Best Hotels In Ubud By Area Written By A Resident

If you’re wondering where to stay in Ubud, the answer really depends on what kind of trip you’re planning. I live in Ubud and have stayed in all the areas listed below and loved every single one!

Right now, I live in Tegallalang. It’s quiet, surrounded by rice fields and nature, and great if you want slower days. But it’s not close to the centre, so you’ll need transport.

Penestanan is another good area if you like low-key cafés, yoga classes, and events popular with the expat crowd. It’s just outside central Ubud and a bit more peaceful.

If it’s your first time in Ubud though, the centre is still the easiest place to stay. You can walk to the Monkey Forest, local warungs, spas, shops, and most of the main sights.

In this post, I’ve broken everything down by area and included hotel picks in each one. There’s also a map below to help you get a feel for where everything is.

I hope you’re excited! Let’s go!

Map Of Hotels In Ubud Split By Areas

Not sure which part of Ubud suits your trip? Here’s a quick overview of the most popular areas and the top hotel I recommend in each one.

Scroll down for more details on each neighbourhood and why you might want to stay there!

Overview Of The Best Areas to Stay in Ubud

Each neighbourhood is beautiful and worth exploring for sure, that’s why I lived in all of them until choosing Tegallalang as a long-term solution.

Some are busy and walkable, others are slower and surrounded by rice fields/forest.

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect and the hotel I recommend in each one. I’ve either stayed in or visited all of them myself:

Now that you’ve got an idea, let’s dive in!

#1 Central Ubud (near Monkey Forest and market)

This is the most convenient area to stay in Ubud if you want to walk everywhere. It has the highest concentration of cafés, yoga studios, spas, markets, and restaurants.

It can be noisy and busy with tourists during the day, but you won’t need a scooter, and everything is within easy reach.

If it’s your first time in Ubud or you’re only here for a short visit, this area makes things easy.

When I lived in this area, I liked the idea of being based where everything happens. Yes, it’s crowded but you will also assist the biggest ceremonies and small acts of daily life from locals.

Another reason why I like central Ubud is that if it rains, I can still head out and walk to a restaurant or yoga. I don’t have to rely on taxi scooters that might not be available when it pours down!

-> Check this blog post on things to do in Ubud when it rains for more ideas!

Best Places to Book In Central Ubud:

Anumana Ubud Hotel

Anumana Ubud Hotel is where I stayed for my first time ever in Ubud and I can’t recommend it enough!

It’s right next to the Monkey Forest, you even get monkeys to your balcony from time to time. The rooms are spotless and pretty and the staff is just amazing!

I’ve done all the things here, nice massages, pool days, got tips for places to visit and all. They really treated me with a lot of care and professionalism. Plus the buffet breakfast was AMAZING!

Price: Around $80

👉 Book a room at Anumana Ubud Hotel before it books out! it’s right next to Monkey Forest, and yes, monkeys really do visit your balcony.

Arya Wellness – female only

#2 Penestanan (quiet and artsy)

This is one of my favourite areas to stay in Ubud. My favourite cafe is here (Alchemy cafe), nice restaurants, different yoga studios and lots of long-term travellers.

In Penestanan you can go for a few quiet walks in nature and this is also where I normally come to attend Galungan (a Balinese traditional event happening twice a year).

From here, you can walk to central Ubud in about 20 minutes or take a short scooter ride.

Best Places to Stay In Penestanan:

Putri Salju

If you are looking for really nice villas in Penestanan, you should check out Putri Salju.

This place is stunning! After months of travelling, I really wanted to treat myself and stay in a CLEAN and spacious villa with staff helping with anything I needed.

I normally stay at homestays and super affordable rooms but after getting bed bugs in Bali I also want to treat myself at times and this place was a dream!

Price: Around $200

👉 View current prices for Putri Salju

Outpost Ubud Penestanan

If you are travelling alone this is the perfect place to book! The Outpost is a co-working and co-living space with a beautiful pool and shared kitchen.

There are events running every day and if you book your stay here, you also get access to the coworking area for free.

I actually work from here (it’s one of the best coworking spaces in Ubud!) and still join some of their events. The rooms are modern and clean and actually for what it offers, it’s pretty affordable.

