Ubud Guide
Bali's airport, Ngurah Rai International near Denpasar, sits on the south coast. Ubud is inland in Gianyar, so the trip is a car ride of a little over an hour in light traffic and longer when the roads are busy. Most visitors arrange a driver or a ride-hailing car. Riviera Boutique Hotel is on Jalan Raya Pengosekan in the central belt.
Bali has one international airport, Ngurah Rai in Denpasar, on the narrow neck of land in the south near Kuta and Jimbaran. Ubud is not on the coast; it sits inland in the Gianyar regency, in the hills at the centre of the island. There is no closer airport, so every arrival to Ubud starts with the drive north from the south coast.
The drive is usually a little over an hour when the roads are clear, and it can stretch well beyond that in heavy traffic, which is common in the late afternoon. The distance is not far, but the roads through the southern towns are slow. Planning the arrival for a quieter part of the day helps, and either way it is worth treating the transfer as part of the trip rather than a quick hop.
Most visitors use a pre-arranged driver or a ride-hailing car booked from the airport. A private driver is the simplest with luggage after a long flight, and many hotels can arrange one. Ride-hailing apps work in Bali, though pick-up rules at the airport change from time to time, so a driver booked ahead avoids the guesswork on arrival.
The road into Ubud from the south runs up through the centre and out along Jalan Raya Pengosekan, so a hotel on that road is reached without crossing the busiest part of town. Riviera Boutique Hotel sits on Pengosekan, south of the Monkey Forest, which keeps the arrival straightforward at the end of the drive.
Once you are in the centre, much of Ubud is walkable, and the sights spread out beyond it are reached by scooter or a hired driver. A central base means you can drop the bags, walk to dinner the first evening, and sort out day trips the next morning without another long transfer.
See Riviera's rooms in central Ubud, or read our guide to where to stay in central Ubud.
Common questions
Ngurah Rai airport is on Bali's south coast and Ubud is inland in Gianyar. The drive is usually a little over an hour in light traffic and longer when the roads are busy.
A pre-arranged private driver is the simplest with luggage. Ride-hailing cars also work, though airport pick-up rules vary, so booking a driver ahead avoids trouble on arrival.
Yes, metered and airport taxis run the route, but agreeing the fare or booking a driver in advance is the usual way to avoid surprises on the longer trip inland.