This is the Best Ubud Itinerary for 3 Days in Bali (2025)

The town of Ubud, on the iconic island of Bali, is spellbinding. Only a few days in this lively yoga community among the rice fields will leave you feeling relaxed and reflective. I stayed for two wonderful months in Bali. Like many travellers, I fell in love with this place and returned to Ubud a year later. Read on for the most blissful 3 day Ubud itinerary.

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How to plan the perfect Ubud itinerary for 3 days

Situated in the heart of the island, the town of Ubud is surrounded by rice paddies, waterfalls, jungle and mountains. You’ll feel like you’re Julia Roberts in the movie Eat Pray Love, cycling through this gorgeous scenery.

Ubud has plenty to offer, depending on your interests. The best thing when planning your Ubud itinerary is to consider how active you would like to be. Then you can choose the perfect Ubud attractions for you.

Your perfect 3 day Ubud itinerary could include everything from yoga to whitewater rafting on the Ayung River. Or exploring Ubud’s monkey forest, shopping in the markets or taking a cooking class. Don’t miss the Ubud art galleries and the chance to watch a traditional Kecak performance. Read on for more recommendations of what to do, where to go and where to stay in Ubud.

For the full Eat Pray Love experience, including a Balinese fortune reading, try this one-day tour. 

The best accommodation in Ubud

The first thing you will need to do when you arrive in Ubud is check into your accommodation.

There are many traditional family homestays in Ubud. They are often ornately designed, well-priced and give you a chance to get to know some of the locals.

Try Tude’s Family Homestay, which has beautiful, authentic Balinese architecture set in peaceful tropical gardens. Alternatively, the superb Bale Bali House offers cooking classes in Ubud.

One of the best hostels in Ubud is the gorgeous Savanna Ubud, which has a divine swimming pool. If you’re a solo female traveller, try the wonderful women-only Arya Wellness.

For a budget Ubud hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, try Maple House, which overlooks rice fields.

I highly recommend taking the time to unwind in your accommodation. Enjoy the sweet scent of frangipani flowers and the twinkling sounds of the local gamelan instruments wafting in the air.

Browse and book from the best selection of accommodation in Ubud.

Ubud itinerary: Day 1

Venture into the sacred monkey forest

One of most famous places to visit in Ubud is its sacred monkey forest sanctuary. It’s an essential stop on any Ubud itinerary. This Hindu temple complex located in the jungle is home to hundreds of macaque monkeys.

These little monkeys are cute but fearless. They will want to steal anything that looks shiny or tasty, so keep your belongings close.

The Ubud monkey forest opening hours are 8.30am until 5.30pm daily. The entrance fee is priced at around Rp80,000 (US$5.50).

Take a private tour to see the best of Ubud, including the monkey forest, here.

Relax in one of Ubud’s sensational spas

In the afternoon, why not visit one of the sensational spas in Ubud. Bali has developed its own style of massage which is incredibly relaxing. The good news is, spa treatments in Bali are affordable, even if you are on a backpacker’s budget.

My favourite Ubud spa is the Ubud Wellness Spa. Here, you can enjoy one of the best massages in Ubud and beauty treatments at an attractive price.

For a luxurious Ubud spa centre, a little out of town, head to the fabulous Maya Ubud Resort & Spa.

Book a two-hour spa session in a riverside spa in Ubud, including a massage, body scrub and milk bath.

Enjoy a night out in Ubud

In terms of things to do in Ubud at night, it is a pretty chilled place after dark.

Some of the best bars in Ubud include No Más Bar, Night Rooster Bar and Laughing Buddha Bar.

One of the top things to do here in the evening is to watch a traditional Kecak Fire & Trance Dance. This is a compelling retelling of the Ramayana epic tales through dance and percussion. It’s full of fire, demons and magic. Performances take place at venues all over Ubud. One of the best places to watch it is at the Royal Palace.

Read my post about the all about Bali’s Kecak Fire & Trance Dance here.

Ubud itinerary: Day 2

Take a local tour

There are many options for tours around Ubud, depending on your interests. I will outline a few here.

Rice terraces

Around Ubud are gorgeous green rice fields. You can rent a bike to explore this wonderful area as part of your Ubud itinerary.

If you would like a local’s perspective, there are many Balinese trekking guides ready to give you a tour. They can show you Ubud’s famous Tegallalang rice terraces. Alternatively, choose a walking tour along the Campuhan Ridge Walk, Kajeng rice fields or the Sayan Valley. I went on a cycling tour which was great fun. There are also local waterfalls you can visit including the Tegenungan Waterfall.

You can book your Ubud cycling tour of the rice terraces in advance.

Coffee plantations and cooking classes

Around Ubud there are many coffee plantations where you can learn how the unique luwak coffee is produced. One of the best places is Ubud Me Sari Luwak Coffee Agrotourism. Here, you can taste several types of locally produced tea and coffee, flavoured with ginseng, coconut and ginger. You can also take a local cooking class in Ubud to discover how Balinese delicacies are made.

Motorcycle tours

One of the best things I did while I was in Ubud, was to hire private cars and motorcycle taxis. Often the drivers double as tour guides and can give you the best Ubud tour itinerary.

I organised a motorcycle tour through my Ubud accommodation. The driver took me to a coffee plantation, waterfalls and the Tirta Empul temple near Ubud. Here I bathed in its Bali Holy Spring Temple along with many locals as part of a spiritual cleansing ritual.

