What To Do In Ubud

Ubud is one of the most popular areas in Bali, and for good reason. It is located nowhere near the ocean, and does not even have a big party scene. What it does have is an escape from all of that. If you are coming to Ubud, chances are you want to relax, do yoga, eat healthy, and otherwise not do much. For those who want to do more stuff, then this list is for you.

Table Of Contents

1. Monkey Forest
2. Tegenungan
3. Sayan Night Market
4. Tukad Cepung waterfall
5. Yoga class
6. Kanto Lampo waterfall
7. Spa (massage)
8. Cooking class
9. Pura Tirtha Empul
10. Tibumana waterfall
11. Taman Sari waterfall
12. Tegalalang Rice Terraces
13. Goa Gajah temple ( Elephant cave)

1. Monkey Forest

While Cody was busy at his cooking class, I decided that I should visit the Monkey Forest on my own. It wasn’t that far from the AirBnB where we stayed (Erwin’s place), so I thought that it would be a nice walk. It took me 10 minutes to get there and I was all out of breath and dreaming of a jump in our cold pool.

You can buy the ticket right at the entrance. It wasn’t crowded (maybe because it was December) and the ticket costs 80,000 IDR per person. I got my ticket and went inside. I have to say that in the forest it’s not that hot. There are lots of walking paths around and you can choose where you want to go first. There are also few spots with bathrooms and sitting areas, where you can have a rest.

The Monkey forest itself is beautiful. It has ponds, temples, a few bridges running across the river and lots of creepy statues, which set a strange alert mood and weird atmosphere.

So what about the monkeys at the Monkey forest? They are everywhere! Jumping, swinging, eating and fighting. Oh, yeah, they fight, and they fight violently. Actually, monkeys can be very aggressive and dangerous.

There are rule boards everywhere in the forest, so that tourists would be aware of what they should not do to provoke monkeys.

Here Are Some Of The Rules:

1. Do not look the monkeys in the eyes. This can be taken as a sign of aggression by monkeys and they can attack.

2. Do not panic. If it happens that a monkey jumps on you, do not make any fast moves. Better to stay still or if you have someone with you ask them to pick up monkey’s food at the feeding place and drop it not far from you. It will distract the monkey and it will jump of.

3. Do not run if the monkeys approach you. Just be calm, walk slowly and in no circumstances scream. The animals can be curious about you as much as you are interested in them, so naturally they will come closer to you. And if you will start making loud noises it will frighten them and they can hurt you.

4. Do not bring any food or any kind of plastic with you. Know that the monkeys will smell any kind of food that you are hiding in your bag and they will try to get it. It is strongly advised not to carry anything edible with you. The plastic thing is understandable, keep the forest clean! Also due to the noise plastic bags make, the monkeys can try to steal it and play with it.

5. Be aware of your belongings. I suggest to not bring anything valuable to the Monkey forest. The monkeys are well-known thieves and when they grab something you will never see it again. Hold your purses and phones tight! Another tip for you: don’t wear sparkly jewellery (earrings, necklaces) that will attract attention of the animals (if you don’t want to lose a part of your ear of course).

6. Don’t try to have any physical contact with the monkey. This rule is kind of a one way rule. The monkeys may touch you, so you know already that you need to stay calm. But do not ever try to touch them. Their reaction is very unpredictable, and I really doubt that they will remain calm. Especially never touch, grab, or come close to the baby monkeys. They usually seem kind and eager, but their moms will try to protect them, and it can get nasty.

7. Do not feed the monkeys! Well, we talked a lot how to keep tourist unhurt and well. Let’s talk what should we do to keep monkey healthy and alive. It is simple: do not feed the monkeys! Usually tourists like to bring cookies, chips, peanuts and other processed food to attract the monkeys and take a picture. Do not do that! It is not always healthy for humans to eat garbage like chips and other processed foods, but for animals it is definitely unhealthy.

Key Information:

Price: 80,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM;

Location: Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571;

2. Tegenungan Waterfall

Ubud is famous for its beautiful waterfalls. And the Tegenungan waterfall is one of them. To get to this waterfall you will need to rent a scooter or get a taxi, or best way I think is to rent a private driver (we paid 700,00 IDR ($50) for 10 hours’ drive) and to get to few different spots including this waterfall.

The ticket price is not high, just 20,000 IDR ($1.30,), which is very affordable for those who are on the tight budget. You will have to take steep steps all the way down to get to the desirable spot. The stairs actually offer a great view of the waterfall and along the way there are few spots made especially for taking cute pictures.

At the bottom of the hill you will see the pool, where you can swim, the temple, and the Tegenungan waterfall of course. You can actually swim at the bottom of the waterfall, but not too close to it, the waterfall is too powerful for that. To be frank, the water in the river looks dirty, so I don’t think you would have a huge desire to do this anyway. It took us an hour or so to get down, take all the pictures, look around and get back up. 

