The Ultimate Ubud Itinerary for You: Part 1
Welcome to Ubud, the heart of Bali! With its verdant rice terraces and misty jungles, its vibrant temples and hidden waterfalls, there is a magic here that speaks to every traveller. Whether you’re seeking a romantic escape, unforgettable family adventures, serene wellness or to immerse yourself in a new culture, we’ve put together an itinerary for you to get the best out of your holiday. In part one, we’re taking a close look at the best way to spend your days if you’re looking for romance, or if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the local culture. We’ll also point you in the direction of the best Ubud villas for your own perfect holiday.
Your Romantic Escape to Ubud
Lush jungle, terraced rice paddies, misty mornings – yes, Ubud is romantic! With its spiritual energy, rich culture and serene nature, this is the perfect scene in which to set your getaway for two.
Stay: Mayaloka 1bed Premier is the best of the Ubud villas for romance
This perfectly located 1bed private pool villa is all set for romance. Pull the curtains in the morning to reveal your floor to ceiling view onto your pool and the jungle that lies just beyond it. We can ramp up the vibe for you with floating breakfasts and even set up your room especially for romance. You’ll barely want to leave. But when you do, Ubud Palace, in the centre of Ubud, is just a short stroll away. Yes, you get the best of both worlds here: the tranquility that comes with being on the edge of the rainforest with all its scents and sounds, yet the convenience of having all the attractions of Ubud right on your doorstep.
Mayaloka 1bed Premier is a great choice among the Ubud villas. Built in April 2025, it is modern and well maintained, with smart locks and a reception that is manned 24/7. There’s a king sized bed, a beautiful ensuite bathroom with both bathtub and shower, office space, AC, security box, closet space and a smart TV. There’s daybeds by the pool, and a bistro table and chairs that is the perfect setting for taking your breakfast or coffee/tea (included in the price, of course).
Day 1: Take your time to explore the beauty of Ubud
Let’s take things slow, and enjoy exploring Ubud at a leisurely pace on foot. The streets are lined with temples, boutiques, cafes, massage spots, gelato shops and more, perfect for relaxed wandering. Before you leave, set the mood for the day with a floating breakfast served in your own private pool – the ultimate in romance.
Ready to start the day? Take a walk into Ubud, enjoying its sights and sounds. It’s less than 10 minutes walk to Ubud Palace, with its serene gardens and stunning Balinese architecture with expressive gargoyles.
From there, a stroll through the art market is a must. This daily market sells locally crafted goods, most of which are made in the surrounding villages. There are silk scarves, handmade bags, homewares, paintings, handmade clothes – plenty of options for a romantic gift. Bargaining is part of the culture here. Treat it as a game if you’re a little uncomfortable.
When you’re done here, head back in the direction of the Palace and stop off at the peaceful Pura Taman Saraswati Temple, also known as Ubud Water Palace, a must see with its ponds and lotuses. This tiny Hindu temple has a small pathway over a pond that is covered in green lotus and pink flowers.
Hungry? We recommend stopping off at Café Lotus. Located right by Pura Saraswati on Jalan Raya Ubud, this is an Ubud classic. First opened in the 1980s as a bohemian meeting place for artists and backpackers, it’s now a little more upmarket. You’ll get a great lunch here, and its views over the huge lotus pond are perfect. In the evening, you can grab a front row table here and watch traditional dance at Pura Saraswati.
Spas, a stroll and a perfect dinner
Time for some relaxation. Head back to the villa where we can arrange a couple’s massage for you. Or if you prefer, try out a spa in Ubud. We recommend the Royal Intimate Couple massage at the Serayu spa at the Kayon resort. You’ll need to grab a taxi for this one.
Now you’re refreshed, ready for an intimate evening stroll before dinner. There are multiple delightful walks around Ubud. For ultimate romance and peace, we suggest the less well known Subak Juwuk Manis rice field walk, starting at Jalan Kajeng. The Campuhan Ridge walk is another strong favourite, and conveniently ends close to your restaurant for the evening, Mozaic. Either way, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking sunset with vistas over the rice fields and the Ayung River valley.
Mozaic is a fine dining restaurant perfect for a special celebratory meal. You will need to book in advance. Specialising in French – Indonesian fusion, it’s Michelin star quality. We recommend you try the tasting menu with wine pairing – it’s a culinary adventure for sure. Our standouts? The Foie Gras Snow and the Dry Aged Duck Breast.
Now back to the villa – you have an early start tomorrow!
