The Best Things To Do in Ubud

After spending quite some time in Bali in and around Canggu we decided it was time to explore Ubud; a favourite among backpackers, nomads and families. We were met with beautiful landscapes and quirky markets and were not disappointed. Read below to see our recommendations of the best things to do in Ubud.

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The most popular attraction in the whole of Ubud is the chance to walk around surrounded by cheeky monkeys in their natural habitat. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is the most visited animal attraction in Bali and such a unique experience.

With over 600 long-tailed macaque monkeys free roaming around a mystical Hindu Temple and Forest, it is easy to understand why. The keepers are well trained but the monkeys can be very cheeky and it is not uncommon to see monkeys stealing valuables or finding any snacks that might be hiding in your bag.

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The Campuhan Ridge walk is a relaxed break from the busyness of people and traffic in town. Just outside of town is the start of a beautiful scenic walk that will reward you with some of the best views in Bali. The walk follows an easy path through hilltop views and a few downhill valleys. The trail is dotted with cafes and a few market stalls which offer a nice break from the heat and power of the sun. Water and sun tan lotion is a must if you are trying out this walk.

Located just half an hour out of Ubud is the waterfall region of Bali; there are at least 8 big falls in the Gianyar regency. It is easy to rent a bike and travel there yourself or alternatively there are many private drivers and tours that will happily transport you to a few in one day.

Our favourite was Suwat Waterfall for the daring jumps off the rocks and large natural pool to swim in. We also loved Taman Sari Waterfall as it was very quiet and peaceful and the water was refreshingly cool.

It can be a little boring after visiting a few markets and you can spot the same staples such as elephant trousers, flip-flops and fridge magnets over and over. The special thing about the Ubud Art Market is that yes it has the usual market offerings but many unique homemade ones too. There are some great handmade trinkets and if we had more space in our bags we would have bought a lot more than we did. Spending some time shopping in the markets and haggling with locals is a lot of fun in Bali and the Ubud markets are probably the best on the island.

The nightlife of Ubud has become a lot more lively over recent years, which is a great thing for night owls who find themselves spending time in this area. We loved the live music being offered by nearly every bar on Jalan Monkey Forest Street. The prices of drinks varied from each bar to the next but it was always easy to find a cheap Bintang to enjoy. We loved the LOL Bar for relaxed reggae music and pool tables plus the No Mas bar for some tasty food and cocktails.

Ubud has become known as the hippy place of Bali and therefore most of the things you would expect have followed such as vegan food, (more about that later) healing places and yoga. Over the years we believe Ubud has lost a lot of this laid back vibe and from our visit it seems a lot more touristy than hippy but there are still some places that have held on to this vibe.

The Yoga barn is the best place for yoga and relaxation; the classes and workshops are top quality and you will leave feeling better than you felt when you arrived.

The food on offer in Ubud is some of the best in Bali and we found a lot of restaurants along the main streets that we enjoyed. We found that a lot of the prices were higher than we usually spent but the price was worth it. The Indonesian food was always fresh and full of flavour and the Western options were yummy too.

A unique thing about Ubuds food scene is that a lot of restaurants cater to alternative diets and it is easy to find; vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free food at most restaurants.

If the setting of Ubud amongst vast rice paddies, mountains and waterfalls, was not already mesmerising enough. Then the Temples, statues and shrines that fill the streets will definitely persuade you that Ubud is the most beautiful area in Bali.

The majority of Ubud people are Hindu which means there are plenty of Temples for you to explore. Even if you do not go out of your way to visit, if you just walk around the streets you will spot many religious statues and each one is as impressive as the next.

Saraswati Temple is the most popular as it has some elaborately carved wall patterns and such a peaceful atmosphere surrounding it.

We have spoken about the extraordinary setting of Ubud and hopping on a motorbike and exploring any of the surrounding areas will confirm this. We found the most picturesque sight in the back of a quiet roadside warung.

The most popular place for breathtaking views, however, is the Tegalalang area just outside of Ubud. It attracts many people searching for the perfect picture of cascading rice paddies and lush green landscapes.

There is an increasingly popular day club: Cretya, which has become the go-to place for this and you can relax in the serene pools and take the sought after Bali swing pictures. We never managed it ourselves but we have heard from enough people about how amazing it is.

There are of course many more things that you can do in Ubud and we would love to know what you think is the best. Thank you for reading, we hope these tips and recommendations help you plan your trip to Ubud.

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The Best Things To Do in Ubud