Ubud is an incredibly spiritual and erethreal neighborhood set in the jungle of Bali. With gorgeous cafes, healthy eats, yoga studios, and Hindu temples, it’s no surprise why it’s one of the most visited places in Bali. And in my opinion, despite the crowds it draws, Ubud is well worth the visit and one of my favorite places on the island. Here’s how to have the most special day, one day in Ubud.
If you’re planning a trip to Indonesia, don’t miss…
- Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia
- The Ultimate 10 Day Indonesia Itinerary – Island Hopping Edition
- The Best Packing List for Indonesia
IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ THIS POST, CLICK HERE FOR MY #1 PRIVATE TOUR RECOMMENDATION!
Where is Ubud?
Ubud is more central, but still located in the southeastern part of the island. It’s set in the jungle with no direct access to the ocean but instead has beautiful rice paddies, palm trees, and thick jungle brush. To get to Ubud from the airport, it’s about a 1.5-2 hour drive depending on traffic.
IF YOU’RE TRAVELING TO UBUD FROM THE AIRPORT, BOOK A DRIVER BEFOREHAND!
The Best Time to Visit Ubud
The rainy season in Bali generally runs from October-February, with the dry season from March-September. However, I visited Ubud in March and it was still rainy at times. It was nothing that deterred my plans, but there were moments throughout the day where heavy rainfall lasted for a couple of hours.
In general, Bali sees the most tourists in July and August so prices are higher at that time. I would suggest visiting Ubud during shoulder season in March-April or in September.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Ubud?
While this is a one day itinerary for Ubud, if you have the time, I would recommend spending 3-4 days in Ubud. If you’re interested in slowing down and experiencing a more zen side to Ubud and you have the time, you could definitely stay up to a week.
BY THE WAY, IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN A DAY TRIP TO UBUD – I SUGGEST THIS ALL INCLUSIVE DAY TRIP THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST THAT UBUD HAS TO OFFER!
Where to Stay in Ubud
If you want to spend the night in Ubud and explore more than one day or explore more than taking a day trip to Ubud, you’ll need somewhere to stay. When looking for a hotel in Ubud the main question you need to ask yourself is whether you want to be away from the crowds or closer to the action. If you want to be away from the crowds, do you feel comfortable renting a motorbike to get around? Or are you okay hiring a driver to drive you around? Personally, I like to be within walking distance of cafes and restaurants which is why I chose to stay at Vitasha Supala Ubud. This hotel was affordable and very central – I would highly recommend it!
Other hotels in Ubud that I would recommend include…
For more hotels in Bali, don’t miss…
How to Get Around Ubud
Getting around Ubud is pretty easy but traffic can be congested. Of course, you can walk but if you’re going a further distance I recommend downloading the “Grab” app – a ride sharing app throughout Southeast Asia. On Grab you can request a ride by motorbike or car. Alternatively, if you feel comfortable, you can rent your own motorbike to get around Ubud (the easiest way to do this is to ask your hotel for assistance); but I would only suggest this if you are experienced in driving motorbikes as the streets get very crowded.
One Day in Ubud: The Best Ubud Itinerary if You Only Have 1 Day
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking around Ubud!
Spending the Morning in Ubud
Start your morning early with the goal to be at Scared Monkey Forest Sanctuary by the time it opens (at 0900) to avoid the crowds that come by 1000. But before going to Monkey Forest, head to one of the many cafes in Ubud and start your day with a delicious breakfast! I suggest Pison Ubud, Sunday Field, or Ivy Cafe. From any of these cafes you can then walk to Monkey Forest.
As I mentioned earlier, I would highly recommend arriving to Monkey Forest at the time that they open – 0900. The cost to enter is 80,000 IDR during the week and 100,000 IDR on the weekend (for adults). Make sure you’re not wearing any flashy or big jewelry as the monkey’s are known to climb on people at times and pull on jewelry. You can expect to spend around an hour walking around.
After leaving Monkey Forest, walk down Monkey Forest Road where you’ll find tons of quaint boutique shops and cafes. If you need a morning coffee, I enjoyed stopping at Watercress Ubud!
