Ubud in Bali, Indonesia is the culturally rich destination with multiple options for visitors.
At times, you get into a question if Bali is the only place that you could visit in Indonesia and I would say after my travel in January 2020, that it is not, it is definitely famous for the variety it has on offer.
Indonesia is the 14th largest country in the world, has around 17,000 islands and around 700 regional languages!
The largest Island country in the world!
Starting our Journey from Denpasar International Airport
On the final approach to Denpasar Airport, Bali
We started our journey from Denpasar International Airport in the hotel cab we asked for.
Considering our first international family trip, we wanted to start off on a positive note!
Now with all the planning, you tend to hit a roadblock as we missed out on Forex Exchange and we had problems in withdrawing cash at the ATM machines at the airport.
Our Chauffeur was very helpful to help in finding a working ATM, a relieving moment that we were able to withdraw!
We stayed at Elements by Westin Bali, Ubud and was a good property, centrally located with good buffet and ala-carte.
The stay was good with no major challenges and felt was economical to look for places around too.
Coming to planning your trip to Ubud in Bali!
Duration in Ubud, Bali
We stayed for 3D/2N at Ubud and felt it was not too sufficient for looking around the places around Ubud itself.
As the destination has good places to explore we had left out a few places for a second visit.
I would recommend you:
to allow for a couple of more days for a relaxed exploring of this wonderful town
to look for alternative places to visit around Ubud
Getting around in Ubud, Bali
Within the limits of Ubud, if you are looking at strolling places, you could request for cycles as the roads are narrow.
Alternatively, most hotels have motorbikes / mopeds on hire which can be opted for nominal rents.
If you are looking at exploring slightly far-off places, you could hire a cab/taxi to take you around.
We arranged a taxi through the front desk and the experience was good and am sharing the contact details here.
They are UBUD locals and the father-son duo are fun to travel with as they take good effort in sharing more details of culture and places to visit.
Local Attractions in and around Ubud
The Google map below outlines all major attractions that you should not miss on your Ubud visit!
I have tried capturing the most famous places of attraction in Google Maps for you to plan your trip effectively.
Goa Gajeh, Ubud, Bali
Our typical day started at around 06:00 hours with the sun slowly rising and a bit of swimming to head to our breakfast at the restaurant.
Sangeh Monkey Forest
Sangeh Monkey Forest
Handara Gate
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Tegenungan Waterfall
Few image from the sight-seeing around Ubud, Bali
We started on our trip out of the hotel property around 09:30 and realized that the sun has decided to burn us on day one!
I would recommend that you start out around 06:00 hours from your hotel and try mapping out your day plan from the farthest place of attraction to the closest to your hotel area. This would be something which we did on day two and really enjoyed as you tend to get tired by evening under Bali Sun!
Should you feel, I missed out on any places and would recommend them to be added, please share your inputs in the comments section of this blog post.
Where to Stay in Ubud
Staying in Ubud is a wonderful experience.
You would be able to bump into properties ranging from B&B to premium hotels in the region.
Here are a few recommendations and you could select hotel/resort basis your budget requirements:
We have been vegetarians all our life and have not experienced even egg and anywhere out of India,
We started our journey with this worry that food may end up being a challenge.
Happy time as the chef at Elements by Westin were accommodating to understand our diet options and plan accordingly.
We enjoyed simple yet nourishing vegetarian food options like Nasi Goreng which is rice with vegetables minus the egg along with rice cake as accompaniments.
Planning your Itinerary
We followed the below itinerary while visiting various places of attraction
Do read through this post by Breathing Travel for Offbeat Bali
The link above captures the day wise plan for you to consider as you plan your Ubud itinerary!
Recommendations to plan your Itinerary:
Most of the tourist attractions can be bustling with tourists, talk to your hotel / driver on best times to visit them
Do see if the place of attraction you desire to visit has similar alternatives and plan to go to the less visited
Hire a cab for comfort to travel around places while knowing the importance
Our friend from Ubud, Wayin who took us around Ubud- +6281339024040
Our Recommendations of the places:
Plan far-off places to start with and then head over to the places closer to the place you stay!
