15 Best Things to Visit in Ubud (Bali)

Ubud, which lies in the highlands of Bali, has a very different vibe from loud and crowded places like Kuta or Seminyak. Long regarded as the island’s cultural center, this region is home to vibrant art galleries, interesting museums, and charming temples. Additionally, the town’s stunning Royal Palace is located there, and all of the other cultural landmarks are surrounded by terraces and valleys filled with jade-hued rice fields. There are several healthy eateries in Ubud that serve vegetarian and vegan meals, or you can visit one of the resorts nearby for some of the best dining in Bali. Ubud is also home to some of Bali’s best restaurants. The sacred bathing waters of Tirta Empul, for example, are just a short drive from Ubud. If you want to really immerse yourself in the local culture, don’t miss a beautiful Balinese dance performance.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

If you want to explore Ubud and enjoy the best of the local beauty, go to the Campuhan Ridge Walk, which is a little outside of town. You can meander along the ridge from the charming starting place of Gunung Lebah Temple. The stroll will take you through a verdant area of lovely hills that overlook an amazing valley. One of the nicest ways to explore some of the less developed areas around Ubud is to follow the designated trail that is available here.

Visit Threads of Life Indonesian Textile Arts Center

The Threads of Life charity, which supports the neighborhood via the sale of eco-friendly textiles, is represented by this stunning textile gallery, which is a must-visit when in Ubud. All of these artworks were created using a variety of weaving techniques that may be found all throughout Indonesia and natural colors. This indicates that you can experience the long-standing traditions of local handicrafts, and there is a store nearby where you can buy a couple of your own items as mementos of your vacation. You can enroll in one of the in-house textile appreciation classes if you wish to learn by doing.

Museum Puri Lukisan

Ubud is renowned for being Bali’s cultural center and continues to have the island’s biggest concentration of art galleries. The Museum Puri Lukisan is one of the best places to go if you want a taste of Ubud’s modern art scene. Here, you can see a broad variety of artwork and read English-language descriptions of the development of art in this region. Rudolf Bonnet, Walter Spies, and a native artist named Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati, a prince and a member of the Royal Family of Ubud, were the architects of the museum. This is one of the best venues if you love art to learn about it all, including non-religious art that can be difficult to find in other galleries.

Enjoy lunch at Alchemy Cafe

Alchemy Cafe, which serves some of the greatest raw and vegan food on the island, is a local legend in Ubud. You may eat dishes like vegan cheesecake and have a full salad bar because all the ingredients are cooked on-site. As if that weren’t enough, their in-house chocolate also produces raw vegan chocolate, or you may just sip on raw squeezed juice. Additionally, there is a nearby health store and an upstairs holistic clinic where you may get a variety of beauty treatments.

Museum Rudana

This charming museum is owned by a Balinese politician named Nyoman Rudana and his wife, Ni Wayan Olasthini, a fellow art enthusiast. It looks out over some lush, emerald-hued rice fields. There are 400 pieces total spread across the museum’s three levels of art-related ephemera, including vibrant traditional paintings and vintage items like an 1840s calendar. Additionally, there are contemporary works of art here, and a gallery nearby sells Balinese artwork that you can purchase for your personal collection.

Casa Luna Cooking School

Since Bali is known for its cuisine, you should visit the Casa Luna Cooking School in Ubud if you want to try making some of your own. In addition to being able to attend a cooking class here, you will also learn about the history, culture, and religious beliefs connected to Bali’s cuisine and are able to prepare a number of Balinese classics. You will be given an explanation of each of the traditional components, and so that you don’t forget anything you have learned, participants are given recipe cards to take home as well as class notes. Each day’s menu will be different, and you and the other students in the class will then sit down to enjoy the results of your labors.

