Ubud travel blog — The ultimate Ubud travel guide & what to do in Ubud for first-timers

Ubud is the top famous destination in Bali. When it comes to Bali, people think that there is only the sea, but really, Bali has everything: forests, mountains, sea, magnificent Hindus temples… To me, Ubud is so beautiful, it is not natural that tourists like to come to Ubud so much. Ubud – Peaceful but not boring. So, is Ubud worth visiting, what to do in Ubud, how to go to Ubud and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Ubud Bali for the first-time? Let’s check out our Ubud travel blog (Ubud Bali travel blog, Ubud Bali blog, Ubud blog) with the fullest Ubud travel guide (Ubud guide, Ubud Bali guide, Ubud Bali travel guide, guide to Ubud Bali) from how to get to Ubud, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit, what to eat and top things to do in Ubud to find out the answer!

Ubud is beautiful with the gentle, peaceful life, Ubud is lovely with the friendliness of its people, Ubud is beautiful in its fresh atmosphere, beautiful in its cool year-round temperature, beautiful by its ancient architecture. In short, it’s fine for me to live in Ubud forever (but I’ll miss Vietnamese food).

The only minus point of Ubud is the food. Ubud cuisine is similar to Bali. It is not too diverse, if not a bit boring :D.

Ubud blog: When to come?

To know good time to come to Bali in general and Ubud in particular, I had a detailed post, you can see View.

Ubud travel guide: How to get to Ubud?

Ubud is about 1~1 hour 30 minutes drive from Bali airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport) about 35~40km. To getting to Ubud, you usually go by Taxi or Grab, Gojek, transfer services or a private car. I don’t recommend going by taxi because it’s often a rip off, overcharging and the price is also expensive.

Online taxi is the number 1 choice, the cheapest but also the most difficult to call because if you pay attention, you will see a lot of signs banning online taxis. If you stand at a traditional taxi parking and catch an online taxi, they will not dare to park to pick you up, they are afraid of being… punched. It’s a truth, I’m not kidding.

I heard the online driver say that. It seems to be really scary because when I begged for a long time, he dared to come in to pick me up, not forgetting to instruct “whoever asks, say I’m a private driver, the hotel car comes to pick me up”. When he came to pick me up, a traditional taxi driver asked the driver, looked at him, his face turned pale, and his body trembled, really poor. At that time, I thought, if my driver was beaten, I would jump out to protect him, so I was always ready to fight =))))).

But fortunately the people here are not as weird as ours, so my online driver said for a while, the traditional taxi driver also believed and let it go. Back to commuting, I recommend finding a private driver.

Before going just talk to the driver via his Facebook or Whatsapp about the destination, price, pick up time is ok. I went from the airport to Ubud, the driver took 250,000 IDR (first he asked 350,000). It is important to always bargain, take the price at Grab as a standard.

This is my driver contact – he’s quite good, but sometimes he likes to shoot the breeze too much =)))

I Made Rudi Awan: https://www.facebook.com/imade.rudiawan

In addition, I want to suggest you a very good transfer service from Klook. It’s also a private transfer service, you will be picked up right at the airport, no need to go to outside, the price is also quite pleasant. You can refer to here.

You also need a SIM card or portable WiFi device, it’s easily to buy right at the airport or at home before you go.

Ubud travel blog: Where to stay in Ubud?

Ubud has many good, beautiful and cheap places to stay. If you have a good budget, you can find houses in the forest (very nice for virtual living, taking pictures).

If you want to stay cheap, just stay around the center of Ubud for convenience. Also, many people suggest Tegallalang Rice Terrace, but I find it quite far from central Ubud.

The hotel I stayed Dewangga Ubud (Agoda.com or Booking.com). The price is quite affordable, not too far from the center, about 5 minutes walk to the Ubud central market, the room is nothing special, not too clean but not too dirty, the owner is friendly.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• The Sankara Resort Ubud by Pramana (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Kaamala Resort Ubud (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• The Udaya Resorts & Spa (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Adiwana Suweta (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Adiwana Unagi Suites (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• The Kayon Resort (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Adiwana Bisma Ubud (Agoda.com or Booking.com)

Check out more top and best hotels in Ubud on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

Ubud Bali blog: Dining in Ubud

Like some previous articles, I just summarize a few notes. Food in Ubud is also cheap, it is a bit more expensive than other places. If you want to eat cheap, just go to some restaurants named Warung to come and eat.

