Ubud With Kids

From the minute we arrived in Ubud we fell in love, with the amazingly scenic rice terraces, the happy, friendly locals and the general feeling of health and wellbeing you get from being around all that…. Wellness! It’s one of the places we seriously discussed relocating too and I don’t say that lightly! Being Bali’s Cultural Capital there are plenty of learning opportunities as well as plenty of chances to just kick back and relax.

This is everything you need to know about visiting Ubud with kids. Starting with a few of the places we visited on our three-day trip with our six year old daughter Piper. It was most definitely not long enough to cram in all of what to do in Ubud with family.

Things to do in Ubud with Kids

If you’re wondering what to do in Ubud with family then you will not be disappointed with your visit. Pick from these great kid friendly activities.

The Campuhan Ridge Walk

Ubud is green, the rice fields and the surrounding, luscious jungle give the cultural heart of Bali an “other wordly” feel and we loved our walk along the Campuhan trail. It’s a fairly easy trek with a roughly paved walkway so Piper coped OK. Just make sure you take some sturdy shoes, plenty of water and attempt it either early morning or evening out of the unforgiving Bali sun.

Experience rice farming at the Tegallalang rice fields

The Tegalalang rice fields on the outskirts of Ubud are another absolute must visit and a great learning opportunity for kids about farming in a tropical climate. It’s definitely not as authentic as it once was, locals have lapped up this opportunity to make an extra buck. In some spots they will charge you for taking a shot of the scenery or themselves but it’s not expensive (less than £1) and they are not really pushy. The Tegallalang rice terraces are located about 25 minutes drive from Ubud.

Spot the locals at Ubud Monkey Forest

I spent a lot of time researching the Monkey Forest, lots of people have had scary experiences with these unpredictable creatures but also many have stated how amazing it is. In the end we caved and found it a lovely place and had no trouble from the cheeky monkeys. That said we spent about an hour before reiterating to Piper not to go near or touch the monkeys. So by the time we got in she was rather wary (or perhaps slightly terrified) and made sure to keep her distance.

If you take food, water or purchase bananas for your picture to be taken, the monkeys will approach you and they do seem a little aggressive. You have been warned! Keep an eye on little ones, monkeys can seem very friendly and tempting but we noticed a few crying kids who had got too close.

If you prefer organised tours rather than going it alone, Get Your Guide has a brilliant full day tour of Ubud which includes the monkey forest, rice terraces and waterfalls which you can book online in advance.

Take an Early Morning Village Walk

We also had the opportunity to visit a local village, learning about how the locals live in these beautiful surroundings. We visited a traditional Balinese property, learned about the village bell which is rung to announce a town meeting, and stopped at the place where farmers swap crops for cash or whatever else they need.

This really demonstrated how very friendly the people of Ubud are, being welcomed into someones home and spoken to about their life is a humbling experience, the homeowner was also selling pieces of art work but unlike other rural villages we have visited, we felt absolutely no obligation to buy. Piper found it absolutely fascinating and I think she slightly fell in love with our guide! Balinese architecture is fascinating and traditional carvings can be found everywhere. keep an eye out and you’ll be sure to spot something pretty.

Visit the Art Museums

Ubud is full of Art and there are many beautiful galleries to visit where you can take home a souvenir or two. We spent time at the Antonio Blanco Museum, the home of the “Dali of Bali” and enjoyed the beautiful grounds and stunning architecture.

There’s also a lovely restaurant to rest tired little feet and enjoy a cold drink overlooking the well kept grounds. The artists studio which has been preserved exactly as he left it was a great insight into this fascinating mans mind.

Relax with a Balinese Massage

Massage parlours and spas can be found all across the island with varying degrees of quality, price and style. We mostly opted for foot massages which were cheap enough to treat Piper toes as well. We also splashed out (around £15) on a balinese massage in our hotel which was simply divine. You’ll mainly find that the Spas in hotels offer a more luxurious environment, similar to something you’d find back home. The walk up shops are much more basic but I think the quality of massage is the same in both. It’s all down to personal choice, and the size of your wallet!

