12 Best Things to Do in Ubud, Bali: Temples, Rice Terraces & Culture

Topping nearly every list of things to do in Ubud, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Mandala Suci Wenara Wana) is a 12.5-hectare nature reserve right at the southern end of central Ubud. Home to over 1,200 Balinese long-tailed macaques and three ancient Hindu temples dating back to the 14th century, it is equal parts wildlife sanctuary, spiritual site, and botanical garden. Towering banyan trees, moss-covered stone statues, and a dramatic dragon staircase create an atmosphere that feels ancient and otherworldly.

The main walking path loops through the forest in about 30-45 minutes, passing the Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple, a bathing temple, and a cremation temple. The monkeys are entertaining but bold - they will grab water bottles, sunglasses, hats, and anything dangling from a pocket. Secure all belongings, do not make direct eye contact, and never offer food (despite what selfie-seeking visitors around you might do). Entry costs IDR 80,000 for adults (€4.50) and the sanctuary is open daily from 08:30 to 18:00.

Pro Tip: Arrive right at 08:30 opening when the monkeys are most active and the paths are nearly empty. By 10:00 the tour groups arrive and the narrow paths get congested. The southern exit drops you onto Jalan Nyuh Kuning, a quieter street with good cafes for a post-visit breakfast.

The Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the single most photographed landscape in Bali - a sweeping valley of sculpted green paddies carved into the hillside using the traditional Balinese irrigation system known as subak, which dates back to the 9th century and is recognised by UNESCO. The terraces cascade steeply down both sides of a narrow river valley, creating the dramatic layered effect that appears on every Bali postcard and Instagram feed.

Walking paths and bamboo bridges criss-cross the terraces, and you can descend right down to the valley floor if you are steady on your feet (the steps can be slippery after rain). Local farmers maintain the paths and collect a small donation of IDR 15,000-20,000 at several points along the route. Several cafes along the main road offer terrace-view seating - perfect for a coconut or fresh juice while soaking in the view. The entire area is free to enter from the roadside; the donations go directly to the farming cooperatives who maintain it.

Pro Tip: Get here before 08:30 for soft morning light and thin crowds. By mid-morning the tour buses arrive and the narrow paths become a queue. Combine with Tirta Empul Temple, which is just 20 minutes further north on the same road.

Tirta Empul is one of Bali's holiest water temples, founded in 926 AD around a natural spring that Balinese Hindus believe was created by the god Indra. The temple's centrepiece is a long rectangular purification pool fed by 30 stone-carved water spouts, each believed to have different spiritual properties. Balinese worshippers and respectful visitors alike wade through the chest-deep pool, moving from spout to spout in a prescribed sequence while reciting prayers - a ritual called melukat.

Beyond the purification pools, the temple complex includes lush gardens, koi ponds, and ornate split gates that make for some of Ubud's best photography. You must wear a sarong (available free at the entrance) and follow the etiquette signs. Entry is IDR 50,000 (€3) for international visitors. The temple is open daily from 08:00 to 18:00, though the purification pools close at 17:00. Spout numbers 11 and 12 are reserved for funeral purification and should be skipped by visitors.

Pro Tip: If you plan to enter the purification pool, bring a change of clothes and a waterproof bag for your phone. Arrive before 09:30 to avoid queuing at each spout. A local guide (IDR 50,000-100,000) can explain the ritual's significance and ensure you follow the correct sequence.

Standing right at Ubud's main crossroads, Puri Saren Agung is the historic residence of the Ubud royal family and one of the town's most recognisable landmarks. Built in the early 20th century by the local lord Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, the palace grounds feature intricately carved stone gates, ornamental kori agung doorways, and lush tropical gardens. The front portion of the palace is open to visitors free of charge during daytime hours, though the private quarters at the rear remain off-limits as the royal family still lives here.

The palace's main draw for most visitors is the nightly Balinese dance performance held in the open-air courtyard. Legong, Barong, and Kecak dances are staged on a rotating schedule starting at 19:30, with tickets at IDR 100,000 (€5.50). Watching dancers in elaborate gold costumes perform by torchlight against the backdrop of the palace's carved stone walls is one of the most atmospheric Ubud experiences you can have.

Pro Tip: Arrive at least 20 minutes before the 19:30 performance to get a front-row seat. The courtyard fills up fast and seats are unassigned. The Legong dance on Tuesday evenings is widely considered the most visually stunning of the weekly rotation.