On average, a meal is about 25,000~30,000 IDR/person, adding drink is about 50,000 IDR. The downside is that the food doesn’t have many options, mainly chicken dishes, it will get bored very quickly.

Option 2 is to eat at restaurants – the food is diverse, a little cleaner, but the price is also quite high because it’s mainly focus on tourist. On average, 2~3 times more than Warung, so if you’re poor like me, you’ll only eat in occasionally, otherwise you’ll just eat instant noodles at the end of the trip :)))

In addition, I heard the driver Awan say that Bali has very famous specialty called Babi Guling (roasted suckling pig), and Ubud is the place where the best and most expensive Babi Guling. But unfortunately, I didn’t know soon so I didn’t try to try it. Listening to Awan say, the price is about 80,000~90,000 IDR/serving.

Ubud guide: Where to go, what to do in Ubud and things to do in Ubud

I will list here some must-go places and things to do in Ubud.

Near the center of Ubud

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Address: Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Hours: 9AM–5PM
Ticket price: 70,000 IDR

Monkey forest in Ubud is very famous. Right next to the center of Ubud is a forest, a temple of monkeys. Forests and trees are also typical in Bali, so many trees that make you always feel cool. Exploring the monkey forest is an experience not to be missed in Ubud, but you must be especially careful with the Monkeys, they can stealing things, glasses,…

The day I went, there was a monkey who tried to steal my wife’s belongings and failed because I prevented it, he bared his teeth and turned to chase me, demanding to bite.

In Vietnam, I don’t mind giving it a shot, monkey :)). From the monkey forest walking down, there is a waterfall, a beautiful bridge like in a fairy tale.

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)

Address: Bedulu, Blahbatuh, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Hours: Open 24 hours
Ticket price: 50,000 IDR

Because it’s famous in Ubud, I just came to tell you, it’s nothing. In addition to the surrounding scenery, there is a small cave inside with 3 altars (probably worshiping the elephant god).

In general, the tickets are not cheap, but the visit is not very impressive :)). You note that most of the temple tickets include free Sarong, so anyone who invites to rent, you should ignore.

Tegenungan and Kanto Lampo Waterfall

Ticket price: 20,000 IDR

Tegenungan Waterfall (Address: Jl. Ir. Sutami, Kemenuh, Kec. Sukawati, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80581, Indonesia/Hours: 6:30AM–6:30PM) is not the most beautiful waterfall, but it is the most attractive destination, probably because it is quite spectacular and easy to reach. Tegenungan Waterfall is right near Ubud, about 20~30 minutes by car (10km). However, a common thing of visiting the waterfall is that you should not come in the rainy season because if there is a flash flood, it is very dangerous. Tegenungan waterfall is very beautiful, the water flow is very strong, standing 15m away is also wet by steam :)).

To reach the waterfall, you will have to climb down quite deep and it is quite tiring to climb up :)). Should wear a bathing suit, this place is also very nice spot to take pictures. There is also Kanto Lampo waterfall (Address: Jl. Kaliasem lingk.kelod kangin, Beng, Kec. Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80513, Indonesia/Hours: 7AM–5:30PM) closer to Ubud, but few people suggest coming because it wasn’t the prettiest, I was going to go at first but lack of time so I gave up.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

Address: Kelusa, Payangan, Jl. Raya Campuhan, Sayan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Hours: Open 24 hours
Ticket price: Free

It is not correct to say far from the center, taking the Ubud market as a landmark, Campuhan Ridge Walk is about 1.5~2km away. If you can rent a bicycle, cycling here is quite enjoyable. I walked from the hotel take a long time and when I got back I was exhausted, looking for a taxi to return and swear there was no taxi. There are a few taxi stands but prices are expensive. From the taxi stand to my hotel just 1km but it demanded 120,000 IDR.

They calculate that the return distance, they have to go further (OMG, the taxi driver also calculates his way back =))). You should come in the morning for cool air, in the afternoon, after 3pm to avoid the heat, but don’t come too late because if in the dark to take pictures is not good but mosquito bites =)))).