Practice your negotiation skills at Ubud Market

Totally geared towards tourists and similar to markets you will find across the whole of South East Asia Ubud market is a fun place to hunt down souvenirs and Piper loved doing her own negotiating, bartering away her spending money with the sellers. It’s actually a great way to instil confidence in kids and give them an understanding of money. Give them a few Rupiah and let them loose. If you don’t make it to the actual market, you’ll be sure to find sellers dotted across the city. Colourful scarves will make the best holiday gifts for when you return home.

Find some peace at Saraswati Temple

If you’re looking for a peaceful oasis in the heart of the hustle and bustle then head to Saraswati Temple. It’s a beautiful space located right off the main street in Ubud. Known as the water palace the main temple is surrounded by ponds covered in water lilies and pink lotus flowers. It is a Hindu place of worship dedicated to the Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) and home to many stunning Balinese carvings.

Meet the creepy crawlies at Bali Butterfly Park

This is located quite a way outside of Ubud, as we had a hire car we thought it looked pretty easy to find with the help of Googlemaps. Unfortunately there were a few roads closed so we ended up getting totally lost. Driving around as we couldn’t figure out the diversion! It did however give us an opportunity to drive through authentic Balinese villages and meet some great people who helped us on our way. It was just one of those family travel experiences where you have to laugh it off and know the memories will stay with us forever! Balinese roads aren’t always the best so if you do hire a car, just take it slow and steady.

When we finally arrived at Bali Butterfly Park we had a great time getting up close to many stunning insects. Piper absolutely loved the hands-on area where she was able to hold a huge stick insect, a leaf insect and several huge moths and butterflies. She was in heaven!

The address for the park is Jl.Batukaru,Sesandan, Buruan, Penebel, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82181

Snuggle up with a good book at Pondok Pelak Library

If you’re after a little indoors down time then I highly recommend a trip to Ubud’s Pondok Pekak library. It’s located in town so easy to walk to and filled with English language books for all ages. Sometimes it’s great to just curl up and read together for half an hour – kids do like a little home routine even when travelling. The library also holds regular classes such as Balinese carving, dance and music making promoting cultural awareness. You can join in if there’s one going on.

Ubud with toddler in tow

If you’re in Ubud with toddler aged kids then the things recommended above will be perfectly suitable for them too. Perhaps just take it a bit slower than you would with older kids and you’ll need to be super aware of the heat and dehydration. Make sure you’re either travelling or back at your hotel during nap times and include plenty of downtime into your schedule.

If you’re toddlers aren’t keen on walking far then a carrier rather than a pushchair is your best bet in Ubud. It’s a pretty busy city and pavements can be broken or overcrowded. Visits to the Tegalalang rice terraces and the Campuhan Ridge walk, although mostly paved will be difficult on wheels. And make sure you keep a tight hold on them if you visit the monkey forest – they’ll be about the same size as some of the larger monkeys! Don’t let having a toddler put you off visiting these awesome Ubud children’s activities.

Is Ubud good for families

If you’re still wondering is Ubud good for families then wonder no more. If you’re on a family holiday to Bali then I would say it would be a real pity to miss the cultural possibilities Ubud has to offer. Tear yourselves away from those beautiful beaches of Seminyak or Nusa Dua and spend at least a couple of days surrounded by somewhere that feels a little more authentic. The monkeys and markets will be enough to keep the kids happy and being surrounded by nature, culture and a bit of “real life” they’ll be learning without even realising it. Basically Ubud is an excellent place to visit with kids.

Check out my full guide to Asia with kids to figure out where to visit after Ubud.

