25 Amazing activities to do in Ubud, Bali

There are so many amazing activities to do in Ubud, Bali. The city is known as the cultural center of the island and is surrounded by beautiful rice paddy fields, amazing landscapes, lush jungle, great spas and an amazing monkey forest. This post will introduce you to 25 amazing activities to do in Ubud, Bali.

Visit Paradiso Ubud to watch a movie

Paradiso Ubud is the world’s first organic vegan cinema and definitely worth a try! There are daily movie screenings and the food is very tasty!

Take a swim at Jungle Fish Ubud, Bali

Jungle Fish is a ’must do’ in Ubud, Bali. The place is quite new and has an extraordinary pool in an amazing position. Here you can experience swimming amidst the lush jungle, and beautiful landscape of Ubud. At Jungle Fish Ubud, you can definitely swim with an amazing view and experience a laid-back vibe.

Stroll around Goa Gajah – The Elephant cave in Ubud, Bali

Just five minutes outside Ubud, you can find the Goa Gajah Elephant Cave. This popular tourist attraction is carved with amazing stone figures and some water ponds. A beautiful place to visit!

Photograph Pura Taman Saraswati – The Water Palace in Ubud, Bali

Pura Taman Saraswati, also called the water temple of Ubud, is a beautiful temple known for its gorgeous pond with lotus flowers. At the temple complex, you can also find plenty of fountains. At certain times, cultural performances are organized.

Visit the Gunung Lebah Temple in Ubud, Bali

The Gunung Lebah Temple in Ubud is a little temple located on a small hill. It is surrounded by bamboo forest and perfect for a morning or afternoon stroll.

See a dance- or music performance in Ubud, Bali

In Ubud, many dance- and music performances are organized. Examples are the ‘Legong’, ‘Barong’, or ‘Kecak’ dance. Many of the performances take place in Ubud’s most beautiful venues, like the Pura Dalem temple in the Monkey Forest, the Ubud Royal palace, or the Water Palace.

Purify yourself at the Pura Tirta Empul – Temple of Holy water in Ubud, Bali

The Pura Tirta Empul temple is well known for its holy springs. Here you will find plenty of locals bathing and purifying themselves in holy water. There are public changing rooms and lockers available.

Dive into the Tegenungan waterfall, Ubud, Bali

Closely located to Ubud, the Tegenungan is one of the most well-known waterfalls of Bali and a must-do activity in Ubud, Bali. It is known for its lush green surroundings and heavy water flow. Down the plunge pool, you can go bathing and refresh yourself. The best time to visit the Tegenungan waterfall is in the early morning, before the crowd will arrive. I was there around 09;00 AM and it was still rather quiet. The entrance fee is IDR 15,000.

Have the swing ride of your life in Ubud, Bali

Close to Ubud, you can find ‘Zen Hideaway’ where you can swing the ride of your life! During the swing, you can enjoy the amazing view of the Ayung River, rice paddy fields, and Mount Agung.

Play with monkeys in Monkey Forest Ubud, Bali

The Ubud Monkey Forest in the village of Padangtegal in Ubud, Bali, is home to over 600 long-tailed macaques and one of the must-do activities in Ubud. The Monkey Forest is a sanctuary place for the monkeys and a spiritual and economical place for the Balinese inhabitants. Nowadays it is a well-known tourist attraction, but not an attraction that you can visit without caution… The monkeys are wild animals, so you need to be prepared and mindful when visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali.

Visit the Ubud Botanic gardens

When you love gardens and flowers, the Ubud Botanic gardens are nice to visit! However, the past months, it looked like the gardens haven’t been kept for a while, so I am not sure how nice they look like when you visit.

A must visit to Tegalalang Rice Terrace Ubud, Bali

A must visit when travelling to Ubud, Bali, is a visit to the Tegalalang rice paddy fields. The Tegalalang rice paddy fields are well-known by tourists, so go in the early morning or late afternoon. You don’t only avoid crowds, but the earlier you go, the easier the hike through the fields will be. In the early morning, the sun will not be too strong yet and walking paths may be easier to walk on. When you don’t have time to go in the early morning, visit the paddy fields in the late afternoon instead. Most people leave around the afternoon, and so is this a perfect time to visit.