Key Information:

Price: 20,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday: 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM;

Location: Jl. Ir. Sutami, Kemenuh, Kec. Sukawati, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80581;

3. Sayan Night Market

If you are staying in Ubud one of the must do things is to visit the night market. There are few of them close to the Ubud city: Ubud street market, Senggol street market, Sayan market and others. You can decide which one is closer to you and visit it, we ended up visiting the Sayan night market.

We got to the Sayan night market around 9 PM and it was packed with locals (that is actually what we wanted to experience) and just few tourists. The market is split into two parts. The biggest one is the part where all the cheap clothes are being sold and the second part that everyone wants to go is the food section.

Very few vendors speak even basic English, of course it is understandable since they don’t interact with the tourists that much, but some can understand what you want. Everyone is nice and as helpful as their English allows them. Of course, it is a big plus for you if you speak the Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesian).

There are lots of small stalls that sell different local food. It is super inexpensive and you can get tons of stuff spending just $5. We started with Pisang Goreng (fried bananas, of course, dessert is first) and then got some Sate Ayam (chicken skewers). Also a Gado-Gado salad, rice sweets, a dry kind of peanut cookies and at the end we got some fruit shakes. I actually got the avocado shake and that was the first time I have tried this and I absolutely loved it. How great it would be to get this shake every time right after gym (my trainer says I should eat more good fats).

Key Information:

Price: entrance is free;

Hours: everyday: 6 PM to 11 PM;

Location: no 80571, Jl. Raya Tebongkang No.39, Singakerta, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571;

4. Tukad Cepung waterfall

One of the most beautiful waterfalls I have seen is the Tukad Cepung waterfall. It is quite a challenge to get to the bottom of this waterfall. After you have bought your tickets, you’ll have to take many steps down to the river. Then following the river, get to another set of steps that take you to the lowest level of the hill. And then after all of these steps, you’ll have to walk along the river canyon and go under a huge rock, yes that is right, under a rock. And just then you will see it. The fantastic, well-hidden by nature, Tukad Cepung waterfall.

Maybe I liked it the most because this long way to it made me really excited, or maybe it is really the most beautiful waterfall I’ve seen, I don’t know, but it is definitely worth the effort. I recommend getting there early in the morning, so you would be able to get pictures without the crowd and enjoy it all to yourself. 

Key Information:

Price: 15,000 IDR;

Hours: Sunday – Friday: 6 AM to 5 PM; Saturday 7:45 AM to 5 PM;

Location: Jl. Tembuku, Dusun Penida Kelod, Tembuku, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80671;

5. Take A Yoga Class

Okay, so I am not really a yoga person, never have done it before. However, Ubud is famous for its yoga classes, so of course I decided that I need to try to do this. The most famous studio in Ubud city is the Yoga Barn. It is located in the very centre of the city and there are a few studios.

The classes are held almost every day and they are for all different levels. If you are like me and never done this before, don’t be worried since they have a class called “Introduction to yoga”. Pretty cool, right? To get to the class you don’t need to book anything in advance, just show up at the location a half hour earlier and they will put you in a class. The introduction class usually held at 2 PM. Click here to check the Yoga Barn schedule.

For those who know what they are doing, there are lots of other different classes you can attend. The cost is 130,000 IDR, which is around $10, not much, right?

On the territory of the Yoga Barn, there is a cute restaurant that offers a beautiful view of the jungle. You can relax there after your class and have a meal. Why after the class? Because I don’t think it is a good idea to have lunch or dinner right before the class. It is not as easy as you might think (of course yoga people know this).

Key Information:

Price: 130,000 IDR;

Hours: click here to check the schedule;

Location: Jl. Hanoman, Pengosekan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571;

6. Kanto Lampo Waterfall

A great waterfall with many spots for great pictures, and what is more important, with ability to climb up it. It looks like the steps have been covered with water. Almost all the rocks have a shape of a rectangle (or it seems like it), which helps you to climb up higher, rather than just stay at the bottom of it.

Be careful though as the rocks are quite slippery, and the water is deep, so hold your phone or camera tight and try not to fall. The Kanto Lampo waterfall is quite popular and usually crowded if you will arrive after 10 AM.

If you want to get cool pictures with no tourists not to worry, they have a line system that everyone seems to respect. At the base just get in line and wait your turn, and then your partner (or a stranger if you trust them with your electronics) can take all the pictures you want. No one seemed to rush anyone (and we saw some people take 10 minutes of pictures)!

Key Information:

Price: 20,000 IDR;

Hours: It is open all day, but it is suggested that you visit during the daylight;

Location: Beng, Kec. Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80581;

7. Spa (massage)

If you have been to Thailand, you probably have done a foot massage or full body massage over there. Same with me, though I have never done it in Bali, so I decided it is time! In Ubud there are lots of the places that offer massages and mostly the prices are similar. Since I burned myself I decide that the full body massage will be unbearable and decided on a foot massage, which was 70,000 IDR ($5) for an hour.

