Things To Do In Ubud, Bali – Budget Travel In Bali, Indonesia

Visit Ubud in Bali to experience a city surrounded by rainforests and terraced rice paddy fields and with seemingly more temples than people.

Away from the beaches, Ubud is where you will find traditional crafts and dance, yoga spas and the most colourful streets filled with boutique shops, mostly selling good quality products that you most certainly wouldn’t find back home. Visit Ubud and enjoy the cultural centre of Bali.

Ubud is a hippy haven gone global. Whilst the hippies are still present, Ubud is now also filled with international tourists seeking a break from the shackles of western culture. People come here to ‘find themselves’ and ‘be at one with nature’ and other such silliness.

Having said that, it is also a great backpacker city, with good quality, low-budget accommodation and restaurants to be found. However, do not come to Ubud expecting to find a party town. Ubud is a place to relax and enjoy the very best of Balinese culture.

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How To Get To Ubud From Java

Many people fly into Bali from Java as there are cheap flights to be found. However, it has become a backpackers’ rite of passage to take the ferry. We had travelled across Java and ended up in Banyuwangi to visit Mount Ijen. From Banyuwangi, there are regular ferries 24 hours a day so it seemed it would be easy to get to Ubud.

Bali does not have any trains and so taxis take advantage of this by charging extortionate prices. I read online that a couple paid over $40 to get from the ferry port to Ubud. We figured there must be a bus that would take us there and we did find that there are small buses that will pick up at the ferry port. However, these will wait until they are full or take detours to pick people up on the way. They then drop you at Mengwi where you have to take a taxi.

Taking The Bus From Java To Ubud

After some advice from our homestay host in Banyuwangi, we took a bus from Java. We had to wait an hour but we did get seats on a big, air-conditioned bus. It cost 150,000 IDR each (including ferry transfer). The bus dropped us in Mengwi where we took a Grab cab (having to walk 100 metres away from the station, as always). We saved some money this way and it seemed less hassle. It did take a long time, however. The whole trip, including waiting time, was 7 hours.

FOOD AND DRINK IN UBUD | BEST HOSTELS IN UBUD

Things To Do In Ubud

As you will notice from any of the many tourist operators dotted around the town, there are many things to do in Ubud or the surrounding area. Whether it be a mountain trek, swimming with dolphins or traditional dance, Ubud has more than enough to keep most people happy. As always, haggle to get the best prices!

Campuhan Ridge Walk

A beautiful walk with fantastic views that begins in the heart of Ubud and ends… well, it doesn’t seem to end! It’s not a circular walk so, instead of turning around and walking back the same way as most people seemed to be doing, we took a right turn and headed deep into the forest and then heading back to town. Meaning a short stroll took some hours! Enjoy the views of forests and rice fields, have a drink in one of the many cafes en route and enjoy the local art galleries. The more daring types may opt to take a ride on the ‘love swing’! Map.

Goa Gajah Elephant Cave

This cave and temple complex is thought to date back to the 9th century. It is a beautiful area with carvings of Hindu gods in the temple grounds, a lotus pond and a waterfall. People come here to bathe in the water which is said to bring good fortune. Admission is 50,000 IDR and that will include a sarong for those that need them. You do not need to buy them from the women selling in the car park. It’s a little out of the centre of Ubud but I cycled here in under half an hour. It is small and can be done within half an hour but I really enjoyed the peacefulness of the complex. Map.

Goa Gajah Elephant Cave Opening Times: 8 am – 5 pm, every day.
Goa Gajah Elephant Cave Entrance Fee: 50,000 IDR.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

This is actually an ancient Hindu temple complex set in the jungle but it is more well known now for the macaque monkeys that have made it home. Their are supposedly seven different family groups of the monkey living in various parts of the complex. The complex is well-maintained and surprisingly cheap (80,000 IDR for tourists). You’ll know you’re near by all the monkey statues on the surrounding roads. The staff will advise you on how to conduct yourself in the park and there are signs dotted around to remind you but it’s common sense. You will get right close up to the monkeys and no doubt see tiny baby monkeys too. In the evening, the monkeys leave the forest and hit the streets of Ubud! Map.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Opening Times: 9 am – 4 pm.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Entrance Fee: 80,000 IDR.

SIKA Gallery

Having been put off the more well known ‘Naka’ and ‘Blanco’ galleries by the admission fee, we were delighted to come across this quirky gallery which was free to explore, with no pressure to buy. I even ended up in the living quarters by mistake! Some great, colourful pieces by a local artist. Map.

SIKA Gallery Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm, every day.
SIKA Gallery Entrance Fee: Free admission.

Ubud Art Market

Selling traditional Bali crafts at reasonable prices. Be sure to haggle; I witnessed people getting goods for below half the asking price. For some reason, they have a fondness for wooden penises. Map.

Ubud Art market Opening Times: 9 am – 6 pm, every day.
Ubud Art Market Entrance Fee: Free admission.

Ubud Palace

This small, yet beautiful, palace is a great example of Balinese art and sculpture. It is free admission but only part of the palace is open to the public. There are public traditional dance shows held here. Map.

Ubud Palace Opening Times: 7 am – 5 pm, every day.
Ubud Palace Entrance Fee: Free admission.

Ubud Water Palace

Situated behind the ‘Lotus Cafe’ but accessible 20 metres or so to the right of the cafe is this beautiful water palace, complete with lotus pond. It’s free to explore and is a good example of Ubud’s hidden treasures. Live performances of traditional dance take place on Wednesday nights. Map.

Ubud Water Palace Opening Times: 24 hours
Ubud Water Palace Entrance Fee: Free admission (fee for nighttime shows).

Is Ubud Worth Visiting?

Definitely! Do not come to Bali and stick to the beach towns as you will miss the artistic spirit of what makes Bali unique. Ubud is a wonderful town with, it seems, as many temples as people! There are so many hidden treasures in this place, you could easily spend a week here, or more, trying to discover them all. The food is great and, whilst not a party town, there are enough bars to keep the drinkers more than happy.