Restaurant Locavore

The most well-known eatery in Ubud, if not all of Indonesia, is called Locavore. If you want to sample some of the best fusion cuisine available, head over to this location, which has earned numerous honors. Eelke Plasmeijer and Ray Adriansyah, the chefs, prepare tasting menus that can include nine courses and feature locally sourced ingredients in their locally inspired cuisine. Meals can last up to three hours on average, and you can select courses that are paired with wines to make the most of your meal. Since most meals are fusion-based, they combine regional ingredients with international cooking methods. Famous specialties include smoked catfish and pork shoulder, and it goes without saying that reservations are required if you plan to go.

Coffee Studio Seniman

This coffee shop, which calls itself a “coffee studio,” is regarded as one of the best places in Ubud to stop and grab a cup of coffee. All of the local beers are served here, and you can rest in one of the cozy rocking seats and take in the peaceful atmosphere. They take their coffee very seriously here, and you can sample some of the greatest Indonesian beans in the industry while also enjoying a wide variety of beverages, including siphon and pour-over. Additionally, there is a mix of local and international cuisine served here, along with alcoholic beverages in the evening.

Pura Taman Saraswati

This charming small shrine honors Dewi Saraswati, a Hindu goddess of learning and creativity. To that aim, the structure is covered in exquisite sculptures of the goddess, and a major part of the front of the temple is filled with fountains that flow into a clear pond. It is common to bathe in or consume the water from the pond, which is covered in beautiful lotus blossoms, in order to tap into a part of the goddess’ power. At night, when the temple is lighted against the night sky and even more stunning than during the day, dance performances are also held here.

Sample the duck at Bebek Bengil

Another well-known eatery in Ubud is Bebek Bengil, which is also known as the “Dirty Duck.” The restaurant backs onto lovely rice paddies, and according to legend, a bunch of ducks wandered through as construction was underway and gave the structure its name. As you would expect, duck features heavily on the menu, and you can get traditional dishes such as crispy duck rubbed with a Balinese blend of herbs and spices, which was first pioneered here in the 1990s, or you can enjoy fusion dishes such as duck salad with melon.

Goa Gajah

One of the biggest tourist destinations on the island of Bali is Goa Gajah, which translates to “Elephant Cave” in Indonesian. It is a magnificent archaeological marvel, made up of a sizable temple complex that is located just outside of Ubud in Bedulu Village. You must descend a flight of stairs to reach the cave, which is accessible through a picturesque courtyard. The cave is reported to have been there since the eleventh century. Aside from a number of cave paintings and a modest shrine used for meditation, the cave also features a full Hindu temple outdoors, replete with a beautiful swimming pool and some gushing fountains.

Gianyar Night Market

Even though it’s a little outside of the heart of Ubud, the Gianyar Night Market is worth a visit if you’re searching for something to do in the evening. The night market is well-known for its delectable cuisine, and you can get a variety of traditional Balinese foods there, including satay, fried bananas, and little cakes. Along with other things for sale like clothing and toys, Bali is famed for its omnipresent roasted suckling pig.

Yoga Barn

One of the most well-liked yoga retreats in Ubud is the Yoga Barn. There are classes available here for people of all skill levels, and there are five separate studios to select from that were built to be open plans so that you could enjoy the beautiful surroundings at the same time. You can either visit us for a class or stay longer and enroll in a three-day commitment-required cleansing program.

Puri Saren Palace

You can easily visit the Ubud Art Market and Puri Saren Agung, popularly known as the Ubud Royal Palace, at the same time because they are both nearby. It was constructed in the 1800s, during the reign of Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, and is situated in the city’s center. While the Royal Family still resides in the palace’s ceremonial and ceremonial areas, you can still stroll through the grounds and admire the exquisite Balinese architecture. The ideal location to visit in the evenings to watch a traditional Balinese dance performance is also well-known.

Legong dance performance

The Legong dance, based on an East Javan legend from the 12th century, is one of Bali’s top cultural attractions. It tells the tale of a young woman who was abducted and later imprisoned; a significant portion of the narrative is devoted to detailing her escape. You may catch the dance at a variety of locations in and around Ubud, including Puri Saren, Peliatan Village, and Pura Dalem Puri. Expect fantastic dance skills and hypnotic music.