The massage itself was very relaxing, but I wished it was a bit stronger. But again, it depends on the person who is doing it. Anyway, after the hour of complete relaxation I felt really good and happy with my decision of getting a massage.

Key Information:

Price: 70,000 IDR – 130,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday, all day long;

Location: all over center of Ubud ;

8. Take A Cooking Class

While I was in my yoga class and seeing the monkey forest, Cody went and did a cooking class. He tends to do one of these wherever we travel so I know I am guaranteed one day to myself. He booked the class through the Cookly app and paid $29.

He was able to make 7 different recipes and the class took place on a farm about an hour outside of Ubud city center. Luckily they offered included pick-up and drop-off. After seeing his pictures I wish I got to do it with him, but fortunately for me he brought back tons of leftovers of the food he made so I was able to try everything back in our AirBnB. You can check his detailed description of the cooking class here.

Key Information:

Price: 400,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday: 9 AM and 1 PM;

Location: Banjar Patas, Taro, Gianyar, Bali 80561;

9. Pura Tirtha Empul

The Pura Tirtha Empul temple is located around 20-30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Ubud city. This is an active Hindu temple with lots of locals coming here to pray every day. Around noon it gets very crowded, so you might want to visit this place in the morning.

The temple is famous for its holy water and the purification ritual. Not just locals, but tourists as well do this ritual. The best way is to hire a guide at the temple, and she/he will explain what exactly you need to do and why. It is a beautiful and meaningful ritual that starts with bringing an offer.

As in every temple in Bali, you should follow the dress code: shoulders and knees should be covered. At the entrance of the temple there are free sarongs, that you can borrow if needed. But don’t wear this sarong to the pool. There are special sarongs for swimming, that cost 15,000 IDR. Not far from the pool there are shared changing rooms for women and men and lockers to rent. If you don’t want to rent the pool sarong there, you can just bring your own like we did. In fact, I recommend buying a sarong anyways as they are great for covering up if you want to walk somewhere and don’t feel like putting real clothes on.

Key Information:

Price: 50,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday: 8 AM to 6 PM;

Location: Jl. Tirta, Manukaya, Tampaksiring, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80552;

10. Tibumana Waterfall

Tibumana is one of the most popular waterfalls around Ubud with both tourists and locals alike. In fact, we saw plenty of Indonesian people just hanging out in the pool below. They weren’t even taking pictures…can you imagine!

This waterfall, like all the others, does consist of a bit of a hike down plenty of steps. At the bottom however you are greeted with a roaring waterfall falling from high up into a large pool down below. You can still get good pictures here though, as most of the visitors are pretty spread out.

The entrance to Tibumana is interesting, as you get TWO waterfalls for the price of one. It costs just 15,000 IDR to park and then you have access to Tibumana AND Taman Sari waterfalls

Key Information:

Price: 15,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday: 6 AM to 6 PM;

Location: Jl. Desa Apuan, Apuan, Susut, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80661;

11. Taman Sari Waterfall

This waterfall is also included in the same parking lot as Tibumana. This is a multi tiered waterfall with one large one crashing down to the middle level, and then three going from the middle level to the bottom pool. Out of all the waterfalls we visited this one was the most crowded, but only with Indonesian people.

I guess it is still relatively undiscovered by international tourists. The pool is the largest out of all the waterfalls that we have been to, and we saw plenty of people climbing around on all the rocks. It was near impossible to get a wide shot with no people in it, so here is one of me up close under one of the falls.

Key Information:

Price: price is included in the Tibumana ticket ;

Hours: everyday: 6 AM to 6 PM;

Location: Banjar Ngenjung Sari, Bakbakan, kecamatan, Gianyar, Bali 80515;

12. Tegalalang Rice Terraces

The Tegalalang Rice Terraces might just be the most famous thing in all of Ubud. These are beautifully manicured traditional Balinese rice terraces located just 15 minutes driving from Ubud city center.

To be honest it is now quite touristy with tons of restaurants overlooking the terraces. In fact, someone told us there are over 20 different “Bali Swings” around the terraces in which to get those famous Bali pictures.

I didn’t do the swing as they wanted 100,000 IDR a ride and I was in no mood to haggle, but it really isn’t that expensive if it’s something you really want to do.

Key Information:

Price: 10,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday: 8 AM to 6 PM;

Location: Jl. Raya Tegallalang, Tegallalang, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561;

13. Goa Gajah Temple (Elephant Cave)

The Goa Gajah temple, also known as elephant cave, is located near the center of Gianyar, the capital of Ubud. Like Pura Tirtha Empul this is an active temple, so you may see people praying or other activities when you try to go.

The most famous thing to see here is the elephant cave, which is located to the left of the water purification section. Inside it is quite dark, but there are three different prayer alcoves which are meant for different activities.

We went here around 5 pm and it was not crowded at all, so you should do this later on in the day.

Key Information:

Price: 50,000 IDR;

Hours: everyday: 8 AM to 6:30 PM;

Location: Goa Gajah temple;

What To Do In Ubud