Bali in four days: Ubud, rice terraces and temples – short but intense

For us, Ubud was the short, green part of Bali: four days between rice fields, jungle and temples.

Bali was a short visit for us: from 28 April to 1 May 2023, four days, all in and around Ubud. Ubud lies in the green interior, surrounded by rice fields, jungle and temples – and it is the right choice if you have little time and want to experience Bali as more than just a beach.

Why Ubud

The well-known beach towns in the south (Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu) are loud and full of traffic. Ubud is quieter, the accommodation often has a pool overlooking the greenery, and the sights in the interior can be reached quickly from there. From the airport it takes one to two hours, depending on traffic.

The Tegallalang rice terraces

The famous rice terraces lie north of Ubud. They are at their most beautiful early in the morning – the light is soft, the heat bearable and the buses haven’t arrived yet. A small contribution is charged at the entrance, and individual farmers ask for another small fee for the paths through their fields. The big swings and photo nests cost extra – nice, but not a must.

Gunung Kawi

A rock temple with huge shrines carved into the cliff face, down by the river in a gorge. Down many steps, through rice fields – cool, green and much less crowded than the better-known temples. A sarong is lent at the entrance; shoulders and knees must be covered in all temples.

Monkey Forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest lies in the middle of Ubud. The monkeys are cheeky: pack away sunglasses, phones and anything edible, don’t carry anything in your hands, don’t feed them.

Day trip tip: the temple on the mountain lake

If you have an extra day, drive into the mountains around Bedugul, about an hour and a half to the north. There the Ulun Danu Beratan temple stands on the water of Lake Bratan, and the photogenic Handara Gate is very close by. It is much cooler up there – bring a jacket.

Getting around

Renting a scooter is common in Bali, but only with experience and a valid motorcycle licence (an international driving permit with category A) – the police do check, and the traffic is dense. For a short visit, a driver for the whole day is the more relaxed solution, or individual rides via the Grab and Gojek apps. More on this in Rental car or motorbike.

Sort out before you arrive

• Visa on arrival (e-VoA) – best applied for online in advance, which saves you queuing at the airport.
• Tourist levy: since February 2024 Bali has also charged a levy per person, payable online (the “Love Bali” app or website). It didn’t exist yet during our visit in 2023.
• A valid passport, valid for at least six months beyond the end of your trip.

Money

The Indonesian rupiah has a lot of zeros – 100,000 is around five to six euros. Be careful with exchange offices offering rates that are “too good”; it’s better to withdraw from ATMs inside bank branches. We withdrew and paid with our Wise card; in small warungs and at markets only cash works. More in Money abroad.

Would we go again?

Yes – but for at least two weeks and with a mix of Ubud, the north and one of the small islands such as Nusa Penida or the Gilis. Four days make you want more, nothing more.

Photo credits

The photos in this post are not ours but freely licensed (Wikimedia Commons / Openverse): rice terraces near Ubud in Bali – Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0; Gunung Kawi rock temple in Bali – www.Pinterpandai.com, CC BY 3.0; Ulun Danu Beratan temple on the lake – unknown, CC0 1.0; Balinese temple gate – unknown, CC0 1.0. Our own photos from this trip will follow.

Ubud: our verdict

Our verdict on Ubud: if you have little time, this is the right place, because the most beautiful spots are close together. It is also worth visiting the rice terraces and temples early in the morning. All the island’s highlights are in Things to do in Bali; background on the town can be found on Wikipedia.