The cultural heart of Bali- that’s how people describe Ubud. And for once it’s not a mere slogan. Ubud is indeed the place where you can experience traditional Bali up close and personal.
But Ubud is so much more than just the island’s cultural heart. Surrounded by oceans of green rice fields, towering forests and peppered with temples, amazing food, spas, shopping and much more, there are so many things to do in Ubud.
Ubud in Bali is not just a travel destination: it’s a feeling. A feeling that will stay with you forever.
This was my fifth and Jin’s third time in Ubud. The first time, I did it all wrong. I stayed at the wrong kind of place, walked everywhere, and expected Ubud to come to me. The second time, we were making progress. After our third visit, we’ve got Ubud down, and we know how to do it.
Everyone knows that Ubud is one of the best places to visit in Southeast Asia for a relaxing holiday. If you, too, are dreaming of paradise, keep a few things in mind.
Ubud, and Bali in general, is not the tropical paradise that many of us imagine before arriving. Traffic can be messy, and you don’t quite feel like Julia Roberts in Eat Pray Love. Nirvana doesn’t simply descend upon you in Ubud; you’ll need to put in some planning for that to happen.
Ubud doesn’t come to you, you need to go to her. Ubud is a beautiful place, and if you do it right, you will come back time and time again. Do it wrong, and you’ll be hot, tired and underwhelmed. Stick with our 10 commandments and Ubud will be your promised land.
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#1 Thou Shalt Live Like a Tropical King
The best way to get with the program in Ubud is to book yourself into the best place that you can afford. For us, that means booking into our own little pool villa surrounded by rice paddies. You don’t have to be a king in real life to afford your own pool villa in Ubud, though. There is something out there for every taste and budget.
For us, Ubud is all about putting ourselves first and taking care of our bodies and minds. I know that sounds like new-age hippy talk right there, but well…when in Ubud, we treat ourselves to massage sessions, take long naps, surround ourselves with everything green, and are simply aware of how happy we are.
Bali is known for its indoor/outdoor living, so when you travel to Ubud, you can really embrace that. Imagine getting straight out of bed for a dip in the pool before sitting down to a banana pancake breakfast, freshly squeezed juice, and a strong pot of coffee. After breakfast, you can go back to your room, first via the pool and then straight into the shower before getting back to the AC and crisp white linen.
Don’t feel bad for not wanting to leave your little slice of paradise. You’re here to relax, so go ahead and sleep in, lounge around or read one more chapter of that book you’re getting into. Bookworms will love reading these books on Indonesia in their natural habitat.
Your villa is your castle, and we recommend spending quite a bit of time there. One of the best things to do in Ubud is simply to relax in our private little oasis and head out now and then to visit the tropical paradise behind the castle walls.
During our second visit to Ubud, we stayed at the Satya villa. This private pool villa is in the middle of the rice paddies and is quite close to the Monkey Forest.
On our last stay in Ubud, Satya Villa was fully booked, and we stayed at Ubud Green, another stunning villa with a private pool overlooking the rice paddies.
Check rates and availibilty at Satya Villa or Ubud Green
#2 Thou Shalt Move Around on Two Wheels
Leave behind your notions of Ubud being a quaint little village surrounded by a garden of Eden. That’s what I pictured before coming here the first time. It’s not. Ubud is a bustling town and one of the most visited places in Bali.
The amount of traffic in Ubud still surprises me. On a normal day, it’s just a small headache. On a day when there is a ceremony (which is quite often), roads come to a standstill and you’ll get stuck for who knows how long…if you’re in a car.
The best way to travel around in Ubud is by scooter, or Freedom Machine as we like to call it. Having a scooter will greatly improve your stay in Ubud. With a scooter, there is no getting stuck in traffic, as you can weave through the cars or even go on the sidewalks. A taxi will not do on the road to Mecca Ubud, only a scooter. And forget about walking too.
Only a fool walks in the tropics.
