How to Spend 3 Days in Ubud, Bali!

The best things to do in Ubud organised into the perfect 3 days in Ubud itinerary!

3 days in Ubud might seem like a lot, but Ubud is packed with opportunities to immerse yourself in Balinese culture, shopping and nature.

The first 2 days are spent exploring Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest, Saraswati Temple, Ubud Palace, Puri Lukisan Museum, Taman Sari Waterfall and endless markets.

The third and final day involves a day trip to hike the magnificent Mt Batur volcano at sunrise.

*Some of the links included in this post may be affiliate. I may receive a small commission from purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Please know that I only recommend products and services that I 100% trust and believe in*

How to Get To & From Ubud

Bus

The most budget friendly way to get around Bali is using 12GOAsia. You can book buses and minivans for affordable prices, like this bus ride from Seminyak to Ubud for $9.

Taxi

If you want a private transfer, use the apps Gojek and Grab to pre-book a taxi. Prices are fixed.

I would NOT recommend just hailing a taxi and jetting off with them. They will likely force you to pay an exorbitant fare.

Where to Stay in Ubud

$ Hostel $

Sunshine Vintage House
F7M6+GVQ, Gg. Anila, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
This hostel is a short walk from central Ubud and features cubicle-style beds with curtains, lockers, newly-renovated bathrooms and a homey traditional Balinese feel. Check availability or see other options.

$$ Hotel $$

Alam Terrace Cottages
Jl. Bisma, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
This guesthouse is situated in a cul-de-sac near central Ubud, providing a balance between quiet and convenience. It offers huge, luxurious rooms, a lovely gardens and an awesome pool, all for a pretty decent price. Check availability or see other options.

How to Get Around Ubud

Ubud is fairly easy to navigate on foot.

If you need to use transport, use Grab or Bluebird Taxis.

Warning: There are many fake Bluebird Taxis in Bali. Make sure to check that the taxi that has arrived is actually the one that you ordered, and a real Bluebird Taxi will not be driving around offering rides to people.

A fake Bluebird Taxi will charge you an exorbitant rate for your journey.

DAY 1: MONKEYS & DANCES

Breakfast

We arrived in Ubud from Seminyak around 9am.

After we checked into our accommodation, we immediately set off for some brekky. I was craving Western food, and we stumbled upon this cafe that served bacon and egg rolls. I won’t tell you the name of the cafe because I am 90% sure that I contracted Bali Belly from there.

Sacred Monkey Forest

9am-6pm
IDR 80k weekdays, IDR 100k weekends
Website

First thing to check off during our 3 days in Ubud is probably the one you’re most dying to do! The Sacred Monkey Forest is the MOST popular thing to do in Ubud.

This forest is conveniently close to town and is home to over 1,260 monkeys!

Monkey Warnings

• Keep a tight grip on your valuables – the monkeys love to scamper off with your phone!
• Don’t look them in the eye – this is seen as a sign of intimidation and they may try to defend themselves.
• Don’t bring any food inside or feed the monkeys – they will take it from you, and if you withhold food from them they may bite.
• Don’t try to touch or hold a monkey – the photo is not worth the diseases.
• If you are bitten by a monkey, seek medical help immediately!

Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal

This Hindu temple is located inside the Monkey Forest.

You can’t go inside, but watching the monkeys scamper across the tiled roofs and monuments was entertaining enough.

It’s very busy around this area, so you might find it tricky to get a photo without other tourists.

Tari Lubdhaka Dance

On the weekends at 11am and 2pm, you can also watch a traditional Balinese dance known as a Tari Lubdhaka.

Dancers wear costumes and re-enact the the story of Lubdhaka, who gets lost in the forest and Shiva grants him protection from the animals trying to harm him.

The costumes, dancing and music make for a really fun performance. It’s done in the forest, with the audience sitting around a small stone amphitheatre.

Lunch

We were feeling peckish again (and slightly sick from breakfast) so we found a cafe for lunch.

Kayunan Warung and Coffee, Simply Social and Mundra Cafe are all popular options.

Prianka Ubud Art Market

The main attraction of this market is the footpath, where locals, businesses and tourists engraved their names or messages into the concrete. See if you can spot someone from your country!

Remember to bargain with the vendors. The listed price is not the fixed price, so see if you can get it for 3/4 of that price. Be kind and respectful while negotiating.

Saraswati Temple

7am-5pm
Free

Close to the Prianka Ubud Art Market is The Saraswati Temple. This temple is also known as the Ubud Water Temple, for obvious reasons (it has a huge pond).

This temple is pretty popular with tourists, so expect it to be busy. There will also be worshippers visiting the temple, because after all, it is a temple first and foremost.

Dinner

We ate dinner at Cafe Lotus which is right next door to Saraswati Temple.

Kecak Fire and Dance Show

While we were at the market, a vendor was handing out tickets to a Kecak Fire and Dance Show.

We had now idea what it was, but the tickets were only IDR 100K ($10 AUD, $6.50USD) so we went for it. And I’m so glad we did!

The ticket included pick-up and drop-off because the temple was a little out of town.

