Ubud Attractions

Rice Paddy

Blessed by its cooler air and geographic location, Ubud has become famous for its beautiful scenes of rice paddies involving ‘subak’ (the traditional Balinese irrigation system), which according to history was taught by a revered holy man from India named Rsi Markaneya in the eighth century. To explore some of the most splendid terraced landscapes in Ubud, peddle or trek to some of the villages around Ubud such as Pejeng, Tegallalang and Campuhan, where you will enjoy the perfect frame of amazing rice paddies overlooking the hills and river.

Tampaksiring Presidential Palace

Istana Tampaksiring or Tampaksiring Palace is located on the hill top of 700 meters above the sea level in Tampaksiring Village, just next to Tirta Empul complex. The palace was gradually constructed from 1957 and completed in 1963 initiated by Ir. Soekarno – the first Indonesian president. The architecture is gorgeously beautiful comprises five main buildings where the two of them are separated by fissure in the hill but connected by a bridge of forty kilometres long and one pendopo (a conference space). This palace used to be the first Indonesian president rest house, nowadays it’s functioned as president and vice president official programs in the manner of governmental and state events. Furthermore, it’s also a venue for president and vice president together with their families as well as for the state guests to rest.

Monkey Forest

Monkey Forest, or Mandala Wisata Wana Wanara sanctuary, is a small nature reserve located near the southern intersection of Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman. It’s the home of more than 200 long-tailed Macaque (Macaca Fascicularis) monkeys. The complex has three holy temples within its boundaries: Pura Prajapati (used for cremation ceremonies), Holy Bathing Temple and Pura Dalem Agung – a local temple for the villagers who live nearby. Monkey Forest is shaded by a thick green canopy and features a well-paved walking path to help you explore the entire site.

Museum Rudana

To see a fine art collection, make a visit to Museum Rudana. The museum was established in 1995 to provide an outstanding collection of paintings for the public to study and enjoy. The collection was begun with the purchases of Nyoman Rudana, the owner, and his wife Ni Wayan Olastini. The building houses fine Balinese works of art in the Classical Ubud and Batuan styles.

Meanwhile, the first and second floors showcase modern Indonesian fine arts, covering some widely known names including Affandi, Gunarsa, Wianta, and young talented artists, such as Boyke Aditya, Nyoman Erawan, and Made Budhiana. Also in the collection, the museum keeps some of the great artworks of Antonio Blanco.

Museum Puri Lukisan

Museum Puri Lukisan (or Palace of Paintings) houses paintings and woodcarvings. The Museum is located within easy walking distance of the main road of Raya Ubud and was opened to the public in January 1956 by the first Indonesian Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Mohammad Yamin. Here, you will discover a series of Rudolf Bonnet’s artwork, the son of an Amsterdam baker who fought hard to become an artist, then travelled to Bali and called it home.

Besides his collection, there are several other series you can observe: those of I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, the Painters’ Association founded in 1936 called ‘Pita Maha’ and Ida Bagus Made Poleng - one of Rudolf Bonnet’s students. Nowadays the museum is also active in organising exhibitions of local artists’ work.

Museum Antonio Blanco

Philippine-born artist Antonio Blanco married a beautiful Balinese woman and successfully created a legend of his own fuelled by his admirable talents, eccentric flair and long-term dedication. To complete his dream, he then built a museum in his former house on the hilltops of Campuhan. The 20,000sqm property overlooks the river and officially opened to the public in 1998.

The museum features Hispanic styles mixed with Balinese traditional touches, which embodies Antonio Blanco's life, dreams and fantasies, and houses his own creations drawn from periods of his long career. To explore the entire three-storey building of Blanco’s kingdom, you are welcome to ask his family to guide you around the museum and grounds.

The Neka Art Museum

The Neka Art Museum, previously known as the Neka Museum, opened in 1982 and was named after the Balinese teacher and owner Suteja Neka, who collected paintings for years. Today, the museum has been recognised as an institute of international standing and is home to some wonderful art pieces by many famous Balinese, Indonesian and foreign artists who have lived in Bali and influenced the local art scene.

To discover the ancient collection of Neka, you can visit the Museum, located only a few steps away from Museum Antonio Blanco in Campuhan, or the Neka Fine Art Gallery which is situated on Jalan Raya Ubud and houses the newest collections of many famous Balinese, Indonesian and foreign artists.

