Ubud sits roughly 25 km north of Kuta in Bali’s Gianyar Regency, occupying a plateau between the Wos and Campuhan rivers at approximately 300 metres elevation. The town functions as Bali’s primary centre for traditional arts, classical dance, and Balinese Hindu ritual life. Jalan Raya Ubud, the main east–west spine, connects the royal palace, central market, and dozens of family-run galleries in a walkable corridor.
What is Ubud known for?
Ubud is known above all for its living tradition of Balinese performing arts, its terraced rice agriculture, and its role as a hub for painting, woodcarving, and silver and goldsmithing. The Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) on Jalan Raya Pengosekan holds a permanent collection of classical Kamasan and Pita Maha works alongside international pieces. The Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung), built by the Sukawati royal family and still a working royal residence, hosts public Legong and Kecak dance performances most evenings in its open courtyard.
Best things to do in Ubud
The single highest-value activity in Ubud is attending a live Kecak fire dance at Pura Luhur Uluwatu or a Legong performance at Puri Saren Agung, which run most evenings and cost under USD 10 per person. Other concrete priorities include:
- Walking the Campuhan Ridge Walk from the Ibah bridge junction north toward Bangkiang Sidem village at sunrise
- Visiting Tegallalang Rice Terraces, 9 km north on Jalan Raya Tegallalang, for subak cooperative irrigation landscapes
- Exploring the Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) archaeological site, a 9th-century Hindu sanctuary 4 km east on Jalan Raya Goa Gajah
- Taking a traditional Balinese painting class at a studio in the village of Penestanan, a 15-minute walk west of central Ubud
- Browsing woodcarving workshops in Mas village, 6 km south on Jalan Raya Mas
Where to eat in Ubud
Ubud’s most authentic local meal is nasi campur—steamed rice served with small portions of sautéed vegetables, satay, and sambal—available at warungs on Jalan Dewi Sita and at the Pasar Ubud (Ubud Market) food stalls on the north side of Jalan Raya Ubud. Bebek betutu, slow-roasted duck wrapped in banana leaf with bumbu Bali spice paste, is the area’s signature ceremonial dish and appears on menus along Jalan Monkey Forest. Ibu Oka on Jalan Suweta is a long-established warung specialising in babi guling, the spit-roasted spiced suckling pig traditional to Balinese celebrations.
Where to walk in Ubud
The Campuhan Ridge Walk is Ubud’s most iconic pedestrian route, a 2 km paved and dirt path following the ridge between the Wos Barat and Wos Timur river valleys, starting at Pura Gunung Lebah near the Campuhan bridge on Jalan Raya Campuhan and ending near Bangkiang Sidem. A second productive walking corridor runs south from Puri Saren Agung down Jalan Monkey Forest through the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana (Ubud Monkey Forest) sanctuary, a 12.5-hectare reserve housing over 700 Balinese long-tailed macaques.
How to get to Ubud
Ubud has no rail service; the standard arrival route from Ngurah Rai International Airport is by pre-booked taxi or ride-hailing app (Grab or Gojek), a journey of approximately 1 to 1.5 hours covering 35–40 km via the Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai and Jalan Raya Sukawati depending on traffic. Metered bluebird taxis and Kura-Kura tourist buses also serve the Kuta–Seminyak–Ubud corridor. Within Ubud, ojek (motorcycle taxis) and app-based ojek via Gojek are the primary short-distance transport.
Best time to visit Ubud
Ubud’s dry season runs from approximately May through October, with July and August offering the lowest rainfall and coolest evenings, making outdoor activities like the Campuhan Ridge Walk and Tegallalang visits most comfortable. The wet season from November through March brings daily afternoon rain but also the greenest rice terraces and fewer crowds. The Galungan and Kuningan festival cycle, occurring roughly every 210 days on the Balinese Pawukon calendar, fills village streets with penjor bamboo poles and elaborate offerings and is among the most visually significant times to visit.
