BEST THINGS TO DO IN UBUD BALI

Max and I kicked off our honeymoon in Ubud on Bali Island Indonesia! I fell in love with Ubud within maybe twenty minutes of arriving. The streets are filled to the brim with cool trendy restaurants and shops. It’s clear why Ubud has become one of the top Bali destinations. We spent close to a week in Ubud which was perfect! It can be done in a few days however, we really wanted time to explore. There is so much to see in town, but I narrowed it down to my top 7 favorite things to do in Ubud, Bali!

Looking for a complete guide to Ubud?

• Ubud, Bali in 3 Days

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A trip to Ubud wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the coffee plantations. The outskirts of Ubud are filled with a number of unique coffee plantations. I honestly didn’t realize how many coffee plantations there were near Ubud! Max and I wound up visiting three plantations throughout our stay in Ubud. While the views are amazing, three was a little aggressive. Upon arrival to the plantation you’ll be given a short tour before enjoying a tasting of coffee and tea. The plantations we visited sold similar teas and coffees. With this being said, there was also a little variety.

Travel tip: You can book a tour which will combine a temple, coffee plantation, and waterfall. I’ve linked one similar to the first tour we went on!

Kopi Kuwak will be sold at every plantation you visit. Personally, Kopi Luwak isn’t for me. Kopi Luwak is not only a Balinese delicacy but is also considered the most expensive coffee in the world. The coffee is produced from coffee cherries which are eaten by luak; a small cat like animal. The luak eats and digests the beans which are essentially defecated out. The beans are then cleaned and ready for the fermentation process. You’ll hear all about it if you go to a coffee plantation.

Out of the three places we visited I recommend visiting either Alas Harum or Kumulilir. If you’re looking for a photo op, I recommend going to Alas Harum plantation. Alas Harum is crowded however, it’s SO photogenic! The entire plantation looks like it was made for instagram. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Pricing: Unfortunately, Alas Harum is the most expensive coffee plantation I visited. With that being said, it can definitely be done on a budget. It costs 50,000 IDR (3.5 USD) per person to enter the main area of the plantation which is worth it. There are a handful of hanging nests that can be sat in for free so I recommend taking advantage of these rather than paying an additional fee.

If your style is a little more off the beaten path, visit Kumulilir. The plantation is quiet with absolutely spectacular views and a chill vibe. You can sit in a few of the hanging nests scattered throughout for free. As I mentioned, there are several coffee plantations to visit so it’s definitely one of the best things to do in Ubud.

Pricing: Everything is free of charge except the Bali Swing. At the end of your tasting, coffee and Tea is available for purchase.

Indonesia is one of the largest producers of rice in the world. Throughout your trip to Bali, you’ll pass a number of rice fields. However, Tegallalang Rice Terrace is an absolute must on a trip to Ubud! Tegallalang Rice Terrace has become popular because of its spectacular views. As a result, it’s become a hot spot in Ubud.

The rice terrace is open 24/7 however, head there early. There isn’t much shade on the terrace. We got there around 10:30 am and it was hot! Set aside an hour or two to explore the terrace which will allow plenty of time for photos. You’re able to walk all around the terrace. You’ll generally be able to find a spot with less tourists.

Pro Tip: If you’re on a budget, don’t pay to sit in the hanging nests. There are hanging nests at both of the coffee shops I recommended that can be sat in for free.
Pricing: 15,000 IDR (approximately 1 USD)

Yoga is an absolute must in Ubud! If you’re a yoga lover, Ubud is the place for yoga. I went to the yoga barn during my stay and it was unbelievable. You don’t have to be an expert in yoga to experience yoga in Ubud as they offer classes for all levels. Click here for the schedule. The class I went to was in English making it easy to follow along.

The Yoga Barn is not just a yoga studio! The Yoga Barn is dedicated to health, wellness, and relaxation and there’s a center for wellness and healing. There’s also an incredible restaurant on site called Garden Kafe that is healthy with a great atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot to regroup after a good yoga session.

Pricing: The price for a drop in class is 130,000 IDR ($9.15 USD). If you’re planning on going more than once you can also purchase a 3 or 5 class pass for 360,000 IDR ($8.34 USD per class) and 550,000 IDR ($7.74 USD per class).