Detailed Plan:
Day One:
Starting at 06:00 Hrs (earlier if possible) to visit Campuhan Ridge Walk, Early start is recommended due to the sun and carry water and sunscreen (Entrance is free)
The next stop would be Penestanan Stairs, these stairs, connect Central Ubud to Penestanan village
Next stop is Saraswati temple, officially, Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati, also known as the Ubud Water Palace, is a Balinese Hindu temple
After a visit to the temple, plan to spend at the Art Market and then head to Tegenungan waterfall close to lunch time for a wonderful lunch post sometime at the waterfall (Entrance fee – 15,000 IDR. Parking for cars – 5,000 IDR! Down at the falls there are lockers available for 10,000 Rupiah and toilets for 3,000 Rupiah)
Post lunch, I would recommend going to the Sacred Money forest to have a nice afternoon (Tip: You could skip this place and visit Sangeh Monkey Forest on way to Munduk and entrance fee is 80,000 Indonesian Rupiahs and for children 60,000 rupiahs)
Day Two:
After a wonderful day one, I would recommend the below for your day two:
Start with Goa Gajeh in the morning after your breakfast, approx time that you would need here would be anywhere between 30-45 minutes (entrance fee is 15,000 rupiah / person)
Head over to Goa Rang Reng waterfall for a wonderful waterfall experience in Bali
The next stop in your itinerary would be Air Terjun Tibumana which is another waterfall destination (entrance fee is 15,000 rupiah / person)
The final stop of day two would be Tegallalang Rice Fields, my strong recommendation would be planning this destination towards the evening or early in the morning for lesser people around (entrance fee is 15,000 rupiah / person)
Penestanan Stairs leading to Penestanan village
Must Carry Items:
Carry enough water as Bali tends to get hot as the day progresses
Ensure you have munchies for snacks
Carry enough sunscreen to prevent yourself from sun-burns
Download offline maps to be on a safer side
Finally, my experience and recommendation is a stay of around two – three days to explore the places around so that you could see the city at leisure and not to rush around.
I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter‘s “My Friend Alexa”!
Wow this was so detailed and wonderful post on Bali. Well Bali was our plan in July but covid took it all away. So maybe soon when things get better we will surely plan it.
You should definitely plan in the coming year and don’t spend most of your time in Bali but try exploring Lombok too… Atleast two weeks would be my recommendation
We had travel plans this year for Ubud, Bali as I had it in my bucket list for a long time. Now because of the pandemic we are stuck at home. Hopefully, next year or so, we might get a chance to travel. Saving your page as you have written a detailed post on Ubud!
Thanks for sharing the detailed itinerary. This is such a beautiful place to visit. Having covered most countries in Europe, I wanted to plan for Indonesia and other South East Asian countries this year. But alas, Covid had other plans for all of us :(.
Yup, we have visited all of the above except the Handara Gate. I’m not sure why we didn’t visit it. I loved the Money Forest and the Penensan Village. It was a lovely experience at Ubud.
Bali is on our travel list for long, I will definitely refer to your travelogue when we will plan our trip. You have provided all the important details one would need to consider. Loved reading it!
My sister had visited the place last year and her travel experience was fab. Your travelogue also looks wonderful will surely bookmark this post as it has a lot of reference help for anyone planning a trip to Bali.
Absolutely loved the detailing. Bali is in my bucket list and I definitely know the place where I need to check before planning on the trip. Kudos. #tmmreads
Wow, this is so fascinating. Right from the pictures, to a well detailed itinerary, Nasi goreng (me likey) and even the number of the taxi guy. You have covered it so well.
I wish to visit bali only if I get to visit Istanbul and few more international places… This is a detailed blog post about travelling to bali…thanks for sharing your experience.
We are planning to go to Bali once all this Covid madness is over. Then im definitely returning to this post. Such a detailed and extensive post which is filled with all the important information for a Bali trip. Thank you for sharing.
