Get to know this quieter, but just as exciting, part of Bali!
Good food, cheap flights, and gorgeous villas, Bali needs no introduction to Singaporeans. Since the country reopened to travellers once again, we decided we’d explore further north in Ubud to escape from the crowds.
Read more: One-Week Bali Itinerary — The Lesser Known Side Most Tourists Miss
Pre-trip Essentials
Pre-departure test: Not required from Singapore since 18 May 2022
Visa: Singaporeans can visit visa-free for 30 days
Transport: Most tourists rent a car or bikes (moped) from ~S$10/day or get around with ride hailing services. For budget travellers, local buses are also available — eight buses that run across Bali costing from Rp20,000 (~S$1.90) a trip.
Connectivity: XL Axiata, 15GB for Rp250,000 (~S$23) — available at the airport after immigration
[UPDATE] Tourism tax: Starting 14 Feb 2024, all foreigners entering Bali via land or domestic flights (including children) have to pay Rp150,000 (~S$12.80) in tourism tax. You can do so via the Love Bali website or app before the trip.
Accommodation in Ubud
Located in Kenderan Village, we stayed at Aksari Ubud Resort that’s 25 minutes away from Central Ubud. The resort comes with an infinity pool that overlooks a green valley and a lush forest.
And, compared to bustling areas like Canggu and Seminyak, it’s relatively cheaper to stay in Ubud!
Cost: From ~S$225/night (up to 2 pax)
How to get there: 15min drive from Tegallang Rice Terrace (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: Quote “CITIXPLORE” for up to S$100 off Traveloka app bookings with Citi Credit Cards.
Read more: Ultimate Bali Accommodation Guide — Value for Money Hostels to Affordably Luxurious Villas
Day 1: Explore Ubud’s Neighbourhood
We planned our itinerary to arrive in Bali in the morning, giving us plenty of time to explore Central Ubud after checking in.
The Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
This popular landmark in Central Ubud was built in the 1900s for the Ubud royal family. Tour the palace grounds and you’ll find lots of intricate art carved into the walls and doorways of this historic site.
*Pro-tip: Head there in the evening for the traditional Balinese dance performance at 7:30PM daily (Rp100,000, ~S$9)
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 8AM – 7PM
How to get there: 1min walk from Ubud Art Market (Google Maps)
Saraswati Temple
This temple is dedicated to Saraswati, a Hindu goddess that inspires creativity. The name loosely translates to She Who Has an Abundance of Water, which could be why the temple is also known as the Ubud Water Palace.
Origin story aside, this place of worship is beautiful to see. The lily ponds leading to the temple make it a popular photo spot too.
*Pro-tip: Enjoy an iced frappuccino at the two-storey Starbucks by the entrance where you’ll have an aerial view of the temple grounds.
Photo credit: Iris via Google Reviews
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 7AM – 5PM
How to get there: 3min walk from Ubud Royal Palace (Google Maps)
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Wrap up day one with a quick stroll at Campuhan Ridge Walk, one of the best places to enjoy a Balinese sunset.
The hike takes about an hour one way and most of the path is paved and fairly flat.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
Starting point (South): F7W3+HW Sayan, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia (Google Maps)
Starting point (North): G744+39P, Jl. Bangkiang Sidem, Keliki, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561, Indonesia (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: After your hike, order in dinner from the comfort of your villa — get local favourites like Babi Guling and Martabak from food delivery services!
Day 2: Immerse Yourself in Ubud’s Captivating Outdoors
Your itinerary isn’t complete without visiting these epic waterfalls in Bali!
Tibumana Waterfall
Photo credit: @mathias.explores via Instagram
How about exploring something a bit more hidden? Head past Apuan Village’s endless rice fields and check out the elusive Tibumana Waterfall. Lush forests encircle these mesmerising falls making it feel like a private lagoon.
From the entrance, it’s a 15-minute walk down past the rice paddies!
*Pro-tip: Rent a locker for Rp5,000 (~S$0.45) to explore the falls hands-free.
