Ubud Itinerary: The Ultimate 3 Day Ubud, Bali Itinerary
Ubud is a town located in the central region of the island of Bali, Indonesia. It is known for its rich culture, lush green jungle backdrop, and spiritual atmosphere. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler of South East Asia, there are plenty of things to see and do in Ubud. Here is the perfect 3 Day Ubud Itinerary, from where to stay, what to eat, and all of the tourist attractions and temples you have to visit!
HOW TO GET TO BALI & UBUD
Getting to Bali: Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is Bali’s major international airport
Transportation & Getting To Ubud: The best way to get from DPS to Ubud is by car. It’s about 35km and can take 45 minutes with no traffic and upwards of 90+ minutes with traffic. The cost varies, but it should be about 400,000 IDR one way. I highly recommend arranging a private transfer over taxi/grab to get to Ubud — the hotel you’re staying at should be able to help!
Transportation While In Ubud: Once you’re in Ubud, you can rent a scooter or motorcycle to get around. It’s about 50,000 IDR per day for scooter ($3.50USD), but cheaper if you rent for multiple days at a time. Alternatively, if you don’t want to or are not comfortable using a scooter, you can download the Gojek or Grab App, and it’s the equivalent of Uber. They also do food delivery, shopping, and courier services via scooter or car.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Weather & Best Time to Visit: Bali typically has two seasons— dry season, which runs between May and September and the rainy season, which runs between October and April. The best time to go would be May and September, which is considered shoulder season. The weather is great during summer but you might find the touristy spots very crowded.
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
Language: Indonesian, Balinese, and English — in most of the tourist destinations, you’ll find people who speak English quite well
SIM Card: Not all phone stores in Bali are authorized sellers of tourist SIM cards, so the best way to get your hands on one is buying directly at the airport. If you run out of data, you can then re-load it at any phone stall.
WHERE TO STAY IN UBUD
From stunning luxury boutiques tucked away in the remote jungle, to expansive villas with the most amazing infinity pools, you won’t have a shortage of places you’ll want to stay while visiting Ubud. Because the options are endless, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite hotels and villas in Ubud!
BEST HOTELS IN UBUD
Kamandalu Resort & Spa
$$$$ — The Mandapa– A Ritz Carlton Reserve | Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan | Capella
$$- Kamandalu (personal favorite!!) | Adiwana Bisma
$- Udaya Resort & Spa (personal favorite!!) | Tanah Gajah Resort
Udaya Resort and Spa
WHAT TO EAT
Babi Guling– Suckling Pig is one of Bali’s most famous dishes
Mie Gorang – Stir Fry Noodles
Sate – Meat Skewers
Ikan Bakar – translates to burnt fish but typically a whole fish served with sambal
Nasi Campur — translates to a “mix of everything,” and has rice, veggies, and meat (often chicken)
WHERE TO EAT
Ibu Oka 3 — Most famously known for their Babi Guling
Zest Ubud — delicious vegan brunch spot
Warung Mendez — one of the best local restaurants you’ll find in Ubud, serving traditional Balinese cuisine
KAFE — organic coffee shop with breakfast food
Melali Ubud — Mediteranean and Balinese fushion
3 DAY UBUD ITINERARY
Although there are SO many places in Bali worth visiting, I always recommend first time visitors spend time in Ubud. It’s rich in culture, but you also get the beautiful waterfalls, delicious cafes, and all the popular instagram spots. Here is a 3 day itinerary that covers a good mix of everything!
DAY 1 OF 3 UBUD ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Land into Depensar (DPS) Airport
1-2 Hour Drive to Ubud, Check Into Hotel
Head to Ubud Market, Ubud Palace, Saraswati Temple
Monkey Forest
Dinner at Traditional Warang Restaurant
Welcome to Bali! Upon arrival, make sure you grab your SIM Card and head from DPS straight into town! Once you’re done checking in, I highly recommend going into the city centre and checking out the Ubud Market, Ubud Palace, and Saraswati Temple. They’re all within the same area and walking distance.
SARASWATI TEMPLE
Saraswati Temple in Ubud is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of learning, literature, and art. This temple is across from the Ubud Palace and Ubud Market.
