Things to do in Ubud: 20 ideas for culture, rice fields and slow mornings

Ubud sits in the green middle of Bali, where art museums, palace courtyards and yoga studios share streets with rice fields and river valleys. It works as a base for slow days in town and as a launch point for temples, waterfalls and terraces within an hour's ride. The list below starts in the centre and moves outward.

Walk and look around town

• Campuhan Ridge Walk: A walking route along a ridge above the Campuhan river valley, passing grassland, palms, rural settlements and views over the surrounding hills. Early morning and late afternoon are the cooler hours.
• Ubud Palace: A traditional Balinese palace complex in the centre of Ubud, with courtyards, carved gates and pavilions used for royal, religious and cultural events. Dance performances are commonly staged in the evenings, so check the schedule.
• Ubud Art Market: A central market near Ubud Palace with stalls selling handmade crafts, woven goods, clothing, baskets and carvings.
• Pura Taman Saraswati: A Hindu temple in central Ubud dedicated to Saraswati, goddess of knowledge and the arts, with a lotus pond, carved gateways and a setting used for performances.

Museums and art

• Museum Puri Lukisan: An art museum in central Ubud focused on Balinese painting and woodcarving, including works from the development of modern Balinese art.
• Neka Art Museum: An art museum founded by collector Suteja Neka, presenting Balinese paintings, Indonesian art and works that trace modern Balinese painting.
• Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA): An art museum and cultural centre with Balinese and Indonesian paintings, plus gardens and spaces for performances.

Temples and water gardens

• Goa Gajah: An archaeological temple complex near Bedulu with a carved cave entrance, bathing pools, stone reliefs and remains from Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
• Tirta Empul Temple: A Hindu water temple near Tampaksiring with spring-fed bathing pools, where visitors can watch or join ritual purification. A sarong and respectful dress are required.
• Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu: A Hindu water temple in Sebatu, north of Ubud, with spring-fed pools, gardens, shrines and bathing areas among tropical vegetation.

Rice terraces and waterfalls

• Ceking Rice Terrace, Tegallalang: Part of the Tegallalang rice-terrace landscape north of Ubud, with stepped paddies down the valley slopes and walking paths through working fields.
• Tegenungan Waterfall: A broad waterfall in the Saba area south of Ubud with a pool below the falls and a stairway down through the vegetation.
• Tibumana Waterfall: A waterfall in Apuan, east of Ubud, dropping into a pool ringed by tropical vegetation and reached by a path through the village.

Classes and wellness

• The Yoga Barn: A yoga and wellness centre on Jalan Sukma Kesuma offering daily yoga, meditation and healing classes.
• Casa Luna Cooking School: Hands-on Balinese and Indonesian cooking classes, including market visits and instruction in local recipes.
• Paon Bali Cooking Class: Cooking classes in a family compound kitchen in Laplapan village near Ubud, with market and rice paddy visits.

Eat and drink

• Sweet Orange Warung: A warung in the Subak Juwuk Manis rice fields off Jalan Kajeng, reached by walking paths through the paddies.
• Yellow Flower Cafe: An open-air cafe above the rice fields in the Penestanan hills.
• Nusantara: An Indonesian restaurant on Jalan Dewisita focused on regional cuisines and cooking traditions from across the archipelago.
• Night Rooster: A craft cocktail bar on Jalan Goutama Selatan serving drinks made with local ingredients, open daily from 5 pm until late.