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Those with an interest in Balinese culture and arts should not miss out on visiting Ubud when staying on Bali. This quaint little town is surrounded by lovely landscapes with forests and rice terraces. It is home to a palace, royal tombs, and ancient temples. Ubud is also heaven for shoppers and it has a fabulous collection of artisans’ workshops.

In town, Puri Saren Agung is a royal palace open to the public with pagodas, towers, ponds, and plants arranged around a courtyard. This is the best venue in town to enjoy a traditional dance performance. The Puri Lukisan Museum is nearby and offers an interesting collection of modern Balinese art. Among other facilities are Blanco Renaissance Museum and the House of Masks and Puppets.

Goa Gajah is five kilometres east of Ubud and an easy trip with a rented bicycle. One thousand year-old rock carvings guard the main cave and evil’s image guards the entrance. Lots of old statues and rice fields are also attractions here. A little farther away, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary features three temples including the Great Temple of Death, tribes of long-tailed monkeys, and a deer enclosure.

Ubud is a popular destination for tourism in Bali. This has led to the opening of many restaurants. These are often housed in traditional warung shacks. Diners can experiment with dishes such as babi guling suckling pig and blood sausage or stick with the old favourites of nasi campur, pizza, and pasta. A 22:30 curfew on loud bands and music means most visitors go to bed early. There are several bars to choose from, but they are designed for chilling out and relaxing.

Shopping in Ubud is a pleasure. People will find they are spoilt for choice with hand-crafted articles ranging from silk handkerchiefs and scarves to elaborate gold and silver jewellery. Shirts, shorts, skirts, and sarongs made from batik and cotton are cheap. Bags, baskets, wooden statues, paintings, and sleek kites are among other products available. There are lots of small shops and boutiques, but Seni Ubud Market is centrally-located and has a big selection in one place.