Come with me on this trip and I will show you 8 unforgettable things to do in Ubud, Bali.

Ubud can be the best place you ever visited or the worst one. For me, is one of the most interesting places I have ever seen. I don’t know if it’s the culture, the people or because is my first city in Asia.

But first, let me give you some tips before your coming to Bali:

• Plan what you want to do ahead. I know, it’s not an easy job but it’s important to know what to visit, things to do. We haven’t planned, so every night we were searching for places. I recommend Pinterest, is much easier than searching on Google.
• Hire a private driver. You can talk to the driver that takes you from the airport or arrange it at the reception. They are very kind and the price is 50$ per day.
• If you want a flower bath at a good spa, book it in advance. There are lots of SPA places but this doesn’t mean it will be a great experience. And you want to be great, don’t you?
• Go and visit the other islands, Gili islands or Lombok island! The Ceningan island is an isolated one, you feel like the time didn’t pass, untouched natural areas and the locals are super nice and helpful.
• Book a guest house instead of a hotel or resort. This way, you will taste their food and see a part of their life. Also, you are contributing to the local’s growth.
• If you need to take a taxi, Bluebird is a good choice. They even have an application for easier access. Make sure the driver puts the meter all the time. In the Ubud area, only the Bluebird taxis are allowed, the online taxis like Grab aren’t.
• For routes, download an offline map from google or use maps. Or buy a sim card and you will have internet all the time. There are some areas without a signal, especially on the islands.
• Drink only bottled water and don’t try street food. It will look delicious but it’s best to avoid it.

Ubud is a touristic place also known for multiple yoga workshops and temples.

At first, Ubud seems a very crowded little town with horrendous traffic. I know, sounds horrible, right? But after a day here, you get used to it and you’re starting to see the other side. The cute little streets, the houses that are so beautifully decorated, and their architecture. There are lots of little shops, hipster places to hang out and eat.

Here are my 8 unforgettable things to do in Ubud, Bali

1 Waterfalls

This is my first recommendation, plan your trip and see the amazing waterfalls from Ubud.

The first one is Tibumana Waterfall – 40 minutes drive from Ubud – I think is the most instagramable waterfall and I can see why. Even the is interesting, surrounded by palm trees and lots of greeneries.

You can also swim but the water is a bit cold. Also, you have to be careful because the water is deep and it’s not recommended for beginner swimmers.

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A truly hidden gem is the Bangkiang Djaran waterfall – 40 minutes drive from Ubud. Is in a small village and you will find it under the Dedari sign. This place is majestic, luxuriant. You can see there aren’t too many tourists because everything is so well maintained. Let me tell you, the road is not an easy one, it takes 10 minutes to walk but it’s well worth it. The entire view is spectacular.

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Check the https://dailytravelpill.com/best-hidden-waterfalls-near-ubud-bali for other hidden waterfalls.

2 The Tegallalang Rice Terrace

First time seeing the rice terraces and the view it’s unbelievable. Also, if you are hungry there are lots of places to eat and to enjoy a splendid view.

3 Tirta Empul temple – 30 minutes drive

Tirta Empul is actually a place with multiple temples and holy water. If you want to enter the temple, you need to wear a sarong which you can find at the entrance for free.

The main attraction, if you could call it that, is the holy mountain spring. They have a purification ritual that starts with offering a sacrifice and then you have to go to each fountain. I think there are like 30 fountains.

4 Monkey Forest temple – right in the city

It’s a huge forest where obviously the monkeys are living. For me it was a scary experience, I got scared of the monkeys at first but after a while, I was ok with the wild monkeys wandering around and trying to steal your food.

Other things to do in Ubud, Bali

5 Go to a yoga class or workshops

Let me tell you, starting my day with a yoga class was awesome, I was zen all day. I tried the yoga class from Radiantly Alive Yoga with Collette Davis. Great way to relax.

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6 A day at SPA

Pamper yourself with a Balinese massage and a flower bath. For recommendation, check https://travelust101.com/best-spas-in-ubud/

Tip: book the Spa in advance to have a day to remember.

7 Try the swings 

Is Bali, the place of swings? Definitely, everywhere you go, you will find a swing. Only 7 $ / swing and you will have a blast.

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8 Book a cooking class

I heard the one from Casa Luna is a very good one. The price is 25 euro and in 4 hours you can learn how to cook Balinese food.

I was surprised by how religious are Hindu people. They are praying to their Gods every morning and evening offering flowers.

Ubud has it all, forest, rice terraces, and amazing waterfalls. There is a marketplace where you can buy souvenirs. Also, you can visit the temples of Ubud! For me, the Saraswati temple is a very nice place to see the sunset and it’s in Ubud, right in center.

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That’s it for now! Have you ever been to Bali? Let me know other things to do in Ubud, Bali. Check out my blogpost about Nusa Penida.