Ubud is hands-down the crown jewel of Bali. While the beaches here enjoy a great reputation, the moss-covered temples deep within the jungles of Ubud are absolutely incredible. As many people say, this place is the sacred, spiritual heart of the region. Even if you are not a spiritual person Ubud promises an opportunity for true relaxation. The number of beautiful resorts with private plunge pools and lush greenery are limitless as well as healthy, organic food options! Not to mention, the town of Ubud is so small that a weekend getaway is absolutely doable from many Southeast Asian destinations. 

From Singapore and other major cities in the region, Bali is quite easy to get to. The drive from Denpasar (the international airport) is approximately an hour long. Since Ubud is quite small the travel time should not vary too much according to resort. Try and get a pickup arranged by your resort ahead of time – it will save you the headache of being harassed (and potentially scammed) by taxi drivers, which is common in the region. 

Here are some places you absolutely should visit in Ubud on your next trip: 

Puri Saren Agung (Royal Palace)

Although this palace is not big it is one of Ubud’s important, historic structures and sits in the heart of town. The complex used to be the official residence of the royal family and has some beautiful, ornate carvings throughout. At 7:30 PM on most days there is a traditional Balinese dance show performed on the main stage of the complex.

Did you know Bali still has a royal family? In fact when we were last in Ubud an important cremation ceremony was happening. The wife of the current king had passed away and there was traffic blocking the roads due to the procession. Although we were not able to witness it in person it was quite serendipitous that we were there at the same time. Here is a fascinating video of the elaborate funeral procession of the last true princess of Bali (direct descendant of the late king). The modern day royal family is actually multicultural! One of the princesses, Princess Jero Asri Kertyasa, is Australian. Apparently there have also been Japanese and Dutch princesses in the past!

Tickets to the palace are IDR 100,000. Note to merely enter during the day there is no admission fee.

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Monkey Forest

The Monkey Forest, which is located right at the end of the city center is lots of fun. There are temples within the forest, which reminded me of Angkor Wat. What makes this experience special is you really get the feeling of starring in an adventure film. The forest is not only a tourist attraction but is also a sacred place for the local community in Ubud. So be respectful of your surroundings and of the monkeys themselves.

Speaking of monkeys, you need to be careful with them! There are approximately 600 Balinese long-tailed monkeys living in the forest, which means they are absolutely everywhere! There are areas in the park that can be quite narrow and you may get into very close contact to these creatures. Monkeys can be aggressive and are curious enough to thrift through your stuff if given the chance. There were definitely a few tourists i’ve seen that have been nearly bitten by these critters (and it is not uncommon). Here are some very basic tips –

1. Do not bring food with you. Monkeys have a strong sense of smell and will jump on you (or your things) to find it.

2. Do not stare directly into the eyes of a monkey. In the animal kingdom this is a sign of aggression!

3. Do not touch or grab the monkeys. These animals are not tame but wild. Be particularly aware of and cautious of not disturbing mother monkeys and their babies. Mothers can always get particularly aggressive if they see you as a threat.

Entrance fees are IDR 80,000 for adults and IDR 60,000 for children. The forest is open daily from 8:30 AM – 6 PM.

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Tegallalang Rice Terrace

If you’ve been dreaming of traveling to Ubud for a long while now, you’re bound to have the Tegallalang Rice Terrace at the top of your list! Let me tell you it is stunning and absolutely worth it. But there are a few things you should know before you arrive:

It gets crowded! – Because this is a top site you will likely come across a lot of tourists. Avoid the crowd by coming in the morning.

Afternoon is sweltering – Better yet, another reason to come in the morning. Avoid the midday because the sun gets scorching hot. The paddies have no shade because you only have rice plants growing around you.

Bring small change – These paddies belong to local farmers, hence you are walking on private property. You will find farmers loitering around their terraces and it is generally expected to tip around 10,000 IDR per person. You can decide how far you want to walk. But trust me in the heat you won’t need (or want) to walk the whole thing!

Bring water, sunglasses, a hat, and good shoes. – The terraces are winding and you will need to walk up and down. Oh also, wear ample sunscreen!

Absolutely recommend stopping in one of the restaurants overlooking the paddies for a quick bite or just a cool drink afterwards. You will want to be in the shade after all that time in the sun. I opted for a good old chilled coconut water and some reliably delish Mee Goreng! If you fall in love with Balinese food and/or are a serious foodie, check out my review of Periuk Bali‘s Cooking Class!

Saraswati Temple

You won’t believe where you will find this gorgeous temple in Ubud. Where? Behind a Starbucks! But do not miss it because it is absolutely lovely. It is one of the easiest temples to get to because of its location in the center of Ubud. In season, there are hundreds of lotuses growing in a pond on either side of this temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of art, literature and inborn wisdom. Although admission to the temple is free you will need to wear a sarong to cover your knees. Be sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and midriff. This is a good rule in general for any of the temples in Ubud. If it is of interest, you can come to the temple after dark and watch traditional dance performances, which start at 7:30 PM every evening.

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Pura Tirta Empul Temple

You need to take a tuk tuk ride to get here but it is absolutely worth it. For over a thousand years worshippers have come to Pura Tirta Empul because of the healing properties of its spring water. The tradition continues and you can even take part in the ritual! On a hot day it may even be particularly tempting! The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of water and was built in 926 AD. Tirta Empul is considered one of the five holiest temples in all of Bali.

The complex is a decent size, with one of its areas being where pilgrims go to get purified. The natural spring bubbles up from under the earth and washes out of 30 stone spouts lined up along a wall. When we visited there was a long line, so we decided not to join in. But it was great fun watching locals and tourists alike being cleansed! The water ritual requires each person to dip their head under each water spout starting from the left side. To be completely purified you need to repeat the process for all of the spouts except for two, which are meant for the dead (prohibited!). Just follow the locals and you should be fine.

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Where to Stay

Although Ubud has so many gorgeous places to stay in, from luxurious five star hotels to villa rentals, we absolutely loved the Bambu Indah Eco Resort. It has the most incredible, innovative bamboo architecture and its stunning, organic landscaping makes you feel like you are living deep in a jungle. Check out my review here!