Where to eat in Ubud with kids

Ubud is a vegetarian heaven with many organic, veggie only cafes and restaurants. But you can still find plenty of meat filled menus and even some fast food options. Our favourite family friendly restaurants in Ubud are:

Kubu at the Ritz Carlton

If you are after somewhere special for a meal or have something to celebrate then Kubu at the Ritz Carlton is a wonderful choice. Yes, it’s expensive and very fancy but the cosy nooks and amazing view are well worth it. The restaurant is cosy and intimate with limited tables so make sure you book well in advance. The kids menu includes family favourites such as grilled chicken to keep little tummies happy.

Murnis Warung

Kids will love a visit to Murnis Warung for the cosy atmosphere and welcoming staff. The menu is mainly Indonesian which was all lovely. I was particularly impressed that they served my chicken satay on its very own little BBQ – cute!

Karsa Kafe

Karsa Kafe, just outside of Ubud in Bangkiang Sidem is one you just wouldn’t find if you weren’t looking. The restaurant makes a trip into the hills surrounding Ubud well worth it.

The Cafe/restaurant has a very relaxed vibe and serves both Indonesian and Western food. The views of the surrounding fields were amazing and the food is all great value. They also have a walk in Spa and rooms if you’re looking for somewhere to stay.

Milk & Madu

For somewhere for brunch then try Milk & Madu located in the centre of town. The coffee is excellent and the menu is absolutely huge with everything from brioche french toast to burgers, salad bowls and the most amazing gourmet pizzas. The kids menu includes chicken tenders, kids pizzas and pasta. It’s fantastic value with pizzas around £1.

Best places to stay in Ubud with kids

Lokha Ubud

We stayed at the Lokha Ubud on the outskirts of town in a 1 bedroom pool vila which was absolutely gorgeous. It has an amazing infinity pool  looking out into the surrounding jungle and the rooms were absolutely huge. You can read all our thoughts on the hotel in our Lokha Ubud review.

Other Ubud family friendly hotels

The Viceroy Bali

If you’re looking for the ultimate luxurious escape then book at few nights at the Viceroy Bali. Located just five minutes from the centre of Ubud this stunning 5 star hotel has everything you need for your family holiday to Ubud and more. The Villas are out of this world good!

The Sankara Resort

Located in the village of Kumbuh, Mas, The Sankara is a beautiful resort hotel with a huge infinity pool and stunning Balinese style rooms and villas.

The Udaya Resort

5 star rated Udaya Resort offers the ultimate in luxury stays in Ubud. It is located just 5 minutes from the town centre but again feels like you’ve landed right in the jungle.

How to get to Ubud

Yes, Bali is far away from most places. Flights will be long but I promise you they are worth it. I always check Skyscanner to figure out the best dates and cheapest airfares. It also allows multi stop trips so you could fly halfway with a stopover before continuing on to Bali Ngurah Rai International airport which is where you’ll fly in to.

If you’re worried about the long journey with kids have a look at my post on long haul flights with kids. It includes loads of helpful tips to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

Ubud is located around an hour and a half drive from the airport. It is surrounded by rice fields and and tiny villages and is away from beaches and seaside resorts popular all over the rest of Bali. It feels very different to the rest of the island. We hired a car and drove ourselves which was pretty straightforward but if you don’t fancy that then a taxi should cost around £25.

Most nationalities will not need to apply for a visa before they arrive in Bali. You can fill in a visa on arrival at the airport and stay in Bali for free for up to 30 days.

When is the best time to visit Ubud with kids

Bali is pretty much hot all year round. It has a tropical climate with two seasons rather than the four we know – dry winters and hot, humid summers. June to August is the driest part of the year but this is also the most popular (and most expensive). December is peak rainy season and also very crowded with tourists celebrating the Christmas break – it’s probably best avoided.

September, October, November and January are all good months to visit as this is shoulder season, weather is pretty good and hotel prices come down. Obviously this will be tricky if you have school age kids. The Easter holidays are probably your best bet here, you may experience a few downpours but also plenty of sunshine.

Read Next: Visiting Jimbaran with kids.

Have you been to Ubud with kids? I would love to hear your recommendations for what to do in Ubud with family. Just leave a comment below.

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