Pet rabbits at Maha Restaurant Ubud, Bali

The Maha Restaurant in Ubud, Bali, is a great place where you can enjoy good food while petting cute bunnies!

Enjoy a walk with amazing scenery: Campuhan Ridge walk, Ubud, Bali

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is an amazing walk along the ridge that runs along the valley Campuhan River. The path starts at the Campuhan Bridge and offers you an amazing view of jungle, rice paddy fields, past villages, and other beautiful nature. Along the way are some swings where you can enjoy the views even better. At the end of the path, you can find some small cafes. The walk will take around one to two hours.

Learn about arts and museums in Ubud, Bali

Ubud is THE place to find crafts, arts, and amazing museums. The Neka Museum and the Arma museum of art are showing famous arts of Indonesian artists. Furthermore, the Agung Rai Gallery and the Blanco museum are worth a visit!

Explore Balinese crafts in Ubud, Bali

In and around Ubud, you can find different crafts like wood carving (Tegalalang and Jati), stone carving (Bartubalan), pottery (Ubung and Kapal), painting (Ubud), and silver/gold smiths (Celuk). Most products can be found in stores all around Bali, but by buying in these specific villages, it is possible to get the products cheaper and tailor made for you.

Take a massage or spa in Ubud, Bali

Ubud is also well-known for massages and spa. You will find plenty of beauty salons all around the city. Some spa’s I can recommend are Kayma Spa, Iman Spa, or Cantika Spa.

Participate in a cooking class in Ubud, Bali

Food and cooking is an amazing way to learn more about any culture. During my cooking class at Bali Rural Commune, I learned a lot about the Balinese ingredients and way of cooking.

Try the best coffee of Bali at Seniman Coffee Studio

If you like coffee, you should visit the Seniman Coffee Studio in Ubud, Bali. Their coffee brew is a definite experience you shouldn’t miss.

Take an Eco Tour in Ubud, Bali– The Green Village

In Bali, many sustainable- and interesting projects are going on. In 2006 a guy decided to built a green village from bamboo. Nowadays, the village is home to 12 luxury bamboo complexes. You can visit the Green Village and learn everything about how bamboos are transformed into a sustainable living experience.

Do yoga in Ubud, Bali

Ubud is not only known as the spa and massage capital, but also as THE yoga capital of Bali. There are plenty of places where you can do yoga classes and once in a while a yoga festival is organized. The ‘Yoga Barn’ is one of the popular places in Ubud where you can do yoga.

Go volcano trekking from Ubud

Another great day trip from Ubud, is volcano trekking. Usually you wake up in the middle of the night, hike in complete darkness to the top and enjoy one of your most unforgettable sunrises of your life. I have climbed twice Mount Agung and can definitely recommend it!

Go rafting in Ubud, Bali

If you are looking for something active to do in Ubud, Bali, rafting might be fun! There are two rivers to choose from, the Ayung and the Telaga Waja River. I once did rafting on the Ayung river and it was amazing! On the river are plenty of rapids and along the river you will see rice paddy fields, jungle with monkeys, waterfalls, and some forests. The best time for white water rafting in Bali is in the wet-season, between November and March, when the rapids are at their wildest. From April to September there is less water in the rivers and there won’t be too much white water on the rapids.

Day trip from Ubud, Bali: cycling

One of the popular day trips from Ubud is cycling. You don’t have to be sportive to do this activity, because you mostly cycle downhill. First, you drive up to the top of a surrounding mountain (often Kintamani area) and then ride the bike all the way (downhill) back into town. Along the way, you will cross many impressive landscapes, rural villages, lots of ride paddy fields, and coffee plantations.

Go shopping in Ubud

Ubud is a haven for shoppers. There are small and cozy boutiques, music stores, painting stores, and craft stores. For souvenirs, you can best visit the Ubud (Art) Market where you can find many stalls. Also, the local market is nice to visit. This market is open in the early morning till 09.00 o’clock. Most of the locals will do their shopping before the sunrise. While many of the shops and stalls have price tags on their wares, bargaining is recommended, especially in the markets and in the smaller local shops.

Do you know any other great activities to do in Ubud, Bali? Let me know in a comment!

Author: Daphne

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