Day 2: Rice terraces and waterfalls
Time to go exploring the great outdoors beyond central Ubud! Our first major stop is the absolute must-see, Tegalalang Rice Terraces. You can’t miss these iconic rice fields – they’re a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and dazzle with their layers of vibrant green. They’re just a 20 minute drive away by taxi or scooter, and the earlier you can get there the better, preferably around 7 or 8 am, before the heat and the crowds build up. Allow yourself a couple of hours so you can take a slow hike down into the valley and enjoy the terraces close up. Enjoy breakfast or coffee at one of the many cafes overlooking the terraces. We suggest heading to Tis Café. Breathtaking views, and great food whether you’re here for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks. (Psst: you may be interested to know that you can also get your vows renewed here, if you were planning a very special celebration!) There are also a couple of swings in this area, if you’d like to get a romantic photo of you both swinging over the rice terraces.
Time to relax
Next stop is Alas Harum, just a few minutes away. Initially a coffee plantation, Alas Harum is now home to rice terrace views, ziplines, and all manner of photo ops. You can also use this as a base for exploring the rice terraces, for a swing photo, and for lunch, if you prefer. We’re heading to its pool club, Cretya Bali, to hang out, sunbathe, swim, and maybe sip a cocktail or two. Cheers.
On our way back into town, let’s stop off at one of Ubud’s many waterfalls. We love Tibumama for its romantic atmosphere, but today we’re stopping at lesser known Manuaba waterfall, which is just a 15-minute drive from Alas Harum. A quieter option than most, this site features not one but two waterfalls, and both are spectacular. The second is reached by wading through the river so come prepared! Warung D&W here is a good place to stop for a refreshing coconut with a view.
Head back to the villa and get ready for your super romantic evening meal at Taman Dedari. This beautifully located restaurant has its own sculpture park. Best visited around sunset, you’ll enjoy your dinner in a tropical garden overlooking the Ayung Valley, with angel statues towering above you.
If you’re still got some energy, we’d recommend an after-dinner cocktail at Honey and Smoke. If you’re really up for it, how about a night out dancing at Laughing Buddha, with live music and cocktails?
Cultural explorers of Ubud
Ubud is the beating heart of Bali, packed with temples, art, dance and heritage. Explore its museums and galleries, take workshops on local cooking, crafts or canang making, immerse yourself in traditional practices and rituals, sample real local food. It’s all here if you’re looking for it.
Stay: Mayaloka 1bed Suite is our pick of the Ubud villas for culture vultures
The best of the Ubud villas to stay in if you want to explore Ubud is at our brand new Mayaloka 1bed Suite, just a 10-minute walk from Ubud Palace and the centre of Ubud. This ultra-modern villa is perfectly located for exploring the heart of Ubud, and offers a place to relax at the end of the day.
It’s not just about its location either: this villa has its own private pool with room to relax outside on a large poolside daybed or with a coffee or cocktail at the poolside bistro table. It’s ultra-comfortable – there’s a beautiful bathroom with both bathtub and shower, there’s a king sized bed and AC to guarantee a good night’s sleep. There’s also a smart TV and office space with desk and chair. And there are staff to meet your every need, as reception is manned 24/7.
Day1: Ubud is your classroom
Spend your first day in Ubud orientating yourself, immersing yourself in the culture, and strolling through its streets, museums and galleries. Of course, it would be remiss of you to not stop and sample the food and maybe the odd cocktail too.
If you’re willing to start your day early, you can catch a glimpse of Ubud life without the tourists by heading to the Morning Market around 6-7am. At this point in the day it’s all about fruit, temple offerings and local food. By 8am it’s all over, the tourist souvenirs dominate and prices go up, but first thing in the morning, you can get a sense of authenticity. Grab some breakfast here – you can take your pick of traditional Balinese breakfast dishes.
Hit the galleries
From here you’re close to the main sights – Ubud Palace and Pura Taman Saraswati Temple (Ubud Water Palace) are just a short walk, and the art market is adjacent. If you’re near Ubud Palace in the afternoon, pick up tickets for the Balinese Legong dance performance for that evening – tickets are best bought in advance.
If you want a short break while you’re exploring Central Ubud, try Artteas. This tea specialist has some local teas from Bali and Java. Each table has its own stove, and the waiter comes to your table and ceremoniously brews and pours the tea for you.
Next, hit the museums. Puri Lukisan, close to the Water Palace, is considered the home of the finest modern Balinese art. You can get an insight into the local modern art scene, and there are explanations in English. Continuing the art theme, Blanco Renaissance Museum is a ten minute walk away. Once the home of artist Don Antonio Blanco, known as the Dali of Bali, the house and gardens themselves are extraordinary, as well as the art works contained within. Don’t miss the views from the roof, or the parrots.
