15 Best Things to Do in Ubud 2026: Rice Terraces, Temples, Waterfalls and Food
Ubud is Bali’s easiest cultural base: rice terraces, temples, food, yoga, waterfalls, markets, cooking classes and slow jungle mornings. It is also busy, so the best trip needs timing, transport and restraint.
The best Ubud trip is slow and selective. Do Monkey Forest, Campuhan Ridge, one rice terrace, one temple/water purification stop, one waterfall day and one food/cooking experience instead of racing around every swing and photo stop.
The 15 best things to do in Ubud
Suggested times are planning estimates. Allow extra time for transport, queues and weather.
Walk Campuhan Ridge early
Make this your before-breakfast outing rather than a midday march. Wear shoes with grip, bring water and turn around whenever you have had enough; there is no need to chase the longest possible route. Keep to the established path and give other walkers room on narrow stretches.
Suggested time: 1–1½ hours at an easy pace.
Best for: free morning views
Campuhan Ridge is the easiest Ubud win: green views, a simple path and a calmer start before town gets hot and busy.
Good to know: Go early, bring water and do not expect shade the whole way.
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest
Read the sanctuary’s visitor guidelines before entering. Do not feed or touch the monkeys, keep loose belongings secure and ask staff for help if one approaches you. The forest and sacred spaces are part of the visit too; respect closed temple areas rather than treating the animals as photo props.
Suggested time: 1–1½ hours.
Best for: central Ubud nature
Monkey Forest is one of Ubud’s signature stops: forest, temples, paths and a lot of monkeys. It is fun if you respect the rules and avoid carrying loose food.
Good to know: Do not tease, grab or stare down monkeys; keep sunglasses and snacks secure.
See Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Choose whether you want a viewpoint, a walk through the terraces or a paid photo attraction before buying a package. Those are different experiences with different inclusions. The paths can be steep or muddy, and the fields do not look bright green at every stage of the crop cycle.
Suggested time: 1–2 hours, plus transport.
Best for: rice terrace scenery
Tegallalang is famous, photogenic and busy. It is still worth seeing if you go early and accept that swings/photo platforms are part of the modern scene.
Good to know: If crowds annoy you, ask your driver for quieter rice-field alternatives.
Explore Ubud Palace
Fit the palace into a central-Ubud walk with the market and Saraswati. Stay within the public areas and give ceremonies priority. If an evening performance interests you, confirm that night’s programme, seating and ticket arrangements rather than relying on a daytime visit to secure entry.
Suggested time: 30–45 minutes for the visitor area.
Best for: central culture
Ubud Palace is easy to visit in the centre and gives a quick look at royal architecture and performance culture.
Good to know: Check evening dance schedules locally if you want a show.
Visit Saraswati Temple and lotus pond
Go for the pond, stonework and a quieter pause in the centre. Confirm current admission and dress requirements at the entrance, and remember that a visitor ticket does not automatically allow access to every sacred area. Flowers and water levels vary, so allow the place to be more than one expected photograph.
Suggested time: 30–60 minutes.
Best for: beautiful central stop
Saraswati Temple is one of the prettiest central Ubud stops, especially when the lotus pond is looking good.
Good to know: Dress respectfully and combine it with the market/palace area.
Shop carefully at Ubud Art Market
Browse first and compare workmanship before you bargain. Agree the price politely, carry smaller notes and buy something because you want it, not because you feel obliged after a conversation. Market buildings and stalls change, so use the current entrance and avoid expecting an old photo to match today’s layout.
Suggested time: 45–90 minutes.
Best for: souvenirs and crafts
The market is useful for sarongs, bags, homewares and gifts, but it is not a quiet artisan fantasy. Bargain politely and compare quality.
Good to know: Go early for a calmer browse.
Take a Balinese cooking class
Compare how much cooking you do yourself, the group size, pickup area and whether a market visit is genuinely included. Tell the teacher about dietary needs before booking, especially ingredients such as shrimp paste, peanuts or meat stock. Leave the next meal flexible: eating what you make is usually a big part of the experience.
Suggested time: Half a day.
Best for: food and culture
A cooking class is one of the best Ubud activities because it turns the food into something you understand, not just something you order.
Good to know: Choose a class with a market visit if you want more context.
Visit Goa Gajah
Give the carved cave entrance, bathing pools and surrounding grounds time rather than stopping at the first photo. Follow the site’s sarong and sash requirements, expect steps, and bring shoes that cope with damp stone. A driver can combine it with nearby sights without forcing a cross-island detour.
Suggested time: 1–1½ hours.
Best for: temple and archaeology
Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave, is close enough to Ubud to fit into a half-day temple loop and adds a different historical layer.
