What to Do in Ubud, Indonesia | Temples, Walks, And Art

Ubud is best for rice terraces, temple rituals, jungle paths, craft markets, dance, and slow day trips from central Bali.

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Plan what to do in Ubud, Indonesia around three anchors: early outdoor sights, mid-day culture, and one calm evening performance. Ubud rewards travelers who move before the heat, leave space for traffic, and choose a few places well instead of racing through every temple and waterfall in Gianyar.

For a first trip, give Ubud at least two full days. One day can cover the town center, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Campuhan Ridge Walk, Ubud Art Market, and a dance show. A second day should go north to Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple, and one nearby waterfall or craft village.

If you want help stitching rice terraces, temples, and waterfalls into one driver-led day, compare the activity options after you know the plan:

What To Do Around Ubud: Rice Fields, Temples, And Art

Ubud works best when you split the day between one outdoor sight, one cultural stop, and one slow evening. The town is small on a map, but traffic on Jalan Raya Ubud and Jalan Monkey Forest can turn short distances into long hops.

The strongest Ubud itinerary starts outside before 9 a.m., moves indoors or under shade at lunch, then returns to the center for the market, palace, or dance. That rhythm keeps the day cooler and avoids the worst convoy traffic from south Bali day trips.

• Go early for rice terraces: Tegalalang is about 20 to 30 minutes north of central Ubud by car when traffic is light.
• Save temples for respectful, unhurried visits: Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah both require covered shoulders plus a sarong or sash.
• Keep one evening local: Ubud Palace dance nights usually cost about IDR 100,000, or roughly $6 at about IDR 18,000 to $1.

Start With Ubud’s Core Sights

Central Ubud has enough for a full day without a driver. The easiest route is Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise, coffee or breakfast near Jalan Raya Ubud, then Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market, and the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

Campuhan Ridge Walk is free, open, and best before the sun rises high over the exposed path. The walk is not difficult, but there is little shade once the morning warms up, so bring water and start early.

Ubud Palace, also called Puri Saren Agung, is a short cultural stop rather than a half-day attraction. The palace courtyards are free to enter during the day, while the evening dance stage is the reason to return after dinner.

Ubud Art Market is worth visiting before lunch, when stalls are full and bargaining feels less rushed. Treat it as a place for textiles, baskets, carved masks, and small gifts, not a museum-quality craft source; better woodcarving and silver work sit in the villages south of town.

Ubud Experiences Compared

Ubud activities fall into three groups: free walks, paid cultural sights, and full-day outings that need transport. The table below shows which experiences fit which kind of traveler and what to budget before extras.

If you want one organized day after comparing the main sights, choose a route that links Tegalalang, Tirta Empul, and one waterfall rather than a long cross-island circuit.

How Many Days Do You Need In Ubud?

Two full days is the sweet spot for Ubud if this is your first Bali trip. Three days gives you time for a cooking class, a spa afternoon, or a slower village craft day without cutting the rice terraces or temples.

One day works only if you stay near the center and accept a tight plan. Use the morning for Campuhan Ridge Walk and the market, spend the hottest part of the day at Monkey Forest, then finish with dinner and a dance performance.

With two days, split the trip this way:

1. Day one: Campuhan Ridge Walk, Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, and an evening dance.
2. Day two: Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple, Goa Gajah, and one cafe or craft stop on the return.

Three days is better for travelers who want a slower base. Add a Balinese cooking class, Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets, or a waterfall such as Tibumana or Kanto Lampo when roads are dry.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Price, Timing, And Etiquette

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is Ubud’s most practical paid sight because it sits in town, has shade, and usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. The official visitor page lists opening hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and current foreign adult entry at IDR 130,000, about $7, on the Monkey Forest Ubud visit page.

The monkeys are semi-wild Balinese long-tailed macaques, not pets. Keep sunglasses, loose jewelry, snacks, plastic bags, and dangling items packed away before entering.

Follow three simple rules inside the forest: do not feed the monkeys, do not stare into their eyes, and do not grab back if a monkey takes something. Staff are used to helping visitors, and the calmest response is usually the safest one.

Temple note: The forest contains active sacred areas, so visitors should dress modestly and stay outside restricted temple zones.

Where To Stay For Easy Ubud Days

The easiest Ubud base is within walking distance of Jalan Raya Ubud, Ubud Palace, or Monkey Forest Road. Staying central cuts taxi friction at night and lets you do the market, palace, cafes, and dance shows without a driver.

Travelers who want quiet should look just outside the center in Penestanan, Nyuh Kuning, or the rice-field lanes north of town. Those areas feel calmer, but you will rely more on taxis or hotel shuttles, especially after dark.

Once you know whether you want central walking access or a quieter rice-field stay, compare hotels on a map before choosing a room:

What Should You Skip In Ubud?

Ubud visitors should skip any plan that tries to fit Tegalalang, Tirta Empul, multiple waterfalls, a swing park, Monkey Forest, and a dance show into one day. That schedule looks efficient on a list but usually becomes a traffic-heavy photo chase.

Skip animal photo setups that reward forced contact, and be cautious with swing packages that charge separate fees after a low entry price. Tegalalang itself is worth a morning; paying for every photo platform around it is optional.

Skip driving yourself if you are not confident with scooters, narrow roads, rain-slick lanes, and left-side traffic. A hired driver is often the safer choice for the north-of-Ubud temple and terrace loop, especially for families or groups.

One-Day Ubud Plan For First-Timers

A strong one-day Ubud plan keeps the center first, the forest shaded, and the dance show for night. This version avoids backtracking and leaves room for meals instead of turning the day into a checklist.

1. 6:30 a.m.: Walk Campuhan Ridge before heat and tour traffic build.
2. 8:30 a.m.: Have breakfast near Jalan Raya Ubud, then visit Ubud Palace.
3. 10:00 a.m.: Browse Ubud Art Market while the stalls are fully open.
4. 12:00 p.m.: Take lunch and a rest; mid-day heat can be draining.
5. 2:00 p.m.: Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary for shaded paths and temple courtyards.
6. 5:30 p.m.: Eat early near the palace or Saraswati Temple area.
7. 7:30 p.m.: End with a Legong or gamelan performance in central Ubud.

For two days, move Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple, and Goa Gajah to the second morning. That keeps Ubud’s strongest sights intact without forcing rural roads and town-center stops into the same crowded day.