Vibrant cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes, and a bustling city scene define the Ubud area in the heart of Bali. All of those aspects make Ubud an amazing spot to visit and have contributed to it being one of the most-visited destinations in Bali. Whether you’re just exploring for a day or two or are planning to stay here for a while, there is no shortage of activities to fill your time. Here are 11 things to do in Ubud.
1. Admire the Waterfalls in the Area
There are many rivers with pretty cascades flowing through the jungle around Ubud, so visiting some of the waterfalls in the area is a popular activity for visitors. Some of the common choices include Tibumana, Tukad Cepung, Suwat, Kanto Lampo, Bandung, Sumampan, Tegenungan, and Taman Sari. Those are just some of the great options near to Ubud, but there are many other waterfalls beyond that!
Some waterfalls have a great pool to take a dip while others are better for a pretty hike to admire the jungle landscape. Hanging out at a waterfall for a while or making a day of visiting a few waterfalls can be great opportunities to enjoy the nature in the area. Most of the falls in Bali require a small entrance fee and have some food options and basic facilities near the parking areas. Bring cash to pay for the entrance fees.
Because waterfall excursions are so popular, we’d definitely recommend arriving near when the grounds open or later in the evening to avoid some of the crowds.
2. Hit the Shops
The shopping options are abundant in Ubud with markets and boutiques lining many of the city’s streets. You can find anything from linen clothing, hand-dyed apparel, and jewelry to spices, coffee, artwork, home décor, and other artisan goods. You can find various markets along Jalan Raya Ubud near the Ubud Palace, including the Ubud Street Market, and Art Market. There are also other markets and many little shops throughout other streets.
We’d definitely recommend putting some time aside to wander the shops if you’re interested in bringing home something to remember your trip by. Make sure you brush up on your bargaining skills for the markets! Also bring along cash because some of the market stalls and shops only accept cash or will charge an additional fee for using card.
3. Stroll Along the Campuhan Ridge Walk
The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a short trail that leads along a ridge on the outskirts of the city center. From the path, you’ll have pretty views of the surrounding jungle landscape and villas perched on the nearby hillside. The trail leads to a quiet neighborhood where you can enjoy a coffee at one of the cafes and walk the peaceful streets among rice paddies.
You can stroll along the ridge any time of day, but we’d recommend visiting in the early morning to beat the heat, enjoy the pretty morning light, and to avoid the crowds. For more details on the Campuhan Ridge Walk, read our other post!
4. Visit a Temple
Bali is primarily Hindu, and as you explore the island, you’ll see many beautiful temples in both the cities and the countryside. Visiting the Ubud Palace is a very popular activity. Visiting during the day is free and you can stroll the grounds and admire the intricate details. At night, you can buy tickets to watch a traditional Balinese dance performance. We’d recommend arriving early to buy your tickets or stopping by earlier in the day to purchase them because they do sell out.
Other temples in the city include Saraswati Temple, Pura Gunung Lebah, Pura Dalem, Pura Padang Kerta, and more. There are other temples in the countryside surrounding Ubud that are also great options to add to a day-trip itinerary, including Goa Gajah, Pura Tirta Empul, and Pura Kehen. Note that some of these charge a small entrance fee that is generally only payable in cash. You can also attend cultural performances at some of these other temples.
When visiting any temple, remember that these are places of worship. Be respectful of those who have come to pray and dress appropriately. Some spots will provide a robe or sarong to cover your knees.
5. Walk Through the Monkey Forest – or Just Keep an Eye out for Monkeys in Town
The Monkey Forest has become one of the most popular attractions in Ubud. Growing up in Indonesia, we saw monkeys all the time and know multiple people who have been bitten by them. People have been bitten and had their belongings stolen in the Monkey Forest. We’re not saying that to deter you, just know the risk, be cautious with your belongings, and respect the space of the animals. We didn’t go in, but the grounds do look like a beautiful space for a stroll. It costs IDR 100,000 per person.
If you want to see monkeys but don’t necessarily feel like visiting the Monkey Forest, you’ll likely just see them as you walk around Ubud. We saw tons on the street just outside the Monkey Forest and many elsewhere around town as well. One even came into our hotel restaurant and stole the fruit we had just bought at the market. The local business owners on our street and our hotel staff did not enjoy the monkeys entering their businesses and were chasing them away with brooms.
6. Eat Some Delicious Food
Ubud has so many amazing eateries – it has become quite the foodie paradise. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a coffee and pastry at a cute café, wanting to try local dishes, or are craving international eats, there are many options. The local cuisine is so good here, but you can also find Indian, Italian, Ukranian, American, Greek, Japanese, Mexican, and various other cuisines if desired. If you are vegan or have other dietary restrictions, no worries – it seemed like there was something for everyone!
