Bali is an island rich with cultural heritage. As thousands of first-time tourists arrive on the island every day, leaders are always on the lookout for new ways to encourage tourists to travel in more meaningful ways and connect authentically to the province’s culture.
Whether travelling to Bali for a few short days or a more extended period of time, it is well worth taking as much time as possible to explore Bali’s unique cultural heritage.
For those short on time or simply not as interested in history or culture to begin with (no judgment here), the best of Bali’s cultural heritage can be explored in a single-day trip in Ubud.
Don’t get us wrong, there is so much to explore in Bali, and with such a deep and varied culture to explore, one could spend a lifetime traveling around this province and only just scratch the surface.
But, in a single day trip to Bali’s arts and culture capital, it is entirely possible to get a solid introduction to Balinese culture and start to understand how the island’s history has impacted life on the island today.
The first stop off on any cultural day trip to Bali must be Ubud Palace. Sometimes known as the Ubud Water Palace, this is easily the most important cultural landmark in Ubud. Located next to Saraswati Temple, it is possible to visit both spots in one go.
Both Ubud Palace and Saraswati Temple offer tourists the chance to see traditional Balinese architecture with their own eyes. It’s a real case of the more you look, the more you see.
From intricately carved gates to ornately designed statues, these sacred spots really are awe-inspiring. Starting the day early at Ubud Palace allows tourists to visit before the crowds arrive, and the gates open at 8 am.
In fact, a full-day tour of Ubud should start and end at Ubud Palace. Returning to Ubud Palace in the early evening is the best way to end a day tour of Ubud. Every night at The Cafe Lotus Ubud, which sits next door to the Ubud Palace and Sarawati Temple complex, a cultural dance performance takes place.
Tickets cost just IDR 100,000 per person, and every night of the week, a different dance is shown. For example, on Mondays, audiences are dazzled with the Joget Dance, on Wednesdays the Ramamaya Ballet is performed, on Thursdays a classic Barong show takes place, and on Saturdays the stunning Legong is performed by some of Ubud’s finest young dancers.
After an early morning visit, it is time to head to the ARMA Museum for an even more in-depth look at the island’s culture and history.
The ARMA Museum is home to one of Bali’s biggest collections of Balinese and Indonesian artwork and cultural artefacts.
For those who are super culture curious, ARMA is not only a museum, but a resort too. Ideal for those seeking total cultural immersion in Ubud.
Founded by Ubud local Agung Rai in 1996, the ARMA Museum is one of Ubud’s prides and joys. Prominent artworks on permanent display include pieces by Balinese masters such as I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, Ida Bagus Made, Anak Agung Gede Sobrat, and I Gusti Made Deblog.
It is easy to spend 3-5 hours exploring all that ARMA has to offer; tourists lose themselves in the creativity of the space.
No visit to Ubud would be complete without a visit to the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest. It is little known to many who visit that the Ubud Monkey Forest is a cultural wonder in its own right. While the monkeys are, of course, the biggest draw, within the forest sanctuary grounds, visitors will find three deeply sacred temples.
The cultural attractions of Ubud Monkey Forest are not to be overlooked, and tourists are always pleasantly surprised to discover the hidden layers of this natural sanctuary in the middle of bustling Ubud.
After an early dinner at one of Ubud’s many eateries, it’s time to walk back to Ubud Water Palace in time for the cultural show of the evening.
It’s a jam-packed and whistle-stop day, but tourists always come away from time in Ubud feeling inspired and a little more connected to the wonders of Bali.
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