A well researched post, you have consolidated all the information in one place. I am definitely bookmarking this. Love the pictures too. Looking forward to more posts from you.
Wow what a picturesque post I actually felt in the lanes of Bali with this virtual tour This sums up as – Baliiii is callingg… #PraGunReads #MyFriendAlexa #Blogchatter
Wow what a picturesque post. I felt in the lanes of Bali with this virtual tour. This simply sums up – Bali is calling… #PraGunReads #MyFriendAlexa #Blogchatter
All travel blogs should be banned during Corona… just kidding…my feet are itching to travel…Bali is at the top of my bucket list and I have pinned your post for later
My first overseas destination with son and wife together, wife and I have been to Switzerland on work.. We felt Bali has something we loved at the first sight and are already planning our next vacation there in 2021
What an exhilarating experience one can expect while traveling to Ubud. Your post has got all the information one would need while planning a trip to Bali
Thank you, I tried my best capturing all the details, a first time for me if I could say so in writing in such detail.. Hoping to continue the travel journey..
Did I write that you need to pay a nominal fee and wait in a line to get your picture clicked at Handara gate 🙂 oops the secret is out now.. Having said that, Bali is love for sure..
These pictures definitely are inviting me to come back again and I cant wait to plan my next trip just to Lombok this time… thanks for reading through…
Nice nice nice. I write travelogues and hence can say this is really great work my friend. The information with some interesting facts, then personalised details along with beautiful pics makes for pretty amazing reading. Keep the amazing work going.
Bali in indeed special, it was our first international visit.. I am not counting Nepal heheh… your post just brought back memories, great post and picture
You should Sayali. I would recommend atleast two weeks the least and explore around Bali but also plan to spend a good week in Lombok and Gili Islands… we are just gonna go back to Gili again…. we could not have enough of the wonderful places…
I was planning a trip to bali but cancelled it due to this Pandemic we cancelled all the plans.. thanks for detailed itinerary… Will refer to ur post, whenever I try next time
Aww… you should in 2021.. This post is just about Ubud in Bali, need to write on other destinations in Bali that I have started penning.. Thanks for your feedback..
Our first international trip as a family was also at Bali. We said at Alila in Ubud and it was a wonderful property. All the beautiful travel memories of Bali just flashed before me while reading your posts. My most memorable experience is the landing at the airport with the sea on one side, it was just so beautiful
Totally, the descent to the Denpasar airport is just a wonderful sight! I am soo thrilled with this lovely country that I am already planning my next trip, this time to explore Lombok more better…
This is well penned and descriptive information! Very insightful and the lovely pictures are quite alluring. Your review of the accomodations in the place seems very helpful.
Now THIS is what a travelogue should read like! Loved the details you have shared, Shrikanth. This post is a one anyone who plans to visit Bali should read. Thank you for this.
Oh no. Ubud was high on our bucketlist and we had plans to visit Bali by the end of this year. All in vain though. However, thank you for the detailed itinerary. I’m bookmarking this.
85 responses to “Ubud, Bali – Important points to plan your stress-free holiday”
Thanks for sharing such a detailed itinerary! The monkey forest did intrigue me. Bookmarking this.
Such a holistic post! Right now, after I turned vegetarian, I think food is the most important thing for me for planning! 🙂
Such an extensive guide to planning this trip to Ubud. Im so happy i found your post& im totally following it up when I plan. Loved it.
Thanks Vashi
Wow this was so detailed and wonderful post on Bali. Well Bali was our plan in July but covid took it all away. So maybe soon when things get better we will surely plan it.
You should definitely plan in the coming year and don’t spend most of your time in Bali but try exploring Lombok too… Atleast two weeks would be my recommendation
We had travel plans this year for Ubud, Bali as I had it in my bucket list for a long time. Now because of the pandemic we are stuck at home. Hopefully, next year or so, we might get a chance to travel. Saving your page as you have written a detailed post on Ubud!
Sure and don’t forget Lombok and Gili Islands….
Great post in detail and droolworthy pictures. Bali is on my list and wana plan it soon after pandemic.