Far away from Ubud

Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Address: Central parkir waterfall tukad cepung, Jl. Tembuku, Tembuku, Kec. Tembuku, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80671, Indonesia
Hours: 8AM–6PM
Ticket price: 15,000 IDR

Cepung Waterfall is not near Ubud, but if you have time, you should go because it is very beautiful and not too crowded like Tegenungan. Cepung Waterfall is not majestic but what makes it beautiful is that it’s in a cave, so you look at the pictures to make it easier to understand hehee.

Pura Tirta Empul

Address: Jl. Tirta, Manukaya, Kec. Tampaksiring, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80552, Indonesia
Hours: 8AM–6PM
Ticket price: 50,000 IDR

Tirta Empul Temple is famous in Bali for its sacredness, it is said to be very sacred. People often come here to bathe in the sacred water. As in the picture people are bathing in natural water (spring water flowing from mountain, very cold).

Each faucet that comes out has a different prayer meaning (health, money, luck,…) and often people here they queue to be washed, showered at all faucets. They even bring their children to take a bath, but because of the long queue, the water was cold, so everyone was shivering and feeling sorry for them.

I say shower, but actually sprinkle water on my head, wash my face, not bathe regularly because it’s a sacred water source, so no one would pee in the pond or do anything stupid :v, there are still fish in the pond.

In addition, I came on the full moon day of the month, so people went to pray crowded, but it was empty on weekdays.

Note that the entrance fee includes free sarong (to wrap your body), but if you want to take a bath, you have to rent another sarong for 10,000 IDR, if you rent a locker, add 15,000 IDR.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Address: Jl. Raya Tegallalang, Tegallalang, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561, Indonesia
Hours: 8AM–6PM
Ticket price: 10,000 IDR

I don’t know I have to pay for a ticket but the driver take us to the parking lot and asked 10,000 IDR each person. Tegallalang Rice Terrace is a very famous terraced field in Bali. But coming here is quite unlucky because like I went in early May, the rice season has turned yellow and some of the fields have been harvested, so it doesn’t look very nice.

But to be honest, if it’s the most beautiful season, the terraced fields here still have to call the fields in the Northwest of Vietnam by “uncle”, rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai in Vietnam is ten thousand times more beautiful. In Tegallalang, there are some swing activities and take pictures in the bird’s nests.

I didn’t play, so I don’t know the price. On the way through the fields, there will be farmers who ask to donate to the box because you will pass through their field or cross their bridge.

Hotels in Tegallalang also have many beautiful hotels like movies. But for me personally, this is a destination not to be missed because… it’s famous. But the impression is not very impressive.

 

Zen hideaway

Address: Jalan Dewi Saraswati, Banjar Tegalkuning, Bongkasa Pertiwi, Abiansemal, Badung Regency, Bali 80352, Indonesia

If you research, look at photos of Bali, you will definitely see pictures taken in bird’s nests, swings in the woods, terraces… Zen hideaway is the most famous place for those.

I am not interested in these games, my wife has also tried swinging in Nusa Penida, the nest is everywhere in Bali so it is not really attractive and ignore this. That’s why there are no pictures here in addition some in the internet.

In addition to above things to do and where to go, you can also go to the Ubud market to buy souvenirs, take a stroll around Ubud, hang out at some bars to explore Ubud nightlife…

Conclusion

In summary, Ubud is a destination to stay for about 3, 4 days to feel the peace here. Rest assured that there are not many places of interest but still you will not get bored. If Ubud had a delicious cuisine like Vietnam, I’d forget the way back :))

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Bali you can refer to

• Bali All Time Favourites Private Day Trip
• Bali Private UNESCO Heritage Sites Trip
• Nusa Penida Full Day Trip from Bali
• Bali Swing and Waterfall Full Day Tour in Ubud
• Bali Instagram Tour
• Bali Private UNESCO Heritage Sites Trip
• Private Ngurah Rai Airport Transfers (DPS) for Bali
• Private Sightseeing Custom Tour for Bali
• Tanah Lot Sunset Tour
• Private Sightseeing Custom Tour for Ubud & Surroundings
• Bali Private Car Charter
• 3G/4G Prepaid SIM Card (DPS Airport Pick Up) for Bali
• 4G Portable WiFi for Bali
• 4G LTE WiFi (MNL Delivery) for Asia

Are you looking for more Bali travel guide and top things to do in Bali: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Bali itinerary 8 days — How to spend 8 days in Bali (8 days 7 nights in Bali) pefectly? And more here.