The lush cultural heart in the hills — rice terraces, jungle valleys, temples, art markets, yoga retreats and superb food, cooler and greener than the coast. The base for spirit, wellness and Balinese culture over beaches; central for the island's inland sights, though an hour from the sea and increasingly busy in its centre.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€55–130
typical per night in Indonesia
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Bali — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Ubud and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Canggu surf & beach clubs62 min taxi20.8 km
- Balinese food & a warung69 min taxi22.9 km
- Tanah Lot temple69 min taxi23.1 km
- Seminyak beach & beach clubs70 min taxi23.4 km
- Jimbaran seafood on the beach101 min taxi33.5 km
- Nusa Penida day trip107 min taxi35.7 km
- The Bukit's hidden beaches114 min taxi38.1 km
- Uluwatu (Bukit) (beach)122 min taxi40.5 km
- Uluwatu Temple & Kecak dance122 min taxi40.8 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 2.The Tegalalang rice terraces — The postcard of Bali — emerald rice paddies stepping down a lush valley in graceful curves, worked by the ancient 'subak' irrigation system, just north of Ubud. Walk the terraces (small donations at the paths), swing over the valley, and go early to beat the crowds and the heat; impossibly green and photogenic.
- 3.Mount Batur sunrise trek — Hike an active volcano in the dark to reach the 1,717m summit for dawn — a spectacular sunrise over the caldera, the lake and Mount Agung beyond, with steam vents to cook eggs on at the top. A pre-dawn start and a couple of hours' climb with a guide; tough but hugely rewarding, and a real Bali highlight.
- 5.The Sacred Monkey Forest — A lush jungle sanctuary in the heart of Ubud — mossy temples and banyan roots amid the trees, home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques who scamper along the paths and walls. Atmospheric and fun (keep a firm hold of glasses, hats and phones — they steal); a cool, green wander through the spiritual heart of Ubud.
- 9.Tirta Empul water temple — A sacred spring temple near Ubud where Balinese Hindus have come to purify themselves for over a thousand years — bathe in the holy pools beneath a line of carved water spouts in a ritual cleansing (melukat), joining the pilgrims. Beautiful, moving and participatory; go early, dress respectfully, and rent a sarong.
- 12.A spa & yoga in the jungle — Ubud is the wellness capital of Asia — a cheap, blissful Balinese massage or a flower-bath spa, a sunrise yoga class overlooking the rice fields, or a jungle retreat. Indulge in an hour of pampering for the price of a coffee back home, or join a class at a famous studio; the island's soul is in its serenity.
- 13.Ubud Palace & art market — The heart of Ubud town — the ornate royal palace with its carved gateways (free to wander, and host to evening Balinese dance shows), and the sprawling art market opposite, piled with carvings, textiles, baskets and paintings. Watch a mesmerising Legong dance by night, and haggle for crafts by day.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Ubud; flights via Google Flights.