EmUbud is the cultural heart of Bali, and spending 1 day in Ubud gives you the perfect chance to experience this lush, vibrant region filled with ancient temples, stunning rice terraces, and cascading waterfalls. If you’re wondering what to do in Ubud for a day, you’re in the right place. This one-day itinerary takes you beyond the crowded tourist spots and into the rich heritage and natural beauty of northern Bali. From participating in a traditional water purification ceremony to sipping world-class Balinese coffee, this guide ensures that your limited time in Ubud is packed with unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re hiring a driver, renting a scooter, or joining a custom tour, you’ll discover that one day in Ubud can be both immersive and rewarding.
Key takeaways
- You can build an amazing one day itinerary for cultural sites around Ubud and northern Bali, including water temples, Unesco-listed rice fields and waterfalls
- Bali is experiencing significant over-tourism and crowds. However, it’s still possible to find quieter, off the beaten track experiences, like Pura Mengening Water Temple
- You’ll need to either hire a driver, or rent a motorbike or car to see many of the amazing cultural sites that north Bali has to offer
Why visit Ubud
Ubud and the area around it are the thriving cultural heart of Bali, and it’s very different to the beach-focused south. A trip to Ubud gives you the opportunity to get out into a more authentic Bali, away from the beach clubs and crowds. As one of Indonesia’s only non-Muslim islands, Bali is completely different from other parts of the country, with a distinctive version of Hinduism that isn’t found anywhere else, and this creates a fascinating architecture and culture that’s much more evident in the north than in the crowded south of the island.
Is one day in Ubud enough?
Ubud and the north of Bali are filled with temples, rice fields, waterfalls and cultural history, and honestly, you could spend a week or more exploring different beautiful spots around this part of the island.
However, that’s not always possible. Some visitors won’t have the time in their Bali itinerary due to annual leave restrictions. For others who can’t ride a motorbike or drive, like me, the cost of hiring a driver across different days quickly becomes prohibitive.
To work around this, I designed my own perfect one-day itinerary for Ubud and northern Bali! In this guide I will lay out how to have the perfect day exploring some of the most fascinating of the many cultural sites in north Bali. It’s a long day, but an absolutely amazing one!
Organising your 1 day itinerary for Ubud
My one day itinerary for Ubud and north Bali lasted from 8.30am-6pm, and was crammed full of amazing experiences. Most of the experiences are not within Ubud city centre, but in the countryside around Bali. This means that you need transport to access them. You can do this in three ways:
- Rent scooters and drive yourself, although be aware that there is a lot of driving involved
- Rent a car, with the same caveat as above
- Do what I did and organise a private driver/guide for the day. I did this through Bali Tours 4U. It cost 650k/£32/38e/$43 for the day (not including entrance fees).
I did a lot of research on tour companies. I chose Bali Tours 4U as they gave me the option to design my own day. I didn’t want to go to the Monkey Forest, which was a staple of most organised trips. Their design option meant that I could substitute things I was more interested in instead of seeing more (mean!) macaques.
My driver Budi was great. He was not just a driver, but a knowledgeable guide, and the benefit was immense. He spoke fluent English and his local knowledge meant that he knew when sites were likely to be busy. He took me to lesser-known alternatives or sites at quieter times. He also knew all the best photo angles, as you’ll see from some of the photos below.
Your amazing 1 day in Ubud Itinerary
Stop 1: Loewak Coffee!
As a dedicated coffee lover, I was keen to understand more about Balinese coffee. And I was even more thrilled to find out this would be our first stop. Budi took me to Satria Coffee, a beautiful cafe near Ubud.
They offered me an extensive tasting platter of the different teas and coffees they produce. This included coconut, avocado, vanilla and black Balinese coffees, and lemongrass, rosella, ginger and other fruit teas. There was even local hot chocolate. Just beware of the ginger tea, it really packs a punch!
They also offer the chance to learn about and try civet coffee, also known as luwak coffee. Civet coffee is also known as civet poop coffee, as it’s made after adorable civets, or weasels, eat, digest and then poop out coffee beans.
I had already tried this famous and expensive coffee near Yogyakarta, but given that there were civets snoozing on site, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to have more of the best coffee in the world. While this came with an extra cost, it’s highly recommended.
Stop 2: Tegenungan Waterfall
Ticket: 20k IDR ($1.20)
Fully fueled by copious amounts of coffee, we headed to our next thing to do in Ubud. Tegenungan Waterfall is one of the tallest in Bali, and definitely one of the most beautiful. It crashes into a small pool where you can swim, and there are plenty of perfect photo spots. You can take photos at both the bottom and the top of the waterfall.
