Bali Highlights (in and around Ubud)

Ubud holds a special place in our hearts for so many reasons. First off, the people in Ubud—and Bali in general—are the kindest and most welcoming community we've ever met. It was also our first international stop as full-time traveling digital nomads, and we instantly fell in love. Starting our year in such an amazing place reassured us that we made the right choice to embark on this wild adventure. And hey, if we could make it work with a 13-hour time difference, anything seemed possible after that.

If you're planning a vacation in Bali or thinking about setting up shop as a digital nomad, Ubud is a fantastic home base. It's centrally located, has a rich cultural vibe, and boasts some of the best restaurants we've ever tried. After spending five unforgettable weeks there, we've put together a guide and an interactive map to share our favorite spots and tips to help you plan your trip.

You can purchase the complete guide here for $15, and here's what's included:

✔️ Over 50 hand-picked locations: Our favorite spots in and around Ubud

🗺️ An integrated map: Navigate the guide easily on your phone or laptop

📋 Visa tips: Essential advice we wish we'd known.

🛵 Transportation recommendations: Affordable ways to get around

📍 Attraction & activity suggestions: With easy booking links

🍽️ 20+ restaurant recommendations: Sorted into categories for every craving

💻 6 cafés and coworking spots: Perfect for fellow digital nomads

🧘‍♀️ 2 yoga studios: Plus notes on additional class offerings

💆‍♀️ 2 spas: The best of the many we tried

🚗 3 day-trip itineraries: Easy excursions from Ubud

🏝️ Weekend itinerary for Nusa Penida: Featuring all of the most Instagrammable highlights

Sneak Peek

Here are five of our favorite spots from the guide to help you start planning your trip:

Cantina Rooftop Restaurant: Our overall top pick in Ubud! Make a reservation because this place gets busy. Everything on the menu is fantastic, and the attached bar with a DJ on weekends makes it a fun night out. We especially recommend the specialty cocktails, corn fritters, and asparagus risotto, but seriously you can't go wrong.

Mandapa Ritz Carlton Brunch: Don’t miss the incredible all-you-can-eat brunch at the Ritz on Sundays. Make a reservation in advance and indulge in the best brunch we’ve ever had, with both local Balinese and international dishes, all with a stunning view overlooking the river.

Cretya Ubud: Skip the crowded Tegallalang rice fields and spend the day at Cretya day club instead. Overlooking the rice fields from a gorgeous pool, this spot offers tickets for just $6, with optional daybed upgrades. The food is also fantastic!

Yoga Barn: Famous for a reason, Yoga Barn offers amazing yoga classes and a variety of other fitness classes. But it’s more than just a studio; it’s a community. I even took an introductory Bahasa Indonesia class here to learn the basics of the language.

Aling Aling Waterfall: Featured in one of our day-trip itineraries, Aling Aling isn’t just beautiful—it’s FUN! You can jump from three different cliffs, slide down a natural waterslide, and swim all afternoon. The perfect waterfall to visit if you love an adventure.

More Resources

Check out our full guide here, or follow us on Instagram for more info on Bali and tons of other bucket list destinations! We hope you have the best time exploring one of our favorite places.