10 Best Things to Do
Ubud brings Bali’s artistic traditions into everyday view, from carved temple gateways to galleries and evening dance. Beyond the busy centre, rice fields and steep river valleys make room for quiet walks and secluded hotels. Spend mornings exploring museums or nearby temples, then settle into a long lunch or an ambitious tasting menu. Choose your base carefully: staying in town makes walking easier, while the surrounding villages offer space and greener views.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Padangtegal, Indonesia
Walk beneath mature trees and past carved stonework in the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, where long-tailed macaques move freely through the grounds. The setting is also an important sacred place for Padangtegal village, and some temple areas are reserved for worship. Give the animals space, secure loose belongings and follow the sanctuary’s instructions throughout the visit. The forest works well as a morning outing before exploring the streets and cafés of southern Ubud.
Forest and temple surroundings
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Campuhan, Indonesia
The Campuhan ridge gives you a different perspective on Ubud, with an open path above green valleys instead of another drive between sights. Go early or later in the afternoon when the light is gentler and the exposed sections feel more comfortable. Wear shoes with grip, carry water and turn back whenever you have had enough; the pleasure is in the changing views rather than reaching a particular endpoint. Wet weather can make the path slippery.
A walk above the valleys
Neka Art Museum
Sanggingan, Indonesia
Neka Art Museum is a useful starting point for understanding the painting traditions that helped make Ubud an artistic centre. Its collection places Balinese work alongside Indonesian and international artists connected with the island. Take time to compare styles rather than rushing between rooms, then leave space for the gardens and pavilions. Sanggingan lies north of central Ubud, making the museum a natural pairing with lunch nearby rather than a hurried stop on a long driving circuit.
Understanding Balinese painting
Agung Rai Museum of Art
Pengosekan, Indonesia
ARMA combines a permanent collection with a wider commitment to Balinese cultural life. Paintings range from traditional work to modern pieces, with Balinese artists and foreign painters who worked on the island represented together. The museum also runs cultural workshops and performances, so check the programme before choosing your day. Leave time to wander the grounds after the galleries; the setting is part of the appeal, particularly during a quieter afternoon in Pengosekan.
Art in a living cultural centre
Ubud Palace
Central Ubud, Indonesia
Puri Saren Agung stands at the heart of Ubud, its carved gateways and courtyards offering an easy introduction to Balinese palace architecture. Parts remain a royal residence, so keep to areas open to visitors. Return for an evening dance performance if the schedule suits your stay; the courtyard provides a memorable setting for the music and movement. Confirm the programme and ticket arrangements locally, and arrive with time to settle before the performance begins.
Royal architecture and evening dance
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Tegallalang, Indonesia
Tegallalang’s stepped paddies follow the contours of a narrow valley north of Ubud. Start with the view from above, then decide how far you want to descend along the paths between the fields. The landscape changes with the growing cycle, so expect different colours and textures rather than one fixed postcard scene. Go in cooler daylight, wear suitable shoes and check access charges at your chosen entrance. Keep to the paths and respect the working fields.
Terraced rice-field scenery
Tirta Empul
Manukaya, Tampaksiring, Indonesia
Tirta Empul’s springs feed purification pools that remain part of active Balinese Hindu worship. Visit to see the temple courtyards, carved gateways and spring itself, allowing worshippers space and following local instructions. If you wish to take part in a purification ritual, arrange proper guidance rather than treating the pools as a swimming attraction. Wear the required temple clothing and check access rules on arrival. The temple combines naturally with nearby sights around Tampaksiring.
A sacred water temple
Gunung Kawi
Tampaksiring, Indonesia
A long flight of steps leads down towards Gunung Kawi’s remarkable shrines, carved directly into the cliff above the Pakerisan River. The journey through the valley is part of the visit, with rice fields and greenery framing the stone monuments. Allow enough time and energy for the climb back up, especially in hot weather. Wear the required sarong and sash, respect worship areas, and consider a guide if you want the history explained in greater depth.
Rock-cut shrines in a valley
Goa Gajah
Bedulu, Indonesia
Goa Gajah is best known for the richly carved entrance to its small cave sanctuary, but the surrounding site deserves more than a quick photograph. Explore the bathing pools and stone details, then pause to understand how this sacred place sits within the wider landscape around Bedulu. It makes a manageable stop on an outing east of Ubud. Dress appropriately for a temple visit and follow the marked visitor route, particularly around steps and uneven surfaces.
Ancient carved stonework
Museum Puri Lukisan
Central Ubud, Indonesia
Museum Puri Lukisan preserves Balinese art in an accessible central location, a short walk west of Ubud Palace. Its collections and exhibitions offer a quieter counterpoint to the busy shopping streets outside. Spend time with the paintings rather than treating the museum as a shortcut through the gardens, and check whether a workshop or temporary exhibition coincides with your visit. It is particularly easy to include in a day spent exploring central Ubud on foot.
Balinese art close to the palace