Ubud Travel Guide - Free Web & App

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Ubud, Indonesia, brings together Balinese temples, rice terraces, traditional arts, forest walks, wellness retreats and village culture in central Bali.

Culture in a Living Landscape

Ubud lies in the uplands of central Bali, Indonesia, where a compact town gives way to villages, forested ravines, temple compounds and intensively cultivated rice terraces. Its identity is closely tied to Balinese Hindu culture: daily offerings appear beside doorways, temple ceremonies shape the calendar and community life is organised through banjar neighbourhood associations and subak irrigation networks. Ubud is not a single attraction but a broad cultural landscape extending across several surrounding villages and farming areas.
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Art, Temples and Sacred Places

The town centre contains the Ubud Palace, Pura Taman Saraswati and the former market area, while the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal combines a Hindu temple complex with dense vegetation and long-tailed macaques. Nearby Goa Gajah, often called the Elephant Cave, provides a more archaeological perspective, with a rock-cut entrance, bathing pools and remains associated with Balinese religious history. Art museums and galleries reflect Ubud’s longstanding role as a centre for painting, woodcarving, dance and music.

Exploring Beyond the Centre

Walking routes lead into quieter countryside around Campuhan and the rice fields, although roads, paths and views change as development meets farmland. The terraces of Tegalalang, north of central Ubud, are among the best-known landscapes associated with the wider area, while villages such as Mas and Celuk are recognised for particular craft traditions elsewhere in the surrounding region. Visitors encounter a mixture of wellness retreats, cooking and craft experiences, temple ceremonies, contemporary cafés and family-run warungs, but Ubud’s deeper character remains rooted in its religious life, agricultural surroundings and densely layered artistic heritage.

When is the best time to visit Ubud?

Best: June–August · 29°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January30343
February30303
March31244
April30129
May3070
June (best)2935
July (best)2931
August (best)2936
September3067
October30132
November30198
December30281

Getting to and around Ubud

How to get there

Most international visitors reach Ubud from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport near Denpasar, followed by a pre-arranged transfer, taxi or ride-hailing journey; the airport is outside Ubud and road conditions can make travel times variable. Ubud is also accessible by road from southern Bali, including Denpasar, Sanur, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Canggu, although congestion is common. Long-distance bus and shuttle services connect Bali with other parts of the island, but the most practical final connection is generally a road transfer. There is no railway to Ubud. Travellers arriving from other Indonesian islands usually connect through Bali’s airport or ports before continuing overland.

Transportation

Central Ubud is walkable in sections, but the wider destination covers dispersed villages, temples, rice fields and attractions that are not connected by a comprehensive public transport network. Taxis, app-based car services, private drivers and hired cars are commonly used for longer journeys, while motorbikes suit experienced riders who are comfortable with left-hand traffic, narrow roads and busy junctions. Cycling and walking can be rewarding in the countryside, but heat, steep sections, traffic and uneven surfaces require care. Agree clearly on arrangements when using a private driver, and check whether an attraction lies in Ubud itself or in a neighbouring village.

Best attractions in Ubud

Ubud’s attractions combine religious sites, art institutions and cultivated countryside rather than forming a single concentrated circuit. In the centre, Ubud Palace and Pura Taman Saraswati introduce Balinese architecture, court history and temple ornament, while nearby museums and galleries trace the development of Balinese and foreign-influenced art. The Sacred Monkey Forest in Padangtegal brings visitors into a shaded temple landscape inhabited by long-tailed macaques. Campuhan offers a popular route through hills and vegetation, and the surrounding rice fields reveal the agricultural setting behind Ubud’s cultural reputation. Goa Gajah, east of the town, is an important archaeological and religious site with a carved cave entrance and bathing pools. North of central Ubud, the Tegalalang area is known for terraced rice landscapes and craft-oriented visitor stops, although it is part of the wider surrounding region rather than the town centre. Village excursions to places such as Mas can add woodcarving and local artistic context.

