Why Ubud Is A Must For Every Bali Itinerary

Bali’s coastline is packed with lush beaches, hidden coves, and one of our favorite things to do is watch one of the island’s famed, jaw-dropping sunsets; cocktail in hand of course! Ubud however, which is located in the centre of the island still remains our top place to stay and visit, here’s why!

Ubud is the cultural and spiritual heartland of Bali, and although the town can be a little busy and crowded you’ll still find tranquil escape in the area’s surrounding green fields, rice terraces and lush rainforests. The old walkways and back-alleys of Penestanan are especially picturesque and perfect for escaping the crowds, and there’s heaps of old temples and palaces to keep you busy for days.

I would also recommend basing yourself here for a while to explore the many other attractions just outside of Ubud, such as Tegalalang Rice Terraces, and Tirta Empul water Temple.

For a two week trip in Bali I would recommend to split your time between the coast, Ubud and the North or Eastern parts of the island. Bali is a big place and it usually takes a lot longer to get around the island, than one might first imagine!

Here’s a few of our favorite things to do in Ubud.

Visit The Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

We weren’t entirely sure that we would enjoy the Monkey Forest Sanctuary if we’re being honest. We had read various horror stories online of people being bitten and items being stolen, and we even left our camera at home because we were concerned!

It turned out that we really enjoyed our time there! So much so we returned a second time with the cameras and taking hundreds of pictures, both times spending a good few hours there!

We are also reluctant when it comes to visiting tourist attractions that involve animals, but after plenty of research we discovered that the monkeys were well looked after, and they were free to come and go as they pleased.

We’ve visited many cities around the world where monkeys have become a problem and are seen as pests – most of the time this is caused by city expansion and habitat loss. So it was refreshing to see a place so close to the main town that’s preserved and well kept as a natural environment for these monkeys.

Find Tranquility In Ubud

Wander away from the main streets of Ubud and you’ll find a town surrounded by lush rainforest and beautiful landscapes of rolling hills and rice fields. We were lucky enough to spend a month in Penestanan which is located just outside of the main town, and it’s definitely our favorite place to escape the bustle of Ubud Centre. Here you can explore the overgrown paths and walkways that take you through rice fields, and past sleepy cafe’s and restaurants.

You can also find locals wearing traditional dress and working or making offerings along the way, while you enjoy stunning views away from the main tourist hub.

Visit Tegalalang Rice Terraces

Tegalalang is sure to be on everyone’s list when visiting Bali and it’s definitely one of those places that lived up to the hype for us. We say that because some people have mixed opinions about the place, but this also depends on your expectations and when you choose to visit.

It’s definitely touristy and there are even swings and stalls selling drinks and snacks around the fields, but we still think it’s a great place to take some memorable pictures, and if you’re looking for a nice, scenic walk then you’ll enjoy it!

You will find donation boxes around the fields and find locals asking for donations, which we think is reasonable, after all it’s their land and this place gets a lot of visitors everyday. Just remember to bring some small change to help the locals out as you enjoy the rice terraces.

We recommend visiting early morning as it is cooler, quieter and more enjoyable, and if you’re lucky enough you will be able to capture a beautiful photo of the early morning rays as they break across the terraces.

Don’t forget to bring a drone if you have one as it’s a great place to get some aerial shots!

Visit Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple

This lesser visited temple is just a 10 minute drive from Tegalalang Rice Terraces and is well worth the visit. Gunung Kawi Sebatu is a beautiful and tranquil water temple with ponds, shrines and lush gardens. The cliff behind the temple is covered in greenery and long vines clinging to the rock face, which only adds to its mystical atmosphere.

To the left of the temple you’ll find moss covered water features fed by natural springs that fill small pools of crystal-clear water. In a different, separate section on the far left there is also an area for washing and bathing that is regularly used by locals, we recommend not going into this section to allow people their privacy.

Make sure to take the views of the temple from the higher vantage point on the windy road that leads down to the temple. This is a great place to see the whole complex and get some amazing photos from above.

Feast On Delicious Food

It’s no secret that Ubud is a paradise for foodies! There’s a great range of cafes and restaurants to satisfy the needs of even the pickiest critics. You can find anything from entirely plant-based restaurants to fantastic grill restaurants as well as plenty of fine-dining options.

There’s also many restaurants in Ubud situated above valleys and rice-fields and offering superb views. Many of these have decent WiFi and offer a relaxed environment making them a popular choice for some laptop work.

If you’re looking for the hottest food spots in Ubud check out our foodie’s guide here!

Campuhan Ridge Walk

This is a great scenic walk you can take that’s just a short walk away from Ubud town. We recommend starting your hike early in the day, before before it gets too hot and making your way from the temple at the bottom, up through the forested walkways and across the ridge.

The ridge doesn’t offer any shade so remember to apply your sun cream well or wear a hat. This palm-fringed walk does however offer stunning views, and we recommend catching a sunset from the top of the ridge as well if have time. There aren’t many sunset spots in Ubud but this is definitely one of them!

It also a pretty good spot to use a drone if you have one, and don’t forget to grab a couple of fresh coconuts to enjoy on the way up!

The total walk is around 9 km’s but you don’t need to walk the whole path in order to get the nice views.

Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Although Tukad Cepung Waterfall is not in Ubud, it’s only an easy hour’s drive away and is definitely worth adding to your Ubud itinerary. The unique feature of this waterfall is the dramatic light rays that shine through into the cave at certain times of the day, which means you won’t need to leave too early for your visit here.

We set off from Ubud around 8:00 am and arrived at the waterfall car park around 9:00 am. It’s a short walk down the stairs to the waterfall and then you’ll need to walk through some shallow water into the cave. The light rays had already started to shine through a large opening in the cave, but were yet to hit the small cave that the waterfall is in. Just before 10:00 am the light rays started to hit the cave walls and as the sun slowly moved position the dramatic lighting just kept getting better, eventually hitting the water within the cave.

There was a small queue of people waiting to get shots of nature’s beautiful display, but there was plenty of time for everyone to get photos. As we were leaving we noticed the light shining onto the huge rocks we had passed to get to the waterfall were perfect, so we stopped to get photos on the rocks as well. By this point it had started to get much busier, so we recommend getting to the waterfall around 9:00 am to get the most out of your trip.

If you’re looking for other waterfalls to visit in Bali, look no further than Sekumpul and Fiji Waterfalls situated in north Bali.