Ubud is not a place to learn how to ride a scooter. If you can’t, then get an ojek. An ojek is a scooter with a driver and you sit at the back. Again, ask at your accommodation about an ojek, which can also double as a guide. There is also Gojek, which is basically Uber but on two wheels.
You can rent a scooter almost anywhere in Ubud. Ask at your accommodation. We paid RP 50 000 per day from our villa. Our villa owner told us that police in Ubud has been clamping down on illegal parking recently. Only park at designated areas, or else the police might remove your scooter and you’ll need to pay RP 500 000 to get it back. You’ve been warned!
Get your scooter rental in Bali here for as little as $5.80 per day.
#Thou Shalt Eat Healthy, Beautiful Food
Ubud is the land of milk and honey for foodies and normal people alike. Whether you’re a vegan or a carnivore, Ubud is a place where you can feast on beautiful food until kingdom come. Coffee lovers will be in 7th heaven, too. Read our food lover’s guide to see the best places to eat in Ubud.
As elsewhere in Bali, Ubud kitchens have mastered the art of eating with your eyes. Every plate looks like a piece of art whether it’s street food, a simple nasi goreng or an indulgent restaurant plate. It will be fresh, vibrant and unique. Just to remind you that you’re in a tropical paradise, food often comes on a banana leaf.
Do not leave Ubud without having Babi Guling (suckling roasted pig). If you’re vegan, can we suggest you go lick some banana leaves?
Also, download Grab on your phone to get food delivered right to your villa. You never know when you might need it.
We had one day of solid, tropical downpours and could not really scooter out to eat. But good old Grab came through with hot food right to our door, all without being able to speak a word of Bahasa Indonesia.
Want to take some Balinese food back home with you? The best way to do that is to take a Balinese cooking class.
#4 Celebrate the Traditions of Thy Host
Being the cultural heart of Bali, there is no better place to observe traditional Balinese life. You can’t walk more than a few meters without stumbling over an offering, bumping into a shrine or whiffing incense. Whether a simple temple offering or flamboyant fire dance, traditional Balinese culture is everywhere you look in Ubud
The best way to feel the cultural heartbeat of Ubud is to attend one of the performances. These performances are nightly events, and you can choose from several different shows in different locations. Take a look at the schedule here.
We went to see the Kecak Ramayana and Fire dance at Pura Dalem (Monday and Friday 19:30) and it was a fantastic night out. It’s a magic experience. Walking up the candlelit steps to enter the temple courtyard sets the scene. We sit in the hot, early evening air, waiting. (There’s a pushy old lady at the entrance selling ice-cold drinks) After dark, a troupe of monkey-men enter and the mesmerizing chant cak, cak, cak, kecakcakcak, pooo-pooo,cak, cak, cak begins.
We watch, spellbound, for the next hour. Lightning dances across the tropical night sky while fire embers fly around on the ground, backed by the unbroken cak, cak, cak, kecak.
Get here before 19:00 to get a front-row seat. And watch out, those flames and embers are flying everywhere, but that’s part of the fun.
#5 Thou Shalt Follow the Instagrammers to the Rice Terraces
Every Instagrammer worth his or her salt will tell you that the rice terraces of Tegalalang are the place to be to snap some iconic Bali shots. But everyone knows that, so if you want snaps without the IG crowd, get here as early in the morning as possible.
There are also a few of the Bali swings. Not sure which one is THE Bali swing, but there are quite a few of them. We’re sure that these swings might be the best thing for Instagrammers to do in Ubud.
Anyway. Tegalalang is pretty and makes for a nice drive out of Ubud. Just don’t expect to have it all to yourself.
#6 Thou shalt be holier than thou at Tirta Empul
The Balinese water temple of Tirta Empul is another nice drive out of Ubud which you can visit before or after the rice terraces, as it’s kind of in the same direction. Tirta Empul and its grounds are beautiful and well worth a visit.
