Please note: This amazing guest post was written by Julia, based on her own experiences. Her views might not reflect mine. I really enjoyed her story and hope you do too!
With its lush green landscapes, wonderful Balinese people, and a ton of family-friendly activities, Ubud really stole our hearts. We lived in this beautiful place – the cultural and spiritual hub of Bali – while our boys attended international school. Here’s our guide to the very best family-friendly things to do in Ubud with kids!
Whether you’re visiting Ubud for the first time or you’re a seasoned Bali traveller, our travel guide to Ubud with kids is all you need for planning a family trip. Explore the top things to do in Ubud with kids (all personally reviewed and approved by our family of four!).
Find out if Ubud is good for families and get tips on where to stay and when to visit.
Why Visit Ubud with Kids
First up – is Ubud good for families?
When we were planning our trip, I researched Bali and its destinations endlessly. I was pretty confident that I’d love the vibe of Ubud (hello, yoga studios and spa treatments) but was less sure on how family-friendly it would really be. But as we soon found out, this is a place brimming with things to do for all ages.
Ubud really is the cultural heart of the island of Bali. Surrounded by lush rice fields and packed full of temples and spiritual havens, it has a much quieter vibe than the coastal tourist destinations of Kuta and Seminyak. Yes, the traffic can be maddening, but step away from the main hub and you’ll find tiny back streets full of daily offerings, friendly locals, and stunning lush rice paddies.
As the cultural heart of Bali, Ubud is also a brilliant destination for worldschooling. Looking for somewhere to immerse the kids in the local culture? Ubud offers so many cultural activities and educational opportunities.
And it also delivers on fun activities for the whole family too. From outdoor hikes to movie nights, and adrenaline-filled adventures to chilled out family time by the pool. Ubud is the perfect place for an unforgettable family holiday!
Top Things to do in Ubud with Kids
Ubud has plenty to offer for the entire family. Whether you’re travelling with young children or slightly older kids, you’ll be able to find activities that are engaging and affordable for everyone. Here are our top tips on the best places and things to do!
1. Visit Bali’s Famous Rice Fields
Picturesque rice terraces are one of the classic images of Bali. Visiting these is often top of many travellers’ lists when staying in Ubud.
Whilst the Tegallalang Rice Terraces might be packed with tourists, it’s with good reason. The views here are breathtaking – the lush green rice paddies are simply stunning. These beautiful surroundings are one of the most famously photographed locations in Bali – beware, it gets busy here!
There are several entrance points to the rice terraces – all offering various experiences. You can simply opt to pay the entrance fee (which varies) and wander the terraces. Or you can pay to have a go on a famous Bali swing or even ride a zipline bike above the terraces. There are also resorts with pools that offer day access if you want to combine your visit with some downtime.
If you want a slightly quieter experience, then I would highly recommend Mupu Rice Terrace. This is a little family-run terrace. The owners are incredibly friendly and talked us through the history of their terrace and how they harvest the rice. They have a tiny stand at the top selling fresh coconuts and cold drinks. Perfect after a climb up the terraces!
Entry is through Tis Cafe (the staff will direct you) and then entry is donation only.
💡 In general, with a visit to Tegallalang, get there early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds. You’ll also avoid the heat, which will make the walks much more pleasant.
While the Tegallalang Rice Terraces might be the famous option, there are also a ton of small rice field walks around the outskirts of Ubud. Many of these are quiet and peaceful and offer a great option for some chilled out family time.
We particularly liked the walk through the Kajeng Rice Fields, which are accessed from right next to the Ubud Art Market. There are paved walkways through the field and it’s a largely flat wander – so perfect for young children too. There are a number of tiny warungs (family-run Indonesian eateries) and drink stalls amidst the fields if you want to stop for a rest break.
2. Watch a Kecak Fire Dance
This is an evening of spectacular Balinese culture that you really should not miss during a stay in Ubud.
There are a number of traditional Balinese dance performances offered around Ubud centre, so you’ll be able to find one on almost any given night. We opted to go to the Kecak & Fire Dance at the ARMA Museum, right in the heart of Ubud. The stage for their performances is a beautiful courtyard hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the centre of Ubud. It really feels like you’ve entered another world!