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a paved path running along a narrow grassy ridge between the Wos and Cerik river valleys on Ubud's western edge. At just 2 km each way, it is a gentle stroll rather than a hike, but the views are spectacular - tall grass swaying on either side, coconut palms framing the valleys below, and on clear mornings, Mount Agung visible in the distance. It is free, open 24 hours, and arguably the single best free thing to do in Ubud Bali.

The trailhead starts beside the Gunung Lebah Temple at the bottom of Jalan Raya Campuhan (look for the signs just past the Ibah hotel). The path climbs gently to the ridge, passes through a painters' studio area, and ends at a road near the village of Keliki. Most walkers turn around at the ridge's high point and retrace their steps. The entire out-and-back takes 30-45 minutes at a leisurely pace. There are no facilities along the path itself, so bring water.

Pro Tip: Come at sunrise (around 06:00-06:30) for the best light and the coolest temperatures. By 09:00 the sun is high and the ridge is exposed with no shade. After your walk, stop at Karsa Kafe at the northern end for a coffee overlooking rice paddies.

Goa Gajah, known as the Elephant Cave, is a 9th-century archaeological site carved into a rock face on the banks of the Petanu River. The cave's entrance is its most striking feature - a massive carved demon face (often interpreted as the earth god Bhoma) with a gaping mouth that serves as the doorway. Inside the T-shaped cave you will find a small meditation chamber with rock-cut niches holding lingam and yoni statues, indicating the site's mixed Hindu-Buddhist heritage.

Outside the cave, stone steps descend to a lush river valley with bathing fountains depicting six female figures that were only excavated in 1954. The grounds also include a crumbling Buddhist stupa and rice paddies that you can wander through. The site is relatively compact - most visits take 30-45 minutes. Entry is IDR 50,000 (€3) including sarong rental. Open daily 08:00-16:00. Despite the name, the site has no connection to elephants - the name likely derives from a misinterpretation by early European visitors.

Pro Tip: Visit in the morning when the low sun illuminates the cave entrance carving beautifully. The site is much less crowded than Tirta Empul and can be combined with a visit to the nearby Yeh Pulu rock carvings, a 300-metre walk through the rice paddies.

Sitting directly across from the Royal Palace, the Ubud Art Market (Pasar Seni Ubud) is a sprawling two-storey maze of stalls selling handmade Balinese crafts, textiles, paintings, wood carvings, woven baskets, and silver jewellery. The market is open daily from around 08:00 to 18:00, though it is busiest and most vibrant in the morning when local artisans sell their own work. By mid-morning, the stalls shift to more tourist-oriented vendors, but bargains and quality pieces can be found throughout the day if you know what to look for.

Haggling is expected and part of the experience - start at roughly 40-50% of the first asking price and work your way to a fair middle ground. Standout buys include hand-painted batik fabric, rattan bags (the round Ata bags are a Bali icon), carved wooden masks, and silver rings from the nearby village of Celuk. The market's narrow alleys can feel claustrophobic when busy, but that is part of the charm. Budget at least 30-60 minutes to browse properly.

Pro Tip: Come before 09:00 when the local artisans are still setting up - the quality is higher and the prices are lower than later in the day. The upstairs stalls tend to be less picked-over than the ground floor.

Pura Taman Saraswati is a water temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning and the arts, tucked just off the main road behind a stunning lotus pond. The temple was designed in the 1950s by the legendary Balinese architect and artist I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, and its ornate stone carvings are considered among the finest in Ubud. The front lotus pond, filled with pink and white blooms, frames the temple's ornamental gate in one of the most photographed compositions in town.

Entry to the temple grounds is free, making it one of the best value Ubud sightseeing stops. The inner courtyard features detailed relief carvings of Saraswati, Garuda, and other mythological figures. Several evenings per week, traditional dance performances are staged on the open-air stage fronting the lotus pond - tickets run IDR 100,000 (€5.50) and the setting, with dancers reflected in the water, is magical. During the day, the Starbucks and Lotus Cafe on the temple's entrance path offer lotus-pond seating for a drink.

Pro Tip: The lotus flowers are fullest and most photogenic in the morning. For the dance performance, book ahead and arrive 15 minutes early for front-row pond-side seats. The temple is an active place of worship - dress respectfully and stay quiet near the inner shrines.

