Best Things to Do in Ubud

Ubud is probably the most famous destination in Bali. The village is located in the center of the island surrounded by rice fields and jungle. Ubud is home to many temples and yoga retreats but there is so much more to do than that. In this travel guide, I will show you the best things to do in Ubud from natural to cultural to spiritual activities…

Best Things to Do in Ubud

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BEST THINGS TO DO IN UBUD OVERVIEW:


– Tegalalang Rice Terraces
– Campuhan Ridge Walk
– Sacred Monkey Forest
– Pura Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple
– Tegenungan, Kanto Lampo, Tibumana & Suwat Waterfalls
– Bali Swings
– Balinese Flower Bath & Massage
– Floating Breakfast
– Yoga Class
– Ubud Market
– Traditional Cooking Class
– Eat at Local Warungs

How long to stay in Ubud & how to get around? We spent 5 days in Ubud and did all of these activities by scooter. In case you don’t feel comfortable driving a scooter in the crazy traffic of Bali, I recommmend booking a private car with a driver or doing a customized private tour with a local guide.

Where to Stay in Ubud? Check out my blog post about the most Unique Places to Stay in Bali, which also includes some cool and unusual accoommodation options in Ubud. Looking for a hotel with a stunning pool? Read my blog post about the best hotel pools in Bali you can’t miss!

Looking for a complete tour package? Check out these top-rated experiences:

What to Do in Ubud in Detail

Tegalalang Rice Terraces

The Tegalalang Rice Terraces belong to the most beautiful places to visit in Bali. Here you can see countless layers of rice terraces within a lush tropical setting. Visiting the Tegalalang rice terraces is the perfect way to start your day in Ubud. Because of its popularity, you should visit this place early in the morning, best right after sunrise. After 10 am this place will get very crowded. Within the rice terraces, you can also find some swings and hammocks where you can take pictures for a small donation.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

The famous Campuhan Ridge walk is around 2 kilometers long and will lead you through beautiful rice fields and lush jungle. It’s the perfect place for a relaxed morning walk or a romantic sunset walk. In the early morning, you will share the walk only with some locals whereas at sunset the walk gets crowded with many tourists. No matter if you visit at sunrise or sunset (or in between) you will love the stunning views.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

Sacred Monkey Forest

Your visit to Ubud isn’t complete if you haven’t been to the iconic monkey forest. The sacred monkey forest is a large park right in the center of Ubud where you can see hundreds of free monkeys. It was fun to watch the cheeky monkeys playing and interacting with each other. Make sure to read all the information signs before entering the park to know how to behave in the presence of the monkeys. And be careful, they like to steal food, drinks, sunglasses, and other small items (even out of your bag). We didn’t take a bag with us and only brought our camera, to be on the safe side.

This article may also pique your interest: Bali Itinerary for 3 Amazing Weeks in Bali

Pura Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple

Pura Tirta Empul is an important source of fresh drinking water from the ground. Moreover, this holy temple has 30 stations inside the purification pools to clean yourself. If you want to join the cleaning process, you have to get two different sarongs at the temple: one for entering the temple grounds (free of charge at the entrance) and another one for entering the pools (can be rented for a small fee next to the pools). The Pura Tirta Empul temple is defnitely one of the most beautiful temples in Bali.

Tegenungan, Kanto Lampo, Tibumana and Suwat Waterfalls

From Ubud, we visited four waterfalls: Tegenungan, Kanto Lampo, Tibumana and Suwat waterfall.

Tegenungan waterfall is very close to Ubud (25 minutes by scooter) and a very popular tourist spot. Therefore, it’s best to arrive early at this waterfall. The waterfall is very impressive and it’s possible to enter the water to refresh yourself.

Kanto Lampo and Tibumana waterfalls are both around a 30-minute scooter drive from Ubud. We visited both waterfalls together on one trip. To see the Kanto Lampo waterfall from the front you have to go into the water, so make sure to bring swimming clothes (changing rooms are provided). Kanto Lampo was one of my favorite waterfalls in Bali. Tibumana waterfall is only a 15-minute drive from Kanto Lampo. You can have a swim right in front of the waterfall there.

Suwat waterfall is still a hidden gem! It’s a 30-minute drive by scooter from Ubud. The secluded waterfall has a natural pool and is surrounded by rocks and tropical jungle. The highlight of Suwat waterfall is a bamboo raft floating in the water which is a great photo spot.

