Where to Stay in Ubud: Best Areas & Hotels I Like
TRAVEL
I’ve stayed in Ubud quite a lot of times, and over the years I’ve found that where to stay in Ubud can really change the experience. I personally love exploring different areas because each one has its own atmosphere, from the lively streets of central Ubud to quiet jungle and rice-field retreats. And honestly, Ubud has some incredible hotels, many with beautiful views, impressive pools, and amenities that can make your stay just as enjoyable as exploring. Here's how the main areas differ, who each one suits, and the hotels I'd genuinely shortlist in each.
If you're planning your days too, check out my Top Things to Do in Ubud: Temples, Rice Fields & More for ideas on what to see and do.
Quick Answer: Where to Stay in Ubud
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Luxury): A stunning riverside retreat surrounded by lush jungle and rice fields, offering exceptional service, private villas, and a peaceful escape from central Ubud.
Alaya Resort Ubud (Mid-range): A stylish and comfortable resort in the heart of Ubud, close to restaurants, cafés, and the Monkey Forest.
Champlung Sari Hotel, Villa and Spa (Budget): A budget-friendly option near the Monkey Forest, with a convenient central location, tropical gardens, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Central Ubud
What It's Like
Central Ubud, roughly the streets around Jalan Hanoman, Jalan Raya Ubud, and Monkey Forest Road, is where the town's restaurants, market, and main sights are concentrated. Everything is walkable, which is the entire appeal, but the trade-off is real: traffic around this loop gets genuinely gridlocked between about 4pm and 7pm, and the main streets are busier and less peaceful than you'd expect from Ubud's postcard reputation. Book a property set back from the main road if noise bothers you.
Who It Suits
First-time visitors without a scooter, and anyone who wants to be able to walk to dinner rather than book a driver every night.
Where to Stay in Central Ubud
Luxury: Alaya Resort Ubud, spa-focused and set within easy walking distance of the centre.
Alaya sits right on Jalan Hanoman, close enough to walk to the Monkey Forest and the Yoga Barn, but the resort itself is set back far enough that it feels calmer than its address suggests. The signature feature here is the lagoon-shaped pool, crossed by a small bamboo bridge and framed by palms, with a shallow shore-like edge that makes it feel more like a tropical cove than a hotel pool. Some rooms look straight out over rice paddies rather than the resort grounds, and the rain showers in the bathrooms are worth a mention on their own. Picture stepping out of a raindrop shower in the morning, walking past the bamboo bridge for breakfast, and being back on Jalan Hanoman within five minutes if you want to explore.
Mid-range: The Artini Dijiwa Ubud, is a relaxed boutique resort, surrounded by tropical gardens, rice fields, and coconut trees.
The rooms mix contemporary comfort with traditional Balinese touches, with many featuring their own balcony or terrace. There are two outdoor pools, a spa, and an on-site restaurant, so you can easily spend a quiet afternoon at the hotel after exploring Ubud. Its location is another plus, with the Monkey Forest, cafés, and restaurants all within easy reach.
Budget: Champlung Sari Hotel, Villa and Spa, on Monkey Forest Road with traditional Balinese architecture and a small pool.
This one leans into classic Ubud style: carved stone gateways, thatched roofs, and gardens that do a decent job of muting the noise from the road outside. The rooms are simple rather than showy, but the location is hard to beat if walkability is your priority, and the pool area, small as it is, gets genuinely peaceful once the day-trippers head back to their own hotels in the evening.
Penestanan
What It's Like
West of the centre, Penestanan has long been Ubud's artistic, creative corner, with yoga studios, vegan cafés, and rice-paddy lanes that feel like a different town from the main strip. The Penestanan Kaja area is scooter-only (too narrow for cars), which helps keep it quiet. It's a walk of 15 to 20 minutes into the centre, partly downhill through the Campuhan ridge area, so the return leg is more of a workout than the walk out.
Who It Suits
Longer stays, digital nomads, and anyone who wants café culture and a slower pace without being fully removed from town.
Where to Stay in Penestanan
Luxury: Amarea Resort, tucked into the rice terraces with a private infinity pool for nearly every room.