Spending the Afternoon in Ubud
As for the afternoon, I would recommend visiting one of the famous Hindu temples in Ubud. Continue to walk down Monkey Forest Road where you’ll come to Ubud Palace (this palace is free to enter and nothing special, but if you’re nearby you might as well check it out). You’ll also be near the Ubud Art Market which is fun to check out! From here, make a left and head to Ubud Water Palace. To enter, it costs 50,000 IDR and the water palace is absolutely beautiful, but aside from walking around there isn’t much else going on. While I appreciated the architecture, if you don’t want to spend the money – you aren’t missing out. (Also, the price of your ticket includes appropriate dress so you don’t need to come prepared ahead of time).
The real highlight of your afternoon in Ubud (and why I recommend comfortable shoes) is to walk the “Sweet Orange Walk Trail” through rice fields until you reach Sweet Orange Warung for lunch. To get to Sweet Orange Walk Trail leave Ubud Water Palace and turn left where you’ll walk through the Prianka Ubud Art Market. After about 15 minutes of walking, you’ll climb a pretty steep hill where you’ll then reach a more serene area of rice paddies and palm trees. From there you’ll notice signs that say “Sweet Orange” and if you don’t simply put “Sweet Orange Warung” into your phone to reach the cafe.
Spending the Evening in Ubud
As far as spending the evening in Ubud, head back down to Monkey Forest Road and stop at Belle Wine Bar & Grazing Boards for wine and cheese before dinner. For dinner suggestions, I have two places that I would highly recommend. The first is Plant Bistro – a gorgeous, plant based restaurant in the hills of Ubud. If you’re plant based or vegan or you’re interested in exploring these foods – I highly recommend making a reservation here. Otherwise, I absolutely loved the Greek restaurant Nostimo Greek Grill Ubud. It’s fun, lively, and has amazing Greek food!
Things to Do in Ubud (if You Have More Than 1 Day)
If you have more time to spend in Ubud, here are some other things I recommend…
- Take a yoga class at The Yoga Barn
- Visit Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Take a private Balinese cooking class
- Visit the waterfalls
- ATV ride + Gorilla Cave + waterfall
- ATV ride & white water rafting
- Visit water temples and rice terraces
FAQ
Q: “Is 1 day enough for Ubud?”
- A: Yes and no. I love Ubud so much that I would say if you only have one day, it’s absolutely worth visiting. But if you have longer to spend I would recommend anywhere from 3-7 days.
Q: “Can I do a day trip to Ubud?”
- A: Yes! And if you’re not up for going at it alone, I would suggest joining this tour.
Q: “How do I spend a relaxing day in Ubud?”
- A: Great question! Follow the itinerary I listed above but instead of visiting Monkey forest, head to The Yoga Barn for a peaceful, morning yoga class. Or join this tour where you can do a water purification blessing ritual, have a healing massage, and do yoga meditation.
Q: “What should I wear in Ubud?”
- A: Ubud (and Bali in general) is very hot and humid. I would highly suggest wearing light, breathable clothing when exploring. I would also highly recommend comfortable shoes so that you can walk around town. While Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, there are no rules around covering up or needing to wear certain clothing.
Indonesia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia
TRAVELING THROUGH INDONESIA
- The easiest way to book bus tickets in Indonesia is through Bookaway or 12Go
- Download Grab to get a taxi or motorbike
- To book a flight to Indonesia use Skyscanner or another big search engine (if you’re from the US sign up for Going to get free email alerts on flight deals)
- Indonesia does require a visa, you can purchase one through iVisa or at the airport upon arrival (this option is cheaper but the wait can be long)
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Indonesia – I use and recommend SafetyWing (read why here and here)
- If you want an English speaking driver waiting to pick you up at the airport, use Welcome Pickups (select cities only)
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for a discount
ACCOMODATION IN INDONESIA
- To easiest way to book hotels in Indonesia is through a booking platform
TOURS IN INDONESIA
- For tours and activities in Indonesia, I recommend using Get Your Guide or Viator
WHAT TO BRING TO INDONESIA
- Don’t forget a Indonesia guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a power plug adapter (Indonesia uses Type C)
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to keep your water cold on hot days and to cut down on plastic waste
- Don’t forget to travel with bug spray and sunscreen (face, body)
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
If you visit Bali, I highly suggest spending at least one day in Ubud. It’s one of the most beautiful and spiritual places I’ve ever traveled to. If you have questions about Ubud or Bali in general, let me know in a comment below!
For more information on visiting Bali, don’t miss…
For more information on things to see and do in Bali, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinindonesia” or under my highlights for “Indonesia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Indonesia” highlight
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
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