While it is a touristy waterfall, by heading there so early in the day it was still relatively uncrowded. As a well-known tourist destination, it has bathrooms and cafes and the steps down are well-maintained (even if they are very steep).
There’s also a beautiful day club there if you fancy spending time chilling out by the waterfall another day.
Stop 3: Water temple
Ticket: 30k IDR ($1.80)
Taking part in a Hindu water ceremony is one of the most famous things to do in Ubud. This ceremony is an integral part of Balinese life, with locals flocking to the temples to take part on holy days.
There are a number of water temples around Ubud, and the most famous is Pura Tirta Empul. If you’ve seen social media posts of people doing a water ceremony, it’s likely to be at Pura Tirta Empul. However, it gets very busy very quickly, with long queues to participate if you arrive after 8am. There are even queues in the water itself for each individual fountain!
Having spoken to my guide, he suggested we try a different temple nearby, which is less well known and therefore less crowded. I was more than happy to agree, and it really paid off. We headed to Pura Mengening, which has two beautiful pools, to take part in the ceremony. While there is limited historical evidence available, this temple was built in the 11th century, ‘rediscovered’ in the 1920s.
If you are visiting independently, note that there are vendors outside selling sarongs. They’ll tell you that you can’t enter without one, but like many temples in Bali, sarongs were provided at the entrance. An additional fee was required for the orange water sarong and a locker at the pools.
Once I’d changed, Budi talked me through how to take part in the ceremony respectfully, and in what order to do things. He also acted as an excellent photographer!
I was so glad that we went to Pura Mengening. There were very few other tourists there, and I was in the pools on my own. If you are keen to take part in the ceremony, rather than just viewing the temple, I would highly recommend talking to your guide about alternatives to Tirta Empul.
Worried about cultural appropriation and respect?
Me too. I talked to Budi, my guide, about this, and gave some examples of cultural appropriation in other cultures to help the conversation. His response was that people in Bali are very happy for others to participate in their ceremonies as long as it’s done with respect.
Therefore, my advice is that if you plan to take part in one of these ceremonies, talk to your guide beforehand to fully understand the significance of the activity. Follow their instructions when you’re at the religious site, and ensure that you’re not getting in the way of (or photographing) other worshippers, especially locals.
Make sure there are no other factors that prohibit you from participating in a water ceremony – for example, you are not allowed in Hindu temples if you are bleeding, whether that’s from a wound or menstruation. I found out about the bleeding from a wound issue because a friend fell over and injured herself while in a temple in Bali, which definitely stressed out her guide.
Water ceremonies and other blessings can also provide vital income for local people. At other times during the day, I took part in blessings at temples. Local villagers provided these, with donation money going straight to them rather than to a tourist board or temple organisation.
Stop 3: Tegalalang Rice terraces
Tegalalang is famous for a reason – the incredible views. But it is also one of the most touristy sites in northern Bali. If this isn’t your thing, speak to your driver about alternatives, as there are other rice terraces nearby that will be less busy.
Ticket: 25k IDR ($1.50) or 50k IDR ($3) depending on the rice terrace you visit
After the water ceremony, it was time to head to Bali’s famous rice fields. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their cultural impact, the rice terraces in Bali date back to the 8th century. Their innovative irrigation system has allowed them to thrive, and they are now one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
We headed to Tegalalang Rice Terrace, the most famous. These rice terraces are incredible, with the view stretching out into the distance. We walked along one of the rice terraces to get a real feel for how lush and green the site is.
This is also one of the spots where you can try the famous Bali swings, as well as ziplines and bicycle ziplines across the terraces. You can also rent a dress to give you that epic Bali picture while on the swing. If you are planning on doing these, I would buy your tickets as soon as you arrive – there can be quite a wait, especially for the swings.
Given how touristy the site was, I spoke to my driver about the local people who farm the land. He told me that they receive a small percentage of the profit from tourists coming to the site and see this as a bonus above and beyond the rice farming they would be doing anyway. Not ideal, but better than nothing.
Tegalalang is famous for a reason – the incredible views. But it is also one of the most touristy sites in northern Bali. If this isn’t your thing, speak to your driver about alternatives, as there are other rice terraces nearby that will be less busy.
