Ubud Travelers Recommend

Three days in Ubud gives you time to discover the town, explore the natural wonders around it—and perhaps delve a little further into central Bali, or head north. In addition to experiencing the classic Ubud delights of temples, rice fields, rivers, and waterfalls, you can also venture out to Mt. Batur volcano, tube down canyons, or meet a real live shaman. Here’s how.

Day 1: Temples and Rice Fields

Spend your first day in Ubud discovering what made the town famous: its beautiful temples and stunning rice fields. Don’t miss the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, in the heart of town, and consider joining a tour that covers further temples such as Taman Ayun or Tanah Lot. Explore the rice terraces with a camera, on foot, on bike, or even by ATV: a guide can explain the ancient system that governs them. Don’t miss a chance to discover Bali’s spectacular cuisine, whether as part of a cooking class with a local family, on a food tour, or in an authentic local restaurant.

Day 2: Rivers, Waterfalls, and Hot Springs

On your second day in Ubud, delve deeper into the area’s natural wonders. Get the day off to an adrenaline-filled start with a white-water rafting trip down the Ayung River, which races through a gorge to the north of town. Take the opportunity to swim—or pose for photos—in waterfalls such as Tegenungan, or join a tour that combines waterfalls and hot springs. Learn about coffee and sample different styles of java at a coffee plantation, or swing high above the jungle on one of the area’s giant swings. Wrap up the day with a treatment at a Balinese spa.

Day 3: Outdoor Adventures

Ubud makes a great base for exploring the heart of Bali—and its less-visited north. A classic day trip is the sunrise climb of Mt. Batur volcano, complete with a breakfast cooked in volcanic steam. Alternatively, discover the fine art of canyoneering, splash among the waterfalls of north Bali, snorkel pristine reef at Padangbai, or capture the selfie of a lifetime at the “Gates of Heaven” in Lempuyang Temple. Closer to home, shop for souvenirs from wood carvings to paintings at the craft villages around Ubud, or discover the world of Balinese healing over a session with a shaman. Round off your visit with a gourmet dinner at one of Ubud’s modern Indonesian restaurants.

With two days in Ubud, you’ll have plenty of time to hit all the highlights. See the temples and rice-field landscapes that have made Ubud a mecca for visitors since the 1920s, take a cooking class, and then venture further afield into a world of natural wonders, including volcanoes, waterfalls, and hot springs.

Day 1: Temples and Rice Fields

**Morning:**Start the day by checking off the heart of Ubud. Explore the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, with its rambling bridges, jungle, gorge, and cheeky grey macaques. Tour Ubud Palace, home of the town’s royal family, then soak up the arts, crafts, and culture on display at Ubud Market.

**Afternoon:**A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ubud’s rice fields date back around 1,000 years. On a tour, you’ll learn about their ancient cultivation system, and capture timeless images as you hike, bike, or e-bike through the terraces, stopping at temples such as Tirta Empul along the way.

**Evening:**Relying heavily on fresh herbs and spices, Bali’s tangy, flavor-packed cuisine is a revelation. Treat your palate to a cooking class—perhaps with a local family in their traditional compound home—a food tour, or a multicourse feast overlooking one of Ubud’s beautiful rivers.

Day 2: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, and Hot Springs

**Morning:**With a second day in Ubud, you have time for a full-day adventure. Climb Mt. Batur volcano at sunrise, followed by a relaxing lounge in its hot springs. Alternatively, take a whitewater rafting trip down the Ayung River or an ATV ride through forest, jungle, and rice paddies.

**Afternoon:**Spend the afternoon taking stunning photos, perhaps under the tumbling torrent of Tegenungan Waterfall, or soaring high above the green landscape on the Bali Swing. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about coffee, a famous Balinese crop, at one of the area’s plantations.

**Evening:**Wrap your two days in Ubud up in style with a pampering session at a classic Balinese spa. Let gentle gamelan music enfold you as your therapist kneads the knots away, or discover classic Balinese rituals such as a bath in tropical flowers or a “lulur” body scrub session.

Bali’s spiritual and cultural capital, Ubud offers a surplus of must-dos—both in the town itself, and scattered among the jungle and rice fields that surround it. With one day in Ubud, you can get an overview of its highlights: Visit ancient temples, enjoy a rice-field adventure on an ATV, bike, or raft, and discover Bali’s delicious cuisine. Here’s how.

