Ubud sits in the green uplands of Gianyar Regency, about an hour or more inland from Bali's southern beaches. It has no municipal status of its own: it is a district town whose lanes run between rice fields, family temples, art galleries and small guesthouses. Legend credits the priest Rsi Markandya with founding the Gunung Lebah temple at Campuhan, where two rivers meet, and the town's name is said to come from the Balinese word for medicine, because of its herbs.
The town became known for painting and carving in the 20th century, when the royal family of Ubud, based at Puri Saren Agung, backed local artists and invited foreign painters to work alongside them. That legacy is why a short walk can take you from a palace courtyard to the Puri Lukisan museum, a dance performance and a temple pond full of lotus. Ubud is a place for temples, craft and slow mornings rather than for a beach holiday.
Most visitors from India combine Ubud with a few nights on the coast. It works well for families and older travellers if you plan around three things: the heat and rain of the season, the steps at sites such as Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi, and traffic on the roads in and out of town. Hire a car with a driver for the outlying sights, keep the central ones for walking, and dress for temples with a sarong and covered shoulders.
Before you plan
Ubud at a glance
- Best months
- April to September is the drier half…April to September is the drier half of the year; August is the driest on the Wikipedia climate record. November to March is wet but still workable if you plan indoor stops.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 to 3 nights for the town and…2 to 3 nights for the town and nearby temples; 4 if you want the Tampaksiring temples and a slower pace
- Airport
- Ngurah Rai International AirportNgurah Rai International Airport (DPS), south of Denpasar; roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by road to Ubud in light traffic, 2 hours or more in peak traffic
- Railway station
- NoneNone. Bali has no passenger rail service, so every journey to and from Ubud is by road
- Getting around
- A private car with a driver is the…A private car with a driver is the easiest way to reach outlying sights. The centre is walkable but pavements are narrow and uneven; app-based rides and local taxis vary in availability.
- Daily budget
- Moderate by Bali standardsModerate by Bali standards. Entry fees are modest; a car and driver is the largest cost. Check current rupiah rates and rates with your driver before booking.
- Senior comfort
- Fair with planning: central sights…Fair with planning: central sights are close, but Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi involve long flights of steps, pavements are patchy, and the rainy season makes paths slippery
- Language
- Indonesian and BalineseIndonesian and Balinese; English is widely spoken in tourism businesses
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Ubud: May, June, July, August, September. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Ubud itinerary
One good day
1 day in Ubud
Start at Ubud Palace and the Pasar Seni art market opposite while the stalls are quiet. Walk to Pura Taman Saraswati and its lotus pond, then to the Puri Lukisan museum in the shaded gardens. Have lunch and rest through the hottest hours. In the late afternoon go out to the Tegallalang rice terraces with a driver, or if energy is low, stay in town and walk the first section of the Campuhan Ridge Walk. Finish with a Legong dance performance at one of the central venues; check current schedules and ticket prices.
Two days
2 days in Ubud
Begin at Ubud Palace and the art market, then Pura Taman Saraswati and Puri Lukisan. After lunch visit the Neka Art Museum on Jalan Raya Sanggingan, then walk the Campuhan Ridge Walk in the softer late-afternoon light. Dinner in the Penestanan or central Ubud area.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Ubud
Start at Ubud Palace and the art market, then Pura Taman Saraswati. Visit Puri Lukisan, rest at midday, and in the afternoon see the Agung Rai Museum of Art. End with a Balinese dance performance.
