Ubud accommodation from AU$117

Ever since a Javanese priest visited Ubud in the eighth century, it has been a centre for Balinese culture and Buddhist practices. People originally flocked to Ubud for medicine and healing; the term "ubud" means "medicine" in the ancient Balinese dialect. These days it's still considered a destination for healing and wellbeing with heaps of temples, yoga centres and spas to visit.

Things to do

After all the massages, spa treatments and yoga sessions you can handle, you can pay a visit to the Sacred Monkey Forest. Yes, there are real live monkeys here. Yes, they are cute and yes, they are wild, so hold onto your belongings otherwise these rascally critters will snatch them. Take lots of photos and enjoy the surroundings but do keep your distance from the grey-haired Macaques.

For a classic Ubud experience, walk through the carved demon's mouth of the Elephant Cave and marvel at the pretty pools surrounded by courtyards that await you inside.

Shopping and dining

There are lots of shops along Monkey Forest Road, where you can pick up traditional arts and crafts including wooden carvings and beautiful silver jewellery.

When you're not busy downing cocktails and Bintang beer, you can indulge in traditional Balinese street food like nasi goreng and spit-roasted pork. If you get a taste for the local flavours and you want to replicate them when you go back home, why not take a cooking class while you're here? But if you need to give your tum a rest from the curries and you're craving some western food, hit up Naughty Nuri, an American barbeque restaurant with a big reputation.

Getting here and around

To get to Ubud, snag one of these cheap flights to Bali and then take a taxi or mini van from the airport. Once you're in Ubud, you can hire a scooter or bicycle to get around if you don't want to have to hire out a driver.

Don’t wait – just do it! Book your Ubud accommodation with us now and get ready for a mind-blowing cultural experience in Bali.

Need insider tips on must-see attractions in Ubud? Check out our Ubud travel guide!