Planning a trip to Bali? Read why you should add Ubud to your itinerary – the peaceful town surrounded by rice paddies and forests is my favorite place on Bali! My destination guide Bali will help you find the best places to stay and eat without spending a fortune, the top things to see & do while you are in Ubud and easy ways to get there and around!
Why you should go: Bali regularly makes it on the “best island in the world” lists, usually for its great beaches. But my favorite spot is Ubud – walking through the forest or sitting in a cafe overlooking the rice paddies is one of the most peaceful and relaxing experiences you’ll find on the island. Ubud has a special aura of tranquility and the friendly locals add to it! If you want to get away from it all and relax without the crowds, Ubud should be at the top of the list! Need more inspiration – find more reasons to visit Bali and Ubud!
Where to stay: To really experience the peace and quiet of Ubud, you’ll have to stay overnight! During the day the town buzzes with day visitors from the Southern Beaches, yet it calms significantly during the evenings. And it’s easy to find your personal balance between peace and the fun of a lively town – you don’t have to go far from the town center to feel like you are on your own!
If you want to be close to the many restaurants and shops in town, see cultural shows are meet new people, I recommend to stay in the center of town, formed by the loop of roads between Ubud Palace and the Monkey forest! You can escape the crowds during the day with walks into the countryside or hire a scooter or car & driver for trips further afield.
If you want even more tranquility, pick a hotel surrounded by rice fields or forest for a greater sense of seclusion – and only head into town when you feel like it – the choice is yours!
Either kind of hotel comes at any budget – you can find comfortable mid-scale hotels on a budget, like the Padma Retreat Ubud, pick an upscale hotel away from the crowds like the Ubud Wana Resort or indulge in perfect luxury with a private pool villa at The Lokha Ubud! You can find current prices by clicking on the links in the comparison table!
I do receive a small fee, if you decide to book through the link, at no cost to you – thank you for supporting my blog!
Hotel | Category | Location | Great for | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Four Seasons Sayan | 5* | out of town | Luxury, Pool, Family, Romance | |
Bisma Eight | 5* | edge of town | Style, Luxury, Pool | |
The Lokha Ubud | 5* | edge of town | Luxury, Nature, Romance | |
Ubud Wana ResortUbud Wana Resort | 4* | edge of town | Upscale, Pool | |
Best Western AgungBest Western Agung | 4* | edge of town | Rewards, Pool | |
evitel Ubudevitel Ubud | 3* | in town | Modern, pool, value | |
Padma Ubud RetreatPadma Ubud Retreat | 2* | in town | Local style, pool, value |
Where to eat: Ubud has a wide variety of quality food – from local Indonesian meals to very authentic cuisine from around the world. One of my favorite places for lunch or dinner is Karsa Kafe with great views over the rice paddies. My best ever meal in Ubud was at Kebun Bistro and my favorite pizza is at Buonasera! For dinner on a budget, look for a local warung a few blocks from the center of town. The local food is tasty, inexpensive and fewer tourists wander away from the center!
Things to do: Around town, you can enjoy a walk through the rice paddies, like Campuhan Ridge Trail. A short ride away is Goa Gaja, the unusual elephant temple on the edge of town. And at night, you can be entertained by one of the traditional Balinese dance performances. Ubud with its central location is a great base to explore the rest of Bali, with its many temples, beautiful lakes and mountains. Find more detail about the top things to do on Bali!
How to get there & around: Ubud is about 90 minutes from Bali’s airport and metered taxis are now available, so you can avoid the taxi touts and their scams. If you are coming from Southern Bali’s beaches, uber has arrived on Bali and is a great alternative! To get around the island, you can hire a car & driver – with rates starting under $40/day, it’s a comfortable and inexpensive way to go. If you are solo and on a budget, Perama Tours is a good alternative to get to Ubud and back! There are plenty of hotels within walking distance of the town center, so you can enjoy the peace & quiet of Ubud and still be able to walk into town when you want to!