How to Spend 1 Perfect Day in Ubud (From Someone Who Lived There!)

Ubud is my favorite place in Bali for many reasons; it’s Bali’s Cultural Capital, where you can enjoy the beautiful Balinese Hindu way of life front and center. Ubud is also located right in the center of Bali, so it’s a great hub for travelers – and it’s just so wonderfully lush and green. I found out after spending around 6-months in Bali that I’m more of a Jungle girl than a beach girl and promptly rented a gorgeous apartment in Ubud with a view of the rice terraces: please enjoy my non-touristy local’s guide to spending one fantastic day in Ubud.

FYI: Some links on my site are affiliate links that help support my site at no additional cost to you. Read more on my privacy policy page.

Morning: Breakfast in the Rice Fields

The best way to start your day exploring Ubud is with a breakfast with a view of the rice fields. I recommend Sweet Orange Warung, which is located right in the center of town; around a 10-minute walk from the Ubud Morning Market where you can see locals starting their day.

Late Morning: Enjoy Ubud’s Waterfalls

Some of the best waterfalls in Bali can be found just a 20-60-minute drive from Ubud Center. There are over 20 waterfalls close to each other, so if you have more time in Ubud, you can spend a whole day just waterfall-hopping and still not see them all! The main thing to know is that even though the falls look impressive in photos, they’re not really that big. This means the falls tend to get crowded fast, so I recommend visiting early, even before breakfast (if you don’t mind waking up for it). The other thing to note is that many of the waterfalls are photo spots rather than swimming spots; there are some exceptions, but most of the falls only have ankle-deep water!

Best Waterfalls Near Ubud: Ranked by My Favorite

• Suwat Waterfall: Swimming + Photo spot with raft
• Kanto Lampo Waterfall: Interactive photo spot (no swimming, knee-deep water)
• Leke Leke: Photo spot (no swimming, ankle-deep-water)
• Tegenungan Waterfall: Largest waterfall, best seen from Omma Day Club
• Tukad Cepung Waterfall: Photo spot (no swimming, ankle-deep water)
• Tibumana Waterfall: Photo spot, more famous for “Adilla’s Spot” photogenic road.

Lunch: Hit Up One of Ubud’s Stunning Pool Clubs

Ubud is a landlocked location, so while beach-side destinations in Bali like Canggu are famous for their Beach Clubs, Ubud has made a name for itself by building out-of-this-world pool clubs. My two favorite pool clubs in Ubud are Cretya, which has a multi-tiered pool with a view of Tegalalang rice fields (I was lucky enough to snag an apartment next door with the same view), and Omma, which is lesser known and has a view of Tegenungan Waterfall.

Afternoon: Visit One of Ubud’s Monkey Forests

A visit to Ubud wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the famous Sacred Monkey Forest, it’s one of my favorite ethical animal activities in Bali. You can stroll through the open-air sanctuary and watch the monkeys eat and play, or even opt to take an infamous “Monkey Selfie” where a guide places the monkey on your shoulder and has them cheese into the camera. Just be warned, these monkeys are known for being unpredictable and you might want to brush up on some safety tips before visiting because they do occasionally bite tourists.

Dinner: Be Adventurous & Try the Local Street Food

Visiting a Balinese Night Market is a great way to experience the local culture and cuisine. There are two-night markets near Ubud where you can try traditional Balinese Street food. The smaller Sayan Night Market is located in Ubud, and the larger Gianyar Night Market is located around a 15-minute drive outside of town. I recommend visiting the Gianyar Night Market if you have the time for it and you’re not too tired from the day’s activities.

My Favorite Bali Night Market Foods to Try

• Kue: Coconut, banana, & sticky rice mixed desserts
• Nasi Campur: Indonesian Pick-Mix Plate
• Chicken Satay: Skewers in peanut sauce (foreigner favorite!)
• Es Campur: Coconut milk dessert served cold
• Babi Guling: Balinese slow-roasted suckling pig

Evening: Take in the Balinese Traditional Dance

The most famous spot for watching the Balinese Fire (Kecak) dance is the Uluwatu Amphitheater, which hosts multiple shows per day for thousands of people. Not numerous tourists know you can watch much smaller and less touristy versions of the dances in Ubud. The Ubud Water Palace does nightly shows of Legong and Barong dances, which are peaceful and beautiful, and the Pura Dalem Temple hosts Kecak Fire Dances.

After Ubud: Visit Kintamani, Bali’s Volcano Capital

1-hour’s drive East of Ubud is Kintamani: Bali’s Volcano Capital. Kintamani is famous for its sunrise trek of Mt. Batur, which many tourists set off for from Ubud at around 3 AM to be at the rim of Batur’s Caldera in time for the sunrise at 6 AM. Kintamani is the perfect next stop after visiting Ubud. If you don’t want to trek to the top of the Volcano, you can always take a jeep tour up to watch the sunrise. Kintamani is also home to some jaw-dropping hot springs and cafes with a view of the volcano. Most tourists just get bussed into Kintamani for the volcano hike, but if you have time for it the location deserves at least 2-days of exploring.