Itinerary · Indonesia
How Many Days in Ubud? A 3-Day Route and How to Get Around
Ubud suits 3 to 4 days. Getting there from the airport, the ridge walk and Monkey Forest, a driver day for rice terraces and temples, and a fourth-day option.
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Flights to Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS)
How many days: the 3-day plan and where to stay
The Ubud guide recommends 3 to 4 days (2 or 3 nights). This route follows Days 1-3 of the guide's itinerary as a 3-day trip, and adds the guide's Day 4 if you can stay a night longer. Day 1 is the drive from the airport and an evening dance show at the palace; Day 2 is on foot, with the Campuhan Ridge Walk, the Monkey Forest and the art market; Day 3 uses a car with driver for Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah.
For a first visit and sightseeing on foot, Central Ubud (palace and art market) is the easiest base, close to the palace, the art market and evening dance venues, though it is busy with people and traffic during the day. Monkey Forest Road (Padangtegal), the road from the Monkey Forest to the center, suits those who want shops and places to eat, while Campuhan and Sayan on the western side, home to the Campuhan Ridge Walk, suit ridge walks and quiet stays.
Tegallalang, a rice-field area about 8 km north of Ubud and 15-20 minutes by car, is an option for staying in nature, but you will need a vehicle to get to the center, so a base in the center fits this route's walking day better.
Day 1: From the airport to Ubud, then a dance show at the palace
Ubud has no airport, so you arrive at Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) and continue by car. The drive takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and can be longer in traffic. The guide lists the three options below. The Bali provincial government asks tourists to use only licensed car rentals and transport services.
After checking in, spend the evening at Ubud Palace (Puri Saren) for a traditional dance show. It is the official residence of Ubud's royal family and a hub of traditional Balinese arts. Shows cost about 100,000 IDR; check the schedule locally.
- Prepaid airport taxi: from the arrivals area straight to Ubud. About 1 hour 30 minutes (depends on traffic); confirm the fare at the airport counter. Convenient, but the long distance makes it fairly pricey.
- Pre-booked car: book a pickup through your accommodation or a licensed transport provider. About 1 hour 30 minutes (depends on traffic); prices vary by provider, so confirm when booking. Easiest for late arrivals.
- Ride-hailing app: you can book a car by app, but pickup points and rules at the airport can change. Follow official airport information and signs on arrival; the fare is shown in the app.
Day 2: Campuhan Ridge Walk, Monkey Forest, art market
Day 2 is on foot. Start early with the Campuhan Ridge Walk, a free walk of about 2 km along a ridge that takes 15-20 minutes to the top. Go before the heat, and bring water since there is nowhere to eat along the way.
Before noon, visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a 12.5-hectare forest temple sanctuary home to about a thousand long-tailed macaques. It is officially open 9 AM-6 PM (last entry 5 PM), with adult tickets listed at about 130,000 IDR; check the official site as this can change. Food, drinks and plastic bags are not allowed. Don't touch or feed the monkeys or stare into their eyes; if one jumps on you, stay calm and walk slowly. If a monkey bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical care right away (WHO advice). There is a first aid clinic inside.
In the afternoon, follow Monkey Forest Road to the center for the Ubud Art Market near the palace and the galleries in the center. The market is a public market selling crafts, jewelry and clothing; prices are often negotiable, so compare before you buy. The center is walkable, but expect hills and narrow sidewalks, so wear comfortable shoes.
Day 3: Car with driver to Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah
Day 3 combines scattered sights in one day by car with driver. Use a licensed provider and confirm hours and inclusions first. Start in the morning at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, about 8 km north of Ubud, where you can walk down between the levels. Mornings are quieter, and remember these are working farms.
Next is Tirta Empul Temple, a 10th-century holy spring temple in the Pakerisan watershed, part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Cultural Landscape of Bali Province'. For the purification ritual, wear traditional attire or a yellow sash, and no soap or shampoo is allowed. Check official information for fees.
On the way back, stop at Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) in Bedulu village, an 11th-century site blending Hindu and Buddhist elements, known for the giant face carved at its entrance and its ancient bathing pools. A sarong and sash are required and can be rented on site. On a 3-day trip this is also your departure day: the airport is about 1 hour 30 minutes away and traffic can make it longer, so leave in good time for your flight.
One more day: Day 4 at Jatiluwih or the craft villages
To stretch the trip to 4 days, add the guide's Day 4. If you have time, take a day trip to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces in Tabanan, part of the UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape showcasing the subak irrigation system. It is far from Ubud, so plan a full day.
If you would rather stay closer, visit the craft villages and then head to the airport. Mas is known for wood carving. Leave early for the airport because of traffic.
Getting around Ubud: walking, bicycle, car with driver, scooter
The guide lists four ways to get around Ubud. Walking the center and grouping scattered sights by car with driver fits this route well.
- Walking: the center, with the palace, art market and Monkey Forest, is walkable. Expect hills and narrow sidewalks, so wear comfortable shoes.
- Bicycle: great for rice-field lanes and nearby villages. There are plenty of climbs, so ask locally about routes.
- Car with driver: the easiest way to combine scattered sights like Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah in a day. Use a licensed provider and confirm hours and inclusions first.
- Scooter: the Bali provincial government requires foreign riders to hold a valid international or national driving licence, wear a helmet and obey traffic laws. Roads are narrow and winding, so skip it if you are not a confident rider.
Before you go: budget, timing and the tourism levy
Per person per day, budget about 500,000-700,000 IDR with a guesthouse, warungs and walking; about 1,200,000-2,000,000 IDR with a hotel, restaurants and a shared car with driver; and about 4,000,000 IDR+ for an upscale stay and a private car. Change money only at licensed money changers displaying the official Bank Indonesia QR code.
For timing, this follows the Ubud guide's own wording: the guide says the dry season usually runs April to September, with the most sunny days for rice-field walks, and that from October to March showers are frequent and dirt paths and steps get slippery, so head out early. July-August overlaps Indonesian school holidays and gets busy.
International tourists visiting Bali must pay a tourism levy of 150,000 IDR per person, payable on the official site (lovebali.baliprov.go.id); the amount and method can change, so check before you travel. Entry requirements can also change, so check official Indonesian government or embassy information. On Nyepi (the Day of Silence), Ngurah Rai Airport stops operating for 24 hours from 6 AM to 6 AM the next day and the whole island shuts down. The date changes every year, so check official information.
- Dress modestly and wear a sarong at temples. The most sacred temple areas are only for worshippers in traditional attire.
- Single-use plastics such as bags and straws are restricted, so bring a reusable bag and water bottle.
Plan your Ubud trip
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FAQ
Is 3 days enough for Ubud?
The guide recommends 3 to 4 days. In 3 days you can see a palace dance show, the ridge walk, Monkey Forest and art market, and the rice terraces and temples by car with driver; a fourth day adds Jatiluwih or the craft villages.
How long does it take from the airport to Ubud?
About 1 hour 30 minutes by car, longer in traffic. Choose a prepaid airport taxi, a pre-booked car or a ride-hailing app, and confirm the fare at the counter, with the provider or in the app.
How do I get to Tegallalang, Tirta Empul and Goa Gajah?
They are spread out, so a car with driver for the day is the easiest way. Use a licensed provider and confirm hours and inclusions first.
What should I watch out for at the Monkey Forest?
Food, drinks and plastic bags are not allowed. Don't touch or feed the monkeys, and if you are bitten or scratched, wash with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical care right away.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- Lake Batur and Mount Batur · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces · Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 4.0