Plan 01
1 day in Ubud
- 01
Day 1: Palace, market and rice terraces
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.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) 30 to 60 minutes; allow an evening for a dance show Easy Morning for the courtyards; evening for a dance performance Pura Taman Saraswati 20 to 40 minutes Easy Morning for light; evening for a dance show Puri Lukisan Museum 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Morning or a hot afternoon Tegallalang Rice Terraces 1 to 2 hours; add time for a cafe stop Moderate Early morning, before crowds and heat Campuhan Ridge Walk 1 to 2 hours return Moderate Early morning or late afternoon Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Tegallalang Rice Terraces: The upper viewpoints are accessible with little walking. Paths into the terraces are steep, uneven and slippery after rain, with few rails or benches.
With parents at Campuhan Ridge Walk: The paved path is mostly level but has a few rises and no handrails in places. Little shade, so bring a hat and water. It can be slippery after rain.
Plan 02
2 days in Ubud
- 01
Day 1: Town on foot
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.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) 30 to 60 minutes; allow an evening for a dance show Easy Morning for the courtyards; evening for a dance performance Pura Taman Saraswati 20 to 40 minutes Easy Morning for light; evening for a dance show Neka Art Museum 1.5 to 2 hours Moderate Morning or afternoon on a hot day Campuhan Ridge Walk 1 to 2 hours return Moderate Early morning or late afternoon Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Neka Art Museum: Several separate pavilions connected by paths and steps, partly on a slope. Indoor galleries are cool, but expect stairs between buildings.
With parents at Campuhan Ridge Walk: The paved path is mostly level but has a few rises and no handrails in places. Little shade, so bring a hat and water. It can be slippery after rain.
- 02
Day 2: Temples to the north-east
Leave early with a driver for Tirta Empul in Tampaksiring, then Gunung Kawi nearby. Stop at the Tegallalang rice terraces on the way back, keeping the walking short. Rest in the afternoon, then visit Goa Gajah if you still have energy, or the Monkey Forest for a gentler, shaded walk.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Tirta Empul 1 to 2 hours Moderate Early morning, before tour groups arrive Gunung Kawi 1 to 1.5 hours Demanding Early morning Tegallalang Rice Terraces 1 to 2 hours; add time for a cafe stop Moderate Early morning, before crowds and heat Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) 45 to 90 minutes Demanding Morning, before the heat and tour buses Pace: Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) involve a lot of walking or steps — do them early, and keep the rest of the day light.
With parents at Tirta Empul: Level courtyards with some steps between yards; pool edges are wet and slippery. Limited seating and strong sun midday.
With parents at Gunung Kawi: A long stone stair descends to the river and the return climb is steep; there is some shade and railings in places but few places to sit. Slippery when wet.
Plan 03
3 days in Ubud
- 01
Day 1: Palace, museums and the market
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.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) 30 to 60 minutes; allow an evening for a dance show Easy Morning for the courtyards; evening for a dance performance Pura Taman Saraswati 20 to 40 minutes Easy Morning for light; evening for a dance show Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) 1 to 1.5 hours Easy Morning or afternoon Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
- 02
Day 2: Tampaksiring and the terraces
Go early to Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi, watching the steps carefully at the second. On the way back, stop at the Tegallalang rice terraces for a short walk. Take a long lunch and rest.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Tirta Empul 1 to 2 hours Moderate Early morning, before tour groups arrive Gunung Kawi 1 to 1.5 hours Demanding Early morning Tegallalang Rice Terraces 1 to 2 hours; add time for a cafe stop Moderate Early morning, before crowds and heat Pace: Gunung Kawi involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.
With parents at Tirta Empul: Level courtyards with some steps between yards; pool edges are wet and slippery. Limited seating and strong sun midday.
With parents at Gunung Kawi: A long stone stair descends to the river and the return climb is steep; there is some shade and railings in places but few places to sit. Slippery when wet.
- 03
Day 3: Forest, cave and ridge
Spend the morning at the Ubud Monkey Forest, then Goa Gajah at Bedulu with a driver. After lunch and a rest, visit the Neka Art Museum and finish with the Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunset. A short, shaded dinner in town closes the trip.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Ubud Monkey Forest 1 to 1.5 hours Moderate Morning, when it is cooler and the monkeys are calmer Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) 45 to 90 minutes Demanding Morning, before the heat and tour buses Neka Art Museum 1.5 to 2 hours Moderate Morning or afternoon on a hot day Campuhan Ridge Walk 1 to 2 hours return Moderate Early morning or late afternoon Pace: Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.
With parents at Ubud Monkey Forest: Shaded paths with some stone steps and uneven stretches; damp after rain. Benches are limited, and the monkeys make some visitors anxious.
With parents at Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave): A long flight of steps leads down to the entrance; the return climb is the hardest part. Cave interior is small, dim and often smoky with incense. Slippery in wet weather.
Read before you go
Guides for the stops on these routes
Pacing
Pacing a Ubud trip for parents and children
- Plan the day around one big outing in the morning and a rest after lunch. Humidity is high all year, and afternoon rain is common in the wet season.
- 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.
Book the pieces
Stay close to the route
Pick a base near the first day's sights. Our guide to where to stay in Ubud compares the areas.
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