The Best Places to Stay in Ubud for Solo Travellers (2026)

Ubud was my first stop when I arrived in Bali by myself and it ended up shaping the rest of my Bali trip. In these first few days, I had breakfast overlooking rice fields, eased into yoga and wellness, and cycled through the palm trees. I ended up returning to Ubud again and again. Here are the best places to stay in Ubud for solo travellers, based on my experiences there.

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Quick overview of where to stay Ubud for solo travellers

• Stay in central Ubud on your first visit, so you can walk everywhere
• Family homestays are the best value and a great way to meet Balinese hosts
• Hostels are good for meeting other travellers: try Savanna Ubud or the women-only Arya Wellness
• Penestanan and Sayan are quieter and greener, but you’ll need transport
• Allow at least a week in Ubud, so you can settle into the rhythm
• Ubud is popular with yoga fans, with centres including the popular Yoga Barn
• Local attractions include the Monkey Forest and the Royal Palace

Why choose Ubud as a solo female traveller?

I was first inspired to come to Ubud because of the book and movie Eat Pray Love. Set inland among rice fields, jungle and small villages, Ubud is built around wellness, creativity and food. The yoga studios here, like Yoga Barn, are world-class. The restaurants serve tasty vegetarian food and the surrounding landscape encourages you to slow down and relax. Being close to the centre of the island means you have easy access to terraced rice fields, temples, misty volcanoes and hidden waterfalls without long journeys. It’s why I often used it as my base.

The best areas to stay in Ubud

If it’s your first time, I recommend staying in central Ubud, so you can easily walk to the temples, shops and yoga centres. If you have a scooter and prefer more peaceful, expansive rice paddy views, head to nearby Sayan or Penestanan.

Central Ubud

There are three main roads in Ubud. Jalan Raya Ubud crosses the heart of the town, past the Art Market and Ubud Palace. As the name suggests, Monkey Forest Road runs south towards the sacred Monkey Forest sanctuary. Parallel to this road is Jalan Hanoman, known for its boutiques, cafes and yogawear shops. Most places to stay in Ubud will be on or close to one of these streets. Staying in central Ubud is convenient for accessing the town’s attractions and facilities on foot, but these main roads are often packed with traffic.

I stayed at guesthouses in the southeast of Ubud, close to Jalan Hanoman, as I wanted to be walking distance from The Yoga Barn. Here, the roads and guesthouses are a little quieter, with pretty gardens or even overlooking rice paddies, but it’s still easy to get into town on foot.

Penestanan

To the west of Ubud is a quieter and greener area that’s popular with digital nomads and people staying longer-term. Guesthouses and villas here often have swimming pools and are surrounded by rainforest and rice paddies. I went to visit an acquaintance here and was struck by how peaceful it is. The area is far less commercial than central Ubud but you’ll still find creative cafes and yoga centres. It takes half an hour to walk into the centre, along steep steps, so it’s better if you have a scooter to get around.

Sayan and Campuhan

Further northwest of Ubud are Sayan and Campuhan, located along the Ayung River. This is where you’ll find the popular Campuhan Ridge Walk with its hiking trails and dramatic valley views. The area is known for its world-class luxury resorts like the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan and Mandapa. Staying here will definitely require transportation.

Best places to stay in Ubud for solo travellers

As a solo traveller, it’s best to stay in central Ubud – especially if it’s your first time – so you can get around easily and meet other people. Here are some recommendations of the best places to stay in Ubud.

Best homestays in Ubud for solo travellers

There are many traditional family homestays in central Ubud. I stayed in one that was ornately designed and gave me a chance to get to know the locals living there. It even had a small garden with a rabbit hopping about.

Try Tude’s Family Homestay, which is set in peaceful tropical gardens, while Bale Bali House offers cooking classes and Maple House overlooks rice fields.

Best hostels in Ubud for solo travellers

Hostels in Ubud include Savanna Ubud, which has a swimming pool, and the women-only Arya Wellness.

Browse the map below to find the best accommodation deals in Ubud for your dates:

The best places to eat in Ubud

Most accommodation in Ubud comes with breakfast included. Served to you on your terrace, it’s often a tasty banana pancake or eggs on toast and tropical fruit salad. 

Bali is obsessed with coffee and even produces its own speciality, called luwak coffee. One of the places that is loved by the yoga community is KAFE Ubud, in the centre of town. It is a cool place, serving vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free food and super-smoothies.

The nearby Atman Kafe is also excellent, as is Clear Cafe. If you’re going to the Radiantly Alive yoga studio, be sure to stop at the neighbouring Bali Buda Cafe. The Yoga Barn has an on-site restaurant serving great vegetarian food including colourful stir-fries – see my photo below.

In the evenings, there are also many excellent places in Ubud to eat dinner. My personal favourite restaurants in Ubud include Mamma Mia, a fantastic pizza place, and the marvellous Mexican Taco Casa.

Where to go for yoga in Ubud

In Ubud is a world-class yoga studio called Yoga Barn. Here, you can take a wide range of popular classes and meet like-minded people.

As well as movie screenings, meditation, kirtan they hold divine Thai yoga massage workshops. Their weekly ecstatic dance sessions have a reputation as one of the most fun things to do in Ubud.

