The 17 Best Things To Do In Ubud, Indonesia

Unique Things To Do In Ubud Indonesia

Things to do in Ubud, Indonesia, might be the exact phrase you’ve just typed into Google, because let’s face it, planning a trip to Bali can be overwhelming.

Maybe you’re debating whether to stay in Ubud, Canggu, or Jimbaran.

Or maybe you only have a few days and want to make sure you don’t waste time on overhyped spots or fall into the all-too-common tourist traps.

I’ve been there.

When I first landed in Bali, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But after spending two months exploring the island (and hopping over to Gili T for a dose of beach life), I can honestly say Bali blew me away – in the best possible way.

Ubud, in particular, completely surprised me. It’s the perfect mix of peaceful nature, deep culture, and unique experiences, especially if you’re a solo traveller or a couple looking to go beyond the beach clubs.

I am going to share the best things to do in Ubud, including waterfall adventures, serene rice field walks, the beautiful Campuhan Ridge, and the unforgettable Monkey Sanctuary, among many other places.

This isn’t just another generic list.

It’s a practical, no-fluff guide to help you make the most of your time, avoid the letdowns, and actually enjoy what makes Ubud special.

Check out my 3-Day Ubud Itinerary to plan your short stay better and discover if Bali is worth visiting.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission. See my Privacy Policy.

Map Of Things To Do In Ubud

Ubud Palace

You may not notice it as you walk past since many of the surrounding buildings look similar, but this is no ordinary temple.

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This Palace was home to Ubud’s royal family between 1800–1823.

Ubud Palace is a historic part of Ubud and one that cannot be missed when visiting. When I visited, I found walking around it to be very relaxing.

I happened to meet a photographer for a group of girls from China and found it to be a fun interaction.

We got our picture taken right in front of the tall door at the palace and admired the intricate designs as we strolled around. Be prepared to wait in line for the best picture locations.

Thankfully, this was only a short walk away from our guesthouse.

I made a post about the most unique places to stay in Ubud.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

The Monkey Forest was an incredibly fun and unique thing to do in Ubud.

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While one monkey actually jumped onto my back and held my backpack as I bent over to tie my shoes, I was a little unsure at first. After a moment, he jumped down and ran away with my water bottle.

Walking around the sanctuary is another unique thing to do in Ubud, making for a relaxing experience.

Occasionally, I did see the monkeys fighting and screaming, which was scary at first, but this is totally normal. There are some nice temples inside the forest, too, as well as around 1,200 long-tailed macaques.

They are beautiful animals, and they are mostly not shy.

Considering visiting Indonesia or Thailand? I made a comparison post which puts them head-to-head.

Campuhan Ridge Walk & Pura Gunung Lebah

If you want a nature escape from the hectic streets of Ubud that is motorbike-free, then head over to Campuhan Ridge Walk for an experience totally worth doing in Ubud.

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When we visited, the trail was calm with only a small number of tourists walking.

On either side, you’ll see a deep valley packed with green trees and dense forest. It’s a very beautiful experience, especially as the sun was setting.

For me, it was nice to see the beautiful rice fields at the end of the trail and fly my drone high above for a unique vantage point.

I recommend sitting with a big coconut afterwards on the second floor of Karsa Cafe, to rest your legs and replenish your energy.

Ubud Art Market

Ubud Art Market is a great place to pick up souvenirs and support local artists.

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Walking through this small market was a delightful way to see how locals produce their crafts and what they create in abundance. You can find everything from jewellery, paintings, and textiles that are made in Ubud or nearby.

There are a couple of levels to the building, and they have a high variety and colourful options.

You can easily combine a visit here with the Ubud Palace, just like we did.

• 🕒 Generally open: 10 AM –6 PM (common local market hours)
• 🎟️ Free entry; costs vary by item
• 📍 Across from Ubud Palace on Jalan Raya Ubud

Traditional Dance at Pura Dalem Ubud

Witnessing a traditional dance was a top experience and a unique thing to do in Ubud for me.

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When we sat down, we had to wait half an hour for the performers to come out.

A group of eight men sat to my left and the same to my right as three women began the skilful performance wearing colourful traditional Balinese clothes.

• 🕒 Performances nightly ~7:30 PM–9 PM
• 🎟️ ~IDR 100 000 pp
• 📍 Inside Ubud Palace complex

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)

Goa Gajah is a Hindu temple located just a 20-minute drive from Ubud town centre.

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This temple was built sometime in the 9th century, and its highlight is the elephant cave entrance – skillfully carved and immediately eye-catching as you approach it.

It is said to have been built for meditation, and while the overall complex isn’t as impressive as Goa Garba in my opinion, it’s still worth a visit.

It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 as well, so it does merit time here.

