The Perfect 3 Day Ubud Itinerary For First Time Visitors

Spending three days in Ubud? This itinerary hits the highlights of Bali’s cultural and historical centre!

After spending some time in the coastal outpost of Seminyak and surf-central Uluwatu, the next stop on our 12 day Bali adventure was one of the most well-known spots – Ubud. Yes, it’s touristy. But after we visited, I realised it’s for a lot of good reasons.

A haven for wellness, nature and culture seekers, Ubud is truly at the heart of the country’s cultural scene, where tradition lives through temples, music, dance and the arts. Many of Bali’s most popular attractions are within easy reach of Ubud, including the Sacred Monkey Forest, stunning rice terraces and spectacular waterfalls. It’s also a great spot to find vegetarian and vegan food, and indulge in wellness activities such as yoga, meditation and massage.

We absolutely loved the laid-back feel of Ubud, and despite the area’s tourist-centric reputation, found plenty of opportunities to embrace local culture and tradition. The town itself is a bustling hub, with tons of great foodie spots and boutique shops to uncover. In the surrounding areas, you’ll find beautiful landscapes, fun things to do and a strong sense of local community and hospitality.

For first time Bali visitors, it’s an absolute must visit area, and I’d recommend adding at least three days in Ubud to your Bali itinerary. This guide will show you how to make the most of them!

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Day 1: Monkeying around and checking out the town

Sacred Monkey Forest

One of the most famous activities in Bali, the Sacred Monkey Forest is an amazing opportunity to observe a whole load of monkeys in a mostly-wild setting.

There are around 1200 long-tailed macaque monkeys that call Bali home, and Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest is one of the most popular spots to see them. We headed there early to beat the crowds, as it’s a popular spot!

We’d previously visited Uluwatu Temple, where the monkeys seemed a bit more aggressive. Luckily, the Ubud Monkey Forest’s inhabitants seemed a bit more chill, and were happy for us to walk among them. However, we did see a cheeky monkey attempt to raid someone’s backpack – so keep personal belongings to a minimum, avoid carrying food and drink, and secure loose belongings like hats and sunglasses!

Opening hours: 9am-6pm
Entrance fee: IDR 100,000 (weekdays) / 120,000 (weekends)

You can also book a guided tour that includes skip-the-line entry and optional transfers!

Campuhan Ridge Walk

Explore the natural beauty of Bali with this 2km scenic trail. Starting close to Ubud town and well-signposted from the charming Pura Gunung Lebah Temple, this mostly easy path passes through thick forest and lush rice fields.

Overall, the out-and-back trail takes 1-2 hours to complete. Most of the trail is paved and clearly signposted. Make sure you wear comfortable footwear, take adequate water and sun protection!

Ubud Palace

Back in the town centre, it’s time to check out some history and traditional Balinese architecture, with two buildings that have important cultural and spiritual significance.

Built in the early 19th century, Ubud Palace is the historical residence of the Balinese royal family in Ubud. While Bali no longer has a state-recognised royal family, royal descendents in Bali are still highly respected and involved in tourism and local community. Ubud Palace is the current residence of ‘Ubud King’ Tjokorda Putra Sukawati, alongside his family.

At 7.30pm daily, the palace hosts a traditional Legong dance show. Tickets for this often sell out during busy periods, so book in advance to guarantee entry.

Opening hours: 7/8am-6pm – gates reopen at 7pm for performances
Entrance fee: Free. Dance performances have a ticket fee of IDR 100,000

Ubud Water Palace

Don’t miss catching a moment of serenity in the middle of the bustling streets at Ubud Water Palace. (not to be confused with Ubud Palace itself!)

This stunning temple is dedicated to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of music, art and knowledge. It’s best known for its large lotus pond, leading to the intricate carvings and statues that decorate the temple building.

Like Ubud palace, there are also regular dance shows here, showcasing a different Balinese style every night including Joget, Barong and Janger.

Opening hours: 8am-7pm
Entrance fee: IDR 60,000

How to spend an evening in Ubud

Ubud may not be Bali’s party central, but there’s still plenty a good time to be found after dark. From dinner and drinks and live performance, here’s how to fill your Ubud evenings:

• Grab dinner at a local restaurant: I’ve shared my top recommendations later in the article, but we had a great time grazing on small plates at Kafe Batan Waru.
• Hit the bars: Grab a drink at one of Ubud’s hotspots – our favourites were Rame Rooftop and Lokal Bar. Craft beer fans should check out Beer Brothers, and the Blue Door Bar is renowned for its cocktails, live music and clubbing.
• Enjoy dinner with an immersive show at Lost City – The Story of Humanity Experience.
• Take an evening tour to the village of Taro to witness the spectacle of fireflies dancing across beautiful Bali countryside.

