The Best Hotels in Ubud

Ubud Hotels

Ubud is a small and enchanting town set toward the southern end of Indonesia's sun-struck island of Bali. The town is surrounded by deep lush jungle, peaceful rice paddies, and rocky ravines - making for a picture-perfect tropical setting. Ubud is also a paradise for culture and history fiends, being flush with inspiring museums and galleries. There are also old-world temples and opulent palaces to explore.

Things to see

Start your other-worldly Ubud day by taking in some of the buzzing town’s top heritage sites. The Ubud Palace is a great place to start - a pyramid-style stacked building that towers into Bali’s blue skies, delicately decorated with intricate patterns. There are bright red-roofed halls in the flower-flecked palace grounds, where you can catch live dance performances. After, head to the weird and wonderful Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, just outside of Ubud. This jungle haven - stippled with vine-clad ruins - is home to dozens of playful monkeys that are known for interacting with visitors - making for an unforgettable day out. Back in Ubud, art-lovers should check out the Agung Rai Museum of Art, a tranquil gallery showcasing paintings, carvings, and sculptures from local Balinese and international artists. The museum is set in lush green grounds, where you can stroll through paddy fields.

Hotels in Ubud

Ubud absolutely overflows with hotels, which cater to all types of tastes and budgets. If you’re a backpacking island explorer looking for a cheap and easy place to bed down, check out the 2-star hotels in Ubud. Here, you’ll benefit from handy amenities like free WiFi and complimentary breakfasts. For something a little fancier, stay in a 3-star hotel, and unwind in the large air-conditioned rooms that come with four-poster beds and adjoining balconies. The luxury-seeking holidaymaker, meanwhile, can immerse themselves in the supreme relaxation of a 5-star Ubud hotel, which offer sublime spa services and shimmering pools.

Where to stay

While Ubud feels like a relatively small town, it has expanded over the years to subsume the surrounding villages into its booming, cultural core. As such, there’s a mix of diverse vibes and atmospheres spread throughout. But for no-holds-barred energy and excitement, where you’ll be surrounded by electrifying streets lined with cool cafes and bouncing bars, stay in central Ubud. Shoppers will also love the eclectic street markets in this area. For something more peaceful, with easy access to a wealth of outdoor activities, stay slightly west, beside the gently rolling rice paddies. If you’re after easy access to the nearby city of Denpasar, stay south of the centre.

How to get to Ubud

Surrounded by such dense, flourishing jungle, Ubud feels like an isolated urban wonderland - but it’s actually very easy to get to. Catch a flight to Ngurah Rai International Airport - the gateway to Bali - based just south of Denpasar. Fly in from dozens of destinations across Asia and Australia - there’s even a flight from Amsterdam. From there, simply hop in a taxi at the airport - make sure to take one from the official taxi office - and sit back as you’re whizzed the 1 hour 15 minutes to Ubud. Once there, you can take shared shuttle buses to get around the main sights. Alternatively, motorcycle rentals are a popular - and fun - way to get around.