The town where Julia Roberts put the love into Eat Pray Love, Ubud is Bali’s spiritual, artistic, and cultural capital, surrounded by waterfalls, rice terraces, and Hindu temples. From yoga to water blessings, silversmithing to Balinese dance, it’s easy to tend your zen here. But some of the best things to do in Ubud nurture the body, not the soul. The Ayung and Telaga Waja rivers offer white-water rafting; ATVs and bicycles put the countryside within reach, and it’s a great place to discover the art of Balinese cooking.
Many travelers prefer to visit Bali during the dry season (roughly mid-April to mid-October), but Ubud can feel overcrowded during the summer peak (mid-June through August). October sees the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Southeast Asia’s biggest literary festival, while yoginis flock to the BaliSpirit Festival in early May. Nobody comes here to sunbake, so rainy season visits are worthwhile—white-water rafting is at its best when downpours set the rivers pumping.
Scenic rice field paths and reasonably functional sidewalks make Ubud by far Bali’s most walkable destination, but many key sights, such as Tegenungan Waterfall, lie some way out of town. There’s no real public transit, and driving and parking are tricky, so most travelers opt for private drivers. Metered taxis don’t operate here, but you can generally find a 2-wheeled or 4-wheeled ride on the Grab or GoJek ride-hailing apps—or simply negotiate with one of the many street touts offering “transport!”
Ubud is Bali’s arts and cultural capital, and learning a craft is a highlight of many travelers’ visits. Staffed by silversmiths from the island’s jewelry-crafting epicenter, Celuk Village, Studio Perak offers half-day classes in making silver jewelry. Simply come with a basic idea of what you’d like to make, and tutors will help you saw, hammer, carve, engrave, and solder to bring your design alive.
If you’d rather buy Balinese silver jewelry, or other souvenirs, be prepared to haggle. Savvy travelers highly recommend asking for at least a 40 percent discount. Granted, haggling only works at outdoor markets and stores that don’t have fixed prices. Don’t feel bad about asking for a better price; it’s expected here. In fact, it’s a great way to earn a vendor’s respect.
While many people visit Bali for its beaches and never step foot in a museum, don’t sleep on the Antonio Blanco Museum if you like art. The Spanish painter was often referred to as the “Dali of Bali,” and the museum pays homage to his work, including an unfinished piece still on its easel. Blanco passed away in 1999.