Good to know: Wear or rent the required sarong/sash and give yourself time beyond the entrance photo.
Go to Tirta Empul
This is a working sacred place, not a swimming attraction. The national tourism guide explains the holy springs’ significance. You can appreciate the temple without entering the purification pools; if participating, ask a local guide or attendant about the proper sequence, clothing and current restrictions first.
Suggested time: 1–2 hours, longer if you choose to join a ritual.
Best for: water temple ritual
Tirta Empul is one of the most meaningful temple trips from Ubud if you understand the ritual and behave respectfully.
Good to know: Only join purification if you are willing to follow local etiquette properly.
Build a waterfall morning
Choose a compact route with your driver instead of collecting waterfall names from opposite directions. Tegenungan is one option south of Ubud. Allow for steep steps and the climb back, wear grippy shoes and keep out of the water when flow, weather or local warnings make it unsafe.
Suggested time: Half a day for one or two nearby falls.
Best for: jungle and swimming
Tegenungan, Kanto Lampo, Tibumana and other waterfalls can be gorgeous, but crowds build quickly.
Good to know: Pick one or two and go early instead of turning the day into a sweaty checklist.
Try Ayung River rafting
Ask about the stairs down to the river and back up, not just the time in the raft. Choose an operator that explains current conditions, equipment, eligibility and insurance clearly. Follow the safety briefing, wear the supplied helmet and life jacket, and take dry clothes for afterwards.
Suggested time: Half a day including transfers and preparation.
Best for: soft adventure
Ayung River rafting is a popular Ubud adventure because it adds jungle scenery and movement without needing expert skills.
Good to know: Compare inclusions: pickup, lunch, insurance and equipment matter.
Do one yoga or wellness session
Choose a beginner-friendly class if you are new to yoga and tell the teacher about relevant injuries before starting. For a massage or other session, agree the format, duration and price beforehand. Treat wellness activities as relaxation rather than a promise to diagnose or cure a health condition.
Suggested time: 1–2 hours with a little time afterwards.
Best for: slow Ubud
Yoga, sound healing, massage and wellness are everywhere in Ubud. Choose one thing that genuinely sounds good rather than over-scheduling yourself.
Good to know: Leave space afterwards; rushing from yoga to three photo stops defeats the point.
Eat beyond smoothie bowls
Look beyond the prettiest cafe frontage and try a warung or evening food stall with good turnover. Ask what comes with a mixed-rice plate and how extras are priced. Mention dietary requirements clearly; vegetarian-looking dishes can still contain ingredients such as shrimp paste or meat stock.
Suggested time: 1–1½ hours for a meal and a short wander.
Best for: real food
Ubud has excellent cafes, but also local warungs, nasi campur, babi guling spots and vegetarian food. Mix it up.
Good to know: Use cafes for comfort, not every single meal.
Visit a less crowded rice walk
Ask your accommodation or a local guide for a currently accessible route near where you are staying. Rice fields are workplaces, so keep out of crops and irrigation channels, give farmers space and ask before taking close-up photographs. Expect seasonal changes in the scenery rather than guaranteed green terraces.
Suggested time: 1–2 hours.
Best for: slower scenery
The walks around Ubud’s quieter edges can be better than the famous terrace stops if you want atmosphere rather than a photo platform.
Good to know: Ask locally about current path conditions and access.
Use Ubud as a base for central Bali
Group stops by direction: a northbound temple-and-rice-fields day is different from a southern waterfall loop. Agree the route and return time with your driver, leave a traffic buffer, and keep one main attraction as the priority. Spend enough time in Ubud itself that the base does not become only a pickup point.
Suggested time: One unhurried day per compact route.
Best for: drivers and day trips
Ubud is a strong base for temples, waterfalls, rice terraces and north/central Bali day trips. It is not great for beach-hopping.
Good to know: If beach is the goal, split the stay with Sanur, Canggu, Uluwatu or the islands.
