Ubud is the culture capital and heart of Bali, so you should definitely put it on your schedule. It’s also a great place to stay while you explore the rest of the island.
This 3-days Ubud Itinerary will show you some of the best things to see and do in the area. It starts in the center of town and then goes to nearby villages with waterfalls, temples, and rice fields.
About This Plan for 3-days Ubud Itinerary
To give you some background on this Ubud itinerary, my wife is Balinese, and whenever we visit somewhere else, we always stay in Bali. We’ve spent a lot of time visiting the island because it’s her home and my second home.
There’s a lot to see and do in Ubud, so three days isn’t enough to see everything, but it’s a good start. And if you want to see even more, I’ve added a fourth day to this Ubud schedule that you can skip.
For many of the things on this list of things to do in Ubud, you will need a car. You can easily take a scooter in Bali, or you can hire a private car with a driver for 10 hours of sightseeing.
How to Get Started
The whole plan takes place on the Indonesian island of Bali, but first you have to get there! Fly to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), which is served by several low-cost companies with good reputations. AirAsia often has flights from Singapore (SIN), Bangkok (DMK), or Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Bali for 1 million IDR or less ($70 USD).
Better yet, if you live in Australia or New Zealand, you can fly directly to Bali from foreign airports like Adelaide, Cairns, or Perth, and the cost will be about the same.
• Day 1: Center of Ubud
A Home for Monkeys in the Forest
First of all, let’s talk about the monkeys! Stop by the famous Ubud monkey forest and get your picture taken with the Balinese macaques for a funny experience. There are a lot of them live in the jungle here, and most of them are friendly to people who come from outside. It’s a great way to start your trip around Ubud Itinerary.
Market in Ubud
The Ubud art market is right across the street from the monkey park. It is full of handmade items like wood carvings, paintings, coconut bowls, hats and bags made from rattan, and anything else you can think of. Some sellers here start their prices a little high, so feel free to try to get them down.
Palace of Ubud
This fancy palace from the 1800s is on the corner of a street. It has beautiful Balinese stone carvings and gardens. It’s only a 15-minute stop, but it’s well worth it!
The Temple of Saraswati
The Saraswati Temple is just a 3-minute walk across the street from the Ubud Palace. This one has fancy doors and walls that make great places to take pictures.
• Day 2: Temples and terraces in Ubud
Rice fields in Tegalalang
Tegalalang, just 15 minutes north of Ubud, has Bali’s most famous rice fields. There are paths that let you walk through the whole valley and get a closer look at the terraces.
The Water Temple on Mount Kawi Sebatu
This is one of the less well-known temples in Bali, even though, in my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful and is easy to get to from Ubud. It’s a 5-minute drive north from Tegalalang and has a nice koi pond, park, and courtyards to explore.
The temple of Tirta Empul
Tirta Empul is the most well-known temple in Tegalalang and one of the most well-known in all of Bali. People from all over come to bathe in the Hindu spring. Even if that’s not your thing, you might like the interesting buildings and the big art market close.
Temple on Mount Kawi
This is a secret temple and archaeological site that is more than a thousand years old. In the cliffs, you can see ancient grave shrines. It is an interesting part of Bali’s past.
The Temple of Goa Gajah
You might be tired of temples at this point. If not, go to Goa Gajah, which is a cave temple from the 9th century that looks strange. It has one of the most unusual entrances you’ll see in Bali.
• Bangli Waterfalls are on Day 3
Falls at Goa Giri Campuhan
There are many beautiful waterfalls in the Bangli area, which is not far from Ubud Itinerary. Start at the northern Goa Giri Campuhan waterfall. This one is hidden, and to get to it, you have to sneak through a few cool caves.
Falls of Kuning
This waterfall and swimming hole are at the bottom of a big gorge in the bush. They look very different from each other. It’s a steep walk down, but there are natural pools at the bottom where you can cool off.
Falls of Tibumana
Tibumana used to be a secret waterfall, but it has become very popular in the last few years, and now every Instagrammer comes here. Still, it’s worth going to see!
Falls in Taman Sari
This is another free waterfall that is only 500 meters from the opening to Tibumana. It’s a small waterfall with only two steps and no people. It takes 5–10 minutes to get there.
Falls of Goa Rang Reng
Watch out for rocks that are slippery! Goa Rang Reng has 3 waterfalls, but my favorite is the first one, which is a big, sloping flow that looks like a natural Slip N Slide.
• Optional: Day 4
If you want to spend more time in Ubud, you can hire a private car and head south from Ubud to Denpasar, stopping at more places along the way.
Mas Carves Wood
Some of the best wood carvings in Southeast Asia come from Bali, and the carvers in Mas village are known for being among the best. But be careful, some of these can cost a lot. Before you buy, do some research and haggle.
Butterfly Park Kemenuh
This is a small park with a lot of butterflies, but the best part is being able to hold the world’s biggest moth, the Atlas Moth. They also have big Bornean stick bugs.
Falls of Tegenungan
Tegenungan is the most popular waterfall for tourists in Bali. You won’t be able to get away from the people here, but it’s a nice place to eat lunch, and you’ll be driving by anyway!
Rent a private driver and a motorcycle in Bali
GetYourGuide is the best choice if you want to see Bali in the comfort and safety of a private car with an English-speaking driver.
Their price for a full day of driving and sightseeing in Bali (up to 10 hours) for 1–5 people is 650k Rupiah ($45 USD). That’s the price for the car, the driver, and the gas. It is a very good deal. They also offer cheap rides from the airport to the hotel.
If you would rather ride a motorcycle, you can do that, too. Starting at 140k Rupiah (about $9), their scooter hires come with a helmet, a raincoat, and free delivery in the south Bali area.
When would be the best time to go?
When is the best time to go to Bali? It depends on what you want to do there:
From November to April, it rains a lot in Bali. During the day, it can be hot and humid, with temperatures between 90 and 95 F (32 and 35 C), but it’s less busy and it usually rains at night.
From May to August, the weather is much cooler, windier, and sunnier. The weather is the best. It’s also the busy season, so there are more people around.
The sights on this Ubud itinerary are amazing any time of year, but I think the best months for shooting are March to May, right after the rainy season ends and most of the island is covered in green leaves.