Balinese Hindus flock to this water temple to bathe in the pools for ritual purification. The Western Instagram crowd come here to take pictures of themselves bathing to show how deep and world-wise they are…WTF.
Walking around the temple complex will possibly lead you to a blessed state. The crystal clear pond with the gigantic koi fish was perhaps the highlight for us. Behind the bathing pools, you can see the spot where the holy spring leaves the earth.
Tirta Empul is just under 20 km outside of Ubud, and it’ll take about an hour to travel here by scooter.
➡️ Read more: The Perfect 10-day Itinerary for Bali
#7 Thou Shalt Visit Thy Relatives
My favourite place in Ubud is the Sacred Monkey Forest. I’ve been there three times and will go back again the next time I’m in Ubud. So what makes it so special, I hear you ask?
Well, it’s a forest. Full of monkeys. And it’s sacred.
What more do you want? Depending on your reading preference, this is either the Jungle Book or the Garden of Eden. Cheeky macaques, young and old, clamber over temples dwarfed by gigantic trees. The Monkey Forest is a lush haven where you feel close to nature. I think hipsters call this kind of experience Forest Bathing.
The Sacred Monkey Forest is not a zoo! These monkeys are free to come and go as they please and are not confined in any way. A free monkey is a happy monkey. Remember that you are visiting them in their home, so don’t tease or feed them to get that perfect picture for Instagram.
Observing the monkeys up close is fascinating. Look at how the mommies take care of their cute babies. When the mommies get a break, it almost seems as if the mums get together for a little massage and grooming session. They do indeed have human-like traits.
When the monkey business is done, follow the signs to the Holy Spring Temple. This path will take you over a dragon bridge and into a miniature green canyon. The enormous banyan tree is very impressive too.
#8 Thou Shalt Relax & Rejuvenate Thyself
To legitimately arrive in Ubud, you must leave your worldly worries behind and focus on yourself. Whether you spend hours in the pool, drink only organic juice, go vegan or practice yoga to achieve this, Ubud is the perfect place to rejuvenate your soul.
We are not very flexible so we are not yoga cult members. We are not vegan foragers either, so we reach utopia via the spa. Nothing makes us leave this realm faster than a good old, like putty in your hands, massage. Options for day spas or in-house massage at your own villa are seemingly endless.
Our go-to place for instant enlightenment is Yeh Pulu Spa. You feel reborn and the world looks different after you leave Yeh Pulu. Call ahead (+62 821-4642-0682) and make a reservation for a deep tissue massage. You can thank us later.
#9 Thou Shalt not Shop More than Your Baggage Allowance
Many people travel to Ubud for the sole reason of shopping. And man is Ubud the happy hunting ground of every shopper! The sheer quantity is overwhelming. From t-shirts to batik cloths, from wood-carved masks to organic cosmetics, shopping in Ubud is bound to keep you busy and entertained for quite some time
The Ubud Art Market in central Ubud should satisfy most regular shoppers’ needs. Here, between the organized chaos of the market, you’ll find all your typical souvenirs from Bali. Most of the products here are handmade in Ubud or the surrounding villages, and you won’t be able to find them outside of Bali really.
Popular items in the Ubud Art market are Bali bags (round woven rattan bags), rattan placemats, batik cloth and spices. Other than this, you’ll find almost anything for your perfect Bali souvenir. Perhaps a keyring or a dildo bottle opener?
Serious shoppers, interior designers, home renovators and Etsy shop owners want to head out to Tegalalang Road. This 10km stretch of road is chock and block with shops selling anything that your home might need. Even if your home doesn’t need anything, you’ll find it on Tegalalang Road.
Anything from furniture, light fixtures, tribal art, garden accessories, wall paintings faux antiques, signage boards…anything really can be found here. All these shops offer shipping services, and we could tell that many of the shoppers here were buying to sell again back home.
For good quality and unique t-shirts, we always head to Love Bali Tees on Ubud’s main road, just around the corner from the Ubud Market.