Morning: Temple Touring

Start by visiting some of Ubud’s stone temples set amid ancient landscapes. Beat the crowds by heading out early to Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, where you’ll encounter lively grey macaques. If time permits, venture further to Tirta Empul, where you can have a Hindu water blessing. Stop by Ubud Palace, right across from Ubud Market, to soak up the regal atmosphere and shop for arts, crafts, and souvenirs.

Afternoon: Adventures in Nature

Head out of town to discover the rich landscapes of rice fields and gorges that surround Ubud. Take a whitewater rafting trip down the Ayung River, which races through a vertiginous valley complete with waterfalls, beaches, carvings, and lush forest. Most tours include a buffet lunch. Alternatively, roar through rice paddies, bamboo forest, and along rivers on an ATV 4-wheeler, hike through tropical green rice terraces, or pedal a bike (or e-bike) along country lanes and through tranquil villages.

Evening: Flavorful Feasts

Sample the tangy, herbal flavors of Balinese cuisine. Try a cooking class, some of which allow you to learn from locals in their home and eat with the family. You can also stroll the streets on a walking food tour, or feast on a 6-course tasting menu overlooking a racing river. Finally, you’d be remiss not to squeeze in one of Bali’s world-famous spa treatments. Unwind with a classic massage, a traditional flower bath, or an Indonesian “lulur” ritual.

Ubud is a hub for visual arts, and the best place in Bali to learn about and appreciate Balinese art and crafts. From museums filled with colorful Ubud-style paintings to markets selling traditional handicrafts, here are the must-see sights for art lovers in Ubud. 

Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA)

Founded by respected Balinese art dealer and ambassador of Balinese culture Agung Rai, this museum is one of the top art attractions on the island. The collection features works by indigenous artists, as well as international artists who lived and worked in Bali, such as Walter Spies and Willem Gerard Hofker. Paintings are hung in Balinese-style buildings, and the site also features a traditional Balinese garden. 

Puri Lukisan Museum

Another staple of Ubud’s art scene, this museum, which first opened in the 1950s, showcases Balinese talent. Various Bali schools and styles are represented, spanning everything from 16th-century pieces to modern art. 

Neka Art Museum

Opened in 1982, this museum holds works not just by Balinese artists, but also by those for whom Bali is an important subject matter or source of inspiration. As well as artworks, the Neka Art Museum also features a collection of keris (curved Indonesian daggers). 

Ubud Traditional Art Market

Known by locals as Pasar Seni Ubud, this daily market—situated opposite the Puri Saren Palace—is filled with stallholders selling a wide range of handcrafted local goods. Typical offerings include everything from wood carvings and silver jewelry to paintings and handwoven baskets.

Celuk Village

About a 20-minute drive south of Ubud, this small village is at the center of Bali’s silver and gold trade. Admire intricately designed pieces of gold and silverware, from cutlery to ornaments and jewelry. 

Tohpati Village

This village, about a 50-minute drive from Bali, is known for its batik production, a traditional method of creating colorful patterned textiles. Observe the steps involved in the batik process, from designing to waxing to dyeing, then browse showrooms containing examples of the elaborate craft.

The culinary landscape of Indonesia is as diverse as its culture and geography, and Bali is no exception. Balinese food is time- and ingredient-intensive, with a heavy emphasis on spices, aromatics, and chili peppers. Here are a few foods and activities you won't want to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

Unlike much of the rest of Indonesia, Bali is predominantly Hindu, and one of the island's must-try dishes is babi guling, spit-roasted suckling pig. Traditional Indonesian meat skewers, called sate or satay, are made from chicken, beef, pork, fish, or even tofu, while the Balinese version is often made from minced meat mixed with coconut milk and spices before hitting the grill. Seafood plays a prominent role in the local food landscape— fish and shrimp come barbecued or in fragrant curries—while nasi goreng, Bali's take on chicken and rice, is often served with shrimp crackers, cucumber, and fiery sambal sauce.

Must-Do Experiences

• Experience the ties between Bali's signature dishes and religious ceremony by taking in a sunset seafood dinner and traditional dance performance at the clifftop temple of Uluwatu overlooking Jimbaran Bay

• Learn the craft of Balinese cuisine at a cooking class in Ubud or an intimate chef-led demonstration in a traditional Gulingan Village kitchen

• Explore the street foods of Kuta on the back of a motorbike

• Embark on a Balinese food safari through Seminyak, Jimbaran, or Ubud

• Visit a small village to learn cooking methods from the locals