Ubud attractions

A traditional Balinese village, Blahbatuh is known for three things: the medieval hero Kebo Iwa, the Chinese temple Vihara Amurva Bhumi Blahbatuh, and the Sidha Karya Gong Foundry, which makes traditional gamelan instruments. Kebo Iwa is immortalized as a huge statue on the main Gianyar road and a baby in Pura Puseh Desa Blahbatuh temple.

Probably the best known of the craft villages around Ubud, Mas Village is famous for its wood carvers, and it’s possible to pop into the workshops of mask-makers and sculptors around town. There are also a number of more formal galleries, such as Tony Raka, which has expanded beyond carvings into modern art and tribal pieces.

Set on the shores of Lake Beratan, the highland town of Bedugul is an essential stop for visitors who are en route to North Bali. Attractions include strawberry farms and markets, the Bali Botanic Garden, Bali Treetop Adventure Park, the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple, and an eerie abandoned hotel known as the “Ghost Palace.”

With a history dating back more than 1,000 years, the Mother Temple of Besakih (Pura Besakih), set astride the slopes of Mount Agung, is Bali’s single most important temple. Twenty-three shrines make up the complex: 17th-century Pura Penataran Agung, dedicated to Shiva, is the most significant.

Less well known than its sibling, Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Ujung Water Palace (Taman Ujung or Taman Sukasada) was built by the same Karangasem king, Gusti Bagus Jelantik. It’s been widely renovated since its near destruction in Mt. Agung’s eruption and presents a charming landscape of ponds, bridges, pagodas, pavilions, and statues.

Ubud’s Blanco Renaissance Museum celebrates the colorful life and baroque-erotic work of Philippine-born Spanish artist Antonio Blanco. Blanco arrived in Bali in 1952 and married a famous Balinese dancer. Set on a hill amid elaborate gardens and an aviary, the museum’s architecture, a hybrid of Spanish and Indonesian influences, is a highlight.

The Telaga Waja River is one of Bali’s two top white-water rafting destinations (the second is the Ayung River). The rafting route covers around 8 miles (13 kilometers), mainly of Class II–III rapids, with the option of shooting a 6-foot (2-meter) man-made dam at the end. The scenery is rural, but less dramatic than the Ayung River gorge.

Serene, spiritual, and off the beaten path, Pura Luhur Batukaru was the state temple for the kings of Tabanan. Batukaru Temple nestles high above sea level in the jungled foothills of west Bali. A series of tiered shrines, including a striking 7-roofed shrine, help create a mystic air, as does the general absence of tourists.

The people of Penglipuran, Bali’s best-known traditional village, belong to the Bali Aga minority and follow ancient religious practices, some unique to their village. Sparkling clean and unspoiled, neat stone, brick, and bamboo architecture stands alongside acres of pristine bamboo forest under an hour from Ubud.

Indonesia is home to more than 1,600 species of exotic birds, and many find their home at the Bali Bird Park. Ubud's top wildlife attraction hosts eight separate exhibits showcasing 250+ bird species from Papua, Sumatra, Bali, Java, Borneo, and beyond. Don't miss the bird-feeding sessions and free flight shows.

Backed by the volcanic slabs of Mount Batur and Mount Abang, Lake Batur (Danau Batur) is a striking crater lake considered sacred by the Balinese. Besides sunrise trekking, Mount Batur offers hot springs, canoe trips, and tours of Trunyan village, where the local Bali Aga people expose their dead to rot in the open air.

Spilling down from dizzying heights of up to 260 feet (80 meters), Sekumpul Waterfall, a series of seven narrow cascades, is hidden away amid lush tropical foliage. Dirt paths lead to elevated viewpoints overlooking the falls and to rock pools at the foot, where visitors can cool off with a refreshing swim.

A popular stop between Singaraja and Denpasar, Gigit Waterfall is considered to be one of the most beautiful on the island. Easy to reach from the road, the falls have a drop of 131 feet (40-meter) into a picturesque pool where visitors can swim. There are actually three falls in the area—the other falls being smaller twin waterfalls. All are signposted from the road and reached by a short hike.

Once the epicenter of a powerful Balinese kingdom, Tampak Siring is known today for its scenic rice terrace landscapes and two religious temples (pura): Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi. Most visitors to Tampak Siring are drawn by the sacred spring of Tirta Empul or the 11th-century rock-cut shrines at Gunung Kawi.

Part museum, part gallery, part cultural space, Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) is the liveliest and most diverse of Ubud’s big three art galleries. Set in a vibrant garden, rooms of note include owner Agung Rai’s modern Balinese art collection and works by German artist Walter Spies and Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet.