Day 2: Terraces, Temples and Coffee

Day two is all about exploring the wider surroundings of Ubud town!

If you don’t have your own transport, we found a great way to do this is by hiring a private driver for the day. Prices start at around IDR 690,000 (about £30) per car – making it a great cost-effective option if you’re travelling in a couple or group!

Tegallalang Rice Terrace

When you think of Bali, the expansive, lush rice terraces are probably one of the first things to come to mind. We’d actually done minimal research before we went, and let our driver plan a day out for us, starting at the expansive Tegallalang Rice Terrace.

Bali’s stepped rice terraces use a traditional irrigation system from the 9th century to sustain rice production in the area. Tegallalang is one of the best-known terraces in the area, and home to a variety of photo ops including swings and suspended bicycles.

The main routes around Tegallalang get very busy, so head there early to explore. We took a leisurely walk along the top of the terrace, however you can spend more time walking around the pathways through the fields for a deeper exploration.

Looking for the best photo ops? Take a guided photo tour of the rice terraces to get the perfect shot, with swing ticket included!

Opening hours: 6am-6pm
Entrance fee: IDR 25,000 – additional costs apply for photo opportunities and certain areas within the terrace

Lunch at Boni Bali

Our private driver actually took us to Boni Bali, one of his favourite spots, and it’s absolutely worth a visit! There are plenty of places to eat along Tegallalang Rice Terrace, however this one’s a bit off the main road – so it feels like a bit of a hidden gem.

When we got there, we were the only people in the restaurant – but don’t let that put you off, as the Indonesian dishes we ordered were simple yet delicious. The views over the peaceful section of rice terrace are gorgeous and relaxing, with a private platform table perfect for special occasions.

Pura Tirta Empul

This 10th century temple is one of Bali’s most sacred water temples, where worshippers take part in the traditional purification ceremony. Visitors are welcome to observe and even take part in the spiritual cleansing ritual here.

We decided to opt out of the ceremony, but it was really interesting to learn more from our local guide about the tradition and community around the temple. It’s a beautiful and interesting complex, where the spiritual significance is abundant and powerful.

Opening hours: 8am-6pm
Entrance fee: IDR 75,000
Dress code/entry requirements: A sarong and sash must be worn – these are available for free at the temple entrance. Shoulders must be covered, and long hair tied back. As per Hindu custom, people who are menstruating are traditionally not permitted to enter the temple complex.

Waterfalls around Ubud

Many of Ubud’s waterfalls are a short drive away and easily accessible, perfect for slotting into your day in a short amount of time. Of course, if you want to stay longer, you can – many have bathing areas where you can take a dip to cool off from the sticky Bali heat!

• Tenenugan Waterfall – we actually only visited one of Ubud’s waterfalls, and it was this one! The entrance is at the back of a small village, with a shallow swimming hole, photo opps and even a day club.
• Kanto Lampo Waterfall – watch the water cascade over tiered rock faces at this beautiful spot.
• Sumampan Waterfall – a scenic jungle waterfall spot in a peaceful gorge. The path to this one is a little trickier than some others, but well worth the effort.
• Manuaba Waterfall – a lesser-known but still scenic spot, popular with locals more than tourists.

Sukabali Agro Coffee Roasting

Full disclosure, neither of us are big coffee fans. This was included on the day tour we booked with our driver, and we enjoyed it WAY more than I was expecting.

After a brief tour and a demonstration of the coffee harvesting process, we sat down on a peaceful terrace overlooking the jungle floor to taste some of the wares. As a non-coffee drinker, I can’t really give too much comment on the coffee – but I think they were pretty good?

The highlight for us was the selection of five teas. Again, we’re not big tea drinkers but we LOVED the fruity blends – we ended up actually buying some to mentally transport us back to the jungle on a cold evening back home.

Opening hours: 9am-6pm
Entrance fee: Entry and tasting is free, however you can buy a full coffee for around IDR 50,000, or pick something up in the store. If you don’t buy anything, I’d recommend at least tipping the staff for their time – not mandatory, but it’s nice to do!

Day 3: Activities in Ubud (and beyond)

While it’s easy to check out the main highlights of Ubud in two days, it’s absolutely worth staying a little longer to experience some of the fun cultural and adventure activities on offer.

Craft activities in Ubud

Looking for a unique souvenir? Make your own! Ubud has some really fun options for learning about traditional crafting methods.

• Learn the basics of silver jewellery making with a local silversmith, creating your own unique jewellery item to take away.
• Explore the Indonesian tradition of batik, using wax-resist dyeing techniques to make your own piece of art.
• Learn traditional woodworking techniques, creating masks, animals and shapes in an in-depth wood carving class.
• Create your very own basket, bag or mat to take home at a traditional bamboo weaving workshop.

