Ubud Itinerary: How to Spend 3, 5 or 7 Days in Ubud, Bali

I have stayed in Ubud several times, for more than a month altogether, and it is one of those places that changes considerably once you stop treating it as a collection of sights.

On a short visit, there is plenty to fill the days: temples, waterfalls, rice terraces, the Monkey Forest, Mount Batur and the Ayung River are all within easy reach. Stay a little longer, though, and Ubud begins to settle into a different rhythm. Some of my favourite memories are much less ambitious — walking the Campuhan Ridge early in the morning before the heat arrived, lingering over coffee, wandering down Jalan Goutama before dinner, or spending an relax afternoon at a spa.

With this experience, that is how I would approach an Ubud itinerary now.

If you have 3 days in Ubud, you can see the main highlights without turning every day into a race. With 5 days, there is enough time for adventure, wellness, and a little breathing room. And with 7 days, you can begin to enjoy Ubud in the way I think suits it best: slowly.

The itinerary below combines Ubud’s essential sights with the experiences I found most worthwhile, while leaving enough space for the slower mornings, long lunches and unplanned evenings that made me enjoy the town so much in the first place.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Ubud?

For a first visit, I think 5 days in Ubud is the sweet spot.

Three days is enough to see the main highlights, especially if you plan your days well. You can explore central Ubud, visit the Monkey Forest and Tirta Empul, see the rice terraces, fit in a waterfall, and still have time for one or two slower moments.

With 5 days, the trip feels much more balanced. You can add something more adventurous, such as rafting or Mount Batur, without turning every day into a schedule of transfers and entrance tickets. There is also enough time for the side of Ubud I enjoyed most: long breakfasts, spa afternoons, yoga, café stops and walks without constantly checking what comes next.

A 7-day Ubud itinerary works especially well if you prefer slower travel, want to include workshops or day trips, or simply like having enough time to return to places you enjoyed instead of seeing everything once and moving on.

If you only have one day in Ubud, you can still get a good introduction to the town, but I would treat it as a taste rather than a complete visit. For most travellers, I would choose 5 days. It gives you enough time to experience what makes Ubud special without stretching the stay or rushing through it.

Day 1 — Campuhan Ridge Walk, Central Ubud, Monkey Forest & Legong Dance

Your first day in Ubud works best if you keep most of it on foot and stay close to the centre. It gives you a good introduction to the town without immediately spending half the day in traffic.

Start early at Campuhan Ridge Walk

I would begin with the Campuhan Ridge Walk as early as possible, before the heat builds and the path gets busier.

This was one of my favourite ways to start a day in Ubud. The walk itself is not difficult, but the setting is lovely: a narrow ridge surrounded by green hills, palms and dense tropical vegetation, with the town gradually disappearing behind you.

Early morning is when it feels best. The light is softer, the air is cooler, and there are fewer people around. Later in the day, the exposed sections can become surprisingly hot.

You do not need to treat Campuhan as a major hike. Go at an easy pace, enjoy the views, stop for photos, and turn back whenever it feels right for your day.

Wander through central Ubud

From Campuhan, head back toward the centre and spend some time around Ubud Palace, Saraswati Temple, the market and the surrounding streets.

Central Ubud is compact enough that you can move between most places on foot, although the traffic can make even short distances feel busier than they look on a map.

This is also a good time to stop for breakfast or coffee rather than trying to fit every landmark into a strict schedule. Some of my favourite time in Ubud was simply spent walking between cafés, small shops, temples and quiet side streets without having anywhere urgent to be.

Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest

Later in the morning or early afternoon, continue to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

The forest is one of Ubud’s best-known attractions, but it is worth visiting for more than just the monkeys. The paths wind through dense greenery, temple complexes, stone bridges and enormous tree roots, so the setting itself is a big part of the experience.

Give yourself around 1.5 to 2 hours if you want to explore without rushing.

Keep food out of sight, secure loose belongings, and follow the staff instructions around the macaques. They are used to visitors, but they are still wild animals and very quick when they spot something interesting.

If you want more detail before visiting, my Ubud Monkey Forest guide covers what to expect, practical tips and how to visit safely.