Tegenungan is the most accessible waterfall near Ubud - a powerful cascade dropping roughly 15 metres into a wide natural pool surrounded by lush jungle. Unlike Bali's more remote waterfalls that require long drives and steep treks, Tegenungan is just 20 minutes south of central Ubud with a well-maintained stairway of around 100 steps leading down to the base. The pool at the bottom is deep enough for swimming (though currents can be strong after heavy rain), and the spray from the falls keeps the whole area pleasantly cool.

Entry costs IDR 20,000 (€1.10) and the site is open from 06:30 to 18:30 daily. Changing rooms and lockers are available at the base. The waterfall is at its most powerful during and just after the wet season (December to March), but flows year-round. There are also viewpoints and swing platforms along the cliff edge above the falls for those who prefer to stay dry. Several warungs at the top of the stairs serve cold drinks and local food.

Pro Tip: Arrive by 07:30 to have the falls practically to yourself - by 10:00 it gets very crowded. Bring a dry bag for electronics and wear shoes with good grip on the steps. The afternoon light (around 15:00-16:00) creates rainbows in the spray.

Watching the sunrise from the summit of Mount Batur (1,717 m) is one of the most unforgettable things to do in Ubud Bali. The trek starts with a pickup from your Ubud accommodation around 02:00-02:30, a one-hour drive to the trailhead at Toya Bungkah on the crater lake shore, and then a guided two-hour climb in the dark by headlamp. The trail is steep but non-technical - reasonable fitness is all you need, plus warm layers for the chilly summit temperatures.

At the top, guides serve hot coffee and banana sandwiches cooked over volcanic steam vents while the sun rises over Mount Agung and the shimmering expanse of Lake Batur below. On clear mornings, you can see all the way to Lombok's Mount Rinjani. The descent takes about 1.5 hours, and most groups are back in Ubud by 10:00-11:00. Licensed guides are mandatory (the local guides' association enforces this strictly). Expect to pay IDR 500,000-800,000 (€28-45) per person including transport and breakfast.

Pro Tip: Book at least a day ahead, especially June-September. Bring a headlamp (not just a phone torch), a fleece or windbreaker, and long trousers. After the trek, reward yourself with a soak in the natural hot springs at Toya Bungkah (IDR 150,000 / €8.50) before heading back to Ubud.

Founded in 1982 by art collector Wayan Suteja Neka, the Neka Art Museum is Ubud's finest gallery and the best place to understand the evolution of Balinese art from traditional Kamasan-style paintings to modern abstract works. Set across six pavilions on a hillside overlooking the Campuhan valley, the collection spans centuries and styles - from intricate mythological scenes on bark cloth to bold contemporary canvases by Indonesian and resident foreign artists.

Highlights include the Arie Smit Pavilion (featuring the Dutch-born artist who founded the Young Artists movement in Bali), the Photography Archive with black-and-white images of Bali from the 1930s-1950s, and the Lempad Pavilion showcasing the renowned Ubud architect-artist. The museum is well-labelled in English and you can easily spend 1-2 hours here. Entry is IDR 100,000 (€5.50) and the museum is open daily 09:00-17:00. The garden terraces are lovely for a quiet sit between pavilions.

Pro Tip: Visit after the Campuhan Ridge Walk (the museum is a 5-minute walk north from where the ridge path ends). The top-floor terrace of the East-West Art Annex has a panoramic valley view that rivals any cafe in town.

Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple complex featuring ten massive rock-cut shrines (called candi) carved directly into the cliff face of the Pakerisan River valley. Each shrine stands about 7 metres tall and is believed to be a memorial to members of the Udayana dynasty. The site is one of Bali's oldest and most atmospheric - moss and ferns cling to the rock carvings, palm trees tower overhead, and the sound of the river echoes through the narrow valley.

Reaching the shrines requires descending a steep staircase of roughly 300 steps through a ravine lined with rice paddies and coconut palms - a stunning approach that adds to the experience but means you need to climb back up afterwards. The temple complex at the bottom includes a monks' meditation cave and bathing pools. Entry is IDR 50,000 (€3) including sarong. Open daily 08:00-18:00. The site sees far fewer visitors than Tirta Empul despite being just 5 minutes away, so you can often explore in near-solitude.

Pro Tip: Combine Gunung Kawi with Tirta Empul (5 min away) and Tegalalang Rice Terrace (20 min south) for a perfect northern Ubud half-day loop. Visit Gunung Kawi first when your legs are fresh for the 300-step descent and ascent. The morning light in the valley is spectacular.