SACRED MONKEY FOREST SANCTUARY
The Ubud Monkey Forest is the sanctuary and natural habitat of the Balinese long-tailed macaque, and home to upwards of 600 monkeys. The cost of admission is 50,000IDR. When you enter, make sure you have NO food on you, and keep a close eye on all of your belongings. The monkey’s are known to jump up on you if you have food in your bag, but they are not naturally aggressive. There’s also a Hindu Temple inside to pray to the God Shiva.
DAY 2 of 3 UBUD ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Sunrise at the Tegalalang Rice Fields
Day Club at Cretya Ubud
Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple
Campuhan Ridge Walk for Sunset
TEGALALANG RICE FIELDS
The Tegalalang Rice Fields are an absolute must when visiting Ubud. I love going first thing in the morning when the sun starts peaking through the trees. For photography’s sake, it might be better to go from sunrise to a little after, in case there’s not enough light to shine on the terraces. We parked across the street and walked over. The rice fields are large, so prepare some time to trek until you find a spot you’re happy with for photos. Keep in mind, some farmers may ask for a small donation.
CRETYA UBUD
Head over to Cretya Ubud by Alas Harum Bali, which is a Jungle Club & Restaurant. From infinity pools to hammocks and cabanas, you can get the most beautiful and comfortable views of the rice fields. If you want to go when it isn’t busy or for photos, make sure you book a reservation in advance. They have strict capacity rules. Later in the day, it turns into more of a day club/party vibe! There’s an entrance fee to go into Cretya Ubud, and then a minimum spend depending on where you sit. You’ll also have access to their rice fields & swings beneath!
TITRA EMPUL HOLY WATER TEMPLE
I didn’t get the chance to visit the Titra Empul Holy Water Temple the last time we visited Bali, but it’s very high on my list. The Temple has a temple compound that consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for their holy spring water. Many local Balinese people and tourists will come bathe in and drink this water.
CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK
The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a nice little walk you can take during sunset. It’s a quick walk, about 2.5 miles out and back. You’ll get rolling jungle views of Ubud, but just make sure you carry bug spray!
DAY 3 of 3 UBUD ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
Timbumana Waterfall
Swing Heaven
Spa Day at the Udaya & Kavari Spa
Cooking Class or Private Chef Experience
KANTO LAMPO WATERFALL & TIMBUMANA WATERFALL
While we were in Ubud, we didn’t stop by any of the waterfalls because we knew we were going to spend some time in Munduk (the famous waterfall areas of Bali). But if Munduk is not on your itinerary, make sure you stop by Kanto Lampo Waterfall and Timbumuna Waterfall. The earlier the better to avoid the crowds! These two waterfalls are about 45 minutes from the center of Ubud.
SWING HEAVEN
Head to Swing Heaven for a little adrenaline rush. Swing Heaven is a local family owned and operated business. Nestled in the jungle with the Ayung River valley opening beneath, you can swing from 4 swings, 4 different nests, beds, and eat at their restaurant. They also have their infamous “adrenaline swing” where you pretty much get thrown into the valley from the swing — safely of course! They have all kinds of different packages where they can pick you up from your hotel, do full on photo op’s, rent dresses, etc.!
KAVERI SPA AT THE UDAYA RESORT
The infamous Bali Flower Bath is definitely a Bali Bucketlist and a must when it comes to your Ubud Itinerary. My favorite place to do it is at the Kaveri Spa at the Udaya. They oftentimes run special deals on their Instagram, so give them a follow or DM them before you book! It’s super relaxing and great for your skin!
COOKING CLASS OR PRIVATE CHEF EXPERIENCE
Balinese Cuisine is so delicious and flavorful. I would highly recommend doing a cooking class, or hiring a private chef to cook a special meal for you! Here are a few cooking class options — I haven’t personally done these but they are both full 5 Stars on Viator (Trip Advisor) and are always likely to sell out!
Private Traditional Balinese Cooking Experience and Garden Tour in Ubud
Traditional Balinese Cooking Class & Meal in a Multi-Generational Family Home
Because we were short on time and these cooking classes are often half or full days, we ended up hiring a private chef to come cook a traditional Balinese meal for us! We asked for traditional Balinese food, but he has all types of menus you can select from. Linking his information below, just send him a DM!
Private Chef Meychel Mardyanto
That’s a wrap on my Ubud Itinerary! Hope you found it helpful and let me know if you have any questions below! xx Jules
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