Tip: In case you don’t want to visit these waterfalls by scooter, you can also join this guided Waterfall Tour that will take you to Tegenungan waterfall, Tibumana waterfall and Tukad Cepung waterfall.

Do you love visiting waterfalls? Make sure to include Northern Bali and Munduk in your Bali itinerary. North Bali is home to some of the most spectacular waterfalls of the island, such as the iconic Sekumpul waterfall.

Bali Swings

Around Ubud, you can find many attractions offering beautiful swings in the middle of the jungle. We spent half a day at one of these places and enjoyed it to the fullest. It was so much fun to swing in the middle of Bali’s beautiful nature while taking some memorable holiday snaps with the unique swings. In addition, you can also take photos at the many beautiful nests and other photo spots. Some places even provide professional photographers and the opportunity to rent long dresses for the pictures.

— My Travel Photography Gear —

Camera: Sony A7R III
Allrounder Zoom Lens: Sigma 24-70mm F/2.8
Favorite Lens: Sony FE 35mm F/1.8
Telephoto Zoom Lens: Sigma 100-400mm F/5-6.3
Drone: DJI Mini 3 Pro
GoPro: GoPro Hero11 Black
Phone: iPhone 12 Pro Max
Camera Tripod: Rollei Compact Traveler No. 1 Carbon
Phone Tripod: Lammcou Tripod

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To read more about my photography gear, click HERE.

Balinese Flower Bath & Massage

A must-do in Ubud is to have a traditional Balinese massage followed by a flower bath. Ubud is home to many Spa’s that offer such a package for a reasonable price. We had a relaxing one-hour couple massage with coconut oil followed by a fruit body scrub and a flower bath with tea and cookies for only $15 per person. Definitely a great way to relax during your Ubud visit.

Floating Breakfast

A special experience in Ubud is to have a so-called ‘floating breakfast’. Many hotels and villas in Bali offer this option. Your breakfast will be served on a floatable tray which allows you to enjoy the pool while eating breakfast. I recommend sitting on the edge of the pool (not standing inside the pool) to eat your floating breakfast. It makes things much easier – believe me! We enjoyed a wonderful floating breakfast at our own private villa in Ubud (see below). We stayed at Villa Ulun Mertha which I can highly recommend. The villa has a beautiful pool & outdoor area and it includes your own chef for breakfast. We had such a wonderful time there.

Update: Meanwhile we have visited Ubud a few times (because it’s one of our favorite places in Bali). I have compiled some more hotel and villa recommendations in my latest blog post Unique Places to Stay in Bali (it includes 6 more amazing accommodation options in Ubud, next to some other incredible hotels around the island).

For other accommodation options in Ubud, click here.

Yoga Class

Ubud, as the spiritual center of Bali, is known for its many yoga schools and classes. Therefore, you shouldn’t miss taking a yoga class when staying in Ubud. It’s a great way to stretch and relax between all the temple and waterfall visits. Many yoga classes offer walk-in options without prior booking. Just make sure to arrive on time, maybe even 30 minutes earlier to make sure to get a spot at popular classes.

Looking for more spiritual activities? Check out this Eat Pray Love Tour.

Yoa Class in Ubud Bali

Ubud Market

Ubud market is a great place to stroll around and shop till you drop. The market is located right in the center of town. Before 8 am you can buy fresh food at the traditional market whereas during the day the market changes into an art market. At Ubud market, you can get everything from decoration, souvenirs, and jewelry to paintings, clothes, and the well-known Bali bag. It’s a big shopping paradise.

Traditional Cooking Class

For us, a traditional cooking class is the best way to experience the local (food) culture. We took a half-day cooking class, which taught us how to create 8 different Indonesian dishes. We not only learned about all the ingredients but also about Balinese culture. It was a really amazing and delicious experience. This is the cooking class that we took: Authentic Cooking Class in a local village. I can highly recommend it!

Eat at local Warungs

Another great way to experience the local food culture in Ubud is to eat at one of the many local Warungs. A Warung is a simple and small family-run restaurant serving traditional Indonesian food. You can try local street food dishes in these places in an authentic atmosphere. In Ubud, you can find many Warungs in the town center as well as in the side streets (which are generally cheaper).

Delicious Indonesian Dish at a Local Warung

I hope you liked this Ubud travel guide about the best things to do and the best places to visit in Ubud.

To read my full Bali travel guide, which includes an amazing 3-week Bali itinerary, click HERE.

Looking for unique places to stay in Bali? Check out my blog post about Cool and Unusual Hotels and Bamboo Villas in Bali.

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