The dance itself is completely mesmerising. The Kecak dance originates from a Balinese trance ritual and involves a performance from a group of 100 men. There might not be a musical accompaniment, but there is a lot of noise. And a lot of fire!
Performances at ARMA Museum take place on Monday and Wednesday each week and start at 7 pm. The whole show lasts for around 1- 1.5 hours, so it’s not too late for bedtime for young kids.
Shows will go on no matter the weather, so be prepared to bring raincoats if required. There was intense heavy rain throughout the performance we saw. If anything, it just added to the amazing atmosphere. Plus, the staff kindly provided huge umbrellas for the audience.
Tickets are IDR150,000 ($9.55 / €8.82) per person. Get there early if you have children with you – the seating is flat, so you’d be best placed right at the front.
3. Sunday Funday at Titi Batu Club
Kids take over the place at Titi Batu Club every Sunday for a whole day of family fun.
Located just south of Ubud, Titi Batu is a private sports and wellness club with a raft of facilities. And on a Sunday they run special events geared specifically towards their junior guests. You get access to the regular facilities – which for kids includes a pool, skateboard park, basketball courts and kids room (with arts/crafts activities).
But on a Sunday, they also throw a foam party in the smaller pool, which is a big hit with kids of all ages! They have giant inflatables in the water, a bouncy castle, an ice cream stand, and a rotation of special activities such as magic shows and arts and crafts sessions.
It’s not a bad deal for the parents either – there’s a separate adults-only pool if you want to actually swim, plus a sauna and plunge pool. Plus, there’s a restaurant attached that serves a mix of Indonesian and Western food (including delicious smoothie bowls).
Day Passes for Titi Batu are currently IDR190,000 ($12.10 / €11.18) for adults and IDR136,000 ($8.66 / €8.00) for kids aged 5- 14 years. Sunday Funday runs from 11 am-5 pm every week (get there early to grab sun loungers in the best spots by the pool!).
4. Swim in a Waterfall
When it comes to waterfalls, Bali has them in abundance. This includes a number that are in or around the Ubud area, so an easy visit in a Grab taxi or via scooter.
Tegenungan Waterfall
Only 20-minutes from Ubud, this is a popular tourist waterfall that’s pretty easy to navigate with kids. There are some stunning photos to be had from the viewpoints at the top before you tackle the steps down.
There are a lot of steps down to the falls but these are largely well-maintained (if a little slippery in places).
You can swim at the base of the waterfall but bear in mind that the water can be muddy after rainfalls. Although a bit of rain does make the falls pretty spectacular!
There’s a cluster of souvenir stands and eateries at the top if you want to spend longer here.
The entrance fee for Tegenungan is IDR20,000 ($1.27 / €1.18) for adults and IDR10,000 ($0.64 / €0.59) for children.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
Easily accessible for the entire family and with safe, shallow waters to swim in, Kanto Lampo is another tourist favourite.
These wide falls are beautiful and are surrounded by lush jungle. It’s easy to see why they are such a draw. Unfortunately, this does mean that the waterfall gets very busy at times. We visited after school and there was a long queue of people waiting to get a shot in front of the falls.
There is a short walk with steps down to the waterfall but these are not too challenging so even small children should be OK. There are changing rooms at the top of the steps and a small place selling ice-cream, cold drinks and snacks.
Krisik Waterfall
If you want to get away from the tourist hordes, this is the waterfall for you. Much less visited than Tegenungan and Kanto Lampo but no less beautiful!
To reach the waterfalls here you need to hike along the riverbed in a lush jungle canyon. It’s around a 10-minute walk to the first waterfall, and a 15-minute walk to the second. You’ll be rewarded with a dip in the beautiful waterfalls (which you may actually have to yourself!).
There are steep steps to get down to the canyon initially, and then some of the walk can be slippery. You’ll be hiking through the water itself for a time. This is probably best suited to slightly older kids (6+).
Entrance to Krisik Waterfall is IDR20,000 ($1.27 / €1.18) per person (and is usually taken by one of the locals at the top of the steps). It’s around a 45-minute drive from the center of Ubud.