Amarea is the one property in Penestanan that genuinely competes with the resorts out in Sayan, just on a smaller, more intimate scale. The roads leading in are narrow enough that the hotel runs its own golf-buggy shuttle to and from the main road, which only adds to the sense of being properly tucked away. The real draw is the private infinity pool attached to most rooms and villas, set right against the rice terrace views, with a hammock and deckchairs on the terrace for whenever the pool itself isn't enough. Imagine waking up, opening the curtains, and finding nothing between your bed and a wall of green rice terraces but your own private pool.
Mid-range: Alam Indah Ubud, known for its views and a genuinely good value-to-comfort ratio.
Alam Indah sits above a river valley on the edge of Penestanan, and the views from its pool deck are the main reason it comes up again and again in recommendations for this area. It's not flashy, but for the price, the setting punches well above its category.
Budget: Om Wellness Resort, is a laid-back retreat in Penestanan, surrounded by greenery and away from the busier streets of central Ubud.
The rooms are simple and comfortable, with balconies that open onto the gardens, while the outdoor pool is a lovely spot to cool off and unwind. With its wellness-focused atmosphere and peaceful setting, it’s a nice option if you want a quieter side of Ubud while still being close enough to head into town when you feel like it
Nyuh Kuning
What It's Like
South of the Monkey Forest, Nyuh Kuning has a homey, local feel, with small family-run cafés and quiet streets rather than the tourist density of the centre. It's flat and walkable, and still close enough to central Ubud that you're not cut off from restaurants and shops.
Who It Suits
Families and anyone who wants village quiet without sacrificing walkability.
Where to Stay in Nyuh Kuning
Luxury: The Ubud Village Resort & Spa, a 5-star property with a strong reputation for service.
This resort trades the drama of a river-valley setting for something calmer: a genuinely quiet village location with the kind of attentive, personal service that smaller properties tend to do better than big resort chains. It's the pick here if you want a proper luxury stay without leaving walking distance of the Monkey Forest.
Mid-range: Bucu View Resort, surrounded by lush greenery and close enough to walk into central Ubud.
The resort’s infinity pool overlooks the river and jungle, making it the kind of place where you’ll want to linger after a day of sightseeing. Rooms range from simple garden stays to valley-view suites and private pool villas, so you can choose how much of that tropical setting you want from your room.
Budget: Buda Amitaba, simple, clean rooms with a pool, a short walk from the Monkey Forest.
Buda Amitaba keeps things straightforward: clean rooms, a small pool to cool off in after a day of walking, and a genuinely short walk to the Monkey Forest gate. It's a solid, no-fuss base for the price.
Sayan and Kedewatan
What It's Like
West of the centre, along the Ayung River gorge, Sayan and neighbouring Kedewatan are where Ubud's most dramatic resorts sit, built into the jungle and river valley rather than around it. This is the area where the hotel itself becomes part of the trip; you're not walking into town for dinner most nights.
Who It Suits
Couples, honeymooners, and anyone whose priority is a resort experience over convenience to the centre.
Where to Stay in Sayan and Kedewatan
Luxury: Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, both set into the Ayung River gorge with some of the most photographed pools on the island.
If you're looking for the best hotels in Ubud, these two are hard to beat. Both sit above the Ayung River amid Ubud's lush jungle, turning the surrounding landscape into part of the stay.
At Mandapa, private-pool villas open onto rainforest, rice paddies, or the river, with traditional Balinese design and dedicated butler service adding to the sense of seclusion.
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan feels equally special, with villas tucked into the valley, private pools, and sweeping views of the surrounding jungle and rice terraces. The dramatic arrival across its suspension bridge and the peaceful riverside setting make it one of those Ubud stays where y.
Upper mid-range: Bambu Indah, an eco-luxury property built almost entirely from reclaimed bamboo and antique Javanese houses.
Bambu Indah is the least conventional option in this area, set on a working farm with bungalows built from bamboo and antique teak structures relocated from Java, several with clawfoot tubs positioned to look straight out at the jungle. I personally think it is one of the most unique stays in Ubud.
Budget: Alam Wayang Ubud, a peaceful boutique resort tucked away in Penestanan, surrounded by tropical greenery but still within easy reach of central Ubud.
