10 Best Things to Do in Ubud: Sights, Routes & Tips

10 Best Things to Do in Ubud

Start with the town core on foot, then give the north and east a driver day. Each pick below carries a time note and a skip-if line. Ticket prices quoted here come from recent travel-guide reports, so confirm them locally before you go.

• 1. Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
  • Courtyards and pavilions are free by day and reported to take 10 to 15 minutes. Part of the complex is still the royal family's residence.
  • Skip if you dislike short photo queues at the best corners.
• 2. Pura Taman Saraswati
  • Lotus ponds front this temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Saraswati and sits close to the palace. Entry is reported at Rp60,000, with 10 to 15 minutes inside.
  • Skip the paid entry if crowds bother you. Cafe Lotus next door gives a view across the ponds.
• 3. Ubud Art Market and the market streets
  • Stalls run along Jalan Arjuna and Jalan Kajeng, plus a large venue opposite the palace. Expect heavy bargaining, and start well below the first quote.
  • Browse Ubud's market streets for what each lane sells.
  • For souvenirs by category, see our shopping guide.
• 4. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
  • Temples, rivers and free-roaming macaques sit inside this reserve, and the official sanctuary site is the place to check hours and tickets. Adult entry is reported at Rp130,000.
  • Avoid eye contact, never feed the monkeys, and lock away bottles, glasses and phones.
  • Skip if close Monkey contact makes you uneasy.
• 5. Campuhan Ridge Walk
  • Start near Campuhan Bridge and Pura Gunung Lebah. Cafes cluster at the far end, reported at about 25 minutes each way.
  • Sources disagree on total length, so plan by time instead. Go early morning or late afternoon to dodge midday heat.
• 6. Tegalalang Rice Terraces
  • These are working fields, so stay on marked paths. Arrive around 7:30am for thinner crowds, and carry small bills for donations.
  • Reported fees are Rp50,000 at the Uma Ceking entrance plus a Rp25,000 tourist fee. Wear sturdy shoes, since steps can be slippery.
• 7. Pura Tirta Empul
  • Water flows through 30 spouts across two purification pools. Wear a sarong, dress modestly and follow the queue.
  • Some spouts are reserved for funeral rites, so ask before joining in. Go early to avoid long lines.
  • More sites are covered in our temple guide.
• 8. Pura Gunung Kawi
  • Ten rock-cut shrines stand on two sides of a river. Reaching them means roughly 250 steps down and the same back up.
  • Reported entry is Rp50,000 with a sarong. Skip if stairs are a problem; it pairs well with Tirta Empul.
• 9. Goa Gajah
  • A cave entrance carved with mythical figures leads to bathing pools and temple remains. A short, steep staircase links the car park to the site.
  • Reported entry is Rp50,000 including a sarong. Guides inside are optional.
• 10. Legong and kecak dance evenings
  • Legong at Ubud Palace is reported nightly at 7:30pm. Arrive by about 7pm for a seat.
  • Kecak rotates by weekday, as reported: Monday and Wednesday at Agung Rai Museum of Art, and Sunday and Tuesday at Pura Dalem Kutuh Kaja.
  • Saturday is at Desa lan Puseh Temple, and Thursday is at Peliatan Palace. Confirm schedules with each venue, then read our kecak dance guide.

Ubud Highlights Compared: Time, Access and Cost

Use this table to match each stop to your energy and budget. Cost tiers are relative, and the figures sit in the ticket section below.

Museums, Classes, Wellness and Adventure Around Ubud

Art museums double as heat and rain breaks. ARMA's official site and the Neka Art Museum site list hours and tickets. Puri Lukisan sits in the town Centre, and our museum comparison adds the rest. Most craft classes in silver, batik and pottery are reported to last 1.5 to 2 hours, so book ahead. A cooking class can be half a day, or a market visit plus lesson. Casa Luna and Pemulan Organic Farm School are both named in competitor guides, so check current details. Our cooking class guide covers formats. For massage, ask about treatment length, therapist and cancellation before paying. Compare options in our spa guide. Coffee, tea and chocolate plantations are easy add-ons to a driver day. Politely decline any stop your driver pushes that you did not choose. Rafting, ATV rides, tubing and downhill carting are commercial products. Check operator safety standards, age and weight limits, and cancellation terms first.

How Many Days in Ubud: Half-Day, 1.5-Day and 3-Day Routes

Group stops by geography. Mixing the town core with far sites wastes hours in traffic. One report of a trip said to take about an hour stretched to close to 3 hours on two-lane roads. Build a buffer into every driver day. Start with the half-day route if you only have a morning.

• Half-day
  • Ubud Palace, Pura Taman Saraswati and the market streets on foot.
  • End with a Campuhan Ridge Walk sunset if energy remains.
• 1.5 days
  • Day one covers the town core and the Sacred Monkey Forest, then Legong at 7:30pm.
  • Day two starts at Tegalalang around 7:30am and ends at Tirta Empul.
• 3 days
  • Day one is the town core. Day two covers the north and Tegalalang.
  • Day three covers Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah, with classes or a spa session in the afternoon.

Costs, Tickets and Opening Hours in Ubud

Recent travel-guide reports list Rp130,000 for adult Monkey Forest entry and Rp50,000 each for Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah. Tegalalang is reported at Rp50,000 plus a Rp25,000 tourist fee. Dance tickets at Pura Taman Saraswati are reported at Rp100,000. Treat all of these as leads, since fees change. Check the Monkey Forest site and the national tourism portal for current details. Carry small bills for donations and stalls. For driver rates, see our private driver guide.

Getting Around Ubud and Where to Stay

Central Ubud is walkable, including the palace, Saraswati, the market and Campuhan. Tegalalang, Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi need a driver or scooter. Gunung Kawi is reported at about 30 minutes north of town. Our transport overview compares the options. Riders can read the scooter rental advice first. Arriving from the coast? See routes from the airport. Check Ngurah Rai Airport's site for arrival details. Staying centrally means more walking and more noise. Quieter outskirts mean a short ride into town. For day-trip ideas beyond the core, see day trips from Ubud.

Rainy-Day and Free Things to Do in Ubud

Museums, cooking classes and spa sessions suit wet afternoons. Our rainy-day guide adds more. The palace courtyards, market streets and Campuhan Ridge Walk cost nothing. Find more in our free activities list. For quiet corners off the main roads, try lesser-known Ubud spots. Rainfall timing varies by season, so check BMKG's forecasts and our seasonal guide before you book.

Mistakes to Avoid in Ubud

Most problems come from timing and packing too much in.

• Reaching Tegalalang late
  • Aim for around 7:30am to beat crowds and heat.
• Skipping a sarong
  • Temples expect covered legs and a sash. Many sites provide or rent one.
• Carrying no small cash
  • Donations, parking fees and stalls often need small bills.
• Overloading far sites
  • Pick two or three eastern or northern stops per driver day.
• Underestimating Gunung Kawi's steps
  • About 250 steps each way make it a poor fit for limited mobility.