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Best landmarks in Ubud

Ubud Palace, or Puri Saren Agung, is the town’s most prominent architectural landmark and expresses the area’s former royal importance through its courtyards, gates and carved decorative work. Pura Taman Saraswati is known for its water-lily pond approach and dedication to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess associated with knowledge and the arts. The Sacred Monkey Forest is both a natural and cultural landmark, combining dense vegetation, waterways, sculptures and temple compounds in Padangtegal. Goa Gajah is distinguished by its carved cave entrance, bathing place and archaeological setting, although its precise historical development reflects several periods of Balinese religious history. Beyond built sites, Campuhan’s ravines and the rice terraces around Ubud are defining landscape landmarks: they show how rivers, slopes, irrigation and village stewardship have shaped the region’s visual identity.

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Best restaurants in Ubud

Ubud’s food scene reflects both Balinese home cooking and the international character of a long-established visitor centre. Traditional warungs serve rice-based meals, vegetables, sambal and dishes such as nasi campur, while babi guling is a notable Balinese speciality where locally appropriate establishments prepare it. Lawar, sate lilit and Balinese spice pastes also appear in regional cooking, although recipes and availability vary. Central Ubud has a wide selection of cafés, vegetarian restaurants and contemporary venues, while smaller villages and outer districts tend to offer family-run warungs and roadside food stalls rather than a dense dining scene. Coffee, tropical fruit, coconut and locally grown produce feature prominently, and cooking classes often introduce visitors to the relationship between ingredients, offerings and household cuisine. Food hygiene standards vary, so choose busy establishments and take particular care with raw or unrefrigerated food.

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Best bars in Ubud

Ubud’s evenings are generally more subdued and cultural than club-oriented. Central streets contain cafés, hotel bars, wine and cocktail venues, and relaxed restaurants where visitors can linger after sightseeing, but the town is not Bali’s main nightlife centre. Traditional dance and gamelan performances at palace and temple-related venues provide a distinctly local evening experience, with schedules and locations varying by season and ceremony. Some bars and restaurants host acoustic music or other low-key entertainment, although availability should be checked locally rather than assumed. Outside the centre, nightlife becomes quieter, with accommodation terraces, village eateries and the sounds of ceremonies replacing late-night venues. Travellers seeking large clubs and intensive nightlife usually look towards southern Bali, which lies outside the Ubud destination area and requires a separate road journey.

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Best nightclubs in Ubud

Ubud’s evenings are generally more subdued and cultural than club-oriented. Central streets contain cafés, hotel bars, wine and cocktail venues, and relaxed restaurants where visitors can linger after sightseeing, but the town is not Bali’s main nightlife centre. Traditional dance and gamelan performances at palace and temple-related venues provide a distinctly local evening experience, with schedules and locations varying by season and ceremony. Some bars and restaurants host acoustic music or other low-key entertainment, although availability should be checked locally rather than assumed. Outside the centre, nightlife becomes quieter, with accommodation terraces, village eateries and the sounds of ceremonies replacing late-night venues. Travellers seeking large clubs and intensive nightlife usually look towards southern Bali, which lies outside the Ubud destination area and requires a separate road journey.

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Best shops in Ubud

Shopping in Ubud centres on art, craft and regional food rather than large-scale retail. The central market area and surrounding streets offer clothing, woven goods, carvings, paintings, jewellery and souvenirs, while galleries and workshops provide more specialised examples of Balinese artistic production. Nearby villages have particular craft associations: Mas is widely linked with woodcarving, while Celuk, farther south in the surrounding region, is known for silverwork. Visitors should distinguish established workshops and galleries from mass-produced items marketed as local, and ask about materials and provenance when purchasing art or antiques. Small food shops and markets sell coffee, spices, sweets and other Indonesian products, while larger supermarkets serve practical needs. Bargaining is common in some market settings but is not appropriate everywhere; polite negotiation and careful handling of artworks are part of responsible shopping.

