Ubud is famous for Arts and Crafts, often referred to as the Cultural Central of Bali, however do not be mistaken that Ubud is a traditional village, this is due to its high quality handmade crafts, famous artists and surrounding villages that specialise in handmade souvenirs such as silver, Batik, woodcarving, even egg painting and glass blowing.

Ubud is a tourist village, in fact the local people of Ubud come from a long line of well educated, some aristocratic bloodlines, that have been welcoming tourists since 1936. The people of Ubud are famous for their Arts, not for old traditions, however they offer daily displays of dances for the tourists, and even open part of their Kings Palace for viewing.


 You will find very modern cafes, catering to tourists, offering tasty Western dishes using fresh local produce.

Ubud is in Central Bali, located approximately 1.5 hours from the airport, it has no close beaches, the cooler and much damper climate, offers a beautiful landscape of tropical plants, and the outer villages around Ubud are scattered with rice fields.

Ubud is the perfect place to base yourself for day trips, as the travel time will be less, for example for whitewater rafting, or Temples, or the Volcano, canoeing the Lake, or a Swing in the Jungle

It's a great place to do some souvenir shopping, the weather is much cooler for walking the long streets lined with shops.

Ubud itself has a few rice fields tucked behind the hotels, if you really want to be out in the rice fields though, you need to be at least 20 minutes out of Ubud Central.

 Head north if Ubud for Rice Terraces and more jungle feel. 

Head 20 minutes out in any other direction from Ubud for rolling rice fields,

Try to stay in a hotel not on the main roads, as the traffic is terrible during the day, as Ubud Central is full of day trippers, bused in every day from the luxury resorts.


 Nyuh Kuning is a lovely village walking distance to Ubud, as is Penesetan, or Peliatan. 

 A bit further you can stay in Pejang or Lotunduh, or Kedewatan, and the good thing is, that all hotels will have shuttles for you to Ubud,

Ubud is located in Central Bali, via the Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, then off the highway past some beautiful scenic villages, displaying stone carvings. You can reach Ubud from the airport in 1.5 hours, however if you are going to the airport, always allow at least 2 hours if you are leaving in the afternoon, as many day trippers also leave Ubud at that time, and the traffic comes to a standstill