Another excellent yoga centre in Ubud is Radiantly Alive, which is quieter and offers aerial yoga classes.

For more information about Yoga Barn, check out my honest review here.

More things to do in Ubud

Venture into the sacred Monkey Forest

One of most famous places to visit in Ubud is its sacred monkey forest sanctuary. It’s an essential stop on any Ubud itinerary. This Hindu temple complex located in the jungle is home to hundreds of macaque monkeys.

These little monkeys are cute but fearless. They will want to steal anything that looks shiny or tasty, so keep your belongings close.

The Ubud monkey forest opening hours are 8.30am until 5.30pm daily. The entrance fee is priced at around Rp80,000 (US$5.50).

Relax in one of Ubud’s sensational spas

In the afternoon, why not visit one of the sensational spas in Ubud. Bali has developed its own style of massage which is incredibly relaxing. The good news is, spa treatments in Bali are affordable, even if you are on a backpacker’s budget.

My favourite Ubud spa is the Ubud Wellness Spa. Here, you can enjoy one of the best massages in Ubud and beauty treatments at an attractive price.

For a luxurious Ubud spa centre, a little out of town, head to the Maya Ubud Resort & Spa.

Watch a traditional dance performance

In terms of things to do in Ubud at night, it is a pretty chilled place after dark. Some of the best bars in Ubud include No Más Bar, Night Rooster Bar and Laughing Buddha Bar.

One of the top things to do here in the evening is to watch a traditional Kecak Fire & Trance Dance. This is a compelling retelling of the Ramayana epic tales through dance and percussion. It’s full of fire, demons and magic. Performances take place at venues all over Ubud. One of the best places to watch it is at the Royal Palace.

Day trips from Ubud

See the famous rice terraces

You can rent a bike to explore the gorgeous green rice fields surrounding Ubud. I went on a cycling tour with a group which was great fun and allowed me to meet people.

Visit a coffee plantation

Around Ubud there are many coffee plantations where you can learn how the unique luwak coffee is produced. One of the best places is Ubud Me Sari Luwak Coffee Agrotourism. Here, you can taste several types of locally produced tea and coffee, flavoured with ginseng, coconut and ginger. My cycling tour included a stop at one of these plantations for a tasting of its produce.

You can also take a local cooking class in Ubud to discover how Balinese delicacies are made.

See the sunrise from the top of Mount Batur

One of the most memorable day trips from Ubud is a sunrise guided hike to climb Bali’s second highest volcano.

Located in the village of Kintamani, Mount Batur reaches over 1700 metres (5,600 feet) above sea level, offering breathtaking views of Lake Batur and surrounding mountains. This accessible hike suits even novice trekkers without special equipment.

My tour started very early with a 2am pickup from Ubud for the one-hour drive to Mount Batur. A local guide is required to access the volcano, costing around Rp350,000 (US$24) per person – some negotiation helps! It’s a two-hour climb where you navigate rocky trails in darkness, so bring a torch, warm layers and good trainers.

It’s well worth the early start and the effort. At the summit, I saw magnificent views across waters and mountaintops emerging through misty clouds as the sunrose. They gave us breakfast to enjoy up here. You can also see Mount Batur’s unusual double caldera – one volcanic crater inside another – and Bali’s largest crater-lake.

The good thing is, the tour returns you to your accommodation while it’s still the morning, so you can enjoy the rest of the day or go back to bed if you prefer!

Frequently asked questions about Ubud as a solo traveller

How many days do you need to spend in Ubud?

I would suggest allowing at least a week in Ubud. It’s the cultural heart of Bali, so take your time to get to know the island’s temples, traditional dance performances and local ceremonies that make up daily life here.

While there’s plenty to do in Ubud and excellent day trips beyond, don’t feel guilty if you end up doing almost nothing. I spent days doing little except reading in a hammock, getting massages and journalling.

How to get to Ubud from Bali’s international airport

From Ngurah Rai international airport in Denpasar to Ubud, the distance is around 15 miles (25 km). However traffic on the island means it can take an hour or two to reach Ubud by taxi.

The good news is, there are beautiful things to see in Bali out of the taxi window on your way. You’ll likely see intricately decorated temples, artisan craft stores and colourful religious offerings.

When is the best time to visit Ubud?

The dry season from May to September delivers the best weather with minimal rain and perfect conditions for temple visits and rice terrace walks. However, Ubud remains beautiful year-round. The wet season from October to April brings lush green landscapes and fewer crowds – just pack an umbrella for afternoon showers. I visited from mid-April to June and the weather was perfect.

Final thoughts

I absolutely loved Ubud from the moment I arrived. My shoulders dropped and I breathed deeper, despite the fact I was alone. I would always recommend it, especially if you love yoga.

It’s not a party place – it’s quiet, peaceful and the ideal place to relax and unwind. The food is excellent, with plenty of healthy and vegetarian options. It’s a meeting place for many independent travellers, so you may well get chatting with other people in your new favourite cafe.

Walk around Ubud and you’ll find offerings left outside family temples, the scent of frangipani flowers and the gentle tinkling of gamelan music. This place is like nowhere else and I’d go back in a heartbeat.