Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Ubud?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Ubud?
Many visitors spend four to seven days in Ubud during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This town offers a number of attractions to explore, including the restaurant scene, the museums and landmarks, the hiking, and shopping.
Ubud is a town on the island of Bali that attracts tourists, vacationers, honeymooners, and backpackers. It's a well-known destination and what was once a serene and peaceful destination has become well-established on the travel circuit. It's still a beautiful destination, though, with jungles, rice paddies, and temples offering a unique cultural setting.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Ubud? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Ubud?
With only three days, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, Ubud enjoys immense popularity among tourists because of its many sights and attractions. To fully embrace Ubud, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to plan at least 4 or as many as 7 days to experience the restaurant scene, the museums and landmarks, the hiking, and shopping. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend 3 days in Ubud
Don't miss Tegallalang rice terrace during your trip to Ubud, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The culinary scene in Ubud is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this town's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. You'll find some of the best restaurants on Bali in this town. There is everything from family-owned eateries to award winning restaurants. Dishes range from vegan to meat-filled and you'll find both local favorites and western cuisine.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Balinese Authentic Cooking Class in Ubud ($40)
- Ubud Cooking Class Bali with Balinese Chef ($37)
- Balinese Farm Cooking Class by Pemulan Bali ($38)
Ubud is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The town is generally walkable and easy to explore on foot, but you'll need other transportation if you want to get outside of town.
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Ubud, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. The town is filled with temples and cultural sights such as the Ubud Monkey Forest, Goa Gajah (the Elephant Cave), the Ubud Royal Palace, and the Blanco Renaissance Museum.
The Blanco Renaissance Museum is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for any traveler. Known for its collection of Don Antonio Blanco's artworks, entry is $6.
Ubud Palace is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for couples. Known for its traditional Balinese architecture and cultural performances, entry is free.
It's worth around 2 hours for Saraswati Temple. Entry is free. It's known for its beautiful lotus pond and traditional architecture.
A few tour suggestions include:
- East Bali Tour: Gate of Heaven, Water Palace, Sleeping Gajah ($100)
- Ubud City Tour I: Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Art Market, and Waterfall ($45)
- Ubud Shopping, Water Palace and Water fall Tours. ($50)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The nightlife scene is mostly focused on cultural activities and live music. Many people head here to escape the party scene that is so popular elsewhere on the island.
Known for it's hiking, Ubud sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. There are many stunning walks and hikes just outside of town. There are stunning views from Campuhan Ridge Walk, which is best enjoyed at sunrise or sunset. Jalan Subak Sok Wayah Walk will take you through the rice paddies and Kajeng Rice Field Walk is close to town but tucked away from the crowds. One of the biggest draws of the area is the Tegallalang Rice Terraces Walk.
It's worth around 3 hours for The Campuhan Ridge Walk. Entry is free. It's known for its scenic hiking trail with panoramic views.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking Tour ($39)
- Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking Tour ($41)
- Private Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking ($35)
Ubud is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. It's a stunning setting, which makes it appealing to tourists, but to truly enjoy the beauty you'll want to get a bit outside of town.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tanah Lot Sunset Private Tour ($60)
- Mount Batur Sunset Trekking (Include Set menu lunch before hike at Restaurant) ($86)
- Ubud Guided Walking Tour ($28)
Is 4 days enough time in Ubud?
Ubud holds a significant allure for tourists because of its many sights and attractions. Four days is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to see the main attractions of Ubud such as the restaurant scene, the museums and landmarks, the hiking, and shopping. To thoroughly enjoy all that the town has to offer, you'll probably want more time. Most travelers schedule at least 4 or as many as 7 days to fully experience the breathtaking town. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
How to spend 4 days in Ubud
With 4 days in Ubud, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.
Shopping in Ubud is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Head to the Ubud shopping street for boutiques, markets, and local items. The town has grown into a shopper's paradise with many Balinese handicrafts around.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for The Ubud Art Market. It's a nice activity for couples and is known for its vibrant market with handmade crafts. It's free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Half-Day Private Personalized Shopping Tour in Ubud ($58)
- Ubud Shopping, Water Palace and Water fall Tours. ($50)
- Ubud Shopping Tour ($101)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Ubud.
Is 5 days enough time in Ubud?
Five days is usually not enough time to experience the breathtaking town of Ubud, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to taste delicious cuisine, browse the museums, discover the nearby hiking trails, and browse the shops. So, you'll likely want more than five days, as many tourists set aside around four to seven days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend 5 days in Ubud
If you have more than 5 days in Ubud, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.
The small-town atmosphere of Ubud is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. While it's a small town, you'll find huge crowds of tourists, which can distract from the local atmosphere.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for The Ubud Art Market. It's a nice activity for couples and is known for its vibrant market with handmade crafts. It's free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Ubud Guided Walking Tour ($28)
- BALI ATV Kuber Through Historic Tunnel and Scenic Waterfalls ($34)
- Ubud City Tour I: Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Art Market, and Waterfall ($45)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Ubud.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Ubud, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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