• 🕒 Open: 8 AM–4 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 50,000 for adults; IDR 25,000 for children
• 📍 Located approximately 5 km east of central Ubud

Goa Garba

Goa Garba is another gem found close by Goa Gajah, about 3.5 kilometres away.

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When I visited, I was taken aback by the stone staircase leading high up to what looked like a walled entrance door.

The site was said to have been there since 1116.

Below you can find a perfectly carved rectangle cut out of the sloping cliff face, which is said to have been used for meditation.

Be careful walking around there, as a good grip was hard to come by. When I visited, there were only a few other people, so we had the place in almost complete silence.

Around the site, you will find trees growing all around the area, and it’s a beautiful, vibrant green setting away from the noisy and busy Ubud town.

I loved exploring this place for its natural beauty – and to be honest, peace and quiet.

• 🕒 Open: 8 AM–4 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 50,000 for adults; IDR 25,000 for children
• 📍 Located approximately 5 km east of central Ubud

Attend A Yoga Session

I am by no means a spiritual person or do yoga regularly; however, it was a nice experience when in Bali.

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Ubud is known as a yoga destination. My experience at Yoga Barn was good.

The teacher was experienced and handled the group well. While I did have a slight injury at the time, she was great with me asking about what happened.

The setting is great. A large room with bright windows and all the gear needed for a great yoga experience was present.

You can sit for a cool drink before or after the session.

We purchased tickets (which were a small rock) – kind of liked that, and we just had to wait until the class began.

• 🕒 Open: 7 AM–9 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 180,000 for adults; IDR 25,000 for children
• 📍 Located approximately 2 km Southeast of central Ubud

Live Music At No Mas

If you want a fun night out in Ubud, I recommend visiting No Mas.

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When we entered, we were politely escorted up to the top level, where it was dark with red lights and live karaoke going on. People were dancing, and the atmosphere was electric.

Depending on when you visit, you can experience Latin music or alternative rock nights, which, depending on your taste, can be great fun or not your scene.

The bar is very nice and has a comfortable seating area for food and drinks, too.

• 🕒 Hours vary by night, often open from 6 PM–2 AM
• 🎟️ No entrance fee, but food and drinks are moderately priced
• 📍 Located on Jalan Monkey Forest, central Ubud

Tegalalang Rice Fields

The rice fields close to Ubud are picture-perfect.

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Tegalalang Rice Fields is no exception.

When we visited, we paid for our tickets and made our way down the steep staircase. Suddenly, we found ourselves surrounded by rice paddies, trees, and everything green.

Many other travellers walked past in search of the famous Bali swings for photo opportunities.

The valley is vast, and we crossed over to the opposite side for more views of the terraces. When we flew the drone in the sky, we captured some amazing images and videos.

• 🕒 Open: Approx. 7 AM–6 PM
• 🎟️ Entry: IDR 25 000; some viewpoints charge up to 50 000; donations for photo spots
• 📍 ~10 km north of Ubud along Jalan Raya Tegalalang

Kelusa Rice Fields

We rented two bicycles for the day for 40,000 IDR and made our way to Kelusa Rice Fields.

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There is a nice trail there where bike group tours take off from Ubud, and you can book one of those right here.

We found other people strolling the trail, and the views of the layered rice fields were truly special. I found Kelusa Rice Fields had just a fraction of the visitors that Tegalalang had.

If you want to avoid crowds but still experience the best of Bali’s rice terraces, this could be perfect for you.

• 🕒 Sunrise To Sunset
• 🎟️ Free to visit and explore
• 📍 Located approximately 8 km north from central Ubud

Taman Sari Waterfall

Taman Sari Waterfall left me speechless.

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There are two plunge pools that make it extra special. However, I don’t recommend swimming at the top pool for safety reasons – the bottom one is totally fine.

The water was a dark emerald colour but didn’t have much visibility. All things considered, I recommend visiting this waterfall as part of a day trip to the many waterfalls found right beside Ubud.

They will not disappoint.

For more incredible waterfalls in Bali, I’ve written a comprehensive review of Banyumala Waterfall to help you plan your visit more effectively.

• 🕒 Open: 8 AM–6 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 25,000
• 📍 Located approximately 13 km east of central Ubud

Tibumana Waterfall

I’ve created a comprehensive guide to Tibumana Waterfall that you should check out before your visit.

This waterfall is one perfect-looking natural creation that looks so good it looks manmade.

The water falls so perfectly right down into a large pool at the bottom. You can swim here too but don’t go right under the water as it will hurt a lot.

Getting there requires a short walk down some stone staircases and through amazing nature. Once it levels out, you are coming up to my favourite waterfall in all of Bali.

Don’t forget your camera. I flew my drone here and got some brilliant video if I am not modest.

Unmissable is a word I don’t often use, but this waterfall is that.

