1 Day Ubud Itinerary, Bali – What to Do and See
Ubud is Bali’s heart and soul, with so many things to do, you can easily spend more than one day here, but our itinerary will help you to maximise the time you have. Geographically it is also located in the center of southern Bali. Ubud can seem to offer too much sometimes, with rice fields to traverse, traditional dances to relish, art museums and galleries to explore, cooking courses and yoga classes to join and traditional markets and villages to discover.
In this 1 day itinerary in Ubud, you will check out the few main attractions in Ubud, then head out for a short excursion to the temple and rice fields and return in time for massage and spa, Kecak Dance performance and live music afterwards.
Ubud Itinerary Map
Morning – Market, Monkey Forest and Museum
Wake up early and check out the public market (pasar umum). This market is a beautiful chaos itself, offering many things in a bargain, from T-shirts and bangles to tea leaves and bananas. Start here before 8 am to catch the mass local produce before they disappear as the souvenir stalls take over.
From the market walk to the opposite to Ubud Palace, also known as Puri Saren Agung, to admire the architecture and the gamelan instruments on display. These instruments are used in the evening’s traditional dance performance. Then head on to the popular Sacred Monkey Forest of Ubud before it gets too hot. This is a lush jungle dotted with temples, transporting tourists away from the urban sprawl of Ubud. Then head south to the magnificent Aung Rai Museum of Art with expansive collections and beautiful gardens. From here head to Jalan Suweta for lunch of the famous roast pig (babi guling) of Ubud at Ibu Oka.
Afternoon – Excursion of Paddy Fields and Temple
Then it is time to discover the wonders that surround the Ubud city. Head west and ride (you may want to rent a motorbike or hire a car for the half day) down the beautiful road to Kendaran, with sloping coconut palms flanked by paddy fields and volcanic mountains. On the way, we stop by at Tirta Empul, one of the top 10 temples to visit in Bali, with a complex of pools, temples and gardens. The hot water springs are regarded as holy in Bali and have the magical power to heal, resulting in its invasion by locals and tourists alike. At the end of the road, turn north to Tegallalang, a village handicraft shops.
Evening – Kecak Dance
Return in time to Ubud to catch a traditional dance performance with live music. This is one of the must do in Ubud to sum up your experience. If there is still time, squeeze in some massage and spa at the many choices you can find in Ubud. End the day with a sumptuous dinner at one of the best restaurants in Bandung. After that, if you still have the energy, check out one of the many places that play live music at the center of Ubud.
Where to stay in Ubud
Stay in Ubud for culture, nature, arts and markets. Ubud has plenty of places that tourists will enjoy staying at. There’s the Como Shambhala Estate *, which is a health retreat deep in the rainforest. There’s also the Hanging Gardens Ubud *, which has a spectacular view and private pool villas. The Purist Villas & Spa * is another popular place to stay in Ubud, as it’s a stylish boutique villa complete with meal and spa facilities. A popular boutique hotel is Uma by COMO *, which is located on the hillside in Ubud.
