Situated deep in the rice paddies and jungle of Bali, Ubud is a gorgeous destination for any nature lover. The vibrant culture and spirituality of Bali really shine through here, making it a great stop on your itinerary to get to truly immerse yourself in Balinese culture. Explore the temples, visit the rice paddies, and try all the delicious food that Ubud is famous for!
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Best things to do in Ubud
Visit the TEGALANG Rice Terraces
These are the most popular rice terraces in Ubud, and possibly even in all of Bali. It’s easy to see why! The rice paddies stretch far and wide, making for beautiful views in every direction. Since these are so popular, I recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon after the tour buses have left. We visited around 3pm and it wasn’t too crowded! There is technically no entrance fee, but some local farmers may ask for a small donation as you walk through the fields.
There are plenty of shops and restaurants if you want to do some souvenir shopping or grab a bite to eat. We stopped at Tis Cafe for lunch to wait out some of the crowds before entering the rice paddies and the food was AMAZING. They serve both traditional Indonesian dishes as well as western cuisine, but I highly recommend trying some Balinese food here. Their nasi goreng and pork belly was top notch!
Campuhan Ridge Walk
If you’re looking for a relaxing nature walk in Bali, this is the perfect spot for you. This beautiful path is about 2km long and very easy to walk. Once you get up to the ridge, you are rewarded with beautiful jungle views and lush greenery. It’s also an incredible place to watch the sunrise!
While this is an easy walk, there is very little shade to protect you from the hot Bali sun. I recommend going early in morning while temperatures are still moderate and fewer people are on the path.
THE DETAILS | This spot is a bit difficult to find. Type in Warwick IBAH Luxury Villas and Spa on your GPS. Once you arrive, you will see a split in the road and a sign that says “Going to the Hill” pointing to the left. Follow this sign and you will find the entrance and parking! Campuhan is completely free.
Stay in an eco villa
Bali is famous for gorgeous eco villas and open-air bamboo houses. Our favorite accommodation during our time in Bali was at Eco Six in Tampaksiring, about a twenty minute drive to central Ubud. I cannot recommend this experience enough!
Immerse yourself in nature and unwind with the jungle as your backyard. Read my Eco Six blog post to learn more about this incredible eco-resort!
chase some waterfalls
TIBUMANA | One of Bali’s best kept secrets (but I’m sharing with you). This waterfall is a bit more hidden than some of the others in Bali, but absolutely gorgeous. Go for a swim in the water and unwind to the relaxing sounds of the waterfall.
KANTO LAMPO | Absolutely gorgeous cascading waterfall. This is one of the easier waterfalls to get to, compared to others that require a bit of hiking. It was unfortunately closed during our time in Bali, so we will have to visit when we return!
TEGENUNAN | One of the most popular waterfalls in Bali. Get here early to beat the crowds!
Grab a smoothie bowl at blend cafe
An absolute must-do on your Bali bucket list should be trying the beautiful smoothie bowls! The bowls at Blend Cafe will absolutely take your breath away. Colorful yogurt is used to make beautiful designs and they’re almost too pretty to eat!
And yes – they are delicious.
This cafe was so quaint and cute, and I loved all the colorful boho decorations! Other than the bowls, we had some Nutella lattes as well (which were also delicious).
Visit the Ubud Monkey Forest
The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud is one of its most popular tourist attractions. It is home to nearly 600 wild macaques and was designed as a conservation to protect the wildlife in the area. There are three temples located in the sanctuary. These are not open to tourists but you are welcome to enjoy their beautiful architecture and snap a pic!
Keep in mind: no matter how cute they are, these are still wild animals! They are generally docile but can bite you if you scare or upset them. If you do get a bite, there’s a first aid office that can clean it and give you some antiseptic cream. Luckily, the monkeys in Bali do not carry rabies!
The monkeys are also known steal your food or shiny things – loose jewelry, phones, etc. so leave your valuables at home and do not bring any outside food with you!
find your zen with some yoga
Indonesia is a spiritual paradise and is known as one of the yoga capitals of the world. Because of this, there is no shortage of places to practice yoga in Bali.
Here are some of the top yoga studios in Ubud:
- The Yoga Barn – biggest and most popular, large class sizes and a huge variety of the types of classes offered
- Ubud Yoga House – more low-key, smaller classes, more personalized
- Intuitive Flow – gorgeous jungle views, small classes
- Ubud Yoga Centre – yoga, pilates, and dance. famous for their hot pilates classes!
Visit the Saraswati Temple
Immerse yourself in the culture of Bali at the Saraswati temple. This water temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of wisdom and art, Saraswati. The temple is ornately designed and beautiful, as with most Balinese temples. A traditional Balinese dance is held here every night at 7:30 pm if you’re looking to enjoy a cultural performance!
THE DETAILS | Please dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering the temple. It is also respectful to make a small offering such as flowers or incense before entering.