Stop 4: Tanah Lot Temple
Ticket: 75k IDR (c.$5)
Ok, technically this is stop 5, as we headed for lunch after our visit to the rice terraces. But the real Stop 4 was the stunning Tanah Lot, about an hour and a half drive from the rice terraces on the west coast of Bali.
Tanah Lot has three different temple structures, built out into the water on the coast. Budi, my guide, explained that Hindu temples in Bali normally have these three elements in one place/building. However, they split up the three elements due to the unique location.
Built in the 16th century, Tanah Lot is still an active place of worship, with the main temple structures accessible only to locals for prayer. However, there is still plenty to see there to make the trip worthwhile, and there is the option to partially ascend the biggest structure. To do this, you must make a small donation and receive a formal religious blessing from a local.
Like many temples in Bali, Tanah Lot is well set up for tourism. There are shops and toilets available (necessary after that long drive!).
Many people head to Tanah Lot for sunset, and I can see why. But that wasn’t possible as part of my one day experience (it would make for an extremely long day!). The benefit of going to Tanah Lot mid afternoon was that it was much less crowded. We could already see crowds starting to arrive as we were leaving. If you are set on going to Tanah Lot for sunset, I would suggest doing this as a separate half day trip, and make sure you arrive early to find a good spot.
Stop 5: Taman Ayun Temple
Ticket: 30k IDR ($1.80)
My final stop of the day was a bonus stop – not top of my priority list, but a great option if time permitted. And I’m so glad that we were able to fit it in!
Taman Ayun is a temple complex between Ubud and Tanah Lot, which also helped to split up the drive home. As with many temples in Bali, the temple provides sarongs as part of the entrance fee.
Built in the 17th century, it’s a beautiful complex and a Unesco World Heritage site. It was built by King Mengwi Gusti Agung Puta as a family temple to honour his ancestors. It has been renovated a number of times, most recently in 1937.
Like Tanah Lot, it is also partially closed off to the public, and reserved for ceremonies only. However, there is still plenty to see, with a walkway around the closed part allowing you to view it from the side. The temple is beautiful, with towers and buildings surrounded by a water-lily filled moat. The evening was a beautiful time to visit, with very few visitors and amazing light. Learning about this temple, including restoration efforts during the 20th century, was a perfect way to finish my day.
What to do in Ubud in the evening
Not tired after your busy day seeing the cultural highlights of north Bali?
There are lots of things to do in Ubud in the evening, with a huge variety of restaurants and bars for you to try out. But if you’re keen to continue the theme of your cultural day out, the best thing to do is see a traditional Balinese dance performance. Different types of dance are highlighted on different evenings, including traditional Legong and Barong dances.
While the history of Legong is not fully understood, it’s thought to have originated in the 19th century as a royal entertainment. Legong is traditionally performed by young girls and women, although men now perform too. Legong is characterised by expressive hand gestures and facial expressions. Barong is a character in a different type of dance, a mythical lion creature who struggles against Rangda, a demon queen. Barong dances are believed to date back to the 11th century.
There are two spots to see traditional Balinese dancing in central Ubud – the Ubud Palace and the Water Palace. Both offer shows most evenings, in absolutely spectacular settings. Each has their own benefits.
Ubud Palace
I chose to go to a show at Ubud Palace, as tickets were available online via Get Your Guide. This took the stress out of it for me, and the show was excellent.
Top Tip: People start arriving very early! Since I was alone, I was lucky to find a solo seat at 7pm—one of the last available. After that, people were crowded around the sides or at the back. If you want a good view, I suggest arriving at least an hour early. There are ladies there selling beer and soft drinks so that you don’t get too hot.
Water Palace
As shows start at 7.30pm, one way to see a performance is to combine it with dinner at Cafe Lotus. This cafe backs onto the Water Palace, providing a stunning view of the dancing. However, this gets booked up very quickly! I wasn’t quick enough to get these tickets, so I went to Cafe Lotus during the day to take in the beauty of the Water Palace while having a delicious coffee.
Tickets for the show at the Water Palace itself are also available on the door/during the evening. This option means that you’ll get seats (hopefully) within the palace itself.
Alternative things to do in Ubud
There are other great things to do in Ubud:
Sacred Monkey Forest
The one major Ubud attraction I didn’t do is visit the Sacred Monkey Forest. To be honest, I’ve had enough of macaques stealing my stuff at this point! But if you’re keen to see the monkeys, this could be substituted into your trip. You could take away the coffee experience and Taman Ayun, and therefore have time to go to the Sacred Monkey Forest. If you’re keen to do this, talk to your driver/guide in advance.