Entrance fee: Rp20,000 (~S$2)
Opening hours: 7AM – 6PM
How to get there: 5min drive from Taman Sari Waterfall and Natural Pool (Google Maps)
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
The Kanto Lampo Waterfall is easily accessible from Ubud. It’s a 30-minute drive from Central Ubud and a 10-minute hike down from the entrance.
Once a hidden gem, this waterfall has gained a lot more attention over the years — everyone wants a picture with its majestic cascading falls and unique rock formations. So, it’s best to be there earlier in the morning to avoid the queues!
Entrance fee: Rp20,000 (~S$2)
Opening hours: 6:30AM – 5:30PM
How to get there: 5min drive from Gianyar Culture Hall (Google Maps)
Tegenungan Waterfall
Photo credit: @digitaltravelcouple via Instagram
Possibly the most famous waterfall in Bali, Tegenungan’s massive cascades are the did-you-really-go-to-Bali-if-you-didn’t-visit-this-waterfall spot. So don’t be shocked to see crowds by late morning.
However, this 25m high waterfall is still worth a trip down, especially at sunrise, as the morning sun creates an epic spotlight on the falls.
While it’s possible to swim in Tegenungan’s waters, you might want to know that the water first passes through the paddy fields so it can carry manure — maybe best appreciated from land 😬
Entrance fee: Rp20,000 (~S$2)
Opening hours: 6:30AM – 6:30PM
How to get there: 7min walk from Kemenuh Butterfly Park (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: Hit all three falls in one day with this waterfall tour which offers both pickup and drop-off, with an additional visit to a coffee plantation ☕️
Bali Waterfall Tour
Cost: From ~S$60/pax
Pickup point: Anywhere in Ubud, Sanur, Seminyak, Canggu, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and Jimbaran area
Alas Harum’s Rice Terraces
Ubud is known for its epic rice terraces. And at Alas Harum, they’ve turned a large plot of it into a giant playground 🤩
Try fun activities like the iconic Bali swing (Rp176,250 or ~S$15) and sky-biking where you cycle in the air over the terraces (Rp235,000 or ~S$20). Or, explore the terraces and discover all of the amazing photo spots set up throughout!
We ended our day relaxing at the luxurious in-house terrace club, Cretya Ubud. It feels exactly like a beach club but instead of vast ocean views, you get panoramic views of the rice terraces from the infinity pool. It’s also the perfect place to catch the sunset 😍
Cost: From ~S$19/pax (inclusive of extreme swing)
Opening hours: 7AM – 7PM
Address: 1min walk from Cretya Ubud (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: Use your Citi Credit Card to book your activities via the Traveloka App and quote “CITIXPLORE” for up to S$100 off!
Day 3: Dive into Bali’s Food Culture
If you love the Bali cafe scene, here are some stylish coffee spots in Ubud to add to your Bali itinerary.
Milk & Madu Ubud
Milk & Madu serves classic cafe foods for a fraction of the price. The menu offers everything from elaborate Poke bowls to tall burgers and gourmet pizzas.
We got the Madu Smash Burger and the Four Cheese Pizza. It was more than enough to fill the both of us! Not forgetting their delicious iced lattes to wash it all down 🙌🏼
And their glasshouse design is just as aesthetic as their food!
Cost: ~Rp140,000/entree (~S$12)
Opening hours: 7AM – 10PM
How to get there: 2min walk from Ubud Art Market (Google Maps)
Titik Temu Coffee
Just a stone’s throw away from Milk & Madu is an underrated two-storey cafe. Titik Temu checked all our boxes — food: 10/10, vibes: 10/10 and price point: 11/10!
We really enjoyed their Aglio Olio, but the true stunner was their creamy scrambled eggs — a big serving of fluffy goodness accompanied by sauteed mushrooms, smoked beef, and toast.
I’m not exaggerating but I still think about it every now and then 🤤
Cost: ~Rp40,000/snack
Opening hours: 8AM – 10PM
How to get there: 2min walk from Ubud Royal Palace (Google Maps)
Read more: The Ultimate Bali Food Guide: 21 Things To Eat in Seminyak, Ubud and Nusa Dua
Compound’s Warung
Photo credit: @compoundswarung via Instagram
For more local flavour, visit Compound’s Warung — their five-star Google reviews speak for themselves!
