Prepaid airport taxi
Prepaid taxis from the arrivals area of Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) go straight to Ubud. Convenient, but the long distance makes it fairly pricey.
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Elsewhere in the country: Level 2 (avoid non-essential travel) — some regions: L2 (avoid non-essential travel): West Papua, Papua, Maluku, Aceh / L1: rest of the country
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Ubud Travel Guide
A hill town in Gianyar in the middle of Bali, whose name is said to come from the Balinese word 'ubad', meaning medicine. The royal palace, temples, traditional dance, galleries and craft villages sit close to rice terraces and forest walks, making it ideal for travelers who prefer culture and nature over the beach.
Plan your Ubud trip
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✈ Ubud has no airport, so we show flights to Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS). The drive from the airport to Ubud takes about 1.5 hours but can be longer in traffic; check official information.
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At a glance
- Currency
- IDR (Rp)
- Power & plugs
- 230V · Type C/F
- Driving side
- Left
- Tipping
- Optional (small, for good service)
- Local language
- Bahasa Indonesia
- How long to stay
- 3 to 4 days
Emergency numbers
When to go
The dry season usually runs April to September, with the most sunny days for rice-field walks. From October to March, showers are frequent and dirt paths and steps get slippery, so head out early. July-August overlaps Indonesian school holidays and gets busy. On Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, the airport stops operating for 24 hours, so check the date.
Airport to the city
Pre-booked car
Booking a pickup through your accommodation or a licensed transport provider is easiest for late arrivals. The Bali provincial government asks tourists to use only licensed car rentals and transport services.
Ride-hailing apps
You can book a car by app, but pickup points and rules at the airport can change. Follow official airport information and signs on arrival.
Getting around
Walking
The center, with the palace, art market and Monkey Forest, is walkable. Expect hills and narrow sidewalks, so wear comfortable shoes.
Bicycle
Great for rice-field lanes and nearby villages. There are plenty of climbs, so ask locally about routes.
Car with driver
The easiest way to combine scattered sights like Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah in a day. Use a licensed provider and confirm hours and inclusions first.
Scooter
The Bali provincial government requires foreign riders to hold a valid international or national driving licence, wear a helmet and obey traffic laws. Roads are narrow and winding, so skip it if you are not a confident rider.
Where to stay
Central Ubud (palace and art market)
Good for: First visit, sightseeing on foot
Close to the palace, the art market and evening dance venues. Busy with people and traffic during the day.
Monkey Forest Road (Padangtegal)
Good for: Shops and restaurants, strolling
The road from the Monkey Forest to the center, lined with shops and places to eat. Watch out for monkeys near the forest.
Campuhan and Sayan
Good for: Ridge walks, quiet stays
The western side, home to the Campuhan Ridge Walk. Forest and valley views, and calmer than the center.
Tegallalang
Good for: Rice-terrace views, stays in nature
A rice-field area about 8 km north of Ubud, 15-20 minutes by car. You will need a vehicle to get to the center.
Mas and Bedulu (villages to the south and east)
Good for: Wood carving, ancient sites
Mas is known for wood carving, and Bedulu is home to Goa Gajah. Worth a look if culture is your focus.
Map of stays in Ubud
Compare prices from many booking sites on the map
Search stays in Ubud in the appMap & prices: Stay22 — you book on each site
Top sights
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
A 12.5-hectare forest temple sanctuary home to about a thousand long-tailed macaques. Officially open 9 AM-6 PM (last entry 5 PM), with adult tickets listed at about 130,000 IDR; check the official site as this can change.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary · Photo: Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 4.0 Ubud Palace (Puri Saren)
The official residence of Ubud's royal family and a hub of traditional Balinese arts. Evening dance shows cost about 100,000 IDR; check the schedule locally.
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren) · Photo: Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 4.0 Ubud Art Market
A public market near the palace selling crafts, jewelry and clothing. Prices are often negotiable, so compare before you buy.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
A free walk of about 2 km along a ridge, taking 15-20 minutes to the top. Go early before the heat, and bring water since there is nowhere to eat along the way.
Campuhan Ridge Walk · Photo: Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 4.0 Tegallalang Rice Terraces
The classic terraced fields about 8 km north of Ubud, where you can walk down between the levels. Go in the morning when it is quieter, and remember these are working farms.
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
An 11th-century site in Bedulu village blending Hindu and Buddhist elements, known for the giant face carved at its entrance and its ancient bathing pools. A sarong and sash are required and can be rented on site.
Tirta Empul Temple
A 10th-century holy spring temple in the Pakerisan watershed, part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Cultural Landscape of Bali Province'. For the purification ritual, wear traditional attire or a yellow sash, and no soap or shampoo is allowed. Check official information for fees.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces (UNESCO subak)
Vast terraces in Tabanan that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape showcasing the subak irrigation system. It is far from Ubud, so plan a full day.
What to eat
Babi Guling
Spice-stuffed spit-roasted pork served with rice and side dishes, a popular lunch around Ubud.
Bebek Betutu
Duck coated in spice paste and slow-cooked for hours. Some places need an advance order.
Lawar
A traditional Balinese mix of minced meat, vegetables, coconut and spices, often served alongside babi guling or nasi campur.
Nasi Campur
A plate of rice with small portions of several dishes, an easy meal at a local warung.
Sate Lilit
Balinese satay of minced fish or meat wrapped around lemongrass stalks and grilled.
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout 500,000-700,000 IDR per day: guesthouse, warungs, walking
Mid-rangeabout 1,200,000-2,000,000 IDR per day: hotel, restaurants, shared car with driver
Comfortabout 4,000,000 IDR+ per day: upscale stay, private car
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Sample itinerary
- Day 1
Drive from the airport to Ubud, check in, then an evening dance show at Ubud Palace.
- Day 2
Early-morning Campuhan Ridge Walk, the Monkey Forest before noon, then the art market and galleries in the center.
- Day 3
Car with driver: Tegallalang in the morning, Tirta Empul, then Goa Gajah on the way back.
- Day 4
A day trip to Jatiluwih if you have time, or craft villages, then the airport (leave early for traffic).
Local tips
- International tourists visiting Bali must pay a tourism levy of 150,000 IDR per person, payable on the official site (lovebali.baliprov.go.id). The amount and method can change, so check before you travel.
- Entry requirements (visa on arrival, e-visa, tourism levy and more) can change, so check official Indonesian government or embassy information.
- Dress modestly and wear a sarong at temples. Under Bali provincial guidelines, the most sacred temple areas are only for worshippers in traditional Balinese attire, and menstruating women may not enter them. Climbing sacred trees or monuments and taking inappropriate photos are also prohibited.
- Food, drinks and plastic bags are not allowed in the Monkey Forest. Don't touch or feed the monkeys or stare into their eyes; if one jumps on you, stay calm and walk slowly.
- If a monkey or dog bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical care right away (WHO advice). The Monkey Forest has a first aid clinic.
- On Nyepi (the Day of Silence), Ngurah Rai Airport stops operating for 24 hours from 6 AM to 6 AM the next day and the whole island shuts down. The date changes every year, so check official information.
- Change money only at licensed money changers displaying the official Bank Indonesia QR code. Bali restricts single-use plastics such as bags and straws, so bring a reusable bag and water bottle.
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