Thanks for sharing the detailed itinerary. This is such a beautiful place to visit. Having covered most countries in Europe, I wanted to plan for Indonesia and other South East Asian countries this year. But alas, Covid had other plans for all of us :(.
True, Bali and Gili Islands in Indonesia floored me to the core I definitely would be visiting again…
This was to be our vacation in Nov before the corona virus brought everything to a standstill. Will file it away for future reference
Thanks for such a detailed post packed with information! It sounds like a lovely place. What about shopping?
We did a bit of coffee and tea shopping
You have penned it all nicely. I was hardly writing when i went to Ubud. It was indeed a lovely experience at the Monkey forest and Penensan Village.
Yup, we have visited all of the above except the Handara Gate. I’m not sure why we didn’t visit it. I loved the Money Forest and the Penensan Village. It was a lovely experience at Ubud.
very detailed and elaborate blog post. The pictures are so beautiful indeed…
Bali is on our travel list for long, I will definitely refer to your travelogue when we will plan our trip. You have provided all the important details one would need to consider. Loved reading it!
Glad you liked the post Neha.. Thanks for stopping by..
My sister had visited the place last year and her travel experience was fab. Your travelogue also looks wonderful will surely bookmark this post as it has a lot of reference help for anyone planning a trip to Bali.
Superb post. Great details and information you have shared in this post, which would be pretty helpful for the travelers.
Loved the detailed post on Ubud . I definitely would refer this when I plan. #tmmreads
Loved the detailed information. I can refer to this when I plan Bali trip #tmmreads
Absolutely loved the detailing. Bali is in my bucket list and I definitely know the place where I need to check before planning on the trip. Kudos. #tmmreads
Wow, this is so fascinating. Right from the pictures, to a well detailed itinerary, Nasi goreng (me likey) and even the number of the taxi guy. You have covered it so well.
Bali is on our travel list and we were actually planning a trip soon. It is a very helpful post. Thanks for the virtual trip.
Glad you liked the travelogue Deepa..
Bali is on my list of places I wish to travel to soon. This is a very informative post – will be referring back to this when I’m planning my travel!
Sure.. do explore more places around Bali too…
I wish to visit bali only if I get to visit Istanbul and few more international places… This is a detailed blog post about travelling to bali…thanks for sharing your experience.
Istanbul has been on my list too, hopeful one day..
We are planning to go to Bali once all this Covid madness is over. Then im definitely returning to this post. Such a detailed and extensive post which is filled with all the important information for a Bali trip. Thank you for sharing.
glad you found the post helpful.. Hoping you have a good time on your Bali trip..
A well researched post, you have consolidated all the information in one place. I am definitely bookmarking this. Love the pictures too. Looking forward to more posts from you.
Thank you Ritu, that is soo encouraging..
Bali is always in my bucket list and I will bookmark this post, it will surely help me when I travel
Glad you found it helpful.. thank you
Wow what a picturesque post
I actually felt in the lanes of Bali with this virtual tour
This sums up as – Baliiii is callingg…
#PraGunReads #MyFriendAlexa #Blogchatter
Wow what a picturesque post.
I felt in the lanes of Bali with this virtual tour.
This simply sums up – Bali is calling…
#PraGunReads #MyFriendAlexa #Blogchatter
Glad you liked the travelogue..
Those images! And as I said in one of your other post, this is truly a unique way of storing memories of travel as well as a guide for others.
Totally… Memories for my son to grow up and read through the places he had been with us and plan his vacations and maybe pen those too…
How wonderfully you’ve presented this travelogue. Every detail to the T. Commendable!
Thanks Sonia.. glad you liked it..
All travel blogs should be banned during Corona… just kidding…my feet are itching to travel…Bali is at the top of my bucket list and I have pinned your post for later
Haha, thats a good one… you should definitely plan Bali in 2021 for sure…
Thank you for an in-depth post. I will be bookmarking this and returning to it before our next trip to Bali.