Slow down in the afternoon

After the Monkey Forest, I would leave the afternoon fairly open.

Have lunch, go back to your hotel for a while, book a massage, or wander through central Ubud again at a slower pace.

If you are staying nearby, this is a good time to walk along Jalan Goutama, one of my favourite streets in the centre for cafés, restaurants and an easy evening atmosphere.

End the day with a Legong dance at Ubud Palace

In the evening, return to Ubud Palace for a traditional Legong dance performance.

The palace courtyard is a beautiful setting for it, and the combination of traditional costumes, live gamelan music and expressive choreography makes the performance feel very different from the rest of the day.

Arrive a little early if you want a better seat, especially during busier periods. I have a separate guide to the Legong dance in Ubud with more details on the experience, where to watch it and what to expect.

After the performance, stay in central Ubud for dinner. Jalan Goutama is especially nice in the evening, when the heat has eased, and the restaurants begin to fill.

Day 2 — Kanto Lampo Waterfall, Tegalalang Rice Terraces & Tirta Empul

Day 2 takes you beyond central Ubud and into the surrounding countryside. I would use a private driver for this day, both for convenience and because the timing matters if you want to experience Kanto Lampo at its best.

Start very early at Kanto Lampo Waterfall

If there is one place around Ubud where I would insist on getting up early, it is Kanto Lampo Waterfall.

It is one of the most photographed waterfalls near Ubud, and later in the day the small area in front of the cascade can turn into a long queue for a very quick photo. Early in the morning, however, the experience can be completely different.

I arrived very early and had the waterfall entirely to myself. Instead of waiting behind dozens of people, I could take my time in the water, enjoy the setting properly and get photos without feeling rushed.

Kanto Lampo is also quite different from many of Bali’s taller waterfalls. The water spills over a broad wall of dark rock in several layers, creating the stepped cascade that makes it so recognisable.

The walk down from the parking area is short, so this does not need to take up half your day. Wear something you do not mind getting completely wet, bring a swimsuit and shoes or sandals with good grip because the rocks can be slippery.

Continue to Tegalalang Rice Terraces

From Kanto Lampo, continue north toward Tegalalang Rice Terraces.

Tegalalang is one of the classic sights around Ubud, and the terraces are undeniably beautiful when you first see the layers of rice fields falling away into the valley.

It was not, however, my favourite rice-field experience in Bali.

The area is very commercialised, with swings, cafés, viewing platforms and photo installations built around the landscape. Many people come specifically for that experience, and if that appeals to you, Tegalalang delivers it very well. Even if it doesn’t, I still think the terraces are worth seeing on a first visit to Ubud, especially if you have never seen Balinese rice fields before. Personally, I preferred the quieter working landscapes I found elsewhere on the island, particularly around Sidemen.

Give yourself enough time to walk beyond the first viewpoint rather than stopping only for a roadside photo. The terraces feel much more rewarding once you move away from the busiest entrance areas.

Add Tirta Empul if you are following the 3-day itinerary

If you only have 3 days in Ubud, continue from Tegalalang to Tirta Empul.

The temple is built around sacred springs and is one of the most important water temples in Bali. Its purification pools are still used for ritual cleansing, and even if you do not take part yourself, it is worth allowing enough time to walk through the complex and observe how the temple is used rather than treating it as a quick sightseeing stop.

Dress respectfully, wear the required sarong, and follow the signs and local guidance around the purification pools.

If you want to spend more time on temples than this itinerary allows, my guide to the best temples in and around Ubud includes the ones I would prioritise, plus half-day and full-day temple routes from town.

If you are staying longer, save Tirta Empul for another morning

If you have 5 or 7 days in Ubud, I would consider leaving Pura Tirta Empul for another day instead.

Visiting the temple early in the morning gives you more time to experience it before the larger tour groups arrive, and it also keeps Day 2 from becoming too packed.

In the 7-day version of this itinerary, Tirta Empul fits especially well into one of the slower final days, when you can visit early and return to Ubud without feeling that you need to squeeze several more attractions into the same route.

After Tegalalang, you can then head back toward Ubud for lunch and keep the rest of the afternoon open for a café, spa, pool time, or simply a slower walk through town.

