Ubud is a town located on Indonesia’s Bali island’s central foothills. It’s a quieter and more cultural location than the lively but frequently boisterous ambiance of Seminyak and Kuta in southern Bali. It’s roughly an hour and a half north of the airport.
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1. Travel Restrictions – Ubud Indonesia 2021
Ubud Indonesia travel guidelines vary regularly according to the current circumstances worldwide. To check whether or not you are allowed or restricted to travel Ubud, you can check your status on Booking.com.
Here is quick guidance:
- On your left hand, fill in where you travel from and where you travel to (Indonesia)
- On your right hand, read the restriction (if any) carefully
Make sure you check Indonesia’s travel restrictions before planning if you want to visit Ubud.
Find out more about the travel bubble in Asia (policies mitigating travel restrictions)
2. When is best time to visit Ubud Indonesia?
Ubud does not have any beaches since it is located inland. Instead, you’ll find yourself surrounded by lush rice fields and a deep tropical jungle. There are many Hindu temples in this area, as well as art galleries, museums, and one-of-a-kind businesses selling handcrafted items such as jewelry and wood carvings.
The climate in Ubud Bali is divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season (November – April) and the dry season (May – October).
The most suitable time for you to travel to this beautiful town is in the dry season months when the continuous rains have ended. However, it should be noted that in the period from July to September, the peak of the tourist season, all costs of food, travel, and accommodation are high. So the months 5, 6, and 10 are ideal for a beautiful, economical and comfortable trip.
3. How to get to Ubud?
Tourists who want to go to Ubud Bali can transit through Changi Airport in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur International Airport and then arrive at Ngurah Rai Airport. If you choose to transit in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, there are many airlines that offer this route such as Lion Air, AirAsia, and Tiger Airways but Airasia is the cheapest regular airline with many different incentives. After that, you will travel another 2-hour drive to get to Ubud.
Taking a taxi from the airport to Ubud costs about 25 USD. You should note that you should find a Blue Bird taxi to make sure you are not scammed by the driver when climbing into the car.
4. How to go around Ubud?
There is something quite special that in Ubud as well as the whole of Bali, there is very little public transport. Visitors can only travel to attractions or shop on the island by personal transportations such as bicycles, motorbikes, and traditional taxis, while Uber and Grab are not very popular. Renting a Scooter or Motorcycle or private Car rental is quite easy, you can contact the hotel where you stay. This helps self-sufficient Bali tourists to explore this place without having to worry about travel costs.
- Motorbike: The rental time is calculated according to the check-in and check-out time of the hotel. Motorbike rental price is about 6-7 USD/day.
- Car: If you go in a group of about 3-5 people, a car is the most suitable means, you can rent a self-drive car or hire a private driver. Most of the drivers here are enthusiastic and speak English. Moreover, because the weather in the dry season of Ubud Bali is quite hot, traveling by this means will help you have better health during the journey.
Note: In Ubud, the traffic moves on the left side of the road.
5. Where to stay in Ubud?
Like other tourist areas, Ubud Indonesia has a full range of motels, hotels, and homestays from cheap, mid-range, luxury to luxury resorts to suit your spending.
A night at the hotel costs about 25-30 USD, but for resorts, it is slightly better, ranging from 50 to 150 USD/night. Some places with reasonable prices and quality services you can refer to are:
- Casa Ganesha Hotel Ubud
- Anulekha Resort and Villa
- Pondok Sebatu Villa
- Sila Urip Guest House
- Pertiwi Bisma 2.
6. The dishes you must try when coming to Ubud Indonesia
A few notes:
- Dine with right hand and limited left hand due to their culture.
- The food in Ubud is usually quite spicy, so you can learn a few local phrases like “Non Pedas” so they don’t give you hot sauce.
One of the things that tourists are most concerned about during their trip must be food and drink. So what are the must-try dishes in Ubud Bali?
Nasi Goreng
At first glance, this fried rice dish is nothing special, but it is the harmonious combination with side dishes such as cabbage, sausages, traditional Indonesian meat, and sauces that make the dish so attractive. Especially, Nasi Goreng is also fried with tamarind and chili, adding eggs and shrimp.
