Ubud: what to do, temples, museums, rice terraces and dance

Ubud is considered the cultural center of Bali: there are dozens of galleries, woodcarving workshops, museums and temples here. According to Wikivoyage, the town of about 75,000 people actually consists of fourteen villages, and "Ubud" is usually taken to mean everything within roughly 5 km of the central market. Below is what is worth seeing and how to plan the days. Entry prices are given in Indonesian rupiah according to Wikivoyage as of October 2026.

How the town works

In the center are three main streets: Jalan Raya Ubud, Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanuman. At the crossing of Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest stand the market, Puri Saren Agung palace and the bus station, with almost constant traffic. Monkey Forest street leads south to the monkey forest, with lots of accommodation, galleries and cafes along it. Hanuman runs parallel to it, noisier, but the level of its restaurants and shops is higher.

To the west and northwest lie Campuhan and Ketewaten with the most expensive hotels on the slopes of the Ayung and Wos river valleys. In the south beyond the monkey forest are Padang Tegal, Nyuh Kuning and Pengosekan, and in the east Peliatan, Teges and Bedulu. For choosing an area on the whole island, see when to go to Bali.

Temples and ancient sites

The main historic sites are outside town, some of them 20 km away, so it is convenient to combine them into one excursion.

• Goa Gajah (the Elephant Cave). The entrance is through a carved demon's mouth, with statues of Ganesha and fragments of lingams inside. Ninth century, open daily from 08:00 to 17:00, adult ticket 50,000 rupiah, sarong included. A visit takes 30-60 minutes.
• Gunung Kawi. A complex of 11th-century tombs cut into the walls of a river valley. A descent of 371 steps leads to it, open from 07:00 to 17:00, ticket 30,000 rupiah. Shoes are taken off at the central complex.
• Tirta Empul. One of the most revered temples on the island, built around hot springs. Open from 08:00 to 18:00, ticket 50,000 rupiah with a sarong and a sash. You can take part in the purification ritual, and you need suitable clothing.
• Yeh Pulu. Reliefs from the 14th-15th centuries among rice fields near Goa Gajah, ticket 30,000 rupiah. A little-known place with almost no crowds.
• Pura Kehen. A temple from 1206 in the town of Bangli about 30 minutes to the northeast, ticket 50,000 rupiah. Especially good is the eleven-tier meru in the inner courtyard.

In town itself you can enter Puri Saren Agung palace for free (09:00-17:00), and at the entrance on Raya Ubud stands the Saraswati temple with a lotus pond.

Museums and galleries

Ubud is good on a rainy day, when the beach is off.

• ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art) on Pengosekan street: works by Balinese and foreign artists such as Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet. A ticket is 150,000 rupiah, and the price includes tea or coffee at the museum cafe.
• The Neka Museum in Ketewaten: possibly the most important collection on the island, with six pavilions. An adult ticket is 150,000 rupiah.
• Puri Lukisan Museum: the first private museum in Bali, opened in 1954, ticket 40,000 rupiah.
• The Blanco Museum on Raya Campuhan: the house of the Spanish artist Antonio Blanco with birds in the garden, ticket 100,000 rupiah.

Allow 1-2 hours for each museum. If you want to compare how a cultural program looks in another country of the region, see Da Nang or Hoi An.

Walks through rice fields and valleys

The rice terraces begin literally beyond the town limits, especially to the south and southeast. Several proven routes:

• Campuhan Ridge Walk. A level paved path of about 2 km that begins at Pura Gunung Lebah temple. According to Wikivoyage the views are now partly spoiled by development, but the walk is still pleasant. It is easier to take a taxi to the northern end and walk back downhill.
• Sari Organic Walk. An easy walk through the fields north of the center with small cafes and farms. Best in the morning or before sunset.
• The rice fields north of town. The road from the center east and uphill to the village of Kutuh suits a bicycle, with no steep climbs.

Set out early: in Ubud it is hot and very humid by day, and the temples stand on stairs.

Dance and the evening program

Wikivoyage notes that dance and shadow theater performances take place in Ubud every evening. The best venue is considered Puri Saren Agung palace. Tickets are usually sold at the entrance and at nearby ticket booths during the day. After sunset the town has many cafes, from vegan to restaurants of modern Indonesian cuisine.

How many days you need and getting there

Wikivoyage advises setting aside at least a week for Ubud, and two or three days are only enough for an introduction. For a first visit it makes sense to take 3-4 days after the beach in the south: one day for walking routes and museums, one for the temples outside town and one for rest.

It is easier to get from Ngurah Rai airport by taxi: according to Wikivoyage for 2026, about 300,000 rupiah from Kuta or the airport one way. Perama buses run from Kuta and the airport three times a day (08:30, 12:00, 16:00) for 100-110 thousand rupiah. It is better to travel around the island with a driver.

When to go is covered in Bali: when to go and what to see. In Ubud at an altitude of about 200 m it is cooler than on the coast, and the heaviest downpours fall in January and February.

Arrange travel insurance in advance. Find cheap dates in the HotTrip flight search.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need in Ubud?

3-4 days is enough for an introduction, but Wikivoyage recommends a week if you want to understand the culture without hurrying.

Which temples near Ubud are the most interesting?

Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul and Yeh Pulu. They are 15-20 km from the center and are easy to combine into one day with a driver.

Do I need a sarong to enter a temple?

At Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul and Yeh Pulu a sarong is given at the entrance and is usually included in the ticket price.

When is the best time to walk through the rice fields?

Early in the morning or before sunset: it is hot and very humid by day.

Where can I see Balinese dance in Ubud?

Best at Puri Saren Agung palace: performances run every evening and tickets are sold on the spot.

Cover: photo by Mahmut Yilmaz on Pexels