Things to Do in Ubud

Ubud built its reputation on rice terraces, temples, art markets and a wellness scene that drew travellers decades before overtourism became a debate. That reputation still holds outside the centre, but the streets around the Monkey Forest and main market now carry traffic and crowding that surprise anyone expecting the quiet jungle town of older guidebooks — crossing from one side to the other can eat more of a morning than the map suggests. The payoff is that Ubud remains the easiest place on the island to combine culture with nature in a single day: dance performances, art museums, cooking classes and yoga studios sit within walking distance of terraced rice fields on the outskirts. It works well as a two-to-three-day base, less well as a rushed half-day stop squeezed between beach towns. Below are the top-rated tours covering Ubud's temples, terraces and workshops.