Attend a sound healing session at the Pyramids of Chi
This incredible and surreal site is on the outskirts of Ubud city, and worth a visit if you want the Eat Pray Love Bali experience. The Pyramids of Chi complex houses actual pyramids, where you can attend a sound healing session or various other wellness experiences. I went for a Sound Healing session – you lie on a mat for 1.5h with your eyes covered while immersive sound plays out around you. They also have a beautiful cafe full of delicious vegan and veggie food.
Visit the famous Merlin restaurant
There’s no doubt that Bali is a culinary heaven, with a plethora of foodie offerings to choose from. But one restaurant stands out among the rest for providing an incredible immersive experience: Merlin’s.
This legendary restaurant has it all. You enter through a magic shop, offering crystals and jewellery. When you go upstairs to the restaurant, it’s to a beautiful domed area bursting with greenery, creating the feeling of being in a magical forest. But it’s the menu experience that really brings the magic: you’re offered the opportunity to choose your food via tarot cards. These beautifully designed cards suggest the right menu for you, but if you don’t agree with the fates, you do have the option to order a la carte.
Merlin’s is incredibly popular, so do book ahead if you want this incredible experience. It also only opens from 2pm, so if you want to eat at a more traditional dinner time (not at 2pm, which was the only slot left when I booked), you’ll need to book even further in advance.
How to get to Ubud
Ubud is not the easiest part of Bali to get to, as there’s no real public transport offer and traffic in Bali, particularly around Denpasar and on the outskirts of Ubud city, is notoriously terrible. You will most likely have to sit in traffic at some point on your journey.
Most people will arrive in Bali by plane, to Denpasar airport in the south of the island. Flights arrive from across Asia, including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu in Borneo and other Indonesian islands, like Jakarta and Yogyakarta in Java. Denpasar is also one of the biggest destinations for flights from outside of Asia, including Australia, Turkey and Dubai.
From Denpasar, shuttles are available to Ubud city for c.$6. These are available every hour and can take up to 2 hours depending on traffic. You can book via 12goasia. The risk with these is that if your flight is late or baggage delayed and you miss your van, there’s no refund.
A quicker option is to get a Grab or private car north. Grab is easy to access at Denpasar, with a dedicated Grab area (follow the signs).
Where to stay in Ubud
Ubud city is absolutely full of hotels, at a range of different prices and levels of luxury. While there are too many to make specific recommendations, I would take into account the following when making your decision:
- Ubud is not a very walkable city. If you are outside of the main core, it’s likely that you’ll need motorbikes to get to the center (whether you hire them yourselves or use GrabBike). I chose a hotel that was about 10 minutes drive away from the main Palaces and centre of Ubud, and there was very little within walking distance of my hotel.
- However, the centre of Ubud is extremely busy, and this goes on late into the night. Consider a hotel on a quiet side street if possible.
- If people and crowds aren’t your thing, consider a hotel or resort that’s fully outside of Ubud city. This will give you a much more relaxed countryside experience. However, you’ll then need motorbikes to get around.
How to get around in Ubud
As noted above, Ubud is not a very walkable city. While you can walk in the centre of the city (and people do), it’s busy, crowded and both streets and pavements are full of motorbikes. Traffic in the city makes walking over longer distances unrealistic, as pavements rarely exist.
To get around in the city itself (for example from the Palaces to the Pyramids of Chi), I recommend using GrabBike if you haven’t hired a motorbike yourself. This will help you to avoid some of the worst of the traffic.
You can also use GrabCar or ordinary taxis. Note that Grab cars are banned from the very centre of Ubud – they will not be able to pick you up near the palaces. As traffic is so bad, I would avoid cars except for longer journeys or where you have lots of luggage. Once you’re out of Ubud city into the north of Bali for your one day itinerary, traffic thins out and this stops being a problem, but going south to Denpasar is likely to result in long traffic jams.
Spending just one day in Ubud might seem short, but with the right itinerary, it’s enough to experience the region’s magic. From the tranquility of hidden water temples to the breathtaking views of UNESCO-listed rice terraces, Ubud offers an unforgettable blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. While Bali’s popularity has led to over-tourism in some areas, this itinerary ensures you can still find authentic, less-crowded experiences. Whether you’re planning a longer stay or just passing through, this guide will help you make the most of your time in Bali’s cultural capital—leaving you inspired and eager to return.
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