Ubud is regarded as being the jewel in the crown of Bali’s tourism industry and, as such, is home to a huge amount for tourists to both see and do. It is located in the centre of the island and is therefore one of the only tourist hotspots that doesn’t benefit from a beach, but it has made up for this shortfall in a huge number of other ways. So, why exactly is there such a buzz surrounding Ubud and what are the different things to see and do in this wonderful and interesting town?
Without doubt, the biggest draw of Ubud is its claim to being Bali’s cultural heartbeat – a claim that is very much deserved and has come about through centuries of tradition and also more recent modernization. As well as the town itself though, the surrounding villages and countryside also provide a number of cultural sites for every tourist to savour.
Just to the west of Ubud can be found the tranquil and picturesque temple of Pura Taman Saraswati, which is dedicated to the goddess of wisdom and the arts – an apt goddess for this culturally diverse region and proof that Ubud has been held in high cultural esteem for many years. Photo opportunities abound here and tourists are stunned by the fusion of the building with the natural world. The more popular area of Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana is also close to Ubud and this extremely popular tourist resort boasts a further three temples to look around – as well as a massive troop of mischievous macaque monkeys!
To see culture without having to leave the town, most people make a bee line for the famous Museum of Fine Arts, which is located on Jalan Raya Ubud, which is the main road passing through the town. This museum displays an absolutely massive plethora of different Balinese artwork and also celebrates the fact that Balinese art originated in this town many years ago. The artwork is split evenly between modern painters and more traditional styles, which means that boredom is not something anyone needs to worry about. The museum is well signposted in English and the labels on each of the exhibits are also written in English as well.
For those looking to get closer to nature, the Botanic Garden Ubud provides an excellent day out, with a massive variety of different plants, all of which hail from the surrounding island. Due to the tropical climate of Bali and the fact that it is an island, many varieties of plants can only be found here and not anywhere else in the world. Without doubt the highlight here though is getting the chance to feed the pitcher plant – a plant that eats meat! Also included in the Botanic Gardens is a massive collection of butterflies and a beautiful lotus pond. When you are finished looking round, don’t forget the opportunity to get lost in the large maze either!
Okay, so that’s enough of the different cultural sites of Ubud – I think that you get the picture that Ubud is a place replete with more culture than the rest of Indonesia put together! What about places to eat though? After all, Ubud is famed for having the best cuisine in the whole of Bali!
Without doubt the best place to eat in Ubud – in fact, the best place to eat in Bali – is a restaurant called Art’s Warung. This fantastic restaurant is replete with the best trained waiters, the most attractive décor and, most importantly, the highest standard of cuisine possible. With highly trained chefs and a massive variety on the menu, everyone will leave feeling like they have been treated like royalty and that they have ate like a king. Ensure that you try the Rendang Padang here – it is world renowned and has been refined over many years!
The other restaurant in Ubud that everyone should visit is Casa Luna – a restaurant owned and run by Janet de Neefe, who is famous in the world of cooking throughout the world. The whole place has recently been refurbished to have a stylish and comfortable feel, but the food has not changed – it is still traditionally Indonesian and comes at a great price. Attached to this restaurant is a cooking school, so if you fancy a quick lesson in how the food is prepared, ensure that you give this a look too!
As can be seen, there are a huge amount of different things to see, do and eat in this fantastic town – the town that is at the centre of Balinese culture and cuisine. There are also a number of luxurious, yet affordable, hotels in the town and a number of chic bars to relax in, meaning that Ubud truly does have everything needed for the most relaxing of vacations…
