Is Ubud the best place in Bali?
If you have been to Bali or are planning on visiting the Indonesian Island anytime soon, you have definitely heard about Ubud. Ubud is town located in the South of Bali in the highlands. It is known for the beautiful green rice fields, the misty jungle areas and the impressive waterfalls. Yes, for any traveller coming to Bali, Ubud needs to be on the list of places to visit. But is Ubud really the best place to be in Bali, as it is often known for?
Do you want to find out if Ubud is the best place in Bali? Of course, there cannot be only on answer, so this is all about figuring out why Ubud can be the best place in Bali and why it cannot.
Introducing Ubud
Before getting into it, let´s talk a bit more about Ubud itself. What is this place and what´s it really about? Ubud is a city in Bali, with about 73.000 Balinese people living in the area. It is the only main area in Bali, which is not located on the ocean but in the inland.
Ubud is famous for the traditional craft, the local markets and the surrounding rice terraces. As well, you will find many temples around the city. Best known is the Holy Water Temple, which is a must-do while exploring the area.
Just as other places in Bali, Ubud offers an experience for any budget. You can spend a luxury time in the beautiful hotels and resorts around Ubud or you can book your budget version in a small but cozy hostel. There are also many homestays which bring you closer to the locals. With many restaurants, shops and boutiques, Ubud center does not differ much from Seminyak or Canggu.
And yet, there are some characteristics which make Ubud even more special.
Why Ubud can be seen as the best place in Bali
In Bali, there is mostly a competition between three different areas. Each area is known for something else and offers travellers and tourists a totally different experience. While Canggu is known for the fancy cafés, the vegan food and the long beach area, Uluwatu is known for the best surfer waves and the high cliffs with paradise beaches. Ubud, on the other hand, is all about nature and time with yourself. From rice field walks to yoga ashrams or meditation centers – this area offers a new perspective on Bali.
And here are the best reasons why you can consider Ubud the best place in Bali:
Yes, because of the attractive location
The main reason why Ubud is the best place in Bali is its location. Different to Canggu, Uluwatu or Seminyak, Ubud is not located at the ocean. Which, on one hand can be a disadvantage, but it can as well offer even more. Ubud is located in the middle of nature. The green fields, the palm trees and the beautiful waterfalls are just a few examples.
If you love to be in nature and explore a more remote side of Bali, Ubud offers the best and most attractive location. It can be seen as a good mixture between some tourist attractions (such as the Ubud market or some temples) and the quiet nature. It takes only a short walk from the city center and you will reach the peaceful rice fields where you can enjoy some quiet time in Bali.
Yes, because of the many different things to do
There is barely no other place in Bali which offers so many different things to do. The activities in and around Ubud could not be any more diverse. You can add some touristy things to do on your list or go on more remote experiences around the area.
You can visit temples, hike to waterfalls, stroll through the Ubud Market or see the sunrise in the rice fields. You can join yoga classes, eat in delicious restaurants and hire a scooter to explore on your own. If you love to have many things to do and see a lot of an area, Ubud is the best place in Bali.
Learn more about the fun activities around Ubud: 10 fun things to do in Ubud for an unforgettable time
Yes, because you can explore it away from the crowds
Bali is a popular travel destination. Millions of tourists arrive at the Indonesian island each year to either spend a relaxing vacation or to travel around. While this is quite beneficial for Bali´s tourism, it is a huge disadvantage if you love to explore on your own and without the crowds. Yet, in most of the places which are well-known to tourists, you will find the crowds and queues.
But, Ubud offers another option. Ubud allows you to explore the area away from the crowds. There are waterfalls which are not as popular and routes which are more of a secret place. This is for the adventurous travellers and those who love to go off the beaten track on their travels.
If you want to avoid tourist places during your trip to Bali, but still get some unique experiences, Ubud can be seen as the best place in Bali.
Yes, because it is a yoga and meditation hotspot
This reason on why Ubud can be the best place in Bali, is mainly for the yogis. Especially after the movie or the book of Eat Pray Love, Ubud is known as a place for yoga and meditation. There are many yoga studios and ashrams who either offer yoga classes or a retreat for one week or even longer.
The area around Ubud seems perfect for spending your stay with yoga and meditation. Some of the places are located in the rice fields in the quiet areas of Ubud and offer you a unique experience in the middle of nature. If you have always been dreaming about this, you should put Ubud on the top of your list. Yes, Ubud really is about your inner health, spirituality and yoga. Make sure to try it out and see for yourself!
Why Ubud cannot be seen as the best place in Bali
Of course, there are as well reasons why other places in Bali are better than Ubud. Compared to the areas Uluwatu and Canggu, there are some downsides you need to know about.
No, because it has no access to the beach
For most travellers, this might be the number one reason why Ubud is not the best place in Bali. As it is located in the highlands in the center of the island, it has no access to the ocean and therefore no beach.
If you are thinking of the beautiful beaches in Canggu and Uluwatu (especially Uluwatu), this can be a huge downside. But still, you need to consider that Ubud has to offer a lot more besides a beach, which might balance the downside again.
No, because the center is always very busy
Ubud is a hotspot for travellers and tourists coming to Bali. This cannot be denied. As the area is quite popular, the center is always very busy and crowded. Especially around the Ubud market, you will not be on your own.
As well during the evening, everybody is on the streets. If you do not like a busy place, you cannot see Ubud as the best place in Bali.
No, because of the fake and busy Instagram spots
You might have heard about the famous Instagram Spots all around Bali. Most of them are located around the Ubud area though. Which makes it another reason why Ubud cannot be seen as the best place in Bali. But why?
On Instagram, some of the spots in the temples or in front of the waterfalls look incredibly idyllic and beautiful. The reality looks different though. You need to queue for getting your own picture in the middle of nature. Plus, some of the photos are simply fake.
Ubud is among the best places in Bali
To sum it up, you can definitely say that Ubud is among the best places in Bali. But the best place? No. Because each of the main areas in Bali has its own character and adds up on the total Bali experience. It is the mixture between the beautiful beaches and the waves of the coastal areas and the peaceful atmosphere in the nature around Ubud which makes Bali a great place in general.
Depending on what experience or adventure you are looking for when coming to Bali, Ubud can be the best place to stay though. Especially for the adventure lovers, for the yogis and the nature lovers, Ubud is the best place in Bali to spend some time. If that´s what you love and like to do, you should put Ubud on the top of your list.
But still: do not forget to check out the other places, such as Uluwatu as well to not miss out on the paradise beaches of Bali.
