Key hubs
Ubud airport and railway station
- Airport
- Ngurah 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
- None. 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 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.
How to reach Ubud by air
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) near Denpasar is the gateway. Ubud is roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by road in light traffic and 2 hours or more at busy times. Check current direct flights from Indian cities with the airlines.
How to reach Ubud by train
Bali has no passenger rail service, so there is no railway station for Ubud. All travel here is by road.
How to reach Ubud by road
Ubud is reached by road from Denpasar and Ngurah Rai Airport. Private transfers and shuttles operate; agree the fare in advance.
Getting around Ubud
A car with a driver is the easiest way to reach the temples and terraces around Ubud. The central streets can be walked, but pavements are narrow and uneven, and scooter traffic is heavy.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Ubud
- Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi both involve long flights of steps down to the site, and the same climb back up. Go only as far as you are comfortable, and ask the driver to wait close by.
- Footpaths in central Ubud are narrow, uneven and busy with scooters. A car with a driver for any trip beyond the central streets is worth the cost.
- Carry a sarong and a scarf for temples, and wear shoes you can take off easily. Many sites ask visitors to wear a sarong over legs.
- Take travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. There are clinics in Ubud, but for serious care you may need a hospital in Denpasar or the south, an hour or more away.
- Do not feed or carry food openly at the Monkey Forest, and keep glasses and phones in a zipped bag.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.