Day 3 — Ayung River Rafting or Mount Batur & a Spa Afternoon

After two days of walking, temples, and sightseeing, Day 3 is a good time to do something completely different.

Spend the morning rafting on the Ayung River

White-water rafting on the Ayung River was one of the more adventurous things I did around Ubud, and it is a good choice if you want a break from temples and viewpoints.

The route takes you through a steep green valley, with jungle, rock walls and small waterfalls along the way. The scenery is a big part of the experience, so even if you are not particularly interested in extreme sports, the rafting itself still feels worthwhile.

You do not need previous rafting experience. Most trips include a guide, safety equipment, and hotel pickup, and the rapids are generally manageable for beginners while still being fun enough to keep the morning interesting.

Expect to get completely wet, and bring a change of clothes for afterwards. Water shoes or secure sandals are useful, and I would avoid carrying anything you would be upset to lose in the river.

Most rafting trips take up a large part of the morning once transfers, briefing, and the river section are included, so I would not try to combine this with several major attractions.

Spend the afternoon at a spa

After rafting, I would keep the rest of the day easy.

Ubud is one of the best places in Bali to build some wellness into the itinerary, and a massage after a morning on the river feels especially well timed. I went to several spas, and enjoyed all of them, but if I had to pick out one, it would probably be Ubud Traditional Spa.

If you want to compare treatments, prices, and other places I liked, my guide to the best spas in Ubud goes into much more detail.

Finish with an easy evening in town

After the spa, I would keep the evening simple: dinner somewhere in central Ubud, a walk along Jalan Goutama, or a drink before heading back to your hotel.

By Day 3, you have already covered a good mix of culture, nature and adventure, which is why this is where the 3-day Ubud itinerary ends.

Day 4 — Mount Batur Sunrise & a Slow Afternoon

If you are staying 5 days in Ubud, this is where I would add Mount Batur.

It is one of the classic adventure experiences from Ubud, but it comes with a very early start, so I would build the whole day around that rather than trying to combine the hike with several other major stops.

Wake up in the middle of the night for Mount Batur

Most Mount Batur sunrise tours pick you up from Ubud sometime around the middle of the night so you can begin the climb before dawn.

The hike itself is not technically difficult, but the combination of darkness, loose volcanic ground and the early hour can make it feel harder than expected. Good shoes help, and bring something warm for the summit because it can feel surprisingly cold before the sun comes up.

The reward is watching the landscape slowly appear as the light changes over the surrounding mountains and crater.

Come back to Ubud and slow everything down

After the hike, I would resist the temptation to keep sightseeing.

Have a late breakfast, shower, sleep for a while, spend time by the pool or book another massage. By the time you are back in Ubud, you will already have been awake for hours, and the rest of the day feels much better when you stop treating it like another full itinerary day.

This is also a good opportunity to return to one of the cafés or streets you liked on Day 1, this time without needing to fit anything around it.

By late afternoon, Ubud usually feels much more pleasant again once the heat begins to ease. A slow walk, an early dinner and an easy evening are enough.

Day 5 — Yoga, Ubud Temples & a Spa Afternoon

By Day 5, you have already covered Ubud’s bigger sights and one or two more active experiences, so this is a good day to slow things down without leaving the town completely behind.

Start with yoga

Ubud has become almost synonymous with yoga and wellness, and this is a good morning to build some of that into the itinerary.

I booked a private yoga class, which I loved because it felt far more personal than simply joining another activity on a schedule. Whether you choose a private session or one of Ubud’s larger yoga studios, I would book something in the morning while the temperature is still comfortable.

Afterwards, take your time over breakfast rather than immediately moving on to the next stop.

Explore Ubud’s temples

Spend the late morning exploring a few of the temples in and around central Ubud. You do not need a full driver day for this; several worthwhile temples are close enough to combine with breakfast, lunch and a walk through town.

Start with Saraswati Temple, one of the prettiest temples in central Ubud. The entrance is framed by a long lotus pond, and the temple itself is dedicated to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. It is an easy place to visit, but I would still give yourself time to walk around rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

From there, continue to Pura Dalem Ubud, a temple on Jalan Raya Ubud that is easy to miss if you are only moving between the town’s biggest attractions. It has elaborate stone carvings and a more enclosed, atmospheric feel than Saraswati Temple, making the two a nice contrast.