• 🕒 Open: 6 AM–6 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 25 000; parking ~IDR 5 000
• 📍 Jl. Setra Agung, Apuan, 14 km east of Ubud

Tegenungan Waterfall

Another mind-blowing waterfall is Tegenungan Waterfall.

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This was the busiest waterfall of the five I visited during my time in Bali, and it was one of the most impressive.

Water seems to collide together at the top from a couple of angles, and the result is breathtaking.

The noise of the water when I was standing up close was so loud I had to move back 50 metres.

It is easily accessible down a staircase, and you can buy snacks or ice cream along the way to keep your energy levels up.

Some people got into the water, but there is a rope that keeps travellers from getting too close. The water has gigantic power – best to stay back as much as you can.

• 🕒 Open: 7 AM–6:30 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 25,000 per person
• 📍 Located in Kemenuh village, approximately 10 km southeast of Ubud

Pura Titra Temple

This Hindu temple is one of the most popular sites to visit.

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It’s a little drive away from Ubud, but you can easily make it during one of your days in the town.

It was built back in 962 AD, and today it draws many Hindus to complete the water purification process here.

When I visited, people from all over the world put their heads under the water, and many waited in line for a long time. That didn’t work for us because we had visits to other places lined up for the day, so keep that in mind when you’re travelling. You cannot just show up whenever you want and do the ceremony.

You get a free sarong upon entry so you can respect the temple. The entry fee was 50,000 IDR per person.

Be aware that on the way out, you need to slalom through what feels like a maze of souvenir shops and will be bombarded with offers to buy different items.

Whether you shop or not is up to you, but I found the experience very intense.

• 🕒 Open: 8 AM–6 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 50,000 per person (includes sarong)
• 📍 Located near Tampaksiring, ~40 min drive north of Ubud

Pura Mengening

Close to Pura Titra Empul is Pura Mengening.

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While people throw around the term “hidden gem,” it really did feel like this after visiting the former temple.

It had a fraction of the tourists and also included the water purification process. While the size was much smaller, you had an impressive downhill walk through stone steps, and at the bottom, you could complete the purification experience.

I found it much more impressive overall.

The water purification cost me 30,000 IDR. We made offerings and wishes, which I found to be very positive and uplifting.

There were lockers and dressing rooms to change into the full orange clothing that allowed you to enter the water and participate in the purification ritual. The attendant we paid even took videos of us during the process, which was a nice touch.

He charged us 40,000 IDR for the sarong outfit and locker, and requested a small tip afterwards, which we happily provided.

• 🕒 Open: 8 AM–6 PM daily
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: IDR 40,000 per person (includes sarong)
• 📍 Located near Tampaksiring, close to Pura Tirta Empul

Cooking Class

Attending a Balinese cooking class is a great way to get a crash course in Balinese culture.

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Discover how to make a number of famous dishes. Share a station with another person and help each other along the way.

I loved the Nasi Goreng!

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Final Thoughts/Conclusion

There are clearly some great things to do in Ubud, Indonesia. PS – you can find out the best way to get from Bali Airport to Ubud with my guide.

If you enjoy peaceful temples, nature packed with monkeys, and nearby rice fields and waterfalls that will stun you, Ubud is a great place to visit.

Even at night, there are unique things to do, like attending traditional dance performances, listening to alternative rock music, or joining Latin dance events.

For me, Ubud offered way more than I expected. While I’m not personally into the whole wellness scene, I noticed its presence.

My favourite things in the town were Ubud Palace, Monkey Sanctuary and the Campuhan Ridge walk. Outside of town, the waterfalls blew me away, leaving me speechless.

Make sure you check out my Southeast Asian packing list before you go.

Any questions? Just drop me a message.

Thanks for reading,

James

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FAQs

Is Ubud Really Worth Visiting?

Yes, Ubud is definitely worth spending several days exploring its best attractions. While other popular destinations like Canggu, Jimbaran, Amed, and Lovina attract many travellers, I would rank Ubud as equal to or better than these alternatives. Though Ubud lacks beaches, it makes up for it with numerous activities that will fill your itinerary for an action-packed stay.

What Is Ubud Famous For?

The famous attractions in Ubud, Indonesia, include Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market, Campuhan Ridge Walk, and the stunning waterfalls and rice terraces nearby. It’s not just about yoga and meditation, though these are certainly popular. When I think of Ubud now, I imagine lush nature, ornate temples, playful monkeys, traditional kecak dance performances, and the fragrant scent of incense wafting through the streets.

Is 2 Days In Ubud Enough?

Two days in Ubud is a nice amount of time to see the best the town has to offer. However, I recommend three days to fully experience all the major attractions like the Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Campuhan Ridge Walk, and a traditional dance performance. Two days can fill up very quickly. In my experience, three days provides a better timeframe to cover the best things to do in Ubud, Indonesia.

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