This page's pickTown and country day
Forest, palace, falls, terraces
- Hours
- About 8 hours
- Stops
- 7 in one day
- Tickets
- On one option
Guides
Language
EnglishCurrency
US dollar · $Prices on GetYourGuide appear in your chosen currency.
Guide · Things to do
Things to do in Ubud: the town, the ridge, the shows, the nights
The best things to do in Ubud fit into a few easy days: a sacred forest, a royal palace, a ridge walk, museums, a cooking class and a dance at night. Here is how to plan them.
Check availabilityfrom $14 · free cancellation possible
Editorial team, ubuddaytour.comUpdated October 24, 2026read in 6 minutes39 sources
Ubud in a few days
Ubud lies in the central part of Bali, in the hills of the Gianyar regency, and takes its name from the Balinese word for medicine, after the healing plants that grew here.67 It is small enough to explore on foot or by hired bicycle or motorbike, though the town is hilly.8 Its mornings start early, with offerings on every doorstep, and its streets are quietest before the day trippers arrive from the coast.
The main street, Jalan Raya Ubud, runs east to west through the center, with Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman leading south from it.9 Most of the things to do in Ubud town lie along these three streets or within a short walk of them, and the terraces and waterfalls are a short drive further out. Stay near the center and you can walk to almost everything in this guide and save the drives for the countryside.
As for how many days in Ubud you need, plan at least two full days: one for the town and one for the countryside. A third lets you add a class, a slow morning at a museum or a day trip to the volcano, and a fourth gives you a buffer for rain. Ubud rewards a slower pace, so err on the side of more days rather than fewer.
A day in town
One easy day on foot
-
9:00 AM
Monkey Forest
Arrive at opening, adult entry IDR 130,000.1
-
Late morning
Palace and market
-
Lunch
Saraswati
Lotus ponds before the temple gate.12
-
Afternoon
A museum
Puri Lukisan, which opened in 1956.13
-
Late afternoon
Campuhan ridge
The cooler hours for the walk.4
-
7:30 PM
Legong
About 90 minutes in the palace courtyard.
The Monkey Forest, the palace and the market
Start at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary at the bottom of Jalan Monkey Forest, open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with adult entry at IDR 130,000.1 About 1,054 long-tailed macaques live among temples from the 14th century, and the rules are simple: no food, no staring and nothing dangling.141516 Give it about an hour, longer if you like to watch the monkeys at the river ravine.
Walk back uphill to the palace, Puri Saren Agung, the residence of the royal family, where some courtyards are open to visitors.210 Across the road the art market sells handicrafts made in Bali, from bags and carvings to sarongs and silver.11 Bargain kindly and carry small notes.
A few minutes west along the main street, the temple of Pura Taman Saraswati sits behind its lotus ponds, one of the town's temples alongside Pura Desa Ubud.12 Together these sights make an easy morning on foot, with time for coffee before the heat of the afternoon. Shade is scarce on the main street at midday, so do the walking before lunch.
Time needed
How long each takes, in hours
hours
Plan the days
Things to do, time and cost
| Thing to do | Time | Cost | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey Forest | About 1 hour | IDR 130,000 adult | South of town |
| Palace and market | Half an hour each | Free to walk | Town center |
| Campuhan ridge | About 1 hour | Free | West side |
| Legong at the palace | About 90 minutes | from $6 | Town center |
| Cooking class | 5.5-8 hours | from $30 | Organic farm |
| E-bike half day | 4 hours | from $32 | Tegalalang area |
Times and prices from the Monkey Forest's site and the GetYourGuide listings; tour prices are from-prices.1
Three ways to fill a day
Tour, class or bike
This page's pick
Best for rain
Most activeDecision helper
What should you do first?
Pick the line that sounds like your trip.
A town and country tour
Forest, palace, market, terraces and Tirta Empul in one day.
A cooking class
5.5 to 8 hours at an organic farm, groups of at most 14.
The ridge or an e-bike
An easy hour on the ridge, or 1.5 hours of riding.
Museums
Puri Lukisan, ARMA, Neka, Rudana and Blanco, all in town.3
A dance
Legong at the palace daily at 7:30 PM, about 90 minutes long.
Since Ubud is relatively small, you can explore the town on foot or hire a bicycle or motorbike.
The Campuhan ridge and the river junction
The Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud follows a paved path along a grassy spine between two river valleys on the west side of town. Indonesia Travel suggests it for an afternoon walk once the air cools.4 One guided walk gives the ridge an hour and describes it as fairly easy, with a few uphill parts and stairs.