5. Take an Art Class at Pondok Pekak Library and Learning Centre
If you want to really immerse the kids (and yourselves) in Balinese culture, then this place offers some fab options. Not only are they the only library in Ubud, they also offer a range of Balinese art classes. Many of these are suitable even for younger children.
Classes currently on offer include wood carving, Balinese dance, jewelry making, fruit carving, Balinese painting, and creating your own Balinese offering. This is the perfect spot for a family bonding activity!
Classes start at IDR125,000 ($7.96 / €7.35) per person and can be booked online. They offer private classes every day or group workshops on a Sunday.
Pondok Pekak Library has over 30,000 books in ten different languages. We struggled to find children’s books on our travels so this was a real gem for us!
6. Catch a Family Movie Night at Sari Hati Warung
This lovely hidden gem is off the beaten track but well worth a visit for its fab food and family movie nights. The cafe raises funds for the attached Sari Hati School, which provides education for local children with special educational needs.
Sari Hari Warung runs regular family movie nights with films projected onto a big screen on one side of the cafe. The food here is delicious, with typical rice and noodles dishes but also great burgers and fries. Plus, the homemade cakes are amazing, too!
Expect to pay around IDR45,000 ($2.86 / €2.65) for a rice dish or around IDR60,000 ($3.82 / €3.53) for a burger. Like the local Bintang beers, homemade cakes are IDR30,000 ($1.91 / €1.76).
7. Sing, Game, or Hire a Cinema Room
If it’s raining outside – or if you just want to escape the heat in somewhere air-conditioned – this is a great place for some family fun. Located right in the center of Ubud, MediaFun offers various sizes of private rooms that each come with a giant screen. You can opt for a bit of family karaoke or choose a film/TV show to hunker down and watch together. As we didn’t have a TV during our stay in Ubud, this was a real treat for our boys every so often!
They also have over 30 board games to choose from if you’d prefer some non-digital fun. There’s a range of snacks and drinks to choose from that you can order from your room.
Small entertainment rooms (for up to four) start at IDR150,000 ($9.55 / €8.82) per hour. The board game space is a bargain at just IDR30,000 ($1.91 / €1.76) for an hour. Prices are cheapest between 12:00 and 18:00.
8. Monkey Forest Ubud
This is one of the most well-known places to visit in Ubud. If you haven’t seen monkeys in the wild before then this is the place to see LOADS of them. Just on the edge of the centre of Ubud, you can easily spend an hour or so wandering through the forest. Watching the antics of the monkeys can be very entertaining!
💡 A couple of words of caution: don’t take any food with you into the forest. The monkeys will come for it! We regularly saw them grabbing at bags and backpacks to get at whatever treats they thought were hiding inside.
Keep an eye on children to make sure they’re not getting too close or making the monkeys react. Remember that these are wild animals and so the normal rules of being wary apply.
This is the kind of place that some children LOVE to visit, whereas others (like our youngest) may find it overwhelming. There are an awful lot of monkeys, so if you have kids who are easily freaked out, you might just want to opt for a short visit.
The Monkey Forest Ubud is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:00).
Tickets cost IDR100,000 ($6.40 / €5.90) for adults and IDR80,000 ($5.10 / €4.70) for children on weekdays, and IDR120,000 ($7.65 / €7.05) for adults and IDR100,000 ($6.40 / €5.90) for children on weekends.
Where to Stay in Ubud with Kids
There’s certainly no shortage of options for family-friendly accommodation in Ubud. This includes both hotels and private villas, and can suit pretty much any budget.
If you’re visiting Ubud with kids I would highly recommend staying outside the centre. The traffic and noise do not make for a relaxing stay. There are many options for family-friendly accommodation on the outskirts away from the action. But still close enough to be able to jump in a Grab or Gojek taxi and be in town quickly.
Athaya Ubud
We loved the Athaya Ubud, which is down a quiet road around 10 minutes outside Ubud. Surrounded by rice paddies and greenery, it’s peaceful and serene. They offer standard double rooms but also have a giant family apartment with a full-length balcony terrace on the top floor. This is a great budget option for those travelling with kids. There are two huge double rooms with en-suite bathrooms connected by a living area and kitchen.
The hotel has a beautiful pool, and there’s also a small restaurant (that does a very good breakfast).