As you walk the streets of Ubud, many restaurants and cafés have their menus displayed out front for you to take a look. You can also find many of the popular establishments online and on social media. During our few days there, we really only brushed the surface of delicious food options in the city. We ate a variety of foods, including Indian at Persona Lounge, local dishes at Cempaka Warung and various other smaller warungs in the city, refreshing smoothie bowls at Lucky Family and Duatiga, dumplings and noodles at Double Dragon Temple, and more. There are also various markets that sell local snacks and fruits that are fun to try.
7. Take a Cooking Class
Looking to take a deeper dive into the culinary world? Balinese cuisine is truly delicious, and taking a cooking class will allow you to bring a taste of Indonesia into your home cooking after you leave. You’ll get to learn about some of the ingredients that go into making dishes, and some classes will even include a trip to the market to select ingredients. Then, you’ll go through the process of making some dishes with the help of a local chef.
Some great cooking classes in Ubud include Ketut’s, Paon, Jeding, and Periuk.
8. Walk Among the Rice Terraces
Rice terraces shape much of the landscape in the heart of Bali. Driving into Ubud and even just walking around the city, you’ll see rice paddies dotting the countryside and sitting tucked between buildings in town. Some of the larger, terraced plots have become a tourist attraction because of their picturesque beauty.
The most commonly visited terraces in the Ubud area are the Tegallalang/Ceking Rice Terraces just north of Ubud. For IDR 50,000, you can walk the paths among the main rice terraces. The famous swings that have become quite popular on Instagram, the ziplines, and the nearby rice terraces can be accessed for an additional fee. You can also visit the nearby Alas Harum complex, which also has the popular swings, various sculptures, pretty pathways, and a pool club nearby.
If you aren’t wanting to visit these very touristy spots, you can stroll through the plots closer to the city. There are some around the end of the Campuhan Ridge Walk mentioned above and along the Rice Fields Walk and Sweet Orange Walk accessible from the city. While these terraces aren’t as dramatic as the Tegallalang Terraces, they are free to access and a lot less busy.
9. Treat Yourself at a Spa
Ubud is a great place to treat yourself to a relaxing spa day. There are many spas around the city that offer various options, from nail and hair appointments to massages and skin treatments. The treatments are generally a pretty great deal, especially compared to in the U.S.
As you walk around the city, you’ll see some spas advertising their options. We’d recommend walking in earlier in the day or a day or two in advance to make an appointment if you have a tight schedule. You can also reach out to some of the businesses online or via WhatsApp in advance to book. Some good spa options in Ubud include Hesa, UR Spa, Inka Ubud, and Jaens.
10. Take a Dip in the Pool
The weather in Ubud is pretty hot and humid, so cooling off at the pool is a common activity. We spent quite a bit of time at our hotel, lounging by the pool and swimming. Many hotels and Airbnbs in the Ubud area have lovely pools. However, if you don’t have access to a pool at your accommodation, you can head to a resort or pool club.
For my sister’s birthday, we went to Cretya Ubud, a day club overlooking rice terraces with a picturesque pool, music, and various dining options. Other pool spots you can visit for the day include Good Day, Wanna Jungle Pool and Bar, Jungle Fish Pool Bar, Folk, Kabana, and more. Note that most of these require a reservation, minimum spend, or ticket purchase of some sort.
11. Explore Other Bali Highlights for a Day Trip
As we mentioned above, there are many beautiful waterfalls, temples, hikes, and other interesting things to experience in the heart of Bali. Ubud is a major hub, making this a great base to stay and take day trips from. Because it is a large tourist hub, there are also many tour operators running operations from here with a great variety of itineraries. It is also easy to hire a driver for a day to create your own itinerary. Various companies advertise their tours or driving services online, but you’ll also see options advertised around Ubud. We hired a driver for a couple days and found him just by asking our hotel staff if they recommended anyone to drive us.
Some great things to see around Ubud in addition to the waterfalls, temples, and rice terraces mentioned above include Penglipuran Village, the Bali Butterfly Park, Jatiluweh Rice Terraces, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, the Bali Botanical Garden, Lake Tamblingan, and the Mount Batur trek. You could also head to the coast around Kuta, Sanur, or to Keramas Beach if you’re wanting a beach day.
Wherever you decide to go, remember that the traffic in Bali can be terrible and the area around Ubud is frequently congested. So, add extra time into your itinerary to account for that.
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