Situated in a traditional Balinese hut, this warung (small, family-owned business) serves some of the best local dishes like Nasi Campur and Mie Goreng. And they offer vegan options too!
After a hearty meal, step outside and meet the friendly free-roaming bunnies in the garden 🐰
Cost: ~Rp30,000/entree
Opening hours: 9AM – 10PM
How to get there: 4min walk from Ubud Art Market (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: As most restaurants accept cashless payment, pay for meals with your Citi PremierMiles Card and earn 2 Citi Miles with every S$1 foreign currency spend.
Local Cooking Class
You might not be able to dabao (takeaway) food back home but you can learn to make your favourite Balinese dishes from Tanah Gajah‘s Executive Chef Dean Nor.
From Indonesian Rujak to Mie Goreng, Chef Dean shows you step by step how to prepare and cook each dish. Don’t worry about taking notes — you get to bring back a copy of all the recipes along with an apron.
You’ll also tour a garden where you can sample the very produce, herbs, and spices used in their dishes!
At the end, enjoy the entire spread prepared by the hotel chefs at the restaurant.
Cost: From ~S$85/pax
Class hours: 12PM – 2PM
Address: 10min drive from Agung Rai Museum of Art (Google Maps)
Day 4: Unwind Before Your Flight Home
End off your trip with the ultimate pamper session at Kaveri Spa.
Take your pick of a warm tub filled with flowers, a detoxing body scrub, or a 90-minute full-body massage! We couldn’t decide so we got all three with the Kaveri package 🤪
I felt like a Disney princess soaking in the flower bath 🌺 and being pampered with the Kaveri Royal Massage. Not gonna lie, I was really tempted to miss my flight and book round two 😂
Cost: From ~S$155/pax (for a package)
Opening hours: 9AM – 9PM
How to get there: 14min walk from Muse Cafe and Art (Google Maps)
Read more: 5D Bali Itinerary: The Best of Bali For The Adventurous — Ubud, Seminyak, Nusa Dua
Pro-tips for Planning Your Next Bali Itinerary
I was so excited to return to Bali after many years and exploring parts I’d not visited before! And we could thoroughly enjoy our trip knowing everything was in place before our flight. Here are some tips for planning your next Bali itinerary:
1) Collect all those loyalty rewards: Rack up miles by booking your flights and accommodations with the Citi PremierMiles Card — it earns you 1.2 Citi miles with every S$1 local spend. And when making payments overseas, we got 2 Citi miles with every S$1 spent!
The best part is Citi Miles has no expiry date 🥳
2) Pre-book your activities: Bali is a hot destination right now so be sure you’ve got the essentials like accommodation, airport transfer and activities pre-booked. We had ours booked with the Traveloka app, which even offers flights!
Get discounts of up to S$100 off (with minimum spend) Traveloka app bookings when you use the promo code “CITIXPLORE” — valid till 31 March 2024
*Pro-tip: When booking flights on Traveloka, input your preferred airline frequent flyer number or ID to earn miles on top of Traveloka Points!
3) Bring more cash. Most cafes accept cards, but waterfalls and other attractions only accept cash. So, it’s good to have more cash in hand.
4) Check your accommodation address: Although our resort has ‘Ubud’ in its name, it’s not written in the address so we didn’t know it wasn’t within Central Ubud. We still loved the quiet and serenity away from the centre, but if you prefer staying closer to the cafes and bars, make sure your address has ‘Ubud’ in it!
5) Pre-pay tourism tax: Starting 14 Feb 2024, all foreigners would have to pay Rp150,000 (~S$12.80) in tourism tax to enter the island. Skip the lines at the airline counters by paying for it in advance via the Love Bali website or app.
Planning an itinerary for your next trip to Bali? Share with us your questions below!
This post was brought to you by Citi Credit Cards and Traveloka.
@thetravelintern Head out of the city to these epic sights less than 3hrs away! #tiktoktravel #bangkok #mygallery #tiktoksg #fyp #poppoppop #sgfyp #learningisfun ♬ POP! – NAYEON