It’s also only a few minutes walk to Titi Batu Club and all its facilities. Our stay cost IDR530,000 ($33.76 / €31.18) per night.
Padma Resort Ubud
If you’ve got the budget, then this resort north of Ubud is a luxury spot for the whole family. Frequently rated as one of the top places to stay in Ubud with kids, Padma Resort has everything you’d expect from an upscale resort. There’s loads to entertain the kids here – pools, playgrounds and a kids club for starters. Plus, the views from the infinity pools are stunning.
There’s also a daily shuttle into central Ubud, which is about 30 minutes away.
Prices start at around US$500 (€463.55) per night for a family of four. If you don’t have the budget to stretch to this, then they also offer day passes, which can be a great option for a day out.
Private Villas
Family villas in Ubud can be a great value option – particularly if you’re travelling as a larger family. There are a huge number of these in and around Bali. Most will come with cooking facilities, regular servicing and even in some cases a private pool.
Remember to check the reviews carefully before you book. There are frequent complaints from Bali visitors that villas turn out to be next to construction sites. Check recent feedback or speak to the owner directly for assurance on this.
When to Visit Ubud with Kids
There are two main seasons in Bali. The dry season runs from April to September, with a wet season from November to March.
If you’re planning a visit to Ubud with kids, the best time to plan for would be during dry season if you want to take advantage of the outdoor activities.
However, certain times of the year are INCREDIBLY busy in Bali. Expect crowds if you choose to visit in July-August or December-January. The school holidays in many countries bring huge numbers of tourists to Bali at these times.
Typically, the months of May-June and September tend to offer good weather and lower tourist numbers. The ‘shoulder’ months of March-April and October are also a good bet for family travel. You may experience some rai,n but you’re also likely to still get a lot of sun. But with much lower visitor numbers.
Safety Tips for a Family Visit to Ubud
We found Ubud to be incredibly safe and family-friendly. The Balinese people are so welcoming and open and quick to offer their help and guidance.
There are, though, a few practical tips that might make your stay in Ubud that bit easier.
Traffic
If you’ve done any research into Ubud already, you will probably have heard a lot about the terrible traffic. It is very hectic in the centre of Ubud (and around the other main tourist destinations in Bali such as Kuta and Seminyak). This can make getting around tricky and can make walking by the roads unpleasant too. When the roads are jammed, the scooters will mount the sidewalks to get around.
💡 Keep kids close when walking around the centre of Ubud and make sure you’re aware of the traffic and scooters in particular.
The easiest way to get around Ubud as a family is either by hiring scooters or downloading the Grab or Gojek app. Grab/Gojek cars are affordable and plentiful and make getting around much easier.
Heat
Bali’s tropical climate means that you will need sun protection year-round. The heat can be intense for everyone. Make sure you keep hydrated and stay out of the midday sun when possible.
As a family, we love walking around new places, but we did find this more challenging in Ubud. Once we’d accepted that the heat plus lack of sidewalks made for challenging family strolls, we were much happier opting for taxis.
Wildlife
As mentioned above, the monkeys in Ubud are very clever and can be aggressive. If you do visit Ubud Monkey Forest (or are just in the vicinity) keep the kids close and make sure you don’t have any food visible.
We didn’t encounter any venomous creatures during our time in Ubud. You are, however, likely to come across mosquitoes, which can be very annoying.
There is also dengue fever in Bali, so pack some long sleeves and trousers for times of the day when mosquitoes are around. Insect repellent is widely available in Ubud from supermarkets and drug stores. Overall, whilst we did have mosquitoes in the evenings around our villa, they weren’t as ubiquitous as in other parts of the world we’ve visited.
👉 You might also like:
– The 26 Best Family Resorts in Bali
– The Honest Truth About Living in Bali with Kids
– Bali: Real Cost of Living in Ubud
– The Best Time to Travel to Southeast Asia
Final Thoughts on Ubud with Kids
Spending time in Ubud is a wonderful experience for the whole family. As a family destination, Ubud has so much to offer – immersive cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, and lots of places too for some real family fun.
Family life really seems to take center stage here. It’s easy to see why so many families return to Ubud time and time again!
Just a heads up: some links in the article “Ubud with Kids” on Nomadmum.com are affiliate links. This means if you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