Price: Around $60

👉 Check availability at Outpost Ubud Penestanan

Sri Ratih Cottages

#3 Mas (peaceful, near Monkey Forest)

Mas is a quieter, more local area just south of central Ubud. It’s not as touristy and you’ll mostly see temples, wood carving workshops and family homes. It’s a good pick if you want a calmer place to come back to after a day out.

I stayed here for 3 months and loved being able to walk around the village in the morning before it got hot. You’re still only about ten minutes away from central Ubud by scooter or Grab, so it’s not isolated.

Best Hotels to Book In Mas:

Swasti Eco Cottages

Mas Ubud Villa

If you’re looking for something affordable and private, this place is great. It’s family-run, super clean and the pool is small but nice.

Breakfast is simple but good, and the Wi-Fi worked well. I’d stay here again if I needed a quiet few days to get some work done.

Price: Around $45

👉 Check availability at Mas Ubud Villa

Pecatu Ubud Guest House

Pecatu Ubud Guest House is not a hotel but it’s worth mentioning because I loved my stay here!

There are basic rooms but very clean and well looked after. I stayed here for a long time and met a lot of other female solo travellers!

You’ll need a scooter here since it’s not really walkable, but if you’re okay with that, it’s great value.

I used to wake up early and watch the sunrise from the pool upstairs and it was absolutely magical!

Price: Around $35

👉 See latest prices for Pecatu Ubud Guest House

#4 Campuhan Ridge area (views and luxury)

If you want to be close to nature but still within reach of central Ubud, this area is a good balance. The Campuhan Ridge Walk is just around the corner and it’s one of my favourite places for a morning walk when it’s still cool.

Even though people think of this area as remote, it’s actually not. You’ve got a bunch of nice cafés and restaurants all around. There’s even a Bintang supermarket nearby (one of many well-stocked supermarkets in Ubud!)

You’ll probably still want a scooter, but if you’re staying near the main road, you can walk to a few spots too. I come here often when I want to eat somewhere quieter or go for a walk without going too far from Ubud centre.

Best Hotels in the Campuhan Ridge area:

Ibah

Ubud Sky

Ubud Sky is a good option if you want a quiet and affordable room with views. It’s located right by the Campuhan Ridge walk, so you can go for a morning stroll without needing transport.

The rooms are big and come with balconies, and the owners are really sweet and helpful. He even picked me up from the airport and arranged my transport for different trips in Bali!

Price: Around $30

👉 Check availability at Ubud Sky

Joyously Raw Villas

#5 Tegallalang (rice fields, more remote)

Tegallalang is where you’ll find the famous rice terraces, but it’s also one of the quietest areas to stay around Ubud. It’s north of the centre and definitely not walkable, so you’ll need a scooter or be okay using Grab for everything.

I live here now and it’s peaceful. Lots of green, lots of space, and way less traffic. Not much happens here at night so it’s best if you want slow mornings, early sleep, or just time to focus on something.

You’ll still find a few cafés and restaurants but nothing like the centre.

Top Hotels In Tegallalang:

Aksari Luxury Resort & Spa

Muraya Villas

I stayed here when I needed a quiet place to work and it was perfect. The villas are clean, modern and surrounded by trees.

It’s far from the road so you don’t hear any traffic. The Wi-Fi worked fine and the staff were really kind and helped with anything I needed. You’ll need your own scooter though, otherwise it’s a bit isolated.

Price: Around $110

👉 See availability at Muraya Villas

JinengBali Eco Lodge

Getting Around Ubud

Ubud doesn’t have public transport so you’ll need to sort out your own way to get around. I personally walk a lot or take a scooter, but here are all your options:

If you’re comfortable riding, the easiest option is to rent a scooter. I always use Bikago because they deliver it straight to your hotel and include helmets, phone holders, and insurance.

It’s more reliable than renting from random shops and the price is fair.

👉 Book your scooter with Bikago here

If you don’t want to ride, Grab works well in most areas. Just keep in mind that during ceremonies or heavy rain, it can be hard to get a driver. Also, some remote areas might not have any drivers nearby.

For longer trips or sightseeing days, I’d book a private driver on Klook. It’s better value than taking a bunch of short rides, and you can stop wherever you want.

👉 Check private driver options on Klook

To and from the airport, I always book a transfer through Klook. It’s cheaper than most hotels charge and way more reliable than haggling with drivers at the terminal.

👉 Book your Bali airport transfer here

FAQs About Staying in Ubud

Are You Travelling Alone?

If so, I actually have a blog post where I listed the best places to stay in