The walk starts near the river junction at Campuhan, where an 8th-century legend has the Javanese priest Rsi Markandya meditating and founding the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor.17 Stop at the temple before you climb, and look at how the rivers meet below it. Modest clothes and a quiet voice are welcome at the temple by the river.
Bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and go in the late afternoon for softer light over the palms. At the far end, cafes look out over rice fields, and you can walk on or turn back the way you came. It costs nothing, needs no booking, and shows you the green heart of the town.
Map
Ubud, the stops of the day and the trips beyond
First the town between the palace and the forest, then the terraces and the waterfalls around it, then the volcano, the north and the harbour for Nusa Penida.
1Ubud Palace2Ubud Art Market3Museum Puri Lukisan4Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary5Pura Gunung Lebah6Campuhan Ridge Walk7ARMA
1Ubud Palace8Tegallalang Rice Terrace9Tirta Empul10Tukad Cepung11Tibumana12Kanto Lampo13Tegenungan
1Ubud Palace14Mount Batur15Sekumpul Waterfall16Kusamba harbour17Ngurah Rai airport
- 1Ubud Palace
Puri Saren Agung, the royal residence at the corner of Jalan Raya Ubud and Jalan Monkey Forest; evening dances in the courtyard.21819
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Ubud Art Market
Stalls of handicrafts made in Bali, beside the palace.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Museum Puri Lukisan
The town's art museum, opened in 1956.13
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
About 12.5 hectares of forest in Padangtegal, home to about 1,054 long-tailed macaques; open 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.20141
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Pura Gunung Lebah
The temple at the Campuhan river confluence, tied to an 8th-century legend of Rsi Markandya.17
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Campuhan Ridge Walk
A walk suggested for the cooler afternoon hours.4
In Google Maps ↗ - 7ARMA
The Agung Rai Museum of Art, one of the town's museums and a Kecak venue.3
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Subak terraces about a 20-minute drive north of Ubud; the site tour's first stop.5
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Tirta Empul
The water temple on the site tour, where guests can join the bathing ritual.
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Tukad Cepung
A fall inside a rock cleft, reached by about 200 steps and shallow water.
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Tibumana
A single fall into a pool where the site tour allows a swim.
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Kanto Lampo
A broad fall in Beng village, Gianyar; busy at peak hours.21
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Tegenungan
A fall in Gianyar with a pool where visitors swim.2223
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Mount Batur
A 1,717 m volcano in Indonesia's first UNESCO Global Geopark.2425
In Google Maps ↗ - 15Sekumpul Waterfall
A waterfall in the north of Bali, a private 10-hour hiking day.
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Kusamba harbour
The harbour for the speedboat to Nusa Penida, 30 minutes across.
In Google Maps ↗ - 17Ngurah Rai airport
Bali's airport, closed for the 24 hours of Nyepi.2627
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For days in and around town
01
Carry
- Cash in small notes
- Water and a hat
- Shoulders and knees covered for temples
02
Plan
- The date of Nyepi, if you travel in March or April
- The Bali levy, paid once per trip
- Early starts for the busy sights
Party price
Price a class or ride for your group
Add your party to price a few things to do.
People
Total from$60
per head from $30
Check availabilityfree cancellationThis sum multiplies a listing's GetYourGuide starting price by the number in your party and converts it with the day's ECB rate; checkout shows the binding amount.
Video
Seventeen things to do in Ubud
Nothing loads until you tap play.
Museums, painters and crafts
Ubud's museums include Museum Puri Lukisan, ARMA, Museum Rudana, the Neka Art Museum and the Blanco Renaissance Museum.3 Puri Lukisan, near the palace, opened in 1956 and grew out of the Pitamaha artists' cooperative founded in 1936 by the King of Ubud, his brother and the painters Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet.1328 Each collection is compact enough to see in a relaxed hour or two.
The painter Antonio Blanco lived in Ubud from 1952 until 1999, and a museum in the town carries his name.293 Between the galleries you can see how Balinese painting changed when foreign artists arrived, and how local artists made the new styles their own.
If you prefer to make something, craft classes are everywhere: silver jewelry, batik and wood carving among them. A morning at a workbench gives you a souvenir you made yourself, and a reason to slow down in a town that rewards it. Ask your guesthouse which teachers they trust; a small studio gives a more personal lesson.
Out of town: terraces, waterfalls and cooking
The Tegallalang rice terraces lie about a 20-minute drive north, and Indonesia Travel suggests seeing them early, then heading to the Monkey Forest.530 The private tour sold on this site starts there and goes on to the Tirta Empul water temple and three waterfalls, Tukad Cepung, Kanto Lampo and Tibumana.