Arma Museum

The Agung Rai Museum of Art (or ARMA as it’s commonly known) was officially opened in June 1996. The Arma building is a compound including a resort, restaurants, painting classes, a museum and also an open stage for performing arts. The museum showcases a permanent painting exhibition by Balinese, Indonesian and foreign artists, including the collection of the Arma Foundation and work loaned from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Agung Rai, and ranges from traditional to contemporary works by Walter Spies, Willem Gerald Hofker, Rudolf Bonnet, Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres, Raden Saleh Syarif Bustman and Willem Dooijwaard. The facilities provide the opportunity to enjoy theatre, music and traditional Balinese dance every Saturday and Sunday night.

Gedong Arca Archeological Museum

Located about seven kilometres out of Ubud’s centre, towards Gianyar, the museum houses numerous items ranging from simple Paleolithic artefacts, stone tools and blades from the pre-Hindu Bronze Age to the golden era of Balinese Hindu-Buddhism and beyond, gained from Indian and Chinese traders who pre-dated the Dutch by centuries.

Bali Bird & Reptile Park

Bali Bird & Reptile Park could be the perfect choice if you are headed to Ubud to spend time with your entire family. Located in Batubulan it sits gloriously on two hectares of landscaped botanical gardens. Stroll within the boundaries of the park to experience the replicated natural eco-systems of Balinese Jungle and Papuan Rainforest and admire the finest collection of almost 1,000 exotic birds from 250 different species from Indonesia, Africa and South America.

The park also accommodates a wonderful display of flora with more than 2000 tropical plants including 50 varieties of palms. Here, you can experience feeding and nursing the birds, enjoy a free, live demonstration and watch a bird show through their 4D avian theatre. 

Taro Elephant Park

Acclaimed as the world’s best elephant park since its opening in 1996, Taro Elephant Safari Park is set in 3.5 hectares of pristine tropical parklands and unspoiled national forest, and houses 27 indigenous Sumatran elephants. You can exclusively interact with these beautiful mammals: feeding, riding, learning and observing the daily elephant talent shows. You can also stay in their unique lodge for an overnight experience.

Beside the parkland, you will find the world’s most unique memorabilia in the Elephant Museum including a 15,000 year-old mammoth skeleton – the only one in Southeast Asia. After strolling through the Taro forest, satisfy your appetite at the Park Restaurant located just beside the bathing lake then head to the Elephant Shop for elephant-themed souvenirs before you leave the park.

Bali Zoo

Bali Zoo protects some of Indonesia’s finest species, as well as other countries’ exotic animals including Siamangs, a gigantic crocodile, Komodo dragon (the largest lizard in the world, growing to an average length of two-three metres), deer, kangaroos, reptiles, tigers, primates and various kinds of birds such as Bali starlings, peacocks, cassowaries and cockatoos.

The Zoo will take you on a virtual jungle tour to take a closer look at the animals and admire the lush tropical flora and gorgeous setting. For an unforgettable experience, make sure you arm yourself with a camera before you head out, to capture an amazing moment while you and your family feed, ride and cuddle the animals, with no additional charge.

Botanic Garden Ubud

This five hectares of tranquil greenery sits at an elevation of between 320 and 400 metres above sea level and features a range of micro-climates with ravines, groves, meadows, a river, waterfalls and a natural forest setting. The Garden's paths and stairways lead you on a journey of exploration through the three orchid houses, Islamic Garden, Fern Garden, Chocolate Grove, Herbal Plants Garden, a Titan and Rafflesia and Bali’s first maze.

Watched over by an ancient banyan tree, a meditation court provides a place of stillness and is guarded by carved stone Buddhas. Just 1.2 kilometres from Ubud on the main road towards Kutuh Kaja Village and facing the bird village of Petulu, home of the famous white egret, the Garden is an oasis of calm.

Elephant Cave

Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave (allegedly derived from the name Lwa Gajah – originally meaning elephant waters) is one of the most historical sites in Bali and was developed in the 11th century, on the western edge of Bedulu Village only six kilometres out of central Ubud. The entire site of Goa Gajah was partially destroyed by natural disaster and lay undetected for centuries before being rediscovered by a team of Dutch archaeologists in 1923.

Goa Gajah is a place to meditate and worship the spiritual essence of the site, Lord Ganesha - the Hindu God of knowledge and wisdom who is characterised as an entity by his elephant head and four arms. Surrounding the site, you can find two traditional bathing pools, some artefacts and statues, and the cave itself, which is decorated with stone relief work showing a demonic face with an open fanged mouth that reveals the entrance.