Whitewater rafting

If you want high-adrenaline activity, try whitewater rafting on the Ayung River at the Mason Adventure Centre. You can book your Ayung river rafting adventure tour online here.

Book a full day spiritual cleansing and shamanic healing tour at Tirta Empul.

Mount Batur sunrise trekking

One of the best day trips from Ubud is a sunrise trekking tour to climb Bali’s second highest volcano. Located in the village of Kintamani, Mount Batur reaches a height of over 1700 metres (5,600 feet) above sea level. From the top, you can see breathtaking views of Lake Batur and the surrounding mountains. The Mount Batur volcano hike and is accessible even for novice trekkers and you don’t need any special equipment.

Early morning start

It is a very early start, as you will be collected by your driver from Ubud at around 2am. From Ubud to Mount Batur it’s a one-hour drive. You will need to hire a guide in order to access the volcano. If you negotiate in person, the best Mt Batur trekking price is around Rp350,000 or around US$24 per person.

Organise your Mount Batur sunrise tour online in advance here.

The climb

It takes around two hours to climb to the top of Mount Batur. You’ll navigate rocky trails in the dark on this Bali volcano hike, so bring a torch and warm layers.

Hiking shoes are best if you have them, otherwise you can wear good trainers or sneakers, like I did. Get your camera ready for when you reach the summit. The views on this Mount Batur sunrise trek are magnificent.

At the top

You can see far across the waters to neighbouring lands and mountaintops peaking through the misty clouds. You and your fellow trekkers will share a serene and almost silent moment, as the sun rises. It lights up the sky in a haze of pinks and oranges.

Here at the summit, your guide will serve breakfast. Sometimes they will even cook eggs in the geothermal steam of this active volcano.

You will also get a chance to look into Mount Batur’s unusual double caldera. This is one volcanic crater inside another, along with Bali’s largest crater-lake.

Reflecting on the experience

As you return to your accommodation, it will still be early morning, but you will have already made unforgettable memories. A great start to day 2 on your perfect Ubud itinerary. 

Go all-in and see Ubud’s rice terraces, temple and volcano on this popular tour.

Ubud itinerary: Day 3

Visit Ubud’s museums and art galleries

There are some wonderful museums and art galleries in Ubud.

From small arts and crafts shops to the Agung Rai Museum of Art, there are many things to see in Ubud for art lovers.

Two of my favourites are the inspiring ARMA museum & resort and the quirky Blanco Renaissance Museum.

Shop to your heart’s content in Ubud’s shops and market

One of the top activities in Ubud is shopping. On the main shopping street, Jalan Raya Ubud, you will find the Ubud Art Market. There are also countless shops selling beautiful arts, crafts, clothes and souvenirs. Remember to compare prices and negotiate to get the best rate for your purchases.

The best places to eat in Ubud

When you first arrive, I recommend simply going for a wander. Get your bearings and discover some of the many fantastic places to eat in Ubud.

Breakfast

Most accommodation in Ubud comes with breakfast included. Served to you on your terrace, it’s often a tasty banana pancake or eggs on toast and tropical fruit salad. 

Lunch

For lunch, there are many delightful cafes in Ubud. Bali is obsessed with coffee and even produces its own speciality, called luwak coffee. One of the places that is loved by the yoga community is KAFE Ubud, in the centre of town. It is a cool place, serving vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free food and super-smoothies.

If you are vegetarian or vegan and wondering where to eat in Ubud, you are in for a treat. Vegetarians, vegans and eco-conscious eaters are well-served here, as there are plenty of cafes and restaurants serving healthy, organic food.

The nearby Atman Kafe is also excellent, as is Clear Cafe. If you’re going to the Radiantly Alive yoga studio, be sure to stop at the neighbouring Bali Buda Cafe. The Yoga Barn has an on-site restaurant serving top-notch vegetarian food including colourful stir-fries.

Dinner

In the evenings, there are also many excellent places in Ubud to eat dinner.

My personal favourite restaurants in Ubud include Mamma Mia, a fantastic pizza place, and the marvellous Mexican Taco Casa.

As you move out of Ubud city centre, along Jalan Rayan Campuan, you will find more top Ubud restaurants. These include the iconic Naughty Nuri’s for sumptuous barbecue ribs, as well as French fare at Mozaic.

Where to go for yoga in Ubud

In Ubud is a world-class yoga studio called Yoga Barn. Here, you can take a wide range of popular classes and meet like-minded people.

As well as movie screenings, meditation, kirtan they hold divine Thai yoga massage workshops. Their weekly ecstatic dance sessions have a reputation as one of the most fun things to do in Ubud. For more information about Yoga Barn, check out my full review here.

Another excellent yoga centre in Ubud is Radiantly Alive, which is quieter and offers aerial yoga classes.

Getting to Ubud from Bali’s international airport

From Ngurah Rai international airport in Denpasar to Ubud, the distance is around 15 miles (25 km). However traffic on the island means it can take an hour or two to reach Ubud by taxi.

The good news is, there are beautiful things to see in Bali out of the taxi window on your way. You’ll likely see intricately decorated temples, artisan craft stores and colourful religious offerings.

Avoid the hassle when you arrive and book your airport transfer to Ubud in advance.

Final thoughts on an Ubud itinerary for 3 days

There is so much to see and do in and around Ubud, you may decide that 3 days isn’t enough. Many people extend their stay.

If you are looking for an ideal next stop on your Bali route, consider Amed, Munduk or the Gili Islands.

Now, read my full guide to Bali backpacking and exploring the whole island, here.