In the heart of Bali you will find the town of Ubud, a favourite spot for many travellers, locals and digital nomads, and named by some as the cultural centre of the island. In itself a justified designation, as you will find countless temples in the area, there are many places in Ubud where you can admire traditional dance performances and dozens more things to do that breathe Indonesian culture. You get the picture: A visit to Ubud is not to be missed when you go to Bali! Besides cultural things, you can also do many other cool activities here, by the way. A bicycle tour is a must, eating out at the many hotspots, visiting rice fields (some of the most beautiful rice fields in all of Bali are located around Ubud) and spending the night in beautiful hotels or cosy guesthouses
You visit Ubud for its beautiful green surroundings, so it's nice to stay a little outside the centre. There you will find the most beautiful hotels in an oasis of calm that allows you to escape the hustle and bustle. At the bottom of this article you will find our tips for hotels located in the middle of the rice fields. Another way to avoid the crowds is to get up nice and early. Most of the sights in Ubud can get quite crowded in the afternoon. When you get up early, you have these places to yourself and it's not so hot yet either.You can arrange a taxi through your hotel but the easiest and cheapest way to get around is with your own scooter. You can rent these in the centre or at your hotel/hostel for around IDR 50,000 per day. The area around Ubud is very quiet and even with little experience you can ride just fine here.
The following sights and activities in Ubud are definitely not to be missed .
Campuhan Ridge Walk and walk through the rice fields
There are several beautiful walks through the rice fields in the vicinity of Ubud. One of the most beautiful walks is the Campuhan Ridge Walk. Part of this walk goes over a large green hill with amazing views on both sides. This is a perfect place to watch the sunrise or sunset. If you really want to walk among the rice fields, it is best to walk back to the main street after the hill of the Campuhan Ridge Walk and then take this route. This path is even a bit prettier than the rest of the Campuhan Ridge Walk after the hill!
Morning market in Ubud
Every morning between six and nine there is a local market right in the centre of Ubud where they sell fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, spices and flowers. It is a beautiful authentic market where you get a taste of pure Balinese life. The baskets are filled with colourful merchandise and it is a busy affair. After nine o'clock, this market turns into a tourist market where you can score souvenirs.
Tegalalang rice terraces
Here you will find Bali's most beautiful rice terraces. Tegalalang is one of the more popular sights around Ubud so if you want to be there before all the crowds, it's best to go nice and early in the morning. You'll have great light from the sunrise and you can explore the rice terraces in peace. The rice terraces are just outside Ubud about a 20-minute drive away.
Monkey Forest Ubud
Crazy about monkeys? Monkey Forest Ubud is home to more than 300 monkeys. Before you visit Monkey Forest Ubud, though, prepare yourself. This is because these monkeys are used to humans and are more brazen than shy. Consequently, people are regularly bitten so be careful when you go here. As long as you don't give the monkeys any attention, don't sit down and don't make eye contact, they probably won't pay much attention to you. In any case, make sure you are not carrying any objects they can take away. Take off your sunglasses and your phone in your bag (preferably with a lock on your zip).
Visit the waterfalls around Ubud
Around Ubud you will find many beautiful waterfalls that are great for cooling off in during a hot afternoon. The favourite is the Tegenungan Waterfall, which you can find about a 20-minute drive south of Ubud. If the weather is good, you'll have a brilliant sunrise here around 8am. Kanto Lampo Waterfall and the Tibumana Waterfall are both a 30-minute drive east of Ubud. These are slightly less crowded but definitely worth visiting too.
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