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The laid-back town of Ubud, located in the highlands, is quite literally the heart of Bali. Ubud tourism pulsates with a perfect fusion of art, religion and verdant greenery.
Surrounded by lush jungles, this is an ideal place to rejuvenate your spirits. Suffused with Balinese culture, Ubud Bali is home to many temples, spas, restaurants and museums. The streets are vibrant with colourful art, crafts and souvenirs. The hilly jungles are alive with tropical birds and monkeys. The town is dotted with lush green paddy fields and palm trees. Your Ubud tour will be complete only when you shop in this paradise, experience religion in the ancient temples and unwind in this peaceful retreat where serenity and tranquillity will be your true companions.
Here is an Ubud travel guide to make your Ubud holiday an unforgettable experience.
This is a must-see in your Ubud tourism itinerary. As the name suggests, this shady green forest is a nature reserve which houses over 600 long-tailed monkeys. The tall trees form a canopy over an ancient three-temple complex marked with symbolic traditional sculptures.
Art museums are an important part in your Ubud travel. The thriving art and culture scene can be experienced on a tour of the museums such as Agung Rai Museum of Art, the Neka Art Museum, Museum Puri Lukasan and the Blanco Renaissance Museum.
A trip to the Tegalalang Rice Terrace, north of Ubud, makes for a blissful experience as you look down rolling green paddy terraces. Take beautiful pictures against this lush backdrop or take a hike down the slopes of the rice terraces where you can see the traditional irrigation system at work.
You must carve out time to make a day trip to the several temples scattered across Ubud. Some of the Balinese shrines and structures date back to the 10th century. Goa Gajah the Elephant cave, Pura Taman Sarawati Temple, Pura Tirta Empul and Puri Saren Agung are some of the temples worth visiting.
The palace of the royal family is the perfect place to experience art, dance and literature as dance performances and literary events are held here regularly.
The breath-taking Campuhan Ridge Walk offers panoramic views of rice fields and the river along this trail.
Air - To get to Ubud you need to take a flight to the Denpasar Bali Airport. All major international cities are connected directly to Denpasar by flight.
Road - From Denpasar airport you can either rent a car (available at the airport) or take a bus to Ubud. There is no direct bus to Ubud and you will need to switch to a shuttle or van at Batu Bulan.
The ride by taxi / car will take a little over an hour whereas the bus ride will take over 1.5 hours, depending on the connecting bus time as well as traffic.
The Ubud tour Bali is incomplete without enjoying its rich variety of cuisines. Here is a guide to help you indulge in some great gastronomic experiences right from small local warungs like Bitangbali to award winning fine dining restaurants such as Mozaic and Locavore. Ubud also offers a wide variety of organic, vegetarian or even vegan choices
Aperitif, overlooking a jungle valley, offers a divine setting with a lavish eight course meal.
Set in the midst of nature with spectacular views of the Ayung river, Sawah Terrace at Madapa offers “back to the roots” concept of Indonesian food.
The Elephant overlooking the gorgeous Campuhan Ridge is known for its green, organic menu.
Moksa whips up fresh and flavourful plant based vegan delights.
When in Ubud, don’t forget to try the famous babi guling, bebek goreng and Nasi Ayam which are rich in authentic local flavours.
If you like shopping, you are in the right place. Hone your bargaining skills to get the best deals in the art markets and street shops.
Ubud Market or Pasar Ubud offers two levels of shops where craftsmen from neighbouring villages get their wares to sell. Prices are reasonable due to the proximity of their workshops to the market.
Sukawati Art Market will surprise you with the little treasures you can find here. If you are house proud, shop for handicrafts, intricately designed home accessories, paintings, wooden sculptures and handbags.
Indulge in street shopping for arty stuff at Jalan Raya and Ubud Monkey Forest Road. Trendy as well as traditional clothes are in abundance at Jalan Raya. Ubud Monkey Forest Road boasts of wooden artefacts and leather handbags.
Looking for gold and silver works? Then Celuk Village is the place for you. Whether quirky or intricate, ethnic or modern, you will definitely find jewellery here to suit your taste.
Tourism in Ubud offers a relaxed nightlife after the wild partying at Bali or Kuta.
Enjoy live music at many of the local pubs here such Bunute Kafe. Or make a trip to Casa Luna and enjoy Brazilian jazz. Bar Luna which plays host to international musicians visiting Bali, will make you groove to live music from Crescendo, its residential band.
A traditional Balinese dance performance is must-watch when in Ubud. Laka Leke is the perfect place to enjoy an authentic Balinese meal while watching a traditional dance.
If you are looking for a wild night of partying, worry not! CP Lounge will tick the boxes for you with a live band, dance floor and a selection of cocktails and tapas.
To experience the best of Balinese art, culture and life click here to get the best deals for your trip to Ubud.
Ubud is the art and culture hub of Bali. Art galleries and museums, temples and artefacts are found in abundance here.
Light cotton clothes and casual dresses, Tshirts and shorts are good options for clothes in Ubud. Being shirtless or exposing one’s belly is considered inappropriate. In temples, shoulders and knees need to be covered so do not forget to pack in a shawl and sarong.
You can enjoy live music at many of the local pubs which come alive at night. Grab a drink at Bar Luna as you groove to live music from Crescendo, its residential band. Party and dance at one of the many nightclubs. Watch a traditional Balinese dance performance at Ubud Palace or enjoy a night spa at dragonfly village.
Enjoy art and paintings at the many art galleries, hike through spectacular lush rice fields on the Campuhan Ridge Walk, learn about textiles and fabrics at Threads of Life, visit Ubud’s amazing Water Palace. Take a stroll through gorgeous gardens and winding walkways at Tjampuhan Hotel or window shop at the bustling art markets.
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest. Experience the Campuhan Ridge Walk amidst the hills and jungles, along the valleys. Do a temple tour – Goa Gajah, Pura Taman Sarawati Temple, Pura Tirta Empul and Puri Saren Agung. Visit museums and art galleries. Shop at the various art markets. Make a trip to the Tegalalang Rice Terrace to enjoy the tranquillity of nature.
The driving distance between Seminyak and Ubud is approximately 33 kms and takes about an hour depending on traffic.
A large variety of restaurants, bars and pubs thrive at Ubud, catering to every mood. Enjoy a relaxed evening with live music at Kafe Bunute, groove to loud thumping music at Sleeping Buddha, sample exotic cocktails at the Night Rooster or enjoy a flavourful wide menu inspired by music that changes every season at LaRamona.
Ubud boasts of an array of lavish resorts, mid-range and budget stays to suit every pocket. Luxurious stays at Mandapa, Alila Ubud for jungle adventure and Capella Ubud for glamping are some options. Bambu Indah and Bisma Eight are some mid-range hotels. If you want a budget holiday Tegal Sari and Artotel Haniman Ubud are hotels to suit your need.
Enjoy sights of monkeys hanging from trees at Ubud Monkey Forest. Visit the captivating Elephant Cave, Goa Gajah. Walk amidst lush rice fields at Tegalalang Rice Terrace. Take your kids to admire colourful butterflies at the Butterfly Garden. Experience an adrenaline rush at the Bali swing 20 minutes from Ubud.
Beaches are a short drive away from Ubud, between half an hour to 3 hours. The closest beach is the black sand Lebih Beach about 40 minutes away. Kuta Beach, Sanur and Pandawa are some of the other gorgeous beaches at a short driving distance.
Making plans to visit Ubud and more places in Bali? Connect with SOTC to book your complete Ubud Tourism package at affordable prices! You can also check out more International Tourism Packages only on SOTC.
