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Looking for the top activities in Ubud, Bali? You’ve come to the experts!
If you’re planning a trip and looking for not only the top experiences but for a few that are away from the major tourist crowds, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve been to Bali more times than we can count, and Ubud is one of our favorite spots! After spending months in Ubud, using it as a hub to explore the rest of the island, and we’ve had a lot of time to find the ultimate can’t miss activities.
So here are the top 10 things to do in Ubud, including gorgeous temples, cooking classes, outdoor exploration, and more. Let’s get into it!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!

The tour we love the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did in Ubud was goin on this all inclusive day tour! This helped make the the most of our time, as we visited the Ubud Monkey Forest and the Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and got to customize our itinerary because it’s a private tour!
- Don't Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
- Things to do in Ubud, Bali
- 1. Explore Ubud with a private guide
- 2. Find Ubud's hidden waterfalls
- 3. Learn how to cook Balinese food
- 4. Explore North Bali's sights on a day trip
- 5. Ride around Ubud on an E-bike
- 6. See a Kecak Dance on the Uluwatu Cliffs
- 7. Get off the beaten track on an ATV
- 8. Hike Mount Batur at sunrise
- 9. Explore East Bali – Gate of Heaven and Water Palace
- 10. Make your own silver jewelry
- Where to Stay in Ubud
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Things to do in Ubud, Bali
1. Explore Ubud with a private guide


- Duration: 8 – 10 hours
- Time: 7:30 am, 8 am, 8:30 am, or 9 am
- Highlights: Visiting Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tegenungan Waterfall, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Palace, and Tirta Empul Temple, swinging on the iconic Ubud Swing
- Inclusions: All entrance fees, lunch, local guide, private tour, transportation
- Rating: 5 stars (check 12,800+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
With so many incredible sights around Ubud, making sure you hit all of them can feel overwhelming. But this all-inclusive tour makes seeing the highlights a breeze.
We especially love this tour for first-time travelers to Bali, but it’s also a great option if you’ve been to Bali before. This tour starts at the Ubud Monkey Forest – which is nice as it’s the least busy first thing in the morning. This is a sacred place full of ancient temples and yes … lots of monkeys! Just hold tight to your belongings as these monkeys have been known to grab phones and sunglasses.
This tour also stops at Tegalalang Rice Terrace, which is an ancient irrigation system on a cliffside. We were able to get that famous Bali swing picture (I know you’ve seen it on Instagram!) where it looks like you’re flying over the jungle and also stop at the magnificent Tegenungan Waterfall.
All along the way, your guide is a local (shoutout to Gusti!) who knows the back roads and quickest ways to each stop, so we spent more time enjoying the sights of Ubud than being stuck in traffic.
The tour lasts all day and since it’s a private tour, you set the agenda – which we really appreciated! We aren’t alone in loving this tour either, it has over 12,500 5-star reviews (see them all here)!
Reserve this popular tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
2. Find Ubud’s hidden waterfalls


- Duration: 8 hours
- Time: Departure times range from 4 am to 9 am
- Highlights: Swimming in Tibumana Waterfall, Tukad Cepung, and Tegenungan Waterfall; getting off the main tourist route, options to upgrade tour
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup/drop off, private tour, local guide, lunch, all entrance fees
- Rating: 5 stars (check 2,600+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
It’s no secret Bali is full of natural beauty, but it can feel impossible to find a part of the island that hasn’t been completely overshared on Instagram. That all changed on this hidden waterfalls tour, which took us off the normal tourist route.
Since this is a private tour, your group and guide will go deep into jungles and behind caves to see some of Ubud’s most beautiful waterfalls. We love that you visit not one, but THREE waterfalls: Tukad Cepung, Tibumana, and Tegenungan. We had about an hour at each and even had a chance to swim at two of them. We generally prefer swimming at Tibumana, since Tegenungan is usually more crowded.
While this tour has postcard-worthy views, it’s important to note that some of the waterfalls aren’t the most accessible and the first two have some pretty steep stairs to walk down. The guides were great at getting everyone in our group to each place safely and they’re also great photographers for the day!
Lunch is included at a buffet restaurant overlooking rice terraces and a volcano and it has a swing that also makes for some nice photos (I can never get too many Bali swing pictures!).
This waterfall tour is our personal favorite and is a steal for a private tour. You can also add on snorkeling or visits to the Monkey Forest, or Heaven’s Gate if you choose.
Check out the 2,600+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
3. Learn how to cook Balinese food


- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 8 am or 2:30 pm
- Highlights: Cooking traditional Balinese food, learning from a local chef, market tour (morning tour only), eating the food you prepare
- Inclusions: Transportation from the meeting point or hotel (if requested), all the cooking equipment and ingredients, market tour (morning tour only), English-speaking instructor
- Rating: 5 stars (check 1,400+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: No
- Price: Check price here!
If you’re nervous about visiting Bali because it seems like a major tourist trap, this cooking class will help change your mind. You’ll spend three hours learning traditional Balinese cooking with a real life chef, and let me tell you – it’s a super fun experience!
They offer a morning or afternoon class, and we opted for the morning class because it included a trip to the local market to shop for ingredients. We loved how immersive this part of the tour was!
Once we got all of our tasty herbs, veggies, and meat, we hit the kitchen! We’ve taken cooking classes all over the world, but I was really impressed with how seamless this one was. Each student had a station with the utensils ready to go so we could quickly start cooking.
Our instructors were fantastic teachers and showed us the traditional cooking methods. The hours flew by and before we knew it, we were all sitting down to enjoy our meal together! The chicken sate was easily my best dish, and we made some vegetarian friends who got to prepare totally different dishes, that looked super tasty.
If you want to dive into Balinese culture, this cooking class is the best way to do it – just check out the 1,400+ 5-star reviews as proof!
Check availability and book this top-rated cooking class here!
4. Explore North Bali’s sights on a day trip


- Duration: 8 – 10 hours
- Time: 6 am
- Highlights: Visiting Tanah Lot Hindu temple, seeing Jatiluwith Green Land rice field, swimming in the Banyumala Twin Waterfalls, checking out Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
- Inclusions: Private tour, all entrance fees, English-speaking guide, lunch,
- Rating: 5 stars (check 2,700+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Bali is full of spiritual places, so you don’t have to travel far out of Ubud to find something unique. We were keen on seeing this history and cultural side of the island, so we booked this full day tour so we could find these hidden gems!
This tour was fantastic from start to finish. Our guide, Ari, picked us up bright and early so we could fit all the activities in the day. As we drove through Bali’s gorgeous landscape, Ari told us the history of the area and exactly what we were seeing. There were a lot of little stops throughout the day, but there were three main ones.
The first stop was the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, which appears to be floating on the lake. It was one of the most beautiful temples I’ve ever seen!
We then changed the pace and headed to Banyumala Twin Waterfalls. We had a gorgeous little hike down to the falls, then cooled off in the clear water – don’t forget your swimsuit!
Then, we visited the famous Tanah Lot temple, which sits on a massive rock surrounded by water. It looked like it was out of a movie!
Another notable stop was Jatiluwih Green Land, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and also a rice field. Totally unique!
There was truly too much to see on this full day tour, and it’s easily one of the best day trips you can take out of Ubud.
Check out the 2,700+ reviews and book this tour here!
5. Ride around Ubud on an E-bike

- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 9 am or 3 pm
- Highlights: Cycling through local villages, seeing the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, swinging on the famous Bali Swing
- Inclusions: E-bike, helmet, guide, lunch or dinner, hotel pickup/drop off and transportation
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 1,200+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
This half-day biking tour is one of the best ways to get out of the town center and experience some of the natural wonders around Ubud.
It starts with hotel pickup where you’re off to a meeting point to pick out your electric bike and helmet. We loved that this tour used e-bikes instead of traditional ones. It made the ride a little easier and more relaxing!
The tour makes a few different stops, during which your guide will give you an informative overview of what you’re seeing. Our favorite stop was actually a UNESCO site, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. You’ve probably seen Instagram posts of these fields, but the pictures don’t do them justice. There’s also time at the famous Ubud jungle swing and a local coffee plantation to fuel up for the rest of your ride.
We loved going with a group, as we made some friends along the way! Our guide, Gina, was fantastic, full of energy and information.
The ride felt easy to us, but the heat can be a lot – especially if you travel in April and May. A vehicle trails you throughout the ride in case you need a break, though. At the end of your ride, you’ll be treated to a traditional Balinese lunch before heading back to your hotel.
You can choose a morning or afternoon tour – we recommend the morning to avoid the heat that arrives later in the day!
This tour is likely to sell out – book your e-bike here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. See a Kecak Dance on the Uluwatu Cliffs


