What to Do in Ubud Between Yoga Classes

Key takeaways

• The best things to do in Ubud between yoga classes sit close to the center: rice terraces, temples, markets and spas are all a short ride away.

• The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary spans 12.5 hectares and is home to around 1,030 long-tailed macaques, open daily from 9am to 6pm.

• Morning and late afternoon are the coolest, quietest windows for walks and temple visits, leaving midday for rest or a spa treatment.

• Keep day trips to one per free day so you return relaxed, not drained, for your next class.

Ubud packs its best experiences within a short ride of the town center, so your free hours between classes go far. Spend a morning among the rice terraces, a quiet hour at a water temple, or an afternoon browsing the art market and easing into a Balinese massage. This guide covers the most rewarding things to do in Ubud, grouped by how much time and energy each one asks of you.

The trick is pacing. A yoga retreat already gives your body a full workout, so the goal is to explore without arriving at your next session worn out. Below you will find walks, temples, markets, spas and day trips, plus a simple way to balance all of it with rest.

Where Can You Walk Among the Rice Terraces?

The rice terraces north of town are the signature Ubud walk, and they sit close enough for a half-day outing. The Tegallalang terraces, carved in tiers down a steep valley, are the most photographed, while the wider Jatiluwih fields spread across a quieter plateau. Both are part of Bali's traditional subak irrigation system, recognized by UNESCO as a cultural landscape.

Go early. The light is soft, the air is cool, and the walking paths are far less crowded before mid-morning. A loop through Tegallalang takes about an hour at an easy pace, with cafes along the rim where you can stop for coffee and a view.

Closer to the center, the Campuhan Ridge Walk is an easy paved trail along a grassy spine between two rivers. It is flat, free, and ideal for a short morning stroll when you do not want to travel far. Many retreat guests fold it into their routine as a gentle warm-up before breakfast.

What Temples and Cultural Sites Should You Visit?

Ubud sits at the cultural heart of Bali, and its temples range from quiet neighborhood shrines to major water temples where locals come to pray and purify. Tirta Empul, north of town near Tampaksiring, is the best known for its spring-fed bathing pools, where visitors can take part in the melukat cleansing ritual under rows of carved spouts.

Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, sits just east of the center and pairs an ancient carved cave entrance with bathing pools and gardens. It makes an easy stop on the way to or from the terraces.

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a different kind of cultural site, a protected forest in the middle of town. It covers 12.5 hectares, holds 186 species of trees, and is home to roughly 1,030 long-tailed macaques across three temples (Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, 2026). The forest is open daily from 9am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm.

The monkeys are wild, so keep bags zipped, remove loose sunglasses, and avoid holding food. Treat the visit as a slow walk through a living temple garden and it rewards you with cool shade and birdsong between the moss-covered shrines.

What Things to Do in Ubud Suit a Slow Afternoon?

Ubud's center is built for wandering, and the Ubud Art Market is where most visitors start. Stalls sell batik, woven baskets, sarongs and carved wood, and prices are open to friendly negotiation. Go in the early morning for the freshest stock, or late afternoon when sellers are keen to close out the day.

Cafes sit on nearly every lane, and the town is one of the easiest places in Asia to eat well on a plant-based diet. Smoothie bowls, fresh juices and raw desserts are everywhere, which suits the lighter appetite many people find on a retreat.

For recovery, a Balinese massage is the classic choice. The firm, rhythmic style works deep into tired muscles, and an hour costs a fraction of what you would pay at home. A midday treatment is a smart way to fill the gap between a morning walk and an evening class without adding more activity.

If this is your first time pairing travel with practice, our guide to why Ubud is the heart of Bali's yoga scene explains how the town's calm rhythm and wellness culture grew up around its studios.

Which Day Trips Are Within Easy Reach?

If you have a full free day, a few of Bali's highlights sit within an hour or so of Ubud by car. A sunrise trek up Mount Batur, an active volcano to the northeast, is the most popular pre-dawn outing, rewarding early risers with a view above the clouds and a soak in nearby hot springs.

Tegenungan Waterfall, south of town, is one of the closest falls and a quick trip when you only have a few hours. Further afield, the water palace at Tirta Gangga and the sea temples along the coast make longer excursions, though these eat up most of a day in travel.

Hire a private driver for the day rather than stringing together rides. It costs little, keeps your schedule flexible, and lets you return in time for an evening session. One well-chosen trip beats three rushed ones.

How Do You Balance Exploring With Rest?

A retreat only works if you recover between sessions, so treat free time as part of the practice rather than a race to see everything. The simplest rule is one main outing per free block: a terrace walk in the morning, or a temple in the afternoon, but rarely both in a single stretch.

Use the heat to your advantage. Midday in Ubud is hot and humid, which is the ideal window for a nap, a quiet lunch, or a spa treatment indoors. Save walking and sightseeing for the cooler morning and late-afternoon hours.

Match your outings to your class schedule. If your retreat runs a demanding morning vinyasa and a restful evening yin, keep the middle of the day light. For a sense of how these rhythms fit together, see our breakdown of a typical Bali yoga retreat daily schedule, which shows where the natural gaps for exploring fall.

Most of all, leave room to do nothing. Some of the best moments in Ubud happen on a quiet balcony with a book and the sound of rain on the leaves, no itinerary required.

Plan One Outing, Then Rest

Pick a single experience that excites you most, whether that is the terraces at sunrise or a slow afternoon in the art market, and build your free day around it. Keep the rest of the day open, and you will return to your mat relaxed instead of frazzled. Start by checking your retreat's class times, then slot one outing into the longest gap and protect the rest for recovery.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Ubud between yoga classes?

Walk the rice terraces at Tegallalang, visit a water temple such as Tirta Empul, browse the Ubud Art Market, and book a Balinese massage. All sit within a short ride of the town center.

How much time do I need to see Ubud's main sights?

Most central attractions take one to two hours each. You can comfortably fit one or two per free afternoon without rushing, which keeps your schedule relaxed between classes.

Is it worth visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest?

Yes. The sanctuary covers 12.5 hectares with three temples and around 1,030 macaques. Keep bags closed and avoid eye contact with the monkeys, and the visit is calm and rewarding.

Can I do a day trip and still make my yoga classes?

Yes, if you plan it. Choose one nearby destination, leave early, and build in travel time. Most Ubud retreats leave afternoons or full days open for exactly this.