Located in the highlands of Bali, the town of Ubud is a popular tourist destination on the island. Indeed, it is its cultural and spiritual center. To make the most of your stay here, it’s important to know where to stay in Ubud.
To help you make the most of your stay on the island, this guide will show you the best places to stay in Ubud. Various factors are taken into account, such as geographical location, overall interest of the area, its liveliness and the range of accommodation on offer.
Key information
Before describing the areas to focus on when selecting accommodation in Ubud, here’s what you need to know about the town from a tourism point of view.
Our favorite places to stay
If you’re in a hurry, here are our favorite places to stay in the heart of Ubud. They’re conveniently located for visiting everything on foot:
- $ this bed and breakfast (booking.com) is great value for money.
- $$ this hotel (booking.com) features a beautiful outdoor swimming pool.
- $$$ this upscale establishment (booking.com), one of the best in central Ubud.
Map of different areas to stay in Ubud
On the map below, you’ll find our recommendations for where to stay in Ubud. We’ve used the following color code: green for small budgets, blue for the standard range, and red for luxury hotels.
We also recommend that you use this map to locate the places we’ll be introducing in this guide.
Ubud accommodation essentials
Places to stay in Ubud
Let’s get to the heart of the matter with a review of the main areas where we recommend staying in Ubud.
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The center is the best place to stay in Ubud. Its central location, in terms of attractions to see and do, means that it's the best place to visit the town and its surroundings. The other districts are easily accessible from here.
Among the sites of interest to be seen in this district, the most important are the following:
- Royal Palace, where dance performances take place in the evening
- Art market, where local handicrafts are sold
- Stroll the streets for a glimpse of daily life in Ubud
In this district, you'll find a fair number of shops, cafés and restaurants. The liveliest area is below Jl Raya, Ubud's main street. These streets are best explored on foot. As far as accommodation is concerned, there's a good choice, with very affordable rates. These are mainly hotels and bed & breakfasts.
Our recommended accommodations
Staying around Saraswati temple
Located in the northern part of Ubud, the area surrounding the Saraswati temple is also a very good choice for staying in this city. Although this area is less central, it's still very close to the Campuhan hiking trail, which is 2 kilometers long and offers magnificent views over the rice paddies. The start of the trail is less than 10 minutes' walk to the west of this area.
In addition to its proximity to the starting point of this hike, this area includes the following sites of interest:
- Saraswati Temple, a Hindu temple surrounded by magnificent gardens
- Pura Dalem temple, whose gardens can be viewed
- Puri Lukisan Museum, featuring Balinese painting
The area is quite lively, though a little less so than in the heart of the city. Stores, cafés and restaurants abound. If you're looking to stay in the area, a large number of accommodations, mainly bed & breakfasts, are available. Rates are very reasonable.
Our recommended accommodations
Accommodation in southern Ubud: near the monkey forest
Another alternative staying area in Ubud: the southern part. Sayan lies a few kilometres west of central Ubud, on the ridge above the Ayung River valley, with stunning views over the jungle and rice terraces. The Monkey Forest is one of the city's major attractions. You'll have the chance to get up close and personal with the monkeys.
Other sites of interest in the area include
- Agung Rai Museum, featuring local artworks
- Goa Gajah Cave, famous for its stone carvings of Hindu gods, 3 km to the east.
Although the south is less lively, there are a number of shops, restaurants and cafés. You'll also have no trouble finding excellent-value accommodation.
Our recommended accommodations
Accommodation in Sayan, west of Ubud
West of the centre, Sayan sits above the Ayung River valley, surrounded by rice fields and jungle. It is the quietest place to stay in Ubud, and it is known for its high-end resorts and villas with infinity pools overlooking the valley.
Things to do in the area include:
- rafting on the Ayung River, one of the most popular activities around Ubud
- walks through the rice fields and along the valley
- yoga and spa retreats, offered by many of the hotels
The centre of Ubud is around 15 minutes away by car or scooter, but there is little within walking distance. Sayan is ideal if you want peace, nature and a touch of luxury rather than nightlife.
Our recommended accommodations
Summary
Ubud is one of Bali’s top destinations. As the island’s cultural and artistic center, it boasts a number of assets that make it well worth a visit. Ubud can be explored in just a few days and makes an ideal stop on a Bali road trip.
Because of its geographical position in relation to the main sites of interest, the center is the best place to stay.
The districts around the Saraswati temple and in the south, near the monkey forest, are also interesting alternatives for staying overnight. Nature lovers can also stay in the Sayan area.
Ubud is a very popular tourist destination. We strongly advise you to book your accommodation as early as possible, to ensure you have the widest possible choice at the most attractive rates.