City guide
Ubud Travel Guide: Jungle temples, rice terraces and Bali’s creative heart
Ubud is a town in the highlands of Bali, Indonesia, known as the island’s cultural and wellness capital. It is famous for the Sacred Monkey Forest, Tegalalang rice terraces, Ubud Palace dance performances, yoga studios and a thriving craft and café scene, about one hour north of Denpasar airport.
Ubud at a glance
| Timezone | WITA (UTC+8) |
|---|---|
| Currency | Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) |
| Languages | Indonesian, Balinese |
| Population | 75,000 |
| Coordinates | -8.5069, 115.2625 |
Why visit Ubud
Ubud is Bali’s cultural capital, set among jungle gorges and rice terraces an hour north of the airport. Days here move between temples, yoga shalas, craft studios and long café lunches; evenings bring gamelan dance performances in palace courtyards.
When to visit Ubud
Ubud’s highlands are cooler and wetter than the coast. The dry season (April–October) is prime, with May, June and September offering the best weather-to-crowd ratio.
Rice terraces are greenest just after the rains (March–April) and at harvest (varies); July–August demands advance booking for good villas. Read the full month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Ubud.
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Ubud travel questions
What is the best month to visit Ubud?
May, June and September are the best months to visit Ubud — dry-season sunshine without July–August crowds. The wet season (November–March) brings daily showers but electric-green rice terraces, powerful waterfalls and villa discounts of 30% or more.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.