For our honeymoon last year, we travelled around Bali for 3 weeks. We spent four nights of the trip in Ubud, which ended up being one of our favourite spots!
Here are my top 5 things to do in Ubud…
1. Visit the Monkey Forest
The Monkey Forest is an absolute must when in Ubud. It’s located right in the centre of the city, filled with temples, rivers, ancient trees and hundreds of monkeys roaming freely!
2. Enjoy the famous Bali Swing
If you’re travelling around Bali, you’ll notice that there are many ‘Bali Swings’. However, the best (and safest) one is the original Bali Swing in Ubud. As well as the classic swing, the premium package gives you access to seven other photo opportunities, including the birds nest and sky bed.
3. Dine at the best restaurants
We had some INCREDIBLE food during our time in Ubud. Here are some of my recommendations:
If you get the chance, I would also highly recommend a Balinese cooking class. We were lucky enough to have one at the incredible Airbnb that we were staying at.
4. Explore the town
As well as the Monkey Forest, there are so many wonderful things to be discovered in the centre of Ubud.
Saraswati Water Temple
Saraswati Temple, also known as the Ubud Water Palace, is an old Hindu temple in central Bali, built by one of the Ubud princes. It’s free to enter, and surrounded by a beautiful lotus pond. A must visit when in Ubud!
Ubud Art Market
The Ubud Art Market is the most popular tourist market in Bali. You’ll find beautiful hand-crafted goods and souvenirs including clothes, jewellery, bags and homeware.
Campuhan Ridge
Another must when in Ubud is the Campuhan Ridge Walk. This short hike is under three miles there and back, and offers gorgeous greenery views… you won’t believe you’re within a busy town centre!
5. Visit the nearby sites
Once you’ve explored the centre of Ubud, hire a driver or a scooter and visit the surrounding sites!
Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Around a 20 minute drive north of Ubud, you’ll find one of the most gorgeous and visited destinations in Bali, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains layers of rice paddies, maintained by an ancient water system called subak.
Tegenungan Waterfall
In the opposite direction, around a 20 minute drive south of Ubud, lies the stunning Tegenungan Waterfall. Once you arrive at the entrance, it’s around a 15 minute hike down the steps to the waterfall. You can also swim in the pool below the falls, making it the perfect place to cool off on a hot day!