Price: 1.5 USD
Betutu
Betutu is an iconic Balinese dish, consisting of a chicken or duck stuffed with traditional spices: chili, garlic, turmeric, ginger, wrapped in banana leaves then tightly wrapped in banana stem and then grilled or buried in coal for about 6-7 hours.
Restaurant: RM Ayam Betutu Pak Man
Satay
Sate Lembat is an exotic dish that can be found all over Bali. The meat is minced or pureed with grated coconut, a mixture of cardamom, tamarind… then the meat is wrapped on small bamboo skewers and grilled over charcoal.
Price: You can buy 5 skewers of meat for 1 USD
7. Places to have fun and visit in Ubud:
Ubud is the cradle of Balinese culture, with ancient temples and traditional rituals. Besides, enjoying the green space of this small town is also a slow way of living, to relax and find peace in your soul.
7.1 Rice terraces in the village of Tegalalang
This rustic, idyllic but colorful village is famous for its fertile terraces like endless stairs leading to heaven. With more than 2,000 years of history, from the time when they were still using the most rudimentary tools and crafts, the residents of Tegalalang village have strived to overcome all the difficulties of terrain and weather to create terraced fields. ladder like today. The irrigation management system for the field is also very methodical and unique.
Address: Jl. Raya Ceking Tegallalang | Between Tegalalang and Ubud, Ubud 80517, Indonesia
Opening time: 7:00 – 18:00
7.2. Pura Tirta Empul Temple
The ancient temple of Pura Tirta Empul attracts many foreign tourists by its special ritual of bathing in holy water. Legend has it that this Hindu temple was built in the 10th century and is one of the holiest temples in Bali, surrounded by a stream flowing all year round. The water from the spring flows through a holy pond of bubbling sediment and into two large rectangular pools through the intricately carved fountains in the temple.
When arriving at the temple door, visitors will perform a prayer ceremony with an old tree and be given a sarong to wrap their body in. Next, when entering the temple, if you want to bathe in holy water, you have to rent a locker and another sarong to go to the lake because sarongs are given from outside the gate and cannot be worn into the water.
Balinese people believe that bathing at this temple will help wash away the dust, sins, bring much health and good luck.
This will definitely be an interesting experience with the unique traditional culture of the Indonesian people that you cannot ignore.
Address: Tampaksiring 80552, Indonesia
Opening hours: 7:00 – 18:00
Entrance ticket: About 2 USD/person
7.3. Monkey Forest Ubud
Bali has a lot of monkey forests scattered across the island, but the most famous is the Ubud monkey forest – home to monkeys with long gray tails. Ubud Bali Monkey Forest is also known as the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal or Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana.
As you go deeper, you can see Pura Prajapati – the place dedicated to funerals in the village. The other monuments here are covered with moss, lying under dense foliage that makes less sunlight penetrate, creating a small space with a mysterious and ancient feeling.
Address: Monkey Forest St, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia.
Opening hours: 8:00 – 17:00
Entrance ticket: About 4 USD /person
There are many other places like:
- Bali Swing
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tukad Cepung Waterfall
Please read more here for many other suggestions.
Some other notes when visiting Ubud Indonesia:
- Do not buy a sim at the airport or according to the Taxi driver, go to convenience stores like Circle K because they sell at the right price – much cheaper. An even easier way is to order a 3G/4G Indonesia sim and receive it directly at the airport.
- When visiting the monkey island, be careful because naughty kids can sneak up on you or steal things.
- Not only Ubud Bali but the whole of Bali often has a situation of guillotine so you remember to ask the price before buying or using any services that are not listed. And don’t bargain too long to avoid being rude!
- The people of Ubud Bali are friendly, enthusiastic and very willing to help visitors, not asking for money in an ungrateful way.
The town of Ubud Bali with its very own dreamy beauty deserves to be on the bucket list of destinations in anyone’s life. Hopefully, through this sharing, your upcoming Bali trip will go smoothly and have many memorable moments!
Cheers,