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The 10 best things to do in Ubud, Bali

From lotus-filled temple ponds and royal courtyard dance performances to a hidden pandemic-era grotto carved into the rice fields of Sanggingan

Mitch Hodiono / Unsplash

Ubud combines Balinese culture with outdoor thrills and a handful of genuinely unexpected delights, ranking genuinely among Bali’s most seductive destinations for travelers seeking real depth beyond the island’s beaches and resort strips. Centered on the town of the same name, the wider area serves as a vibrant hub for traditional customs and crafts, and temples filled with lotus blossoms and water shrines invite visitors into a genuinely different rhythm from the rest of Bali.

Nightly performances of Balinese dance, museums celebrating artists inspired by the surrounding landscape, and impossibly green rice fields spilling down lush hillsides toward rushing rivers all give Ubud a genuinely soul-nourishing quality rare among travel destinations anywhere in Southeast Asia. Delectable dining, craft shopping, spa treatments, and wellness sessions add earthly pleasure to all this ethereal culture, rewarding travelers who indulge alongside the more contemplative side of a visit.

The 10 best activities below, as featured in Lonely Planet, cover standout experiences genuinely recommended throughout the wider Ubud area of Bali. Each one reveals a genuinely different facet of the town, from ancient temple architecture to contemporary art to the living spiritual traditions still practiced throughout daily Balinese life. Building a loose itinerary around a handful of these experiences, instead of rushing through every single one in a single day, tends to reward visitors with a considerably richer sense of Ubud overall. Ubud rewards patience more than any single checklist ever could. Travelers $TRV who leave room for spontaneous detours, whether that means a hidden grotto stumbled upon by accident or an unplanned warung meal recommended by a stranger, often come away with the most memorable stories from their entire trip. This flexibility, paired with genuine curiosity, tends to matter more here than sticking rigidly to any single guidebook itinerary.

1. Ubud Monkey Forest shelters temples and cheeky macaques

Hidden behind a flashy, theme-park-like entrance near the south end of Jalan Monkey Forest, the famous Ubud Monkey Forest offers a shady expanse home to three temples and more than 1,000 well-fed, notoriously light-fingered monkeys. The park stays consistently fun for kids, and gray-haired, greedy long-tailed macaques keep the entire space genuinely alive with activity throughout the day.

Visitors shouldn’t get fooled by the monkeys’ innocent-looking appearance, since these animals can bite, making genuine caution essential throughout a visit. Carefully watching personal belongings matters considerably here, and feeding the monkeys directly risks triggering a genuine frenzy among the park’s notoriously food-motivated residents.

The forest is a top destination for day-trippers from across Bali, and this popularity means crowds build considerably as the day progresses. Escaping the heaviest crowds requires visiting either early or late in the day, giving photographers and quieter visitors alike a genuinely more peaceful experience among the temples and jungle canopy.

Beyond the monkeys themselves, the forest’s three temples reward visitors who take the time to explore the surrounding architecture and carvings, rather than rushing through solely to see wildlife. This pairing of genuine cultural sites and lively animal activity gives the Monkey Forest broader appeal than its reputation as simply a place to see monkeys might initially suggest. Visitors should also avoid wearing dangling jewelry or loose accessories into the forest, since the macaques have a genuine talent for spotting and grabbing anything that looks removable. The forest’s entrance fee also helps fund ongoing conservation work throughout the sanctuary, giving visitors a genuine sense that their ticket price supports more than just tourism. Visitors traveling with young children should keep them close at all times, since the monkeys occasionally approach smaller visitors more boldly than adults. Sturdy walking shoes also help considerably, given the forest’s uneven, root-covered pathways. A reusable water bottle also helps considerably, given the genuinely humid jungle setting here.

2. Ubud’s warungs serve Bali’s most flavorful home cooking

Falaq Lazuardi / Unsplash

Nothing quite beats eating at local warungs, small, family-run food stalls, for a genuinely authentic taste of Bali beyond what most restaurants offer visitors. These modest eateries serve fresh, flavorful dishes that showcase the rich, layered cuisine found throughout Bali and the wider Indonesian archipelago.

Compound Warung, tucked behind a guesthouse on Jalan Goutama, offers bargain-priced dishes bursting with genuine flavor well beyond what the modest prices might suggest. Mama’s Warung pairs friendly staff with spicy Indonesian classics, served alongside silky-smooth peanut sate sauce and fried sambal, the region’s signature chili paste.

Travelers $TRV venturing toward the village of Sayan should visit Nasi Ayam Kedewatan specifically to sample standout sate lilit, grilled skewers of minced chicken flavored with a distinctly spiced blend. Also along the route to Sayan, Warung Pulau Kelapa offers an expansive menu featuring sensational sambals, and ordering a meal prepared in the local style rewards travelers who genuinely enjoy fiery flavors.

Travelers unaccustomed to spicy food should specifically ask for dishes prepared sedang (medium) or tidak pedas (not spicy), giving them genuine control over the heat level without missing out on the underlying flavors. Additional sambal can always be added afterward for travelers who want to build up the heat gradually rather than commit to full spice from the first bite. Visitors should also bring small bills, since many of these family-run warungs operate on a cash-only basis and may not have change for larger denominations. Travelers should also try........

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