What currency is used in Ubud?

Ubud uses the Indonesian rupiah (IDR).

What is the emergency number in Ubud?

In Ubud, call 112 from a mobile; 110 for police.

How much does a day in Ubud cost?

Roughly $25-45 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-120 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Ubud?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Ubud without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Ubud travel guide

Indonesia

Bali's inland town of rice terraces, temples and dance performances. Ubud trades beaches for jungle ravines and a living arts tradition, and the quiet starts a short walk from the main road.

Essentials

Language: Indonesian and Balinese; English is widely spoken in tourist businesses
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Plugs: Types C and F, 230 V
Emergency number: 112 from a mobile; 110 for police
Tipping: Not obligatory; many restaurants add a service charge, and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $25-45, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $60-120, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Ubud

Central Ubud: the royal palace, the art market and evening dance shows within a few streets.
Penestanan: a quieter village west of the river, reached by steps and surrounded by rice fields.
Tegallalang: the terraced rice valley to the north, best visited early.

Getting around Ubud

There is little public transport: walk in the centre and hire a driver for day trips. Only rent a scooter if you are an experienced rider with the right licence, as the roads are narrow and steep.

Best time to visit Ubud

April to October, the dry season; the wet months bring heavy afternoon rain.

Top things to do in Ubud

Watch a Kecak or Legong dance performance in the evening at the palace or a village temple
Walk the forest paths and temples of the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Bathe in the holy spring pools of Tirta Empul, a water temple north-east of town
Visit Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, a carved cave sanctuary just east of Ubud
Take a Balinese cooking class that starts at the morning market

What to eat in Ubud

Babi guling: spit-roasted suckling pig rubbed with turmeric and spices
Bebek betutu: duck stuffed with spice paste, wrapped in leaves and slow-cooked
Nasi campur: rice served with small portions of several dishes, different at every warung
Lawar: a mix of minced meat, vegetables, grated coconut and spices

Day trips from Ubud

Mount Batur: a pre-dawn hike up an active volcano for sunrise, about an hour's drive north
Sidemen: a quiet valley of rice terraces and weaving villages below Mount Agung, around an hour east
Jatiluwih: wide UNESCO-listed rice terraces in the hills, around two hours west

Local etiquette

Wear a sarong and sash to enter a temple (they are often lent at the gate) and step around the small offerings placed on pavements. On Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence each spring, the whole island shuts down, including the airport, and visitors are expected to stay indoors.

Staying connected

Tourist SIMs and eSIMs are easy to get on arrival at Bali's airport, and most guesthouses and cafés have Wi-Fi good enough for video calls.

Staying safe

The macaques at the Monkey Forest grab sunglasses, phones and food and can bite, so keep loose items out of sight. Scooter accidents are the main source of injuries on Bali, so wear a helmet or hire a driver.

A local tip

Walk the Campuhan Ridge path at sunrise, before the heat and the crowds arrive.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Ubud on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Ubud for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Ubud, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Ubud

What currency is used in Ubud?: Ubud uses the Indonesian rupiah (IDR).
What is the emergency number in Ubud?: In Ubud, call 112 from a mobile; 110 for police.
When is the best time to visit Ubud?: April to October, the dry season; the wet months bring heavy afternoon rain.
How much does a day in Ubud cost?: Roughly $25-45 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-120 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Ubud?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Ubud without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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