My first overseas destination with son and wife together, wife and I have been to Switzerland on work.. We felt Bali has something we loved at the first sight and are already planning our next vacation there in 2021
our last trip was to Bali only before this pandemic, such surreal pics and total memory refresher 🙂
We had been in January… COVID was something which we weren’t aware and it has changed the travel worked altogether…
Thank you for an in-depth post. I will be returning to it before our next trip to Bali.
Thank you for an in-depth post. I will be bookmarking this and return to it before our next trip to Bali.
What an exhilarating experience one can expect while traveling to Ubud. Your post has got all the information one would need while planning a trip to Bali
Thank you, I tried my best capturing all the details, a first time for me if I could say so in writing in such detail.. Hoping to continue the travel journey..
Amazing photographs and writing! I have seen that Handara Gate photos all around social media.
Did I write that you need to pay a nominal fee and wait in a line to get your picture clicked at Handara gate 🙂 oops the secret is out now.. Having said that, Bali is love for sure..
Those pics are droolworthy especially now when we can’t travel anywhere. quite an informative post
These pictures definitely are inviting me to come back again and I cant wait to plan my next trip just to Lombok this time… thanks for reading through…
Nice nice nice. I write travelogues and hence can say this is really great work my friend. The information with some interesting facts, then personalised details along with beautiful pics makes for pretty amazing reading. Keep the amazing work going.
#MyFriendAlexa #ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
Thanks Manas for the appreciation and glad that you liked reading the post..
read such a detailed travelogue after so long
Thankyou Samarpita.. glad you liked the travelogue..
Bali in indeed special, it was our first international visit.. I am not counting Nepal heheh… your post just brought back memories, great post and picture
Bali has a special place.. I am sure you would definitely re-plan your trip again there…
My parents just got back from Bali and pnkynhaf good things to say. Dying to go myself now that your post has made it so easy.
You should Sayali. I would recommend atleast two weeks the least and explore around Bali but also plan to spend a good week in Lombok and Gili Islands… we are just gonna go back to Gili again…. we could not have enough of the wonderful places…
I was planning a trip to bali but cancelled it due to this Pandemic we cancelled all the plans.. thanks for detailed itinerary… Will refer to ur post, whenever I try next time
Aww… you should in 2021.. This post is just about Ubud in Bali, need to write on other destinations in Bali that I have started penning.. Thanks for your feedback..
Our first international trip as a family was also at Bali. We said at Alila in Ubud and it was a wonderful property. All the beautiful travel memories of Bali just flashed before me while reading your posts. My most memorable experience is the landing at the airport with the sea on one side, it was just so beautiful
Totally, the descent to the Denpasar airport is just a wonderful sight! I am soo thrilled with this lovely country that I am already planning my next trip, this time to explore Lombok more better…
As soon as this pandemic is over, I’m heading for this place.
you should.. a lovely destination…
Now that’s quite interesting to know so much about ubud and offbeat bali. Can’t wait to explore this beautiful destination
Stay tuned… I will share more on Bali and Lombok in coming days…
This is well penned and descriptive information! Very insightful and the lovely pictures are quite alluring. Your review of the accomodations in the place seems very helpful.
Thanks Jyoti… glad you liked it..
Loved the way you’ve shared about Ubud! We have been here and it is a stunning place
All places in Bali have just wowed… cant wait to get back…
Out of those 7000 island , can we buy one ?? 🙂 .. Nice article
aww… you just read my mind… wish we could…. EMI option should be there too 🙂
Now THIS is what a travelogue should read like! Loved the details you have shared, Shrikanth. This post is a one anyone who plans to visit Bali should read. Thank you for this.
Thanks a ton for the kind words Mayuri…. Have started my second blog post which I hopefully could get time to complete this week and publish..
Oh no. Ubud was high on our bucketlist and we had plans to visit Bali by the end of this year. All in vain though. However, thank you for the detailed itinerary. I’m bookmarking this.
Thank you.. we could not get enough of Bali and are already planning for 2021 if possible
Nice detailed blogpost, what is the best time to visit Bali?