- Duration: 7 hours
- Time: 3 or 4 pm
- Highlights: Seeing the traditional Kecak Dance and sunset from the Uluwatu Cliffs, touring the Uluwatu Temple, seafood dinner on Jimbaran Beach
- Inclusions: Transportation from your hotel in Ubud, private tour, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, show tickets, dinner
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 2,500 reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
A Kecak Dance is a popular Balinese dance performed in villages and temples. It’s based on an older exorcism tradition to ban evil spirits and typically involves fire and traditional costumes.
By far the most famous Kecak Dance in Bali is the one that takes place at Uluwatu Temple. Around 75 performers do the Kecak Dance every day at sunset up on the steep cliff, and the dramatic scenery makes the performance even more impressive.
We definitely think it’s worth venturing to Uluwatu to see this epic ritual, but it takes around 2 hours to drive from Ubud. We personally didn’t want to drive our scooter that far, so we joined this sunset tour, which ended up including more than if we’d gone by ourselves!
They picked us up from our hotel in Ubud and drove us to the Uluwatu Temple. Before the show, our guide took us on a tour of the temple, which we felt made the experience even more worthwhile! Of course, seeing the Kecak Dance was the highlight of the experience, the costumes, story, and skills of the dancers blew me away!
We also loved this tour because they offered an all-inclusive option, which provided a fantastic seafood dinner in Jimbaran after the show. I don’t know about you, but who could say no to a seafood dinner on the beach!?
This was one of the most memorable experiences we had in Ubud, so we’d highly recommend it to any traveler!
Book your spot on this popular tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
7. Get off the beaten track on an ATV


- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Time: 8:30 am to 3 pm
- Highlights: Exploring Bali’s off the beaten track areas, driving a thrilling ATV, seeing rice paddies, waterfalls, and driving through a natural tunnel
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup/drop off (if selected), quad, helmets, safety gear and briefing, guide, lunch, insurance coverage
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 1,500+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
While Bali is known for being a relaxing destination, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little excitement, too! That’s exactly what you’ll get when you take this ATV tour.
Make sure to request pickup and drop off services if you’re staying in Ubud, Kuta, Canggu, or other nearby places. Otherwise, you’ll have to find your own way to the meeting point. We had rented a scooter in Bali but still went with the pickup option so we didn’t have to worry about finding our way here.
Once we arrived, we got to sip on fresh lemonade and then get suited up for the ride. From there, it was off a journey to zoom through Bali with your guide on an 8-kilometer (5-mile) ride passing rice fields and the Balinese jungle. We also got the chance to check out some waterfalls and rivers. My favorite part was the ride through a natural tunnel, which we had never done on an ATV ride before!
On our tour, the guides were so great at taking photos along the way while we stopped at waterfalls and caves. The tour lasted about 1.5 hours and it flew by! When we’re feeling particularly adventurous, this is one of our favorite things to do in Ubud.
Check availability and book your spot on this top-rated ATV tour here!
8. Hike Mount Batur at sunrise

- Duration: 1 day
- Time: 1:30 – 3:30 am pickup
- Highlights: Seeing the sunrise on Mount Batur; hiking; options to have a jeep tour, soak in hot springs, visit a waterfall, or the jungle swing
- Inclusions: Transportation from your hotel, breakfast, optional add on’s, local guide
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 1,400+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
As much as we love Ubud, in our opinion, no trip to Bali is complete without venturing beyond the town. If you’ve got an eye for adventure and want to see the island from the best vantage point, we recommend taking this tour to Mount Batur.
Mount Batur is an active volcano that sits about 1 hour and 15 minutes north of Ubud. We were picked up early (at 2 am!) from our hotel, but that meant we could reach the summit before sunrise.
In exchange for giving up a bit of sleep, we had panoramic views of the island. So worth it in my opinion – we just fueled up with extra coffee at the bonus tour stop at a coffee plantation after our hike!
The view from the top is incredible and our guide even brought breakfast along (banana sandwiches!) so we got to sit and savor the view. It’s pretty cool to say you’ve had breakfast on a volcano in Bali – that was a first for me!
We especially love this hiking tour because you can choose to add on a trip to nearby natural hot springs after you climb the volcano. Nothing beats sinking into the therapeutic water after a long hike!
Don’t miss out on this sunrise experience – book this hiking tour here!
9. Explore East Bali – Gate of Heaven and Water Palace