Wellness in Ubud

While Bali as a whole is well-known for its strong wellness culture, Ubud is the epicentre – a hippy haven where yoga, smoothies and meditation reign supreme. If you need to unwind and have a BIG CHILL after lots of Bali exploring, you’re in the money.

• Harness the power of yoga, sound therapy and breathwork in a holistic healing session designed to rejuvenate your energy and clarity.
• Choose from a selection of relaxing treatment options at Tejas Spa including Balinese massage, flower bath and herbal body scrub.
• Join a full-day wellness retreat with yoga, massage, lunch and cleansing ritual.

Mount Batur trekking and jeep tours

The imposing Mount Batur is often listed as a must-see in Bali, but if you don’t have the time to stay in the area, it’s easily done as a day trip from Ubud.

Many travellers see the Mount Batur sunrise hike as a rite of passage – but if you’re not an early riser, you can also visit at sunset. For those who aren’t able or don’t want to hike, you can take a jeep tour as an alternative. Same epic views, none of the steps. Sold.

We took a sunset jeep tour to Mount Batur – however, we were unfortunately cursed with AWFUL weather and had to cut the trip short. Nevertheless, it was a super fun experience and we still got some great views on the way up and at the viewpoint.

Most tours are able to provide transfer services from Ubud, and it’s a great way to experience one of the island’s most spectacular landscapes.

More things to do in Ubud

Still not sure what to do with day three? Here are a few more top activities in Ubud to check out:

• Learn to cook traditional Indonesian dishes at a Balinese cooking class. (We were gutted we didn’t get around to doing this, as I LOVE a cookery class when I’m travelling!)
• Thrill seekers can get an adrenaline rush with a combined ATV and river rafting day out.
• Hover over the stunning rice fields on a hot air balloon dining experience. (I’m a *little* terrified by hot air balloons, but I’m sure the views would override the fear!)

Where to stay in Ubud

Private villas are a popular choice for travellers in Ubud, as they’re a budget-friendly way to experience a little bit of luxury!

We booked a one bedroom villa at Villa Aphrodite. Set among the rice fields, the two storeys building had its own pool, kitchenette and balcony space. It’s a little out of town, but the surroundings were super relaxing and the building itself is a lovely traditional Balinese wooden structure.

We had an amazing time here, although the one downside is that rideshare taxis aren’t able to pick up or drop off here – so you’d need to hire your own scooter, or use local taxi services.

Other villas around Ubud worth checking out are:

• Hidden Den Villa – for a peaceful stay in nature with plenty of privacy. We actually almost booked this one!
• Mahayoga Ubud – three relaxing, clean villas with private pools, within easy walking distance of Ubud town centre.

If you’re not too bothered about the villa experience and would prefer more of a hotel/resort vibe, check out these spots:

• Peacock Inn – be at the heart of the action at an affordable price, just minutes away from Ubud Palace.
• The Runik – stylish and romantic small boutique hotel within easy reach of Ubud’s main attractions.
• Kuwarasan A Pramana Experience – high end with a boutique feel, offering luxurious surroundings and top tier service.

Solo travellers looking for hostel accommodation should check out Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel or Savannah Ubud for their convenient locations, friendly atmosphere and boutique style.

Where to eat in Ubud

There are SO many great little restaurants and warungs in Ubud, I could actually be here all day listing them! Instead, I’m sharing a mix of our favourites, plus some recommendations we got from friends and other travellers…

• We had a delicious small plates FEAST at Kafe Batan Waru, which serves up both Indonesian and Western dishes. Not the most ‘local’ of choices for me, but their bruschetta absolutely hit the spot.
• The Lazy Cat Café is an eclectic vintage chic spot for breakfast through to dinner.
• At Fair Warung Bale, your delicious meal is served with a conscience – all proceeds go back into providing free healthcare in the local community.
• We had some great Mexican food in Bali, and Taco Casa is a popular Ubud spot for central American flavours.
• Zest serves up fully plant-based and gluten free dishes in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
• Grab an ice cream for your walk from Kind Koko.
• And, as I mentioned above in the itinerary, Boni Bali Restaurant for gorgeous rice terrace views and welcoming service.

Conclusion

We absolutely loved Ubud, and I’d totally go back. I think we cracked it pretty well as first time visitors, but I’d be keen to spend more time relaxing in the town and exploring even more of the surrounding areas. It’s a wonderful place, and I felt really at home here – the perfect blend of culture, nature, and pure holiday vibes.

I hope this three day itinerary has helped you plan your perfect Ubud adventure, and you leave with the same urge to go back like we did!