Places to stay

Ubud is the place where Elizabeth Gilbert (in her 2006 bestseller and Hollywood movie Eat Pray Love) found peace and love. Regardless of Ubud’s international fame since the world was seduced by it, this mountain destination still permeates the essence of the real Bali.

Ubud is Bali’s artistic heart — a tranquil hideaway amongst the serene rice paddy fields, away from the bustling beach towns. It’s the perfect honeymoon or holiday location for couples who enjoy a touch of spirituality and plenty of serenity on a romantic getaway.

Spend a few days or more in Ubud, and you’ll be able to wind down with long spa treatments and leisurely walks. Or, you might try a hands-on Balinese cooking lesson (after shopping for produce at the local market), or bliss out in a yoga class which cost as little as 110,000 rupiahs (about $10).

With luxury villas perched over jungle-clad mountains, and spas that rely on the sounds of nature or the flowing river below for background music, Ubud is a honeymooner’s heaven.

Looking to be seriously spoiled? Ubud is a haven for spa lovers. From budget to luxury, from fish-nibbling foot treatments to volcanic-ash mud baths, there’s an option for every couple’s fancy. Ubud is one of the best places in Bali to be pampered, for the quality of the treatments and sheer atmosphere of this romantic locale.

Ubud: Need to Know

DO visit the John Hardy workshop and get a local artisan to create a piece of traditional jewellery for you — a truly special keepsake from your romantic getaway or honeymoon to Bali.

DON’T expect town to be like the Ubud of old — along with worldwide fame comes more tourists, so it is busier than even a decade ago. Still incredibly special, you just need to leave time to get around and head out of town a little to find the peace Ubud was once famous for.

COUPLES WILL LOVE getting a massage – find one like Maya Ubud Resort, where the spa is down by the river. The sound of water and birdsong, together with the skilled hands of your therapist, will lull you into a state of bliss.