#10 Thou Shalt Return Again & Again
Ubud is not a destination. We told you that before. Ubud is a state of mind, a Shangri-la where we are born again. (No, I’m not looking into a dreamcatcher adorned with crystals as I type this). We will travel to Ubud again and again because of how it makes us feel.
Yes, you go to Ubud to see the temples, the monkeys, the rice paddies and the art, but more than that, you travel to Ubud to visit yourself. Ubud is all about being good to yourself. You can’t be good to others if you’re not good to yourself. (Still no crystal-dreamcatcher, I promise).
Enough of this new-age hippie talk. The reason we came back to Ubud and will do so again in the future is that Ubud offers excellent value for your money. Ubud allows you to live like a tropical king, without having to take out a second mortgage.
Perhaps the most important reason why we travel to Ubud (and Indonesia) again and again is the people. From Sumatra in the west all the way to Papua in the east, Indonesians must be the happiest people on earth, and it rubs off on you. The Balinese are kind and laugh easily. They like to share their island with us and await our return when we leave. If Bali is a happy paradise, then Ubud is the heart of that paradise.
Ubud Mini-Travel Guide
How long should I stay in Ubud?
At least one lifetime. If that’s not possible, we recommend at least 3 nights.
Where to stay in Ubud.
Look at the map before booking your accommodation. If you can’t ride a scooter, you don’t want to be out in the paddies. This will be inconvenient for you, so you better get a place in central Ubud.
This year we stayed at The Satya Villa, which was fantastic. Last year we stayed at Doni House, halfway to the rice terraces, which was good if you’re looking for something cheaper and farther out of Ubud.
Satya villa was absolutely the best for our needs. We will stay there again next time. Doni house would be good if you are a serious shopper, as it is right in the middle of the Tegalalang shopping road. To stay here you must have a scooter though, as there are no places to eat in the area.
If you want that perfect picture for the gram of you and your floating breakfast, then Donni is a good choice. (We don’t get this whole floating-breakfast-photo-session thing though…but to each his own.
Check prices and availability for Doni House and Villa
What’s Ubud like in the rainy season?
Beautiful. I’ve been to Ubud three times, every time in February which is supposed to be the height of the rainy season. It is HOT and HUMID. But that’s what the tropics are all about. It doesn’t rain all day every day. Rain in the tropics comes in sudden, heavy downpours which usually last a few hours.
After the rain it will cool down a little, the sun will come out again and everything looks fresh and new. The rainy season is also low season (except for Chinese New Year), so you can expect to find better deals and more availability.
How do I travel from Ubud to …?
Book all your Bali transfers on Klook for convenience.
Ngurah Rai International Airport is about 40 Km away, but due to traffic, it will take at least an hour to get there by taxi. Coming from the airport, get a Bluebird taxi, since they are the most reliable and always use the meter. Going from Ubud to the airport, ask your accommodation to hook you up. We paid RP 300K from Ubud to the airport.
Going to Amed on the east coast takes about 2.5 hours and costs RP 500K.
Getting from Ubud to Uluwatu takes about 2 hours and costs RP400K.
If you’re looking for a driver, we can recommend Dek Botak. Send him a WhatsApp message on +62 878 6221 3502 and he will get back to you.
Where will you go next? For even more laid-back vibes, head over to Amed on the east coast of Bali. Or look at these other 14 amazing places in Bali to extend your stay in the Islands of the Gods.
What if I get sick in Ubud?
On a previous visit to Ubud, Jin didn’t feel so well, and because we just came from China right before the Coronavirus outbreak, we decided to seek help…just in case. The BIMC in Ubud was great, the staff spoke excellent English and we recommend them in the unfortunate event that you need medical help in Ubud.
We returned to China a week later and two days after that they closed the borders. We just made it back before the rest of the world went upside down. I get anxiety just from typing this
Over to you. I have a friend who always says: The 11th commandment is – DO NOT GET CAUGHT. What did we miss? What’s the 11th commandment in Ubud? Let us know in the comments below 🙂