If you’re not done with art yet, the ARMA modern art museum is a real must see. Grab a taxi for this one. ARMA is housed in a beautiful Balinese style building in extensive grounds, and its art collection is excellent. You can scan each painting with your phone to hear a short audio explanation. It’s a wonderfully restful place to spend a few hours wandering around, or sitting in the shade of the gardens.
Art, food and dance
You’re probably starving by now! Pison is an excellent restaurant not far from ARMA and makes a great pitstop either before or after. Fabulous whether you just want a coffee or whether you want to sit down for a full meal. We recommend the ice cappuccino (it’s delicious because they add a small amount of ice cream), and if you’re eating, we recommend the original Beef Gordon, the deep fried duck, or the fried oxtail soup. Or, for something more local, head to Bebek Tepi Sawah for lunch and try their Bebek Goreng, or deep fried crispy duck. This place is a cultural experience in itself, as you eat sitting on the floor at a low table overlooking a rice field.
And if you want to delve deeper into Balinese culture and art, all of these museums and galleries offer a range of interesting classes from gamelan playing, to mask painting, to traditional dancing to silversmithing to cooking.
Time to head back to the Royal Palace now to catch the Legong dance you bought tickets for earlier. This is based on 12th century legend about a maiden who was kidnapped and how she was freed. Carefully choreographed moves and almost hypnotic music have entranced audiences for centuries.
For dinner, we have something a bit special. Hujan Locale is Balinese food that’s been given a modern twist. It’s creative food in a beautiful space, and we love it. Try the slow cooked beef rendang and the pandang style cumi cumi kalio, and finish off with the Balinese affogato. Sleep well!
Day2: Explore Bali’s temples and spiritual practices
Venture out of central Ubud on your second day and tour some of the area’s best cultural and historical sights. There are certainly plenty to choose from. We suggest you start your day at Tirta Empul, a 10th century water temple, about a 30-minute drive from your villa. Get here early as it gets very crowded – it’s best to arrive around 7am. Tirta Empul is a natural hot spring and one of the holiest in Bali: the water is believed to have sacred powers. You can take part in its purification ritual by bathing in these holy waters and taking a blessing.
There are many other important sites around this area. You’re close to the 11th century Hindu temple of Gunung Kawi, where 10 shrine reliefs are carved into the rockface that looks out over the Pakerisan River, and over the rice terraces. Another great option in this area is the confusingly similarly named Gungung Kawi Sebatu Temple. This water temple is not as frequently visited as the other sites and the complex feels deeply serene. You can also bathe in the natural spring water here.
It’s time for lunch! Head over to Begawan Biji, about 30 minutes’ drive away. You can go via the world famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces which is around half way. Begawan Biji is a sustainable farm to table restaurant. You can tour the farm and learn where your food comes from before sitting down in an open air pavilion to enjoy a truly local food experience. The menu includes interesting Balinese ingredients like ginger lily, giving you a real taste of the local area. Don’t miss the Begawan Mansur Heritage Rice sourced from their backyard. You can buy this to take home too.
Caves and culinary adventures
We’ve got one more major cultural stop before we head back to Ubud – the 9th century Goa Gajah Elephant Cave. A 20-minute drive will take you to this remarkable archaeological site located just outside of Ubud. Don’t expect to see actual elephants here, they’re not native to Bali! Instead, expect to spend an hour or so exploring a cave complex with carvings, relics, a meditation cave, pools and fountains. Plus there’s a rather frightening entrance, with fearsome giants carved in as guardians of the cave.
You’ll be tired by now, so head back to your villa to relax by your pool for a while, before getting ready for a special Indonesian dinner at Nusantara. Sister restaurant to Locavore NXT (we also recommend this!), Nusantara offers high end dishes from across the Indonesian archipelago. They also offer a Culinary Adventure, where you can head into the kitchen and learn their secrets. We recommend the Moringa soup and Konro Bakar, a beef ribs dish from South Sulawesi, but really, you can’t go wrong here. There’s a set menu option if you’re struggling to choose.
As you stroll back to your villa, pop in at Night Rooster for a quick digestif. This relaxed bar has a fantastically creative cocktail menu, just the thing to round your evening off. Cheers!
Look out for part 2 of our Ubud itinerary series, where you’ll find the best recommendations for a perfect two days if you’re travelling with your family, or if you’re seeking wellness, nature and inner peace.
To find out:
The ultimate Ubud itinerary for you part 2 click here.
Top things to see and do in Ubud Bali click here.
The best villas to stay at in Bali click here.
More informaton on where to stay in Bali click here.
What to do in Bali click here.
The 10 must do day trips in Bali click here.
