Where to Stay in Ubud, Bali

Jalan Raya Ubud runs through the center, flanked by the Royal Palace and Ubud Market. Walk south along Monkey Forest Road and you hit cafes, galleries, and yoga studios within five minutes. Jalan Hanoman runs parallel and is slightly quieter. Everything is here: Kafe on Jalan Hanoman, Locavore on Jalan Dewi Sita, the nightly Kecak dance at Puri Saren Palace. Noise is real. Motorcycles start at 6am and vendors work past midnight. Hotels on the main road will test your sleep. Go one block east to Jalan Suweta or Jalan Gootama for a calmer option. Still within eight minutes of everything but noticeably quieter.

Best for

First-time visitorspeople without a scooterstays under five nights

Walk times

Ubud Market 2 min
Sacred Monkey Forest entrance 10 min
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) 25 min

Skip if: You are a light sleeper, you hate noise, or you plan to stay more than a week

Local tip: Jalan Suweta and Jalan Gootama run parallel to Monkey Forest Road. Same walking distance to everything, half the motorcycle traffic. Most visitors never find them.

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Penestanan

Artist village, rice paddies, and genuine quiet 15 minutes from the center

Budget $0-$0/night

Cross the Campuhan bridge on Jalan Raya Campuhan and climb the steep steps to Penestanan. This is where Western painters and potters settled in the 1930s and the village character has held. Jalan Penestanan Kelod loops through rice paddies and small family compounds. There are no convenience stores and taxis are rare. You are genuinely in a working village 15 minutes from Ubud Market on foot, though the hill back from town is steep. Local warungs serve rice dishes under $3. Several small guesthouses rent rooms from $25 a night. Suits long-stay travellers, yoga practitioners, and anyone who wants real quiet without paying resort rates.

Best for

Long-stay travellersdigital nomadsartistsyoga retreat seekers

Walk times

Campuhan Ridge Walk trailhead 4 min
Neka Art Museum (Jalan Raya Campuhan) 8 min
Ubud Market 20 min

Skip if: You have limited mobility, hate hills, or want to walk to restaurants after dark

Local tip: Ask your guesthouse about the back path through the paddies. It avoids the steep steps off Jalan Raya Campuhan on the way home and is genuinely beautiful at dusk.

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Sayan

Luxury jungle retreats above the Ayung River gorge, nothing budget about it

Budget $0-$0/night

Sayan sits above the Ayung River gorge, roughly 3km west of central Ubud on Jalan Raya Sayan. The Four Seasons Resort Bali and Amandari in neighboring Kedewatan anchor this corridor. This is not a walking neighbourhood. Roads are narrow, steep, and require a scooter or taxi for every trip into town. What you get in return: jungle sounds at night, infinity pools suspended above the gorge, and complete seclusion. White-water rafting operators on the Ayung River launch from near here. Expect $150 minimum for anything decent, with top properties at $400 and up. Stay here for a honeymoon or a deliberate splurge, not for exploring Ubud daily on foot.

Best for

Honeymoonsanniversary tripsluxury retreatscouples wanting total seclusion

Walk times

Ayung River rafting launch point 8 min
Campuhan Bridge 22 min
Central Ubud by scooter 12 min

Skip if: You plan to explore Ubud daily, you are travelling solo on a budget, or you hate relying on taxis

Local tip: Most Sayan hotels run a daily shuttle to central Ubud. Confirm the schedule before booking. The road down to the river is unlit and too narrow to walk safely after dark.

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Nyuh Kuning

Quiet village south of the Monkey Forest, guesthouses from $20 a night

Budget $0-$0/night

Nyuh Kuning is a small village directly south of the Sacred Monkey Forest, reached via Jalan Nyuh Kuning off the main road. Walk north through the forest and you reach Monkey Forest Road in 12 minutes. The village has its own community temple, several warungs, and guesthouses from $20 to $50 a night. There are no nightclubs, no rooftop bars, and almost no traffic. Families like it. Artists like it. Cyclists loop through the rice fields via Jalan Pengosekan each morning. One of the better budget options in Ubud for travellers who actually know it exists. The forest path closes at dusk, which is the only real limitation.

Best for

Budget travellersfamiliescyclistsnature loverslonger stays

Walk times

Sacred Monkey Forest south entrance 4 min
Monkey Forest Road restaurants 12 min
Ubud Market 18 min

Skip if: You want to walk to bars and restaurants at night without planning a route around a closed forest

Local tip: Jalan Pengosekan connects Nyuh Kuning to central Ubud without going through the forest. Lined with local warungs and quieter than Monkey Forest Road at any hour.

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Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.