A cooking class at an organic farm runs 5.5 to 8 hours in groups of at most 14, with each station shared by 2 people, from $30. A fat-tire e-bike half day spends 1.5 hours riding through the Tegalalang area, from $32.
For a broad first day, a private tour through town and country combines Tegenungan waterfall, the Monkey Forest, the art market, the palace, a jungle swing, the Tegallalang terraces and Tirta Empul, from $21. It has 5,023 reviews averaging 4.92. Pick it for a first day if you want to see as much as possible and decide afterwards where to return on your own.
Evenings: dances and fireflies
If you wonder what to do in Ubud at night, start with dance. The Legong at the palace runs daily at 7:30 PM for about 90 minutes, and the seller advises arriving 45 minutes early for a good seat. Note that its ticket is non-refundable.
Kecak and fire dances run on different nights at several venues around town, including ARMA, starting at 7:00 PM; the seller suggests a light jacket or shawl for the cooler evening. Among the troupes of the area, the Peliatan group was the first to travel abroad with the Legong.31 Arrive early for the best seats, as with the palace show.
For something quieter, an evening in Taro village combines dinner at a farm with a village walk and a firefly viewpoint, about 40 minutes by car from Ubud. After that, cafes and warungs line Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman for a late meal.
Rainy days, festivals and Nyepi
If you wonder what to do in Ubud when it rains, think indoors and slow: the museums, a cooking class, a craft workshop or a long lunch over the rice fields. Keep an eye on the sky, too: a wet morning can still turn into a dry evening for a dance.
Ubud also has festivals worth planning around. The Ubud Food Festival runs for less than a week, in late May in recent editions, and the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is held every year.3233 Book rooms early if your dates overlap. Festival weeks bring readings, dinners and performances to venues all over town.
Check the date of Nyepi, the day of silence, which falls in March or April.34 For 24 hours everyone on Bali, visitors included, stays in without bright lights or noise, and all shops and markets close.2735 On the eve, villages parade ogoh-ogoh effigies and burn them, a spectacle in its own right.36 Plan to spend that day at your hotel, with snacks bought the day before.
Your day in Ubud
Terraces, a water temple and three falls.
Pick a date, get collected in the Ubud area, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
What are the top sights in town?
Forest, palace, market. The Monkey Forest, the palace, the art market and the museums are all within walking distance.93
How many days should I spend there?
A long weekend or more. Give the town and the countryside a day each; the terraces are only about 20 minutes north.5
Is the Campuhan ridge walk free?
Yes. It is a public path; go in the cooler afternoon, as Indonesia Travel suggests.4
Can I get a taxi app in town?
Not for pickups. Metered taxis and ride-hailing pickups are not permitted within Ubud.37
When are the evening dances?
Legong daily at 7:30 PM. Kecak shows start at 7:00 PM on several nights at different venues.
Sources
Sources and evidence
- 1Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)Opening Hours & Maps↩
- 2Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Istana Ubud, Kediaman Resmi Keluarga Kerajaan di Bali↩
- 3Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 4Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 5Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Tegallalang Rice Terrace: A Charm of the Green in Ubud↩
- 6Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 7Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 8Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 9WikipediaUbud↩
- 10Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Istana Ubud, Kediaman Resmi Keluarga Kerajaan di Bali↩
- 11Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 12WikipediaUbud↩
- 13WikipediaPuri Lukisan Museum↩
- 14Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)Long-Tailed Macaque↩
- 15Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)Dos, Don'ts & Answers (Guidelines & FAQ)↩
- 16Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)Dos, Don'ts & Answers (Guidelines & FAQ)↩
- 17WikipediaUbud↩
- 18WikipediaUbud↩
- 19Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Istana Ubud, Kediaman Resmi Keluarga Kerajaan di Bali↩
- 20Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, Padangtegal, official site)History, Mission & Conservation↩
- 21Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 22Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Keindahan Air Terjun Tegenungan, Pesona Alam di Bali↩
- 23Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Keindahan Air Terjun Tegenungan, Pesona Alam di Bali↩
- 24WikipediaMount Batur↩
- 25Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Geopark Batur↩
- 26Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 27Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 28WikipediaPuri Lukisan Museum↩
- 29WikipediaUbud↩
- 30Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Find Serenity in Ubud, Bali↩
- 31WikipediaUbud↩
- 32WikipediaUbud↩
- 33WikipediaUbud↩
- 34Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 35Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 36Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)Planning to Spend Nyepi in Bali? Read These Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 37WikipediaUbud↩
- 38Bali Provincial Government (Love Bali, the official tourist levy system)FAQ↩
- 39Bali Provincial Government (Love Bali, the official tourist levy system)FAQ↩