Another good addition is Pura Gunung Lebah, near the start of the Campuhan Ridge Walk. It sits lower in the valley at the meeting point of two rivers, surrounded by greenery and bamboo, and feels noticeably quieter than the temples in the centre. If you did not stop here properly on Day 1, this is a good time to return.

If you still want one more temple, you can add Pura Desa Ubud or simply follow whatever catches your attention as you walk through the centre. One of the nicest things about Ubud is that temples are woven into the town rather than standing apart from it as isolated attractions.

Book a spa treatment in the afternoon

A spa afternoon fits naturally into a longer Ubud stay.

I really enjoyed experiencing them as there are enough good spas around Ubud that you can choose anything from a simple Balinese massage to a longer treatment with scrubs, baths and facials.

My separate guide to the best spas in Ubud has more options if you want to compare different places and treatments.

Day 6 — Ulun Danu Beratan & the Highlands of North Bali

By Day 6, I would leave Ubud behind for a while and head north into Bali’s cooler highlands.

This part of the island feels very different from central Ubud. The air is cooler, the roads climb through mountain scenery, and the landscape becomes greener and more dramatic as you approach Bedugul and Munduk.

Start at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Begin the day at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, one of Bali’s most recognisable temples.

The temple sits on the edge of Lake Beratan, surrounded by mountains, and when the water level is high, parts of the complex appear almost to float on the lake.

It is a very different setting from the temples around Ubud and one of the places that works especially well as part of a longer stay, when you have enough time to explore beyond the immediate Ubud area.

Go earlier in the day if you can, before the main crowds arrive and while the light is still softer over the lake.

Continue toward Munduk

From Ulun Danu Beratan, continue north toward Munduk.

The road itself is part of the experience, with mountain views, lakes and dense tropical vegetation along the way. I would not try to fit every possible stop into one day. Instead, choose one major nature stop and leave enough time to actually enjoy it.

A good option is to combine Ulun Danu Beratan with one of the waterfalls around Munduk, such as Banyumala Twin Waterfalls or Banyu Wana Amertha.

If you want more waterfall options, routes and practical tips, see my guide to the best waterfalls around Munduk.

Optional stops along the way

Depending on how much time you have, you can also add one or two shorter stops along the route.

Good options include a viewpoint over the Twin Lakes, a coffee stop in Munduk, or Handara Gate if you want to see one of Bali’s most photographed entrances.

Return to Ubud in the evening

The drive back to Ubud takes time, so I would keep the evening simple. Have dinner or drink near your hotel, take a short walk if you still feel like going out, and leave the rest of the evening open.

After a full day in the highlands, that is more than enough.

Day 7 — A Final Cultural Experience & a Slow Afternoon

If you saved Tirta Empul from Day 2, this is the perfect morning to visit it properly, before the larger tour groups arrive.

If you already visited Tirta Empul earlier in the itinerary, use the morning for another cultural stop instead. A good option is Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, just outside central Ubud. The site combines a rock-cut cave entrance, bathing pools, temple remains and a green ravine below, so it feels quite different from Tirta Empul and the smaller temples in town.

Another option is Gunung Kawi, where ancient rock-cut shrines are carved into the valley walls below a long staircase through rice fields. It takes a little more effort to reach, but it works especially well if you want one last temple experience that feels more immersive than simply stopping at another roadside complex.

Add a creative workshop or cooking class

After the morning temple visit, choose one hands-on experience for the middle of the day.

Ubud is a good place to do this because so much of its identity is tied to art, craft and food. A Balinese cooking class, silver-making workshop, wood-carving class or batik workshop gives you something completely different from the sightseeing-heavy days earlier in the itinerary.

I would only choose one. The point is to spend a few hours doing something properly rather than rushing between several activities.

Keep the final afternoon open

For the last afternoon, leave some space.

Go back to a café you liked. Book one more massage. Spend time by the pool. Walk somewhere familiar without needing to turn it into another route.