While the Monkey Forest is one of the top things to do in Ubud, I have a love hate relationship with the Monkey Forest. I love monkeys and seeing them swing from the trees. With that being said, visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest is such an overwhelming experience because there are literally monkeys EVERYWHERE!

Of course, being the person that didn’t want to touch a monkey, a monkey climbed up on me within about 10 minutes of being at the Monkey Forest! Luckily, the monkey was pretty chill and wasn’t aggressive with me. Monkeys are known to be quite aggressive so I got lucky!

Pricing: Tickets are 80,000 IDR ($5.6 USD) and can be purchased in advance or upon arrival to the Monkey Forest in Ubud.
Hours: Daily 8:30 am to 6 pm

PSA: There are a number of rules when entering the monkey forest which apply to being around monkeys in general. Take the guidelines seriously since monkeys tend to be aggressive. It’s recommended not to look monkeys in the eye or bring food into the monkey forest. If a monkey jumps on you, don’t freak out as it will scare them! Monkeys also like to latch onto things that are hanging so hold onto your personal belongings or put everything into a backpack.

Ubud has the best food so eating out is one of the best things to do in Ubud! I honestly loved every restaurant we ate at. Everything is so healthy and fresh the food was just phenomenal. I would go back to Ubud just for the food! I could list a number of amazing restaurants but, I’ll stick to my top two which were Clear Cafe and KAFE.

The food at Clear Cafe was obviously fantastic however, the restaurant made it into my top two because of the atmosphere! Dining at Clear Cafe is such an experience. There is generally a line to enter the restaurant since you have to take your shoes off upon arrival. As you enter, there is water to your left with a few tables perched just above the floor. There are a bunch of tables on the right as well as upstairs. We went to Clear with a group of 4 people and every 0-meal was amazing! Max and I went back a few days later and loved our meal yet again.

The food at KAFE was hands down my favorite throughout our stay in Ubud. Everything we ordered was delicious and reasonably priced. The vegetables were so fresh and I’m still dreaming of the “smashed potatoes”. The vibe at KAFE is pretty chill and it’s a great spot to grab a meal or post up with your laptop. There is outdoor seating on the second floor with a great view of Ubud.

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is one of the most popular walks in Ubud. The Ridge Walk is filled with greenery and rolling hills. I would recommend starting the walk early as there isn’t much shade along the ridge. We loved the ridge walk so much we did it twice throughout our stay in Ubud!

The hike starts near the bridge in Ubud next to IBAH Luxury Villas & Spa. You will see a sign that says “going to the hill” follow the sign and you will eventually make your way to Campuhan Ridge Walk. After walking for maybe 25-30 minutes, you’ll reach a small town at the top of the ridge. Once you’ve hit the town you can either turn around to head back or continue on to explore the town. We enjoyed exploring the town a bit before heading back as there are some restaurants and shops scattered throughout. If you’re hungry, some of the restaurants have quite the view!

Pricing: Free!

We visited quite a few temples throughout our trip in Bali. One of the most unique temples we visited were the Elephant Cave. The cave is thought to be dated back to prior than the 11th century. It’s an ancient cave built into the hillside used for meditation and worship. It’s thought of as a Hindu Temple however there are also some elements of Buddhism.

The Elephant Temple is approximately 10-20 minutes outside of Ubud. I would carve out approximately 1 hour to explore the caves not including drive time.

Be careful if you decide to visit Goa Gajah! I have read about tourists getting scammed into a tour upon arrival to the Elephant Caves. We had a guide with us as we booked a car for the day so didn’t have any problems.

Pricing: 50,000 IDR ($3.5 USD) per person. This entrance fee includes a sarong to be worn in the temple.

Ubud Bali has quickly become one of my favorite places! The scenery, food, and culture makes the town one of a kind. If you’re planning a Bali trip, Ubud should be at the top of your list. I hope you enjoy this list of the tops things to do in Ubud. If you’ve already been to Ubud let me know your favorite sites in the comments below.

If you’re looking for more on Ubud check out my full 3-day guide.

Safe Travels,

Sarah

I’ve included my top travel essentials for a trip to Ubud below. If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them in the comments below!