Yeh Pulu

Lying between Petanu and Pakerisan Rivers and just few minutes drive from the Elephant Cave, Yeh Pulu is a 14th century site you shouldn’t miss. 'Yeh' means 'water' or 'spring', and 'pulu' is a Balinese name for a stone water container. It’s an ancient complex of rock carvings of various images of Wayang characters (shadow puppets) and common people, which form a scene of Balinese village life in the early days, and include Lord Ganesha, horsemen, an ascetic, and a seated woman. You will also find that two hundred metres north lies a sacred bathing place decorated with naturalistic reliefs.

Pura Penataran Sasih

The next stop is Pura Penataran Sasih situated six kilometres northwest of Gianyar and two kilometres north of Pejeng. It is also known as ‘The Moon Temple’ and derived its name from an ancient bronze kettledrum (or nekara) called ‘Moon of Pejeng’ which is now kept in the inner chamber. It is the largest bronze kettle in Southeast Asia at about two metres in length and allegedly dates from 300 BC. The design is associated with the Dong Son culture of Southern China and Northern Vietnam around 1500 BC. This highly valued and ornate gong is in the shape of an hourglass and is beautifully engraved: it is regarded as Indonesia’s most important Bronze-Age antique.

Gunung Kawi

Gunung Kawi (meaning ‘carving in the mount’) is a 10th century Hindu temple complex located in Gianyar regency. To explore the entire site, descend the 300-step stone stairway leading to a beautiful valley where you will find ten seven-metre-high memorials carved into the rock face.

Four can be found on the west side and five on the east side of the river, while to the south across the valley lies another. According to legend, these ruined temples are the memorial shrines of the king's concubines and his family. These days, Gunung Kawi sanctuary is still used for ritual ceremonies and locals gather periodically to offer the usual gifts and to pay homage to God, the ancient king, and his family.

Pura Tirta Empul

The name 'Tirta Empul' refers to a crystal-clear stream which is used as holy water for various religious ceremonies. Legend has it that the God Indra, to revive his forces who had been poisoned by Mayadanawa (a powerful evil King from Blingkang, a region north of Lake Batur), created this sacred spring. Entering the main courtyard, the only spot tourists are allowed to enter, you can enjoy the exquisite twin shrines and split gate. Inside the inner sanctum, you can see a number of rectangular bathing pools where for more than 1,000 years the Balinese have come to bathe for healing and spiritual merit.

Ubud Palace or Puri Saren Agung

In the late nineteenth century, Ubud became the seat of feudal lords who owed their allegiance to the King of Gianyar, once the most powerful of Bali's southern states. Then the last king of Ubud, Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati (1910–1978) decided to build a palace, which is now occupied by his descendants and noted as the first hotel in Ubud, dating back to the 1930s. Until today, dance performances are still held in the courtyard nightly.

Batuan Village

Lots of Balinese say that if you want to see what Bali looked like in the old days, visit Batuan Village. The village comprises traditional Balinese compounds and natural surroundings, and you’ll be fascinated by the residents who enthusiastically embrace the traditions and rituals observed in every facet of their life: most of them work as traditional craftsmen or artists. The name ‘Batuan’ or ‘Baturan’ can be translated as ‘tough as stone’ or ‘eating rocks’, but actually it refers to an ancient megalithic tradition in which standing stones (many of which have been found in this village) served as meeting places and ceremonial sites for the worship of ancestral spirits. So, be sure to put it on your holiday outing agenda.

Pura Samuan Tiga

Samuan Tiga Temple is strategically located set back a little from the main road between Ubud and Tampaksiring, and used to be one of the most popular tourist destinations. This sacred temple was the royal temple of the Udayana Warmadewa dynasty (a Balinese King who ruled in the 10th century). Samuan Tiga literally means three (tiga) meetings (samuan) and the temple is assumed to be the venue for the great meeting between Gods, deities and saints. Pura Samuan Tiga offers unique architecture and a stunning view, flanked by two rivers, the Pande and Tegending, on the east side and the remains of an ancient pool on the west side, with sacred Banyan, Pule and Curiga trees growing around the site. The temple has seven courtyards separated by walls and split gates, but connected by stairs leading up to the innermost courtyard, believed to be the meeting hall of three holy spirits.

This stunning architecture and history provides the annual stage for the oldest Balinese Hindu ritual. Siat Sampian (Sampian War) takes place during the 10th full moon (in Balinese called Purnama Kadasa, it falls every April) and normally lasts from 06:00 to approximately 13:00. The 'war' is performed by over 200 males and dozens of females, who attack each other using young-coconut leaf arrangements called sampian. Make sure you don’t miss this unique amazing ritual while you’re here for holiday in April.