The rooms feel spacious and private, with traditional Balinese touches and semi-open bathrooms, while the outdoor pool is a lovely place to cool off after a day of exploring. If you want a quieter stay with a more intimate feel, the private-pool villas are especially appealing.
North Ubud (Tegallalang and Payangan)
What It's Like
Further out than any of the other areas, Tegallalang and Payangan are where the rice terrace views actually start outside your window rather than requiring a day trip. It's quieter and more remote, better suited to travellers staying several nights than a quick one- or two-night stop.
Who It Suits
Wellness-focused trips, longer stays, and travellers who want nature over nightlife.
Where to Stay in North Ubud
Luxury: COMO Shambhala Estate, a wellness-focused retreat in the Payangan area, built around multiple pools set into the jungle.
This is less a hotel than a full wellness programme: guided meditation, spa treatments, and a menu built around nutrition rather than just flavour, all set across a series of pools tucked into the forest above the Ayung River. If a resort stay built around actually resetting is the goal rather than sightseeing, this is the one to book.
Mid-range: Kamandalu Ubud, set among rice terraces near Andong, with many rooms opening onto private plunge pools.
Kamandalu spreads its villas across a genuine working rice terrace landscape, and a good number of them come with their own private plunge pool looking straight out over the paddies. Picture your morning coffee taken from a private pool deck with nothing between you and the rice terraces but the terrace railing.
Budget: Tegal Sari Accommodation, set directly among the rice fields with a large pool overlooking the valley.
Tegal Sari is proof that a budget stay in Ubud doesn't have to mean giving up the view. The rooms are simple, but the pool looks straight out over the rice terraces, and the whole property is genuinely surrounded by paddy fields rather than just advertising a "rice terrace view" from a distance.
How to Choose the Right Area
If it's your first trip and you want to explore on foot, stay central. If you want somewhere calmer without feeling cut off, Penestanan or Nyuh Kuning are the two I'd compare against each other. If the hotel itself is meant to be the highlight of the trip, Sayan, Kedewatan, or North Ubud are worth the extra distance from town.
My Recommendations
For a first visit, I'd stay central or in Nyuh Kuning, since being able to walk to dinner matters more than people expect on their first few days in Ubud. If you're staying more than three or four nights, I'd move out to Penestanan for the second half of the trip, or splurge on one or two nights in Sayan if a proper resort stay is part of the plan. Trying to do all of it from one base usually means more time in transit than you'd like.
FAQs
What is the best area to stay in Ubud for first-time visitors? Central Ubud, around Monkey Forest Road and Jalan Hanoman, is the most convenient choice for a first visit, since it puts restaurants, the market, and main sights within walking distance.
Is Sayan or central Ubud better for a honeymoon? Sayan is generally the better choice for a honeymoon, given its river-valley luxury resorts and quieter, more private setting compared to the busier central streets.
Which area in Ubud is best for families? Nyuh Kuning tends to work well for families, thanks to its flat, walkable streets and quieter, village-like atmosphere close to the Monkey Forest.
How many days is it good to stay in Ubud? 3–4 days is ideal for most travelers. This gives you enough time to explore Ubud’s temples, rice fields, waterfalls, markets, and cafés without rushing, while still leaving time to enjoy your hotel or resort. If you want a slower pace, wellness treatments, or day trips around central Bali, 5–7 days can easily be worthwhile.
Where should I stay in Ubud on a budget? Central Ubud, Nyuh Kuning, and Penestanan all have solid budget options, and even areas like Sayan and North Ubud have simpler guesthouses tucked in among the luxury resorts if you know where to look.
What are the best resorts in Ubud? Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan are one of the best hotels in Ubud for luxury, jungle scenery, and exceptional amenities.
Final Thoughts
When planning where to stay in Ubud, I recommend staying for at least 3 days to experience the area without rushing. Believe me Ubud is bigger than it looks and there are so many tempting attractions.
Personally, I love that each area offers a completely different atmosphere, and Ubud's hotels make it even more tempting to explore beyond the centre. Ubud is one of Bali's most popular destinations, so it’s a good idea to book your accommodation in advance, especially if you have a specific hotel in mind. Wherever you choose to stay, I hope you have an amazing time in Ubud!