Inland from Bali’s busy beaches, Ubud has built a reputation as the island’s cultural and wellness heart. Surrounded by emerald rice terraces and dotted with temples, galleries and yoga studios, it draws travellers seeking something more restorative than a typical beach holiday. It is easy to plan your Bali trip on Traveloka and weave a few Ubud nights into a wider Bali itinerary, balancing coast and culture. Once here, the slower pace, green surroundings and creative atmosphere quickly work their magic, and many visitors find they wish they had set aside more time to simply slow down and breathe.
Rice Terraces and Walks
The sculpted Tegallalang rice terraces are the postcard image of Ubud, their curving tiers carved into the hillside and best visited early before the tour buses and the midday heat arrive. For a quieter, free alternative, the Campuhan Ridge Walk offers a gentle morning stroll along a grassy spine between two river valleys, with sweeping views and a genuine sense of the surrounding countryside. Wandering the lanes around Ubud also reveals smaller, working terraces behind the villages, where farmers tend their crops much as they have for generations, framed by swaying palms.
Art and Craft Villages
Ubud has been an artists’ centre for generations, and its galleries and museums showcase the rich tradition of Balinese painting and woodcarving alongside contemporary work. The surrounding villages each specialise in a particular craft, from the silverwork of Celuk to the stone and wood carving of Mas, and many workshops welcome visitors who want to watch or try their hand. The central market, busiest in the early morning, is a lively place to pick up textiles, baskets, carvings and souvenirs, though a little friendly bargaining is expected and part of the experience.
Wellness and Temples
Yoga retreats, spas and healthy cafes have made Ubud a global wellness destination, with everything from drop-in classes to multi-day programmes set among the rice fields. Yet the spiritual roots here run much deeper than the modern scene suggests. Visit the sacred Tirta Empul water temple, where Balinese Hindus come to bathe in holy springs in a centuries-old purification ritual, and the atmospheric Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave. Watching a traditional dance performance in a temple courtyard in the evening adds a memorable cultural thread to a restful stay.
Food, Cafes and Markets
Ubud’s dining scene punches well above its size, ranging from humble warungs serving authentic nasi campur to airy health cafes plating up smoothie bowls and plant-based fare for the wellness crowd. Sampling a traditional Balinese cooking class is a fun way to understand the island’s spices and techniques, often beginning with a guided walk through the local market. In the evenings, garden restaurants set among the greenery make for romantic, relaxed meals. Whether you crave comfort food or something virtuous, Ubud caters to every appetite with style.
Getting the Most from Ubud
Stay at least two nights to settle into the slower pace and avoid feeling rushed, and hire a private driver for a day to reach the temples, waterfalls and rice terraces scattered across the surrounding hills. Build in unstructured time simply to relax by a pool or read in a garden, which is half the point of coming here. Mornings are cooler and quieter for sightseeing, leaving afternoons for spas or cafes. With its rare combination of nature, culture and calm, Ubud reveals a deeper, more soulful side of Bali.