A popular stop on Bedugul tours, Pasar Candi Kuning (Candi Kuning Market) is a traditional Balinese market that’s been beautified for tourists. It’s a great place to enjoy the fruit and vegetable bounty of Bedugul’s farms, although prices are higher than normal. Other specialties in the market include rabbits and orchids.

Nestled amid rice fields, Tenganan Village (Tenganan Pegeringsingan) is one of Bali’s most unique destinations. The people who live here are Bali Aga, with their own religious and cultural practices, including weaving a special double ikat cloth believed to have magical powers and spinning young women on a bamboo Ferris wheels at festivals.

One of three lakes within the crater of the long-dormant Bratan volcano, Lake Beratan (Danau Bratan) occupies about 1.5 square miles (4 square kilometers) of highland real estate. The star attraction is the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan water temple, but there are also some World War II–era caves, and boat rides on the lake are available.

At the heart of sleepy lakeside Bedugul, amid Bali’s cool central highlands, is Bali Botanic Garden, an underrated Bali attraction. Plant-lovers enjoy forest walks and gardens full of orchids and Balinese plants, while families and adventure-seekers gravitate to the park for the zipline and rope adventures at Bali Treetop Adventure Park.

One of Ubud’s big three art galleries, Museum Puri Lukisan sits slap-bang in the heart of downtown Ubud. Collections cover not only Balinese paintings and drawings but also wood carvings and work by foreign artists. The Puri Lukisan gallery is also Ubud’s oldest art museum, founded in 1956 by a foundation established in 1936.

Kehen Temple, or Pura Kehen, is the state temple of the Balinese kingdom of Bangli. It is said to be a miniature version of Bali’s most significant temple, Pura Besakih, nearby. Like Besakih, it is built on an incline, is reached by stairs, and boasts thatched tiered shrines. Kehen Temple dates back at least to the 13th century.

One of north Bali’s most striking waterfalls, Aling-Aling tumbles around 98 feet (30 meters) down a cliff in a twin stream. Aling-Aling is sacred, so it’s forbidden to swimming in the pool, but around it several smaller waterfalls offer adventurers cliff jumps and natural slides. These include Kembar, Kroya, and Pucuk.

Best known for the USSLiberty shipwreck, Amed Beach is a charming strip that extends around 9 miles (14 kilometers) along the east Bali coast. Coral reef offshore provides the majority of the area’s attractions—snorkeling, free diving, and scuba diving—but you can also practice yoga, make silver jewelry, or visit traditional salt farms.

One of a raft of markets with good food offerings around Ubud, Gianyar Night Market (Pasar Senggol Gianyar) attracts the dinner crowd with reasonable prices, an authentic feel, and delicious food. The market serves up a wealth of Balinese and Indonesian fare, including spit-roasted suckling pig (babi guling), banana fritters, and jellied ice.

Set in the hills west of Lovina, Banjar Hot Springs (Air Panas Banjar) are among Bali’s most beautiful. Dragon-head fountains feed three tiered pools that are surrounded by tropical forest and palms. Guests also have the use of lockers, changing rooms, a restaurant, and a simple spa.

Like the better-known—and busier—Tirta Gangga Water Palace, this east Bali palace is an atmospheric reminder of the power the kings of Karangasem once held when they ruled much of Lombok. Highlights of Puri Agung Karangasem include the tiered entry gate, vintage photos, and tranquil fish ponds. Descendants of the last raja still use the space.

In west Bali, the Bali Butterfly Park (Taman Kupu-Kupu Bali) showcases Indonesia’s wealth of the tropical species. In addition to living and preserved butterfly specimens, there are creatures such as stick insects and scorpions, and kid-friendly displays on butterfly life cycles.

Between Ubud and the Tegenungan Waterfall, the small Kemenuh Butterfly Park is a popular family-friendly attraction devoted to the flying insects in all their forms. Fourteen different butterfly species flit through the tropical garden under the mesh enclosure or metamorphose gradually in the fascinating pupa room.

The historic buildings that make up Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets are home to a world-class collection. Inside are more than 7,000 masks and puppets from all over Indonesia and the globe. Everything from Papuan grass costumes to Javanese wayang puppets are on display, alongside masks from Japan, Africa, Venice, and beyond.

One of the world’s best-known yoga and wellness centers, The Yoga Barn offers more than 100 classes a week across seven studios, not to mention accommodation, a café, a gift shop, and a healing center. From the enormous flower blossom artworks that decorate its courtyard to the airy shalas with views of tropical greenery, it’s Ubud in a nutshell.