Ubud, a city in the province of Gianyar, is widely recognized as the cultural and artistic heart of Bali. The unique combination of cultural rites and artistic atmosphere in and around Ubud results in an eclectic city that pulses with life. Even if only a single day is spent in Ubud, its stirring ambience will be deeply imprinted in your memory, and urge you to return soon for more.

Temples

There is always a Hindu ceremony, ritual or offering occurring each day at sacred spots or in the temples of Ubud, and the celebrants carry these out with more devotion and meticulous attention that is rarely seen elsewhere on the island. Visitors are always welcome to witness or participate in these religious observances, and can explore the temples in Ubud at any time, as long as they are dressed appropriately and comply with temple regulations.

Three temples that should not be missed include Pura Desa Ubud, Ubud’s main temple on the main road of Ubud; Pura Puseh, the ‘temple of origin’ on Jalan Suweta; Pura Taman Saraswati, devoted to the Dewi Saraswati, goddess of learning, literature and arts, located beyond the lotus pond at the back of Café Lotus.

Museums & Galleries

Contributing to Ubud’s artistic vibe are the musicians, artists, dancers, writers and holistic practitioners who converge in the city for inspiration and mutual artistic exchanges. The result of this interaction is seen and heard daily in Ubud, through nightly live music sets at a café or lounge; performances of traditional dances, including Legong, Kecak and Ramayana, at a temple or palace; handicraft workshops where visitors can learn how to create an artwork from materials of wood, coconut or rattan; and yoga or meditation retreats at various quiet spots around the city.

For hand-woven and natural-dyed textiles, stop at Threads of Life on Jalan Kejang. This is a gallery, shop, and educational studio aimed at educating the public about endangered traditional weaving techniques of Indonesia, the cultures of the weavers who turn raw cotton in to hand-spun thread, and how the ikat weave is produced.

On-going rotating exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art and craft forms at art galleries in Ubud feature the abundant talent present in Bali and Indonesia, while the town’s collection of museums trace the development of art and craft through the centuries.

Galleries and museums in and around Ubud are located along Jalan Monkey Forest; Jalan Raya, stretching from the Peliatan junction in the east until Sayan in the west; in Pengosekan village, Batuan village, and Penestanan village; along the main street running through Peliatan, and in Mas. They are generally open daily from 8am or 9am until 6pm, with the exception of major public or Hindu holidays.

Shops

Shopping options are abundant in central Ubud.
More than one day is required to browse the modest shops lining the streets. These include the stretch heading south from the main junction by the market; the stretch heading west from the same main junction to Camphuan, and along Jalan Hanoman beginning from the junction with Jalan Raya Ubud. Besides souvenirs, the shops also retail a variety of locally produced items including clothing; bedspreads; jewellery and home accessories crafted from silver, mother-of-pearl and corals; wood sculptures; hand painted and silk batik; paintings, and artwork.

At least one day is required for exploring the entire Ubud Art Market (pasar seni) complex, consisting of a maze of shops selling everything from groceries and home wares to souvenirs and handicraft. Visit in the morning to procure better deals on prices.

Dining

Ubud also offers a wide selection of dining options, from stylish restaurants with a lounge to casual bistros, rustic warungs (local eateries) and delis. The types of cuisine available are also diverse, ranging from Indonesian and Balinese to French, Italian, Asian and International. The diversity also extends to vegetarian, organic and healthy choices at some bistros and delis.

Some insider dining tips include Balinese dishes at Café Wayan on Monkey Forest Road; pan-Asian and international dishes accompanied by wine and luscious desserts at TeraZo; chai at Ary's Warung on Ubud main road; cinnamon rolls and coffee at Café Tutmak on Jalan Dewi Sita; herbal teas, fresh juices and scones at Bali Buddha on Jalan Jembawan; multi-grain bread at Casa Luna on Jalan Raya Ubud; sushi and sashimi at Ryosh on Jalan Raya Ubudi; rose petal ice cream at Bumbu on Jalan Suweta, and roast duck at Bebek Bengil on Padang Tegal.

Nature Spots

A good portion of the dining venues also offer expansive views of the rice paddies and mountain valleys in Ubud, often hidden behind the shops. Visitors can stroll through the rice paddies or explore local coffee, lemongrass and other crop plantations on bicycle through an organised eco-tour.

Nature lovers can also stop and feed the monkeys of the Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary with bananas; participate in daily free flight bird shows at the Bali Bird Park; spend time with animals at the Bali Zoo, and have photographs taken among the scenic environs of the Ubud Botanic Gardens.

Ubud Vicinity

The vicinity of Ubud also offers several sightseeing venues. Travel about 4 kilometres east on the Ubud-Gianyar Road to reach Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), a 15th century cave known for its entrance carved in the shape of a demon’s mouth and two ceremonial bathing pools nearby. Another 2 kilometres east from here is Yeh Pulu, a 20-metre stretch of rock carved with images of gods, deities and scenes of daily life. Head 6 kilometres north of Ubud to Tirta Empul (Sacred Spring), where the spring water in the holy pond built around 960AD believed to cure illnesses.

Between 2 kilometres to 16 kilometres south of Ubud are several villages that are long-established centres of traditional craft production. It is possible to watch native craftsmen at work, producing wood carvings at Mas or Batuan, stone carving and pottery at Batubulan, and gold and silver at Celuk.

The most significant temple in Bali is Pura Besakih. The entire complex comprises more than 20 temples spread on the slopes of Mount Agung, Bali’s highest mountain and active volcano, 52 kilometres from Ubud. Several large scale and grand ceremonies are often held here.