Quick picks for Ubud
| If you want… | Prioritise this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best first morning | Campuhan Ridge Walk | Free, easy and best before the heat and crowds arrive. |
| Best classic sight | Sacred Monkey Forest | Central, green and memorable, as long as you follow the rules around monkeys. |
| Best scenery | Tegallalang or nearby rice terraces | Choose one rice terrace experience and go early rather than trying to photograph all of them. |
| Best cultural experience | Cooking class or temple visit | Ubud is strongest when food, ritual and everyday culture sit beside the scenery. |
Before you book
Ubud is not a beach town and not a place where every attraction is walkable. Pick a good area to stay, sort data before landing, then decide whether you want drivers, tours or scooters for the sights outside town.
| Need | Useful move |
|---|---|
| Stay | Compare neighbourhoods and accommodation on Trip.com. Book the base first, then build days around it. |
| eSIM | Install Saily Indonesia eSIM before flying so maps, bookings and messages work when you land. |
| Insurance | Price SafetyWing Travel Insurance before the trip. It starts from about $2/day and trips need to be at least 5 days. |
| Tours | Use GetYourGuide Ubud Tours for timed-entry sights, food tours, day trips and activities where local logistics matter. |
| Money | Carry a backup travel card. Wise is the simple international fallback for card spend, cash withdrawals and transfers. |
| Transport | Compare Bali transfers, boats and onward routes before locking the rest of the trip. 12Go Bali Routes. |
| Car | Do not rent for the city centre, but compare DiscoverCars if you are leaving the city or building a road-trip section. |
Book the practical pieces for Ubud
Lock in the things that change the trip: where you sleep, how you get online, the tours that are hard to DIY, insurance and any transport legs that need advance planning.
Find Ubud Stays on Trip.com Get Indonesia eSIM Data Get SafetyWing Cover Open Wise for Travel Money Check 12Go Bali Routes Compare Ubud CarsTours and bookings worth comparing
You do not need to book every activity in advance. Compare the ones where timed entry, transport, queues, cancellation terms or local context make a real difference.
Ubud Private Day Tours
Useful if you want temples, rice terraces and waterfalls without negotiating every ride.
Ubud Cooking Classes
One of the best value cultural bookings if you care about Balinese food.
Ayung River Rafting
Good when you want a soft adventure day with pickup and equipment handled.
Where to stay in Ubud
- Central Ubud: best for first-timers who want restaurants, markets and walking access.
- Penestanan/Sayan: calmer, green and good for villas, but requires taxis/scooters.
- Nyuh Kuning: quieter village feel near Monkey Forest, good for slower stays.
- Tegallalang: scenic rice terrace stays, but less convenient for town nights.
- Split with the coast: stay in Ubud for culture and Sanur/Canggu/Uluwatu for beach.
Getting around Ubud
Central Ubud is walkable in small doses, but traffic, heat and narrow roads make longer movement annoying. Use drivers, Grab/Gojek where available, hotel shuttles or tours. Scooters are common but only make sense if you are licensed, insured and genuinely confident.
For the wider Bali/Indonesia setup, read the Indonesia travel guide, Indonesia eSIM guide and Bali travel insurance guide.
A simple first-time itinerary
Ubud essentials
Campuhan Ridge, Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace/market, one rice terrace and one good dinner.
Balanced Ubud
Add Goa Gajah or Tirta Empul, one cooking class and a waterfall morning.
Slow Ubud
Add rafting, wellness, quieter rice walks and a central Bali day trip without rushing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to walk everywhere: distances look small but traffic, heat and roads change the reality.
- Booking every swing/photo stop: choose scenery and culture over endless staged photos.
- Ignoring temple etiquette: dress properly and follow instructions at holy sites.
- Staying central when you want silence: Ubud centre is convenient, not always peaceful.
Best time, budget and what to skip
Ubud works year-round, but rain can change waterfall/road plans and peak Bali periods raise prices. Budget for drivers, temple donations/fees, cooking classes, tours, cafes and a few taxis even if you are trying to keep costs low.
If you need to cut something, cut duplicate waterfalls or photo platforms before cutting Monkey Forest, Campuhan Ridge, one temple and one food experience.
Final advice
For a first Ubud trip, stay three nights if you can. Use one day for central Ubud, one for rice terraces/temples and one for food, waterfalls or rafting. The magic is in not rushing it.
For Ubud, I would book in this order: accommodation first, then eSIM/insurance, then the few tours or transport pieces that would be annoying to organise on arrival.
Trip.com Stays | Indonesia eSIM | Travel Insurance | Tours and Activities | Wise | 12Go Bali Routes | DiscoverCars
FAQ
How many days do you need in Ubud?
Three days is ideal for a first Ubud stay. Two days covers the highlights; four or more is better if you want wellness, waterfalls and slower rice-field time.
Should you book tours in advance?
Book anything timed, crowded, capacity-limited, transport-heavy or expensive to miss. Leave ordinary neighbourhood wandering, simple food stops and flexible cafe time open.
Is Ubud good for backpackers?
Yes, but Ubud is not as cheap as some parts of Indonesia. Hostels, local warungs and shared tours help, while villas, drivers and wellness classes can push the budget up.
Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. Plans, prices and provider terms can change, so treat the checkout page as the final price before buying.