Best Things To Do In Ubud, Bali

There are many things to do in Ubud, Bali because it is a great city and destination for many people around the globe. The Indonesian town of Ubud is on the island of Bali and the culture is very rich and full of life. The artworks in Ubud are well-known internationally and definitely worth checking out.

The top things to do in Ubud are interesting and so much fun – such as going to see the Ubud’s Monkey Forest, Ubud shopping areas, art museums, art galleries, Ubud’s rice fields, holistic healing centers and other great places to visit. Also, you will experience the city’s great mountain, beautiful forests, mysterious caves close to the volcano, ancient temples, and live music with traditional local dances.

Top things to do in Ubud

There are many things to do in Ubud. Obviously, the number one activity you need to do is to visit Ubud’s Monkey Forest so let's jump right in!

#1 – Monkey Forest

As one of Ubud activities, the Monkey Forest is a sacred forest to the locals of the notion of Tri Hita Karana. Tri Hita Karana means “Three ways to reach spiritual and physical well-being.” It is a relationship between all beings on Earth. While you are there, you will enjoy the positive energy from the people, the monkeys, and nature.

Other things to do in the Monkey Forest would be to interact with the monkeys and visit the temples. You can observe daily spiritual rituals going on in the temples. Also, you can also visit the natural laboratory where you can see the rare plants and the ones used for the rituals. Afterward, you, your family or your friends can go walk around the forest exploring and admiring the beauty of Ubud's nature.

Here is an activity close to the Monkey Forest called Ubud: Traditional Basket Weaving Class.

#2 – Ubud shopping areas

When you ask what to do in Ubud, shopping should come to mind. There are so many shops to choose from since tourism has grown quickly in Ubud. With many local artists opening up business there has been a huge flourish in art culture. Each shop offers a different experience so you'll want to walk around and take in every shop.

Each shop has its own unique artifacts and products you won't see anywhere else. Many of those artworks include sculptures, wood carvings, pottery, jewelry, and other creative items. The indoor market in Ubud offers many low-cost souvenirs. Also, while you shop, negotiate the prices so you do not pay 2 or 3 times more.

Here is an activity close to the shopping areas called Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm.

#3 – Art museums and galleries

One of the must-see, educational activities you need to do is visit art museums and galleries in different areas of Ubud. Ubud has various amounts of art museums and galleries because they have a vast amount of extremely talented local artists.  In fact, many western artists like Rudolph Bonnet, Walter Spies, and others came to Ubud to teach the local artist their western art styles. In 1936, the King of Ubud had established the Pitamaha Artists Cooperative which focused on the fusion of the local art styles with the westerner ones.

There are many museums you can visit like the Neka Art Museum which has beautiful architecture. The inside of the museum is very colorful with many fascinating pieces of art. In addition, you can also visit the Blanco Renaissance Museum, Museum Puri Lukisan, and other interesting ones. Blanco Renaissance Museum has a very nice entrance with an impressive garden and the Museum of Puri Lukisan is the oldest art museum in Bali with traditional paintings and carvings inside.

Here is an activity to bring you closer to the community of Ubud that is close by the art museums and galleries called Bali: Full-Day Spiritual Cleansing and Shamanic Healing Tour.

#4 – Ubud’s rice fields

The town of Ubud is full of small villages that are within walking or bicycle distance. Enjoy a leisurely ride or walk and take in the amazing sites such as the rice fields. You can hike or walk in the fields themselves! While you go through the fields, you can visit many villages along the way and take in the local culture.

Hiking in the morning through the quiet fields before the locals begin their workday is a truly peaceful and one of a kind experience.  You can also find a spot to meditate in the morning with the sounds of wind and the fresh air. You could even follow a trail that will lead you directly into the Monkey Forest.

An exciting activity near Ubud’s rice fields to check out is called Bali All Inclusive: Ubud Rice Terraces, Temples & Volcano.

#5 – Holistic healing centers

Over the years, holistic healing centers have been popular among the locals and tourists alike. There are many holistic medicine practitioners from both Eastern and Western styles that have moved around Ubud. So you will have a variety of massage centers, herbal medication stores, healing centers, acupuncture clinics to choose from. There are also many meditation centers and spas that have started up business.

There is a very spiritual vibe about the town of Ubud. In Ubud there is a famous place where you could drink holy water and swim in gentle springs  called the holy springs of Pura Tirta Empul. Many pilgrims from around the globe come to visit the mystical springs of Pura Tirta Empul. In addition, many vegetarian cafes and inspirational wellness retreats have opened up.

Here is an activity close to the holistic healing centers called Balinese Mystic and Rituals Tour with Kehen Temple.

#6 – The Mysterious Elephant Cave

The Mysterious Elephant Cave, also known as Goa Gajah, built during the 9th century has been baffling minds ever since. It has a rich history and during the 11th century, it was deemed a sanctuary. You'll find this mysterious site to see only 10 minutes south of Ubud. Inside the cave, you'll be fascinated by the religious relics on display that tell a story for you to unfold.

Locals still go inside the cave to worship and legend says that the famous giant Kebo Iwa’s fingernail created that cave. The frightening faces carved into the stones were to scare off evil spirits. This site is definitely a great place to visit and you'll learn how special this piece of history is for the locals.

An especially unique activity to enjoy in Ubud is called Bali Zoo: Breakfast with the Orangutans.

A Quick Ubud, Bali Travel Guide

Money – In Ubud, people use Indonesian rupiah. If you have foreign money, you can exchange it at the airport, banks, and places like the Central Kuta Money Exchange. The restaurant, services, and hotels tipping are all between 10-21%.

When is the best time? – The best time to travel to Ubud is from April to June and September because of the nice weather and low peak season.

Getting here – You can get to Ubud by plane. As you leave Denpasar airport to go to Ubud, you can take a taxi or a public bus to Ubud. It will take you 40 minutes to get to Ubud with a taxi and 1 hour 40 min using the bus to go to Ubud. Catching a taxi will cost you around $21.73 and the bus a reasonable $3.86.

Getting around – While you are in Ubud, you can rent a scooter at around $5 a day. In addition, you can take a taxi, Uber, a Perama bus, or a private driver.

Best all around tour – If you're looking for a tour that covers all of Ubud, look no further than this Best of Ubud: Nature, Temple, Rice Terrace, Waterfall and Coffee Tour.

Where should I stay?

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There is my list of awesome things to do in Ubud, Bali. I hope you enjoyed it. What about you? Do you have suggestions from your own experience? Drop a comment below, I'd love to hear your suggestions.