After a week in Ubud, you will probably already know which parts of the town you want to return to, and that is a much better way to finish than adding another attraction simply because there is still time on the itinerary.

If I had seven days in Ubud, this is how I would want the trip to end: one meaningful morning, one memorable activity, and enough time afterwards to enjoy the fact that I was still there.

Where to Stay for This Ubud Itinerary

Where you stay in Ubud can change the feel of the whole trip.

I have stayed both right in the centre and further out in a quieter villa, and I liked both for completely different reasons. If this is your first visit, I would think less about finding the “best” area and more about how you want your days to feel.

Stay in central Ubud for convenience

For a first visit, central Ubud is hard to beat.

I stayed near Ubud Palace and the Monkey Forest and loved having so much within walking distance. Campuhan Ridge Walk, restaurants, cafés, shops, the palace, Monkey Forest and evening performances were all easy to reach without constantly arranging transport.

This is the best choice if you want to step outside in the morning and already feel part of Ubud.

The trade-off is that central Ubud is busier. Traffic can be intense, especially later in the day, and the centre does not have the same quiet, jungle-like atmosphere you get once you move further out.

Stay outside the centre for peace and space

If you are staying 5 or 7 days, I would also consider spending at least part of the trip outside central Ubud.

The further you move from the centre, the more Ubud begins to feel like the version people often imagine before they arrive: rice fields, greenery, quieter mornings and villas hidden away from the traffic.

You will rely more on drivers or taxis, but for a longer stay that can be a very worthwhile trade.

🌸 My Favourite Hotels in Ubud

Handpicked boutique stays, romantic jungle hideaways and dreamy hotels I’d book again in a heartbeat:

If you are staying a full week, you could even divide your stay between the two: a few nights in central Ubud for convenience, followed by a quieter villa stay outside town.

For a much more detailed breakdown of the different neighbourhoods, hotel styles and areas, see my guide to where to stay in Ubud.

Getting Around Ubud

For this itinerary, you will use a mix of walking, private drivers and organised tours.

Central Ubud is easy to explore on foot, while days such as Kanto Lampo, Tegalalang and Tirta Empul are much easier with a private driver. For Mount Batur, rafting and North Bali, I would choose tours that already include transport.

For more detailed advice on getting around, traffic, scooters, Grab and Gojek, see my Complete Ubud Travel Guide.

What to Book in Advance for This Ubud Itinerary

Most of Ubud can be planned fairly spontaneously, but a few experiences are easier to organise in advance — especially if you are travelling during a busy period.

I would pre-book Mount Batur, Ayung River rafting, any full-day North Bali tour, and anything with limited spaces such as a private yoga session, cooking class or workshop.

For the Legong dance at Ubud Palace, booking ahead is also useful if you want to know your evening is sorted rather than looking for tickets once you arrive.

Temples, Campuhan Ridge Walk, Tegalalang and most central Ubud sights do not need much advance planning, although having a driver arranged for your longer sightseeing days can make the itinerary run much more smoothly.

Throughout this itinerary, I have included booking links beside the experiences where reserving ahead genuinely makes sense, so you can simply follow the days and book the parts you want as you go.

If a Friend Asked Me How Long to Stay in Ubud

When I am in Ubud, I tend to stay for weeks rather than days. After a while, it stops feeling like somewhere I am travelling through and starts feeling more like somewhere I am temporarily living — finding favourite cafés, returning to the same streets, going for morning walks and letting whole afternoons pass without needing to see anything new.

But if a friend were visiting Bali for the first time and asked me how long they should give Ubud, I would say five days.

Three days will show you the highlights. You can see the temples, waterfalls and rice terraces, walk through the Monkey Forest, watch a Legong performance and fit in one bigger adventure. But five days gives you enough space to experience some of what makes me keep coming back: a morning yoga class, a long lunch, a spa afternoon, an early walk before Ubud gets busy, or simply enough time to change your plans because you found somewhere you wanted to stay a little longer.

And if you have seven days, I would happily use them. Explore the highlands around Bedugul and Munduk, visit another temple, try a workshop, and leave some time unplanned.

There is plenty to do in Ubud. But I think the reason I have become so fond of it is that, eventually, you stop feeling the need to do very much at all.