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7 Most Instagrammable Spots in Ubud, Bali
Rice terraces, a jungle swing, and a monkey-filled temple forest, Ubud's most-shared shots are all within a short scooter ride of each other.
Jul 23, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Ubud has become shorthand for Bali's entire Instagram aesthetic, rice terraces, jungle swings, and temple gates, and most of the genuinely photogenic spots sit within a short drive of the town centre. Here are seven worth building a day around, each with a direct map link.
1. Tegalalang Rice Terrace
The most famous terraced rice field on the island, stepped paddies cut into a steep valley with palm trees breaking up the green. Arrive by 7.30am, both for the softer light and because tour buses fill the viewpoints by mid-morning.
2. Tirta Empul Water Temple
A working Hindu temple built around a natural spring, where both worshippers and visitors can take part in a ritual purification bath at the stone spouts. Dress modestly and rent the required sarong at the entrance if you did not bring one.
3. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
A forest reserve in the middle of town with several hundred long-tailed macaques and moss-covered temple ruins threading through the trees, best visited early before both the heat and the crowds build up.
4. Campuhan Ridge Walk
A free, paved ridge trail through open grassland just west of central Ubud, walkable in under an hour and one of the few genuinely peaceful, uncrowded green spaces close to town.
5. Ubud Traditional Art Market
The central market for woven goods, sarongs, and woodcarving, worth visiting for the sheer density of colour and craft even without buying, though haggling firmly is expected and normal here.
6. Bali Swing at a jungle canopy park
Several operators around Ubud run the now-iconic giant jungle swings over river valleys, genuinely as scenic in person as the photos suggest, though it is worth booking a specific slot to avoid a long wait for the popular swings.
7. Sunset at a rice-field café
Several cafés on Ubud's outskirts back directly onto working rice fields, and booking a table for the last hour before sunset is the easiest way to get the wide, glowing green view without a temple entry fee or a hike.
Traveller tips
- Rent a scooter with an international driving permit rather than relying on taxis; Ubud's attractions are spread out enough that a scooter genuinely saves hours each day.
- Carry a sarong at all times; most temples require one and rental at the gate is often a hassle compared to bringing your own.
- Visit Tirta Empul before 9am if you plan to actually bathe in the springs; the ritual baths get genuinely crowded by mid-morning.
- Do not carry food or dangling jewellery near the Monkey Forest's macaques; they are habituated to grabbing anything that looks like food.
Where this is
Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ubud