It all happened so fast that I’m not entirely sure which temple or dance we attended (I think it might have been ‘Kecak & Fire Dance – Ubud Kaja at Pura Dalem Ubud’ on Google Maps)

If you want to prebook your dance, they offer this one online.

The fire dance was incredible and mesmerising. The music was entirely produced by drums and orchestra, and the costumes were amazing.

The Kecak dance is a traditional religious Balinese dance that narrates the unseen power of deities. The story varies depending on where the dance is performed or who performs it.

From what I could gather, there were various gods and goddesses involved, wearing costumes, and they spiritually entrance the other actors.

I highly recommending watching a Kecak Dance performance before leaving Bali.

DAY 2: TEMPLES & WATERFALLS

Campuhan Ridge Walk

On the second day of your 3 days in Ubud itinerary, we begin with a gentle stroll along Campuhan Ridge Walk.

Walk along the main road (Jalan Raya Ubud) and through the Green Tunnel (a tunnel made by the trees) to reach it.

This chill hiking trail features stepping stones across a gentle hill.

I only walked to the Love Swing before I turned back, because that was the peak of the hill.

There is a temple at the entrance that is nestled in the jungle and it’s peaceful to explore because many tourists can’t be bothered to visit it.

Don’t expect any amazing vistas from this ‘hike’ (its not even really a hike, there’s concrete stones). The trail goes through a forest so you won’t see much other than greenery, temple and the occasional monkey.

Ubud Street Market

The street is covered in rainbow umbrellas and the stalls are literally crammed together. A lot of the stores sold similar or identical products, making it very obvious that this was a solely for tourists.

I did end up buying a pair of cotton shorts which I worn religiously for the rest of the trip (and when I got home).

The street market is a little disappointing, being far smaller and having less variety than I expected, but I still think it’s worth a visit.

This market is pretty similar to the market we visited yesterday, and you’ll find that many of the vendors sell similar products.

Puri Lukisan Museum

9am-6pm
IDR 50K
Website

This temple-turned-museum houses a nice collection of Balinese artworks.

There is also a cafe on the premises if you’re looking for a relaxing place to have a coffee, nestled away from the bustle of the Ubud streets. Prices are mid-range.

If, after seeing Balinese artwork, you thought you’d like to try your hand at them, you actually can!

The museum offers workshops to teach visitors skills like basketry, batik, wood-carving, dance and more. If there is something specific you want to try, visit the museum beforehand to check when/if the workshop is taking place. Otherwise, just rock up and try whatever’s on!

Ubud Palace

7 am–5 pm
Free

Ubud Palace has been the offical residence of the royal family in Ubud since it was built in the early 1800’s.

In 1917, the Palace was destroyed in a devastating earthquake, but was quickly re-built.

Bali Travel Essentials

SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.

Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.

Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my QR code we both get $13!

You can wander around and imagine what life was like for Indonesian royalty during the peak of the Kingdom in the 19th century.

The buildings are a gorgeous orange-rust colour and feature intricate carvings and manicured gardens.

There are also traditional Balinese dances performed at the Palace every night. They usually start at 7:30pm. This is a great option if you didn’t get to see a Kecak dance last night, or if you loved it so much you could see it again!

Taman Sari Waterfall & Natural Pool

After lunch, we decided to get out town.

We rented a scooter from our hostel to visit the Taman Sari Waterfall, a 30 minute drive away.

*If you’ve never ridden a scooter/motorcycle, Ubud is NOT the best place to learn because it is so busy. Hire a driver or join a tour if you are not comfortable with riding a scooter.*

The parking lot and ticket centre (entry is IDR 20K) was a short walk from the waterfall.

There are many waterfalls around Ubud, but this is one that is a little off the radar, so it was not very busy.

Bring your swimmers and cool down in the huge natural swimming pool below the waterfall.

DAY 3: MT BATUR

What is Mt Batur?

Mt Batur is an active volcano on the north-east side of Bali that takes about 2-3 hours to hike. Hikes take place at sunrise or sunset.

Eruptions that occurred thousands of years ago caused the land to hollow out and form a caldera, which makes the view from Mt Batur especially breathtaking. 

How to Get to Mt Batur?

I joined this tour that included pick-up and drop-off from almost anywhere in Bali. It also included a soak at the Hot Springs and a tour of a coffee plantation. 

You are not allowed to hike the mountain independently, you have to use a tour guide. I explain why in my Mt Batur day trip post.

Book your Mt Batur Tour here.

What is Hiking Mt Batur Like?

You will have to get up around 2am to arrive at the visitor centre at 3am.

A group of 4-6 people will be designated to each tour guide.

You arrive at the summit just in time for sunrise or sunset. There is a great view down into the caldera.

After you descend the mountain, the tour bus will take you to the Mt Batur Hot Springs, where you can relax after the hike.

Some tours continue on to a coffee plantation where you try a strange coffee that is produced with Lewak (monkey) poop.

I wrote a whole post about my Mt Batur experience.

That is how to spend 3 days in Ubud! Now you can understand why I insist that a 3 day itinerary in Ubud is needed.

Temples, fire dances, museums, volcanoes, hot springs and coffee plantations!

We managed to fit a lot in, hopefully without tiring you out too much.

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