Top Things to do in Ubud, Bali

Sarawatsi Temple

Yoga room at Taksu Spa

1. Do a yoga class

Ubud is in abundance of yoga studios and for only about US$8 a class its a great way to center yourself after a long trip. I went to Teksu Spa which is located in the center of Ubud and has smaller size classes. The yoga class seemed more traditional than the American stretch and fast pace yoga that I have done in the past. The first 20 minutes and last 15 was focused on breathing and mediation. Almost all the classes in Ubud were 75 to 90 minutes and there was only one other person in the class with me. The property is set against a river with vines and flowers hanging down and its easy to forget you're actually in the center of Ubud.

Ubud Palace

2. Visit the Ubud Palace and the Sarawatsi Temple

The Ubud Palace or Puri Saren is on the Main Street very close to the art market. It was built in the 1800s and displays Balinese architecture and hosts weekly Balinese dance performances. The Sarawatsi Temple is just one block away and also hosts traditional balinese dances.

3. Take a cooking class

Ubud is the culture center of Bali and a main part of Balinese culture is their food. There are lots of different cooking classes where they take you on a tour of the market and then teach you how to make a few of the traditional dishes such as Nasi Goreng or fried rice.

4. Wander through the Art Market

For some great bargains head to the art market where you can buy clothes, artwork, wood carvings, and souvenirs.

A monkey trying to open my boyfriend's bag at the Monkey Forest.

5. Go to the Monkey Forest

The Monkey Forest is a surreal yet beautiful place where hundreds of small monkeys roam around a gorgeous setting. Admission is 50000 rupiah or about US$3 a person. Make sure not wear sunglasses or any shiny jewelry, because the monkeys might try to take them. They also occasionally jump onto people's back. Just remain calm and walk over to a ledge or a branch to get the monkey to jump off.

Kajeng Walk

6. Visit the Kajeng Rice Fields

These are some of the most beautiful rice fields and they are just a short walk from the center of town. This walk is less popular than Campuhan Ridge Walk but just as beautiful.

7. Eat at a warung

A warung is a small family owned cafe or restaurant serving traditional Indonesian dishes such as Nasi Goreng, Sate Lilit and Nasi Campur.

8. Walk the Campuhan Ridge Walk

This is a gorgeous walk with views of jungle like vistas and rice fields. It takes about 2 hours and is a beautiful way to see the sunset.

9. Get a traditional Balinese Massage

Like yoga studios, spas are everywhere in Ubud. There are smaller family owned ones that on average charge about US$12 for an hour massage and then there are more luxurious spas that charge prices similar to the US. I would recommend Jaens Spa. They were professional, gave an excellent massage, clean facilities and only charged about US$13 for a one hour Balinese massage.

10. Stay at a villa and a homestay

You can vacation like a queen in Bali and still have spending money for all your shopping and day trips. There are many villas and boutique hotels you can pick from. We stayed at The Athaya which was about 10 minutes outside of town and the service was excellent complete with breakfast and afternoon tea everyday. Before booking a place I would recommend emailing the villa and asking if there is any construction nearby. The area is growing rapidly and unfortunately your tranquil villa can be ruined with 7AM-5PM construction crews working away.

After treating yourself to a luxurious villa or boutique hotel, I would also recommend staying in a homestay. These are like bed and breakfasts where you stay on the family compound. Many Balinese live with their entire family and have the family temple on the property. You can learn a lot about Balinese culture and really appreciate the hospitality of the Balinese people by staying at one of these Homestays.