- Duration: 10 hours
- Time: 4 am
- Highlights: Visiting the Gate of Heaven, exploring the Tirta Gangga Water Palace, seeing Mt. Agung
- Inclusions: Private guide and transportation, hotel pickup/drop off, all entrance fees, lunch
- Rating: 5 stars (check 1,500+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Lempuyang Temple’s Gate of Heaven is one of Bali’s most iconic sights, so we knew we had to visit it while in Ubud. However, it’s about a 2 hour drive and you have to get there pretty early, so we booked this organized tour which made our visit seamless!
We were also drawn to this tour because it included stops at the Tirta Gangga Water Palace and the Mt. Agung viewpoint – both of which we were eager to see.
So on the day of our tour, our friendly guide Murdock picked us up at 4 am and we hit the road! I promptly fell back asleep in the car and before I knew it, at the Gate of Heaven, climbing 1,700 steps to the top.
We had about two hours to explore around the Gate of Heaven, and then we were off to our next stop: the Tirta Gangga Water Palace. This palace was stunning, and we learned about the significance and details from Murdock, which made this stop even more impressive.
By now, it was lunch time, so we stopped in a lovely resort overlooking Mount Agung. The traditional Balinese food hit the spot, and the views were top notch! It was the perfect end to a morning of adventure.
All of these stops were special, but I truly think Lempuyang Temple’s Gate of Heaven is a can’t miss sight! I’d say with over 1,500 glowing reviews that other travelers agree!
This tour is likely to sell out – book your spot here!
10. Make your own silver jewelry

- Duration: 1.5 – 8 hours
- Time: 9 am to 5 pm
- Highlights: Making silver jewelry, visiting a local village, optional add ons
- Inclusions: Silver, shuttle from Ubud (if selected), expert teachers, lunch (if full day options selected)
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 900+ reviews!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Even though Bali is mostly known for its dreamy jungles and unbeatable beaches, there are other places you can explore on the island. One of our most memorable experiences was venturing into a local village to learn about one of the area’s most lucrative industries and making our own pendants and rings.
We loved this silver jewelry-making class in Ubud because we got to work with a silversmith from Delodsema Village. This village produces a lot of silver goods, so we were excited to learn from the experts!
After being picked up from our hotel and whisked to the village, we met our hosts and picked out our projects. We were able to pick from preset designs or do something of our own! I’m not quite that creative, so I chose one of their designs. I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to actually craft the silver ring, but the teachers were so helpful and hands on, but still let us figure it out for ourselves.
In the end, we finished with some beautiful silver pieces. They also had some of their amazing work to purchase if yours doesn’t turn out as fabulous as you’d hoped!
This tour is also unique because you can opt to add on other classic Bali activities, like a cooking class, quad biking, bicycling, sightseeing, or more. You can check out all of the options here!
Book this silver making class here for a totally unique Ubud activity!
Where to Stay in Ubud

Ubud is a great place to stay in Bali because of its stellar views. From luxury resorts to budget-friendly hotels, it’s not hard to find a nice vacation spot. But it can be hard to choose! We’ve narrowed it down to our top picks for every budget, including the hotel we stayed at and loved (hint – it’s the Abipraya Hotel!).
TheWakanda Resort – A Prama Experience – $$$
If you’re looking for out-and-out luxury, TheWakanda Resort has luxe suites and standalone villas with rice field views that seem to stretch for miles, until they meet the jungle. We think that this would be perfect for a romantic stay in Ubud! There’s also an on-site spa and a yoga studio that hosts classes every other day, and the staff here are really willing to go the extra mile for you.
Suites are typically around $300 USD, but we’ve seen closer to $200 USD outside of peak season. We’ve found the best deals booking in advance online.
Gynandha Ubud Cottage – $$
In Bali, staying at a mid-range place usually means you get a lot of bang for your buck, and Gynandha Ubud Cottage is a prime example of this. The rooms are big and beautifully decorated, the bathrooms will make you feel like you’re in a spa, and there’s a pretty, split-level waterfall pool for guests to use.
This property is just a few minutes’ walk from the town center, but is still super peaceful and offers beautiful rice field views for around $150-$200 USD per night. Reserve a room in advance with Booking.com.
Abipraya – $
We stayed at Abipraya, which was super quiet and nestled into a tropical garden, about 10 minutes’ walk from the main town. The location was ideal for us and we loved the big swimming pool overlooking the rice fields, as well as the open and airy feel that the rooms had.
Prices start at around $50 USD per night, which includes breakfast, so it was a really good budget option. Book Abipraya here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!

There are some seriously amazing tours available in Ubud, so hopefully you found a few to add to your Bali vacation. We adore visiting here and Ubud is always on our to-do list because the experiences feel so authentically Bali. Let us know if you have any questions and what tour made your bucket list!
If you need more help planning your next trip, check out our other blogs. We’ve traveled around Bali, Australia, and even Fiji! Here are a few related guides to get you started:
Whitewater Rafting in Bali: Is It Safe, Is It Fun – Our Honest Review!