Ubud Guide
The centre of Ubud is walkable: the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Palace and the Art Market across from it, and Saraswati Temple with its lotus pond, plus the Campuhan Ridge Walk on the western edge. Day trips reach the Tegallalang rice terraces and Goa Gajah. Riviera Boutique Hotel sits on Jalan Raya Pengosekan inside this belt.
A guide from Riviera Boutique Hotel, a boutique hotel in central Ubud.
Last updated 24 September 2026
The centre holds most of Ubud's landmark sights within a short walk of each other. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Padangtegal, Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung), the Ubud Art Market across the road, and Pura Taman Saraswati with its lotus pond are the ones most visitors start with. From a base in the central belt you can reach them on foot or a short scooter ride.
The Campuhan Ridge Walk follows a paved path along a green ridge on the western edge of town, past Pura Gunung Lebah in the Campuhan valley. It is best early in the morning before the heat, and it is one of the few Ubud sights that costs nothing and asks only for comfortable shoes. The paved track is about one metre wide and runs about 2 kilometres to the top of the hill, a popular place to watch the sunset (Wikipedia, read 16 October 2026).
North of town the Tegallalang rice terraces show the subak irrigation the region is known for. East, near Bedulu, Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, is an archaeological site with a carved cave mouth and bathing pools.
The Tegenungan waterfall sits between Ubud and Denpasar. Each is a short drive, and a central base shortens the trip out and back.
Ubud has been an arts town for a century. The Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) and the Neka Art Museum hold Balinese and Indonesian painting, and the Blanco Renaissance Museum sits above the Campuhan valley. Pengosekan, where Riviera stands, grew up as a painters' community, and galleries still line its road.
A base in the central belt puts the walkable sights at the door and starts every day trip closer to the main roads. Riviera Boutique Hotel is on Jalan Raya Pengosekan, south of the Monkey Forest, with a spa, a cafe and coffee lounge, and Kumo, the fusion omakase in Ubud, on site, so the downtime between outings stays close to hand.
See Riviera's rooms in central Ubud, or read our guide to Ubud's art museums and galleries.
Reviews
For us, this hotel was an absolute oasis of well-being and definitely one of the most beautiful hotels we stayed in in Bali. We would return in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a special, stylish, and relaxing stay in Ubud. Thank you so much to the entire team for this wonderful time! ❤️🌴 We would love to come back again!
A beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Ubud with stylish interiors and great attention to detail. I stayed in a Garden View room, which was very comfortable, spotless and peaceful. The staff were incredibly warm, attentive and helpful. I originally booked two nights but loved it so much that I extended my stay by another three. I would definitely return!
A Beautiful modern hotel in the heart of Ubud, very centrally and conveniently located and close to the best shops and restaurants. The hotel has a very beautiful colonial atmosphere, the rooms are clean, modern and stylish. The staff is kind and responsive. It's a great place for a couple or single travellers, it's not really fit for families as it has no infrastructure and special spaces for kids. It's a great place for adult travellers wanting to stay in the very heart of Ubud and enjoy the walking distance to the evening events in Ubud or just visiting the town without the need to use a car or a bike. We will be back!
Common questions
Ubud is Bali's arts and culture town, known for the Sacred Monkey Forest, its palace and temples, the surrounding rice terraces, and a long tradition of painting and craft.