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Ubud

Indonesia travel guide

What to see in Ubud

Bali’s cultural heart, among rice fields, the Monkey Forest and yoga classes.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 4 must-see places
  • Best time: from April to October
  • Stay in Centre
  • Typical food: Bebek betutu
Photo: alfaneque · CC BY 2.0

Ubud highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Monkey Forest

    A sacred forest with temples and hundreds of macaques: hold on to your glasses, caps and food.

  2. Tegallalang

    Terraced rice fields north of Ubud; go early, with soft light and fewer people.

  3. Palace area

    Puri Saren, Ubud’s royal palace; at night there are Balinese dances in the courtyard.

  4. Campuhan Ridge

    An easy walk along a grassy ridge between two valleys, best at sunrise.

Where to stay in Ubud

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Centre

Day trips from Ubud

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Ubud

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ubud are from April to October. If you can, avoid from December to February (rainy season).

  1. Jan with strong warnings
  2. Feb with strong warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov with warnings
  12. Dec with strong warnings
  • from November to March

    Rainy season

    From November to March it rains almost every day, usually in short storms; the sea is rougher for crossing to Nusa or the Gilis.

    What to do: Book boat trips with flexible dates and keep the mornings for outdoor plans.

  • February, March

    Ramadan (approximate dates)

    During the day many restaurants close or open less and museum and shop hours change. The evenings, with iftar, are very special.

    What to do: Out of respect, don’t eat or drink in the street during the day; book dinner for after sunset.

Typical food of Ubud

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Ubud from your kitchen).

Bebek betutu
Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bebek betutu

Duck stuffed with a Balinese spice paste, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for hours. In Ubud it’s ordered a day in advance.

  • Serves 4
  • 4 h

Ingredients

  • 1 duck (or 4 duck legs)
  • Base genep: 8 shallots, 6 garlic cloves, 4 chillies, ginger, turmeric, galangal, kencur (or more ginger), 1 tablespoon of coriander and pepper
  • 2 lemongrass stalks
  • 4 kaffir lime leaves
  • 1 teaspoon of shrimp paste
  • Banana leaves or foil
  • Salt

How to make it at home

  1. Blend the base ingredients and fry the paste until it darkens.
  2. Rub the duck inside and out with the paste and stuff it with the rest, along with the lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves.
  3. Wrap it in banana leaves and then in foil.
  4. Bake at 150 °C for about 3½ hours, until the meat falls apart.
  5. Serve it with rice, vegetables and sambal.

The trick: With duck legs the time comes down to about 2 hours.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: warung. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Indonesia guide.

  • Locavore

    Ubud

    Recommended in Ubud.

  • Ibu Oka

    Centre

    Recommended in central Ubud.

Frequently asked questions about Ubud

What to see in Ubud?

Monkey Forest, Tegallalang, Palace area and Campuhan Ridge.

What to see in Ubud in one day?

Don’t miss Monkey Forest, Tegallalang, Palace area and Campuhan Ridge. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Ubud?

The handiest areas to stay are Centre.

What’s the best time to travel to Ubud?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ubud are from April to October. If you can, avoid from December to February (rainy season).

What day trips can you take from Ubud?

Tegallalang rice terraces and Balinese cooking class.

What is the typical food of Ubud?

Bebek betutu. Duck stuffed with a Balinese spice paste, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for hours. In Ubud it’s ordered a day in advance.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.