Ubud is a spectacular vacation destination that is trending as it should be. Ubud is a great place to find beautiful sights, seek new experiences, and enjoy the heat. I made so many iconic memories while in Ubud, and I am here to share some recommendations on what to fill your itinerary with. Keep reading to find out!

Go to the Ubud Monkey Forest.

If you want to see tons of monkeys, you should plan a day trip to the Ubud Monkey Forest. This jungle area is home for over one thousand wild monkeys. The setting is so lush and the monkeys are very entertaining. You can get fantastic pictures during your trip! The admission costs about $6 (USD), and I was able to pay for my ticket at the entrance. I spent about two hours here. Be sure to read the rules before you enter the forest. For example, you should not look at the monkeys directly in the eyes as they see this as a sign of attack. Also, I do not recommend that you wear loose jewelry, because some of those monkeys are practicing thieves.

Rent some ATVs in Ubud.

If you are looking for an exciting adventure, I would recommend going ATVing. You will see stands around Ubud that have brochures for ATV tours and other excursions, but the prices for these tours are pretty steep. I found a wonderful Airbnb Experience that included 1.5 hours of ATVing and lunch at a resort for about $45 (USD). We took the ATVs through muddy paths, up and down steep hills, through caves, and along rice terraces. I would recommend the experience!

Visit the Mason Lodge Elephant Safari Park.

The Elephant Safari Park is another fun chance to have an encounter with animals. Here you can take pictures with elephants and feed them. If you choose to pay extra, you can ride the elephants or bathe them as well. Prior to your encounter, you walk through an exhibit that teaches you about the elephants and the park’s humane practices. This place has brought numerous celebrities to their park such as the Kardashians, Jason Derulo, Alicia Keys, Steve Irwin, Julia Roberts, Khalid, and many others. Check out their website to find the prices of the different packages.

Head to the Pura Taman Saraswati Temple.

The Pura Taman Saraswati Temple is a beautiful temple that is worth visiting on your trip. You can enter for free and see the outside of the temple and the surrounding area. It is recommended that you dress appropriately by covering your shoulders and knees. Sarongs are commonly worn but not a requirement. On some nights, you can find traditional dance shows here. There is somebody who sells tickets in front of the temple that will have more information about the shows.

Have a floating picnic.

A floating picnic? Why not, you’re in Bali! Floating picnics have become a staple for any trip to Bali according to Instagram. I love a cute picnic, so I was not turning this down! It is such a unique and fun way to have your breakfast. A couple of the Airbnbs I stayed at offered floating breakfasts. Several resorts offer this as well.

Get a massage.

Ready to relax on your vacation? Bali is the place to do it! I had never gotten a massage before, because it is so expensive in the United States… When I heard of the prices in Bali, I knew it would be a good time to try out a massage. I got a 1-hour long massage for only $12! It was incredible!

Relax in a flower bath.

Flower baths are also common in Bali. So beautiful and relaxing! Message your Airbnb hosts or talk to your hotel staff to see if you can book a flower bath. It was a wonderful way to continue relaxing after my massage.

Walk the Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

You must visit the Tegalalang Rice Terrace during your stay in Ubud. The views are incredible! This is a gem of a spot – natural beauty with quaint cafes to enjoy the views and added excursions to remember the adventure. Enjoy your time by grabbing a drink and walking the rice terrace hiking path. This path is not too difficult if you watch your step, but it can be very hot in the middle of the day, so stay hydrated!

Swing above the rice terraces.

If you are feeling more adventurous, you can get on a giant swing or go ziplining. I did the Bali swing and have incredible pictures to prove it. Such a fun way to take all the views in!

Visit the Ubud Street Market.

At the Ubud Street Market, you can find numerous stands that sell shirts, bags, bracelets, bowls, coasters, etc. It is common to barter here, and people recommend starting with half of the original price that the seller first mentions, so keep this in mind.

Hike the Campuhan Ridge Walk.

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a beautiful hike that is popular around sunset. The relatively easy walk is only one-mile long. It is a beautiful trail that takes you up into the trees.

Find cute cafes and fancy restaurants in Ubud.

I don’t even know how many delicious fruit bowls I had while in Bali. There were days where I had more than one… If you are looking for an Instagram-worthy fruit bowl, then look up Blend Cafe. Their smoothie bowls are insane! They put designs on top of the smoothie and add lots of great toppings – a piece of art!

There are also plenty of great restaurants in Ubud. I want to take the time to highlight one restaurant that exceeded all expectations though. This restaurant is Arcadia Restaurant. I rarely return to a restaurant when on vacation, but I ate here three times, because I knew no other place nearby would match the service and food that Arcadia offers. Their hospitality was incredible. They greeted us with welcome drinks and fancy complimentary bread and butter. After the meal, they give out small desserts as well. If you are looking for Western food, their burger was the best burger I have had in a very long time. On top of that, the clean restaurant has a wonderful outdoor seating area. Clearly, I think highly of this restaurant, so if you are in the area, I recommend Arcadia!

Conclusion

These are some of my top recommendations for Ubud. Of course, there are even more ideas such as visiting a coffee plantation, going white water rafting, taking a cooking class, etc. If you have further recommendations or enjoyed one of these activities on your trip, let me know in the comments!

If you are looking for my other blog posts, check out the destinations tab on my website. Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to new memorable excursions and making connections around the world.