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Ubud essentials

Currency and Payment
Indonesia uses the Indonesian rupiah, usually written as IDR or Rp. Cards and contactless payments are accepted by many hotels, established restaurants, larger shops and visitor attractions, while smaller warungs, market stalls, parking attendants and rural businesses may require cash. ATMs are concentrated in central Ubud and other sizeable settlements, but visitors exploring the surrounding villages should carry a sensible amount of rupiah in smaller denominations. Check notes and change carefully, keep payment methods secure and use reputable exchange services or bank-operated machines rather than relying on informal money changers.
Safety
Ubud’s principal practical hazards are traffic, uneven pavements, slippery paths after rain, intense heat and sudden tropical downpours. Roads shared by cars, motorbikes, pedestrians and dogs demand particular attention, especially at night. Countryside walks may cross wet or narrow surfaces and can involve limited lighting; suitable footwear and drinking water are useful. At the Sacred Monkey Forest, follow staff instructions, do not feed macaques and avoid handling them or displaying food and loose objects. Respect warnings around rivers, ravines and temple areas, and take care with unregulated transport or unfamiliar food if you have a sensitive stomach.
Emergency Situations
Indonesia’s police emergency number is 110, while 112 operates as a general emergency number in many areas but availability can vary; medical assistance is commonly reached through 118 or 119 and fire services through 113. Ask hotel or accommodation staff to help contact local services if language or location details are difficult to explain. Give a precise landmark, road name, temple, village or map pin, since rural addresses may be less straightforward than town-centre locations. Carry travel insurance details and seek local medical advice promptly for serious illness, injury, animal bites or suspected dengue fever.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly when entering temples and follow local instructions about sarongs, footwear, photography and restricted areas. Do not step over offerings, touch religious objects casually or enter a ceremony space without permission. Keep to marked paths, avoid littering and never feed or harass wildlife. In villages, ask before photographing people, homes, rituals or cremation ceremonies. Do not climb on temple structures or treat sacred courtyards as ordinary sightseeing spaces. Tipping is not universally obligatory, but small gratuities for considerate service are appreciated; check bills for included service charges and respect quiet residential streets.
Local Tips
Central Ubud works well for access to the palace, temples, museums and evening performances, while villages on the outskirts can offer a quieter base closer to rice fields and countryside routes. Allow extra time for road congestion when arranging airport transfers or day trips. The atmosphere changes markedly during temple festivals, when roads may be busy and access can be temporarily affected by ceremonies. Early mornings are generally more comfortable for walking, cycling and photography, while the wet season can make rural paths muddy and obscure views. A local guide can add context to temple etiquette, village customs and the subak landscape.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloOm Swastiastu[ohm swas-tee-ah-stu]
GoodbyeSampai jumpa[sam-pie joom-pah]
YesIya[ee-ya]
NoTidak[tee-dak]
Please/You're welcomeMatur suksma[mah-tour sooks-mah]
Thank youTerima kasih[teh-ree-mah kah-see]
Excuse me/SorryMaaf[mah-ahf]
How are you?Apa kabar?[ah-pah kah-bar]
Fine. And you?Baik. Bagaimana denganmu?[bah-eek. bah-guy-mah-nah deh-ngahn-moo]
Do you speak English?Apakah Anda bisa berbicara bahasa Inggris?[ah-pah-kah ahn-dah bee-sah ber-bee-char-ah bah-hah-sah ing-gris]
I don't understandSaya tidak mengerti[sah-yah tee-dak mehng-ehr-tee]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseSaya ingin melihat menu, tolong[sah-yah in-geen meh-lee-hat meh-noo toh-long]
I don't eat meatSaya tidak makan daging[sah-yah tee-dak mah-kahn dah-ee-ng]
Cheers!Salam sehat![sah-lahm seh-haht]
I would like to pay, pleaseSaya ingin membayar, tolong[sah-yah in-geen mem-bah-yar toh-long]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Tolong![toh-long]
Go away!Pergi![per-gee]
Call the Police!Panggil polisi![pahng-geel poh-lee-see]
Call a doctor!Panggil dokter![pahng-geel dohk-tehr]
I'm lostSaya tersesat[sah-yah tehr-suh-saht]
I'm illSaya sakit[sah-yah sah-keet]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Saya ingin membeli...[sah-yah in-geen mem-buh-lee]
I'm just lookingSaya hanya melihat-lihat[sah-yah hun-yah meh-lee-hat-lee-hat]
How much is it?Berapa harganya?[buh-rah-pah har-gahn-ya]
That's too expensiveItu terlalu mahal[ee-too teh-rah-lah mah-hal]
Can you lower the price?Bisa dikurangi harganya?[bee-sah dee-koo-rahn-gee har-gahn-ya]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Pukul berapa sekarang?[poo-kool buh-rah-pah seh-kah-rahn]
It's one o'clockSekarang pukul satu[seh-kah-rahn poo-kool sah-too]
Half past (10)Setengah (sepuluh)[suh-tuh-ngah (suh-poo-looh)]
MorningPagi[pah-gee]
AfternoonSore[soh-reh]
EveningMalam[mah-lahm]
YesterdayKemarin[keh-mah-reen]
TodayHari ini[hah-ree ee-nee]
TomorrowBesok[beh-sohk]
1Satu[sah-too]
2Dua[doo-ah]
3Tiga[tee-gah]
4Empat[em-paht]
5Lima[lee-mah]
6Enam[eh-nahm]
7Tujuh[too-joo]
8Delapan[deh-lah-pahn]
9Sembilan[sehm-bee-lahn]
10Sepuluh[suh-poo-looh]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Dimana ada/ada...[dee-mah-nah ah-dah/ah-dah]
What's the address?Apa alamatnya?[ah-pah ah-lah-maht-nyah]
Can you show me (on the map)?Bisa tunjukkan ke saya (di peta)?[bee-sah toon-jook-kahn keh sah-yah (dee peh-tah)]
When's the next (bus)?Kapan yang berikutnya (bis)?[kah-pahn yang buh-ree-koot-nyah (bees)]
A ticket (to ....)Sebuah tiket (ke ....)[seh-oo-ah teek-et (keh ....)]

History of Ubud

Early Religious and Agricultural Foundations

Ubud’s historical character developed within Bali’s long-established tradition of irrigated rice farming, village organisation and Hindu religious practice. Water management through subak associations connected fields, temples and farming communities, while sacred springs, rivers and forested ravines shaped settlement patterns. The area’s temples and shrines belong to a wider Balinese cultural system that combines Hindu beliefs with older local traditions. Rather than growing as an isolated town, Ubud emerged from a network of villages and royal estates in the central Balinese uplands.

Royal Patronage in Central Bali

Ubud became associated with the ruling family of the Kingdom of Ubud, part of Bali’s complex system of regional kingdoms. Royal patronage supported temples, ceremonies, dance, music and visual arts, helping establish the cultural foundations for which the area later became known. Puri Saren Agung, commonly called Ubud Palace, remains the most visible reminder of this royal connection in the town centre. Religious festivals and court-linked artistic traditions continued to influence community life beyond the palace grounds.

European Artists and a New Cultural Reputation

During the early twentieth century, European artists and writers began spending time in Bali, and Ubud became one of the principal places where foreign and Balinese artistic circles met. The German artist Walter Spies worked in the Ubud area, while the Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet formed an important relationship with the royal family and local artists. Their presence contributed to international interest but did not create Balinese art from outside; instead, it intersected with existing traditions of painting, carving, performance and ceremonial design.

The Pita Maha Movement

In 1936, the Pita Maha artists’ association was established through collaboration involving Balinese artists, royal patrons and European supporters including Bonnet and the painter Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati. The movement encouraged artistic development and helped present Balinese painting to wider audiences while retaining strong links to local themes and visual traditions. Its legacy is reflected in Ubud’s museums, galleries and continuing reputation for art. The period also helped make the town an important cultural destination before mass tourism transformed Bali.

Tourism, Conservation and Contemporary Change

Tourism expanded substantially in Bali during the second half of the twentieth century, and Ubud developed from a relatively small artistic and agricultural centre into an international visitor base. Accommodation, restaurants, galleries and wellness businesses spread through the town and neighbouring villages, bringing employment and investment alongside traffic, land-use pressure and rising development. Conservation efforts around sites such as the Sacred Monkey Forest have sought to protect religious, ecological and cultural values, while subak landscapes and temple communities continue to shape debates about the future of the wider Ubud area.

Ubud in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Ubud, Indonesia

Download Evendo, the 100% FREE app-based travel guide to Ubud. Discover attractions, landmarks, restaurants, tours, and more to plan your perfect trip.

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Evendo is your all-in-one travel companion for exploring Ubud, Indonesia. Uncover the best attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and experiences with ease.

  • History of Ubud and travel essentials
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Welcome to Evendo, your ultimate travel guide to Ubud, Indonesia. This 100% free app provides everything you need to make the most of your trip to this beautiful destination. From the iconic Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary to the serene Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Evendo has detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and experiences.

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