Holy spring temples, a forest of macaques, cliff-side shrines, green rice terraces and a busy market next to a royal palace fill Ubud, Bali's cultural heart, which lies inland from the beaches, in the cool hills.
Green rice paddies stacked down a river valley, shaped by the traditional Balinese water-sharing system. Paths wind between the steps, and cafes along the ridge look out over the palms.
Best time: Early morning
Tip: Go early, before the tour buses and the heat. Paths can be steep and slippery after rain, and some small donation points or swings ask for a fee, so check first.
A shady forest in the middle of town, home to many long-tailed macaques and a few old Hindu temples with moss-covered statues and stone bridges. It is both a nature reserve and a place of worship.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon
Tip: Do not carry loose food, and keep sunglasses, hats and phone straps secure - the monkeys grab things. Never feed them or stare at them, and stay calm if one climbs near you.
The royal palace, Puri Saren, with carved gateways and courtyards, sits at the main crossroads, with Ubud's craft market just across the road. In the evening, traditional dance performances are often staged in the palace grounds.
Best time: Morning for the market, evening for dance
Tip: Bargain politely at the market and compare a few stalls first. Dance programmes and tickets change from day to day, so check what is on for your dates.
A Hindu water temple built around a sacred spring, with clear pools and a row of spouts where Balinese come to purify themselves. Its roots are traditionally traced back to around the 10th century.
Best time: Morning
Tip: It is a working temple: wear a sarong and sash (often lent at the entrance) and follow the signs. If you want to join the purification, ask the staff how it is done, and it is fine just to watch.
An old hermitage cave whose entrance is carved with a fierce, wide-mouthed face and swirling foliage. Nearby are bathing pools with water spouts and a green, shady path down a small ravine.
Best time: Morning
Tip: The cave inside is small and dark, and the steps down to the pools are uneven. It is a sacred site, so wear a sarong and sash, and combine it with a stop at nearby sights in Bedulu.
A gentle paved path along a grassy ridge between two river valleys, with open views of palms and hills. It starts near the old Campuhan bridge area and is a favourite for an easy morning stroll.
Best time: Sunrise or late afternoon
Tip: Start at sunrise or late afternoon to avoid the midday sun, and bring water and a hat. The path is easy for most people, but there is little shade along the ridge.
A wide waterfall dropping into a green pool in a jungle gorge, reached by a stairway and a short path. It is one of the easier waterfalls to visit from Ubud, with viewing spots at the top and bottom.
Best time: Morning, dry season
Tip: The stairs down are steep and you have to climb back up, so wear shoes with grip. Rocks are slippery and the current can be strong after heavy rain, so follow the signs and staff.
A small temple dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the arts, set behind a pond full of lotus flowers. Its carved gateway and floating shrines make it one of Ubud's prettiest photo spots.
Best time: Late afternoon, evening
Tip: The best light is in the late afternoon, and dance shows are often held here in the evening. Visitors usually look from the entrance and the walkways, so respect any areas marked for worshippers.
Tall shrine-like reliefs carved into the rock face of a river valley, thought to date from around the 11th century. A long stairway through rice fields leads down to the carvings, the water and a small temple.
Best time: Morning
Tip: The stairway has many steps and the climb back is tiring in the heat, so bring water. It is a sacred site, so wear a sarong and sash. Easy to pair with Tirta Empul on the same trip.
Ubud has been an artists' village for a long time, and its museums show Balinese painting from classic wayang-style scenes to modern work, including pieces by foreign artists who lived here. Puri Lukisan and the Neka Art Museum are two well-known stops.
Best time: Midday, when it is hot
Tip: A good indoor plan for the hottest part of the day or a rainy afternoon. Opening days and hours vary and some galleries close on certain days, so check before you go.
It is about 29 km in a straight line from Ubud.
It is about 115 km in a straight line from Ubud.
It is about 104 km in a straight line from Ubud.
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Indonesia page
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Prices here are about 29% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Ubud is inland, so most visitors fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) near Denpasar and drive up, usually about 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic. There is no train in Bali, so a private car, hotel transfer or taxi is the usual way. Ride-hailing pickups can be limited in some local areas, so a hotel transfer may be easier.
The dry season, roughly April to October, is the easiest time for terraces, walks and waterfalls. The rainy season, roughly November to March, is greener but wetter, with slippery paths and stronger waterfalls. July-August and the year-end holidays are the busiest, so book hotels early. Ubud is cooler than the coast, but still warm and humid.
At temples wear a sarong and sash (often lent or rented at the entrance), cover shoulders if asked, and never climb on shrines. Small offerings are placed on the ground and doorsteps every day - step around them. During ceremonies, stay behind the worshippers and ask before photographing. Nyepi, Bali's day of silence, usually falls in March; the whole island goes quiet, so check the dates when planning.
The centre of Ubud, with the palace, market, Saraswati temple and Monkey Forest, can be done on foot, but pavements are narrow and the sun is strong. The rice terraces, Tirta Empul, Gunung Kawi, Goa Gajah and the waterfall are spread out, so a car with driver is the easiest way to combine them. Scooters are common to rent, but traffic is busy, so a driver is the better choice unless you are an experienced rider.
culture
South-east Asia's most widely known literature festival is held in Ubud.
culture
South-east Asia's most widely known literature festival is held in Ubud.
112 - general emergency (free, works from any phone where the service is live). 110 - police. 118 / 119 - ambulance and medical emergency. 113 - fire. 115 - search and rescue (BASARNAS). English is understood in the main tourist areas; elsewhere ask your hotel to call for you.
Report a lost passport to the nearest police station (get the police report), then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document. Keep a photo of your passport in your e-mail or phone - it speeds everything up. The official embassy list linked here shows where to find your country's embassy or consulate.
Big cities and Bali have international-standard private hospitals (e.g. Siloam, BIMC in Bali, Mayapada, RS Pondok Indah in Jakarta). Public referral hospitals are cheaper but busier. Ask your hotel or travel insurer for the nearest suitable hospital.
local government
Helps with: Indonesia's national tourism ministry. Its contact page lists a call centre, a WhatsApp contact centre, an email address and its office in Jakarta for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Indonesia or planning a trip there.
Phone: 021-3838000
Email: [email protected]
Address: Gedung Sapta Pesona, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.17, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta 10110
un agency
Helps with: The UN migration agency, operating in Indonesia since 1979. It works with governments and partners on migration management and crisis response.
Who qualifies: Migrants, governments and partners working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +62 21 57951275
Email: [email protected]
Address: Sampoerna Strategic Square North Tower 10th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 45-46, Jakarta 12930
ngo
Helps with: The ICRC says it works with the society on training first responders in pre-hospital care, reuniting separated families and emergency preparedness. No contact details are given, so use the society's website.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. It names the society as the ICRC's partner in Indonesia.