activities are “must-dos”. If all you did
during your stay was eat, walk through the rice fields, and
perhaps get a massage or take a yoga class, then that’s a
successful Ubud visit in my opinion. That said, if you are feeling
more active, there are plenty of things to do in Ubud to occupy
your time.

1) Stay Out of Town

Ubud doesn’t make the best first impression. We stayed in the
centre of town for our first few days and wondered what on earth
we were doing there. The centre is congested with traffic, tour
groups, and souvenir shops. There are gems to be found, but to
make the most of your stay I highly recommend staying outside
the centre, ideally somewhere with a rice field view. We moved 3
km out of town and ended up staying for nearly five months
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/digital-nomad-ubud/) and
in 2017 we’re back for another five months.

There’s a huge range of accommodation in Ubud from budget

homestays to luxury resorts. We use Booking.com
(http://www.booking.com/index.html?
aid=379621&label=ubudthingstodo) to find hotels—choose
“view” as one of the room facilities and you’ll find lots of
suggestions out of town such as Bambu Indah
(http://www.booking.com/hotel/id/bambu-indah-villa.en-
gb.html?aid=379621&label=ubudthingstodo), a gorgeous,
boutique eco-resort.

If you want to be in walking distance of the centre (probably best

if you don’t want to hire a motorbike), there are some lovely
options in quiet, scenic locations including Desak Putu Putera
Cottages (https://www.booking.com/hotel/id/desak-putu-putera-
cottages.html?aid=379621&label=ubudthingstodo), an
affordable jungle oasis (our favourite place to stay in the centre),
Three Dewi’s (http://www.booking.com/hotel/id/three-dewis-
guest-house.en-gb.html?
aid=379621&label=ubudthingstodo), a budget guesthouse
with rice field views, and Nur Guesthouse
(https://www.booking.com/hotel/id/nur-guest-house.en-gb.html?
aid=379621&label=ubudthingstodo), which is surrounded
by rice fields.

If you end up falling in love like we did and want to stay for a
month or more, read how to rent a house in Ubud
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/how-to-rent-a-house-in-
ubud-bali/) (it’s easy!).

2) Campuhan Ridge Walk

The Campuhan Ridge was our favourite walk in Ubud—it’s one

of the only places to escape from traffic. There are a few hills,
but it’s an easy walk with lovely views of rice fields and down into
a valley. There’s not much shade, so it’s best early morning or
towards sunset.

This blog post (http://www.liveloveraw.com/campuhan-ridge-

hike-ubud-bali/) has instructions on getting to the start. The walk
from the school car park to Karsa Kafe and back was 3.5 km and
took us 45 minutes.

3) Rice Fields Walk

Another pleasant walk is on a path through the rice fields

towards Sari Organik farm and restaurant. There are lots of
cafes along the way where you can enjoy a drink or meal with a
view. You can also start at the far end of Jalan Kajeng and loop
around to Sari Organik. The downside is that motorbikes drive
on these narrow paths.

4) Discover Ubud’s Tranquil

Spots
The centre of Ubud is busy, but you can find beautiful, tranquil
spots. Our favourites were the lotus pond at Saraswati temple
(behind Starbucks) and Taksu Spa, where the river gorge is an
oasis from the chaos. Take the time to wander around and you
might be surprised by what you find.

5) Kecak Dance Performace

Ubud is famous for its traditional dance performances. We didn’t

have very high expectations but loved the Kecak dance we saw at
the temple in Junjungan village. Around 60 sarong-clad men
provide the soundtrack of haunting chants, while dancers
recreate a story from the Ramayana. It is less busy and
commercial than the performances in the centre—all 150
families in the village are involved, and proceeds go towards
temple activities.

The Kecak performance takes place every Monday night at 7 pm

at the temple in Junjungan village on Jalan Tirta Tawar. Tickets
cost 75,000 IDR ($5.50). You could combine it with a meal at
Warung Bintangbali (http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/ubud-
vegetarian-restaurants/). Read more about the performance on
Till the Money Runs Out
(http://tillthemoneyrunsout.com/kecak-fire-dance-performance-
in-junjungan-village-ubud-bali/).

6) Rent a Motorbike
Renting an automatic motorbike is the best way to explore the
countryside surrounding Ubud. You could walk or cycle, but it’s
much cooler on the back of a bike. It’s cheap too—just 50,000
IDR ($3.70) a day, and you don’t need to leave a deposit or show
a licence.

The traffic in Ubud can be crazy, so if you are a beginner,

practice on the quieter streets outside town, and ask someone to
show you the basics.

Once you have wheels, you can head north on Jalan Tirta
Tawar, Sri Wedari or Suweta, or east through the tree tunnel to
Penestanan village. You can visit many of the places below by
motorbike.

If you rent a motorbike make sure your travel insurance covers

you as accidents do happen. Our recommended policies
are True Traveller
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/truetraveller/) (UK/EU
citizens) and World Nomads
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/worldnomads/) (worldwid
e).

7) Practice Yoga
Ubud is yogi heaven! Whether you prefer fast-paced vinyasa or
gentle yin, you’ll find a class to suit you. It’s the perfect place to
create your own yoga retreat by buying an affordable multi-class
pass. Read my Ubud yoga guide
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/yoga-ubud-bali/) to
choose the studio that’s right for you.

8) Take an Art or Cooking

Class
You can learn plenty of skills in Ubud including painting
(http://livesabroad.com/bali-art-class/), jewellery making
(http://www.takingontheworld.net/world-travel-blog/bali/art-of-
making-silver-jewelry), and batik (http://double-
barrelledtravel.com/batik-painting-class-ubud-bali/). We enjoyed
a cooking class with Payuk Bali (http://www.payukbali.com/),
which included a market visit, learning how to make offerings,
and plenty of hands-on cooking. They were very well-organised,
had a special vegetarian menu, and the meal at the end was
delicious, especially the tempeh satay with peanut sauce.

9) Dine with a View

You are spoilt for choice for restaurants with views of rice fields
and river gorges. Sari Organik has tasty organic cuisine with rice
field views, and the walk there is part of the experience. The
Elephant serves up delicious vegetarian meals with views of the
Campuhan Ridge. Warung Bintangbali has cheap Indonesian
dishes with rice field views. For more ideas see our Ubud
vegetarian guide (http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/ubud-
vegetarian-restaurants/).
10) Splurge on a Gourmet
Meal
For such a small town Ubud has a surprising number of gourmet
restaurants offering fantastic tasting menus. Sure, they are much
more expensive than a meal at a warung, but they are great value
compared to a similar quality meal in Europe or the US.

Our favourite splurges were at Locavore, Mozaic, and

Room4Dessert (we have to go back for the nine dessert tasting
menu!)—read more here
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/ubud-vegetarian-
restaurants/).

11) Downhill Bike Tour

We don’t cycle often, but the Bali Eco Cycling

(http://baliecocycling.com/) tour was easy—it was all downhill,
and we hardly had to pedal! We started with breakfast
overlooking the volcano Mt Batur before cycling through the
countryside stopping at a family compound, rice fields, and a
500-year-old banyan tree. It’s a great way to see more of Bali and
learn about the culture. The only downside was the touristy
coffee plantation (avoid these in Bali—they are glorified gift
shops).

12) Brave the Monkey Forest

We were a little worried about braving the famous monkeys, but

it turned out to be an enjoyable walk through the forest with
temples and banyan trees that felt like an Indiana Jones set. Be
careful of the monkeys, though—they are thieves and can be
aggressive. We didn’t take a bag, sunglasses, or have anything in
our pockets (except cash to get in and my camera around my
neck), and they didn’t bother us. Don’t feed them—you will end
up with monkeys climbing all over you. This may sound fun, but
rabies is prevalent in Bali, and if you get bitten or scratched (a
common occurrence), you’ll need a series of injections.

13) Pura Gunung Kawi

This 11th-century temple features shrines carved into the rock at

the bottom of a river valley. It’s a 30-minute drive from Ubud
and is worth combining with Tirta Empul. Get there early to
avoid the crowds and souvenir sellers—at 8 am there were only
two other visitors.

14) Tirta Empul Water

Temple
The water temple Tirta Empul is close to Gunung Kawi.
Balinese Hindus go here to bathe in the holy waters.

15) Tegenungan Waterfall

The waterfall isn’t huge, but the scenery is lovely, and we enjoyed
a swim in the pool. Again, get there early.

It’s a 25-minute drive from Ubud and can be combined with the
Hidden Canyon
(https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g2646686-
d8866501-Reviews-Beji_Guwang_Hidden_Canyon-
Sukawati_Bali.html). We didn’t make it down the canyon as it
turned out to be more hardcore than we expected—come
prepared to clamber rocks and wade through waist-high water.
It’s best to hire one of the local guides to show you the way.

16) Tour Bali for a Day

A popular thing to do is hire a driver for the day (from 500,000
IDR/$37) to take you on a temple tour. We headed north to the
temple at Lake Bratan, which we weren’t impressed by. We
preferred the much less touristy Pura Luhur Batukau (about 1.5
hours from Ubud).

Voyagin has a number of private customisable tours available

including to Ubud’s main sights and Tanah Lot
(https://www.govoyagin.com/activities/indonesia-bali-ubud-and-
tanah-lot-in-one-day/3191?lang=en&acode=neverendingvoyage)
and to Kintamani volcano
(https://www.govoyagin.com/activities/indonesia-bali-scenic-
ubud-and-kintamani-volcano-tour/3168?
lang=en&acode=neverendingvoyage).

If you have more time, spend a few days travelling in the unspoilt
north and western parts of the island—see our off the beaten
track Bali road trip (https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/bali-
road-trip/) for ideas.

17) Visit an Art Gallery

Ubud is a very artsy town. You can visit lots of small studios to
buy artwork or bigger art museums to learn about the history of
art in Ubud. I enjoyed the Balinese art at Neka Art Museum the
most, although the architecture at the Antonio Blanco Museum
was certainly eccentric.
18) Get a Massage
Getting a massage is a popular activity in Ubud. It’s not our
thing, but if we were to indulge, we’d be tempted by this spa by
the river (http://livesabroad.com/spa-by-the-river/). I’ve also
heard good things about Sang Spa 2
(http://www.sangspaubud.com/) and Cantika
(http://www.cantikazestbali.com/) (especially the Cantika Zest
branch in Penestanan). Otherwise, you can get no-frills massages
all over town for around 100,000 IDR ($7.30).

19) Watch a Film

Denpasar Cineplex
(http://media.denpasarcineplex.com/) is the nearest cinema
for the latest releases, but unfortunately, it’s an hour away. The
Executive screen is ultra-comfortable with large reclining seats
and only costs 75,000 IDR ($5.50) during the week. Paradiso
(https://www.paradisoubud.com/) in the centre of Ubud shows
older films, and you can enjoy raw and vegan food while you
watch.

20) Shop
There are plenty of tacky souvenir shops in Ubud, but there are
also high-quality boutiques selling clothes, jewellery, yoga gear,
and home furnishings. You’ll find plenty of options on
Hanoman, Goutama, and Monkey Forest Roads.

For cheap clothes and souvenirs, head to the central market on

Jalan Raya, but be prepared to bargain. For delicious jams made
from unusual local fruits, go to Confiture de Bali on Goutama
street. Seniman coffee studio is the best place for Balinese coffee
beans.
Things to Do in Ubud Map
Things to Do in Ubud, Bali

Map
Terms
data ©2018 Google Terms 50 km

Resources for Planning a

Trip to Ubud
To find accommodation look on Booking.com
(http://www.booking.com/index.html?
aid=379621&label=ubudthingstodo) for hotels and
guesthouses and Airbnb
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/airbnb) for rooms and
apartments (get $39 off your first stay here
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/airbnb)). Or find out
how to rent a house in Ubud
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/how-to-rent-a-house-in-
ubud-bali/) for longer stays.
For flights to Denpasar (the nearest airport to Ubud) look on
Kiwi.com (http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/skypicker),
which offers a lot of flexibility to help you find the cheap deals
(choose a date range to find the cheapest day to fly).
Skyscanner
(https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/skyscanner2/) is
another good site to check.
Budget airlines in Asia charge for checking in luggage. To
avoid these fees, pack light and travel with just carry-on
luggage. My book, The Carry-On Traveller: The Ultimate Guide to
Packing Light (http://amzn.to/2t7c9cm), shows you how.
Lonely Planet Bali (https://aax-us-east.amazon-
adsystem.com/x/c/Qkrmga54BWysrOfq_gkwp1QAAAFn5R4
fjAEAAAFKATADa6I/https://assoc-
redirect.amazon.com/g/r/http://amzn.to/2g3v0Pb?
linkCode=w61&imprToken=Yx3p-
kxaJzZzBoLQ2dR36Q&slotNum=1)is my favourite
guidebook (I buy the Kindle version).
Travelfish (https://www.travelfish.org/) is a great online travel
guide to Southeast Asia.
Don’t forget travel insurance—the best we’ve found is True
Traveller (http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/truetraveller)
(UK/EU citizens), which we’ve been using for six years, and
World Nomads
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/1/worldnomads) (worldw
ide). Read more about how to buy travel insurance
(http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/travel-insurance-
already-travelling-digital-nomads/).
To track your travel expenses use our iOS app Trail Wallet
(https://itunes.apple.com/app/id547171665?mt=8), which will
help you stay on budget and know how much you’re spending
in both Indonesian rupiah and your home currency.
 If you fall in love and want to stay longer, see our living
in Ubud guide (http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/digital-
nomad-guide-living-in-ubud/).

I hope you enjoy some of these suggestions. But remember, if you

don’t make it out of your sun lounger overlooking the rice fields,
don’t feel guilty. Ubud is best explored at your own pace.

If you enjoyed this post, pin it!

Are you looking for Christmas gift ideas? See our

guide to the 50 Best Gifts for Travelers
(https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/gifts-for-
travellers/). They are ideal for travel lovers who want
to pack light and include something for every budget.

What are your favourite things to do in Bali? Leave a comment

(https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/things-to-do-in-ubud/#respond) and
share your thoughts!

Related Posts:
 The Ultimate A Digital The Ultimate Movenpick
Guide to Nomad’s Guide to Resort & Spa
Ubud Guide to Yoga in Jimbaran
Vegetarian Living in Ubud (2018) Bali Review
Restaurants Ubud, Bali
(https://www.never (https://www.never
(https://www.never (https://www.never endingvoyage.com endingvoyage.com
endingvoyage.com endingvoyage.com /yoga-ubud-bali/) /movenpick-bali-
/ubud-vegetarian- /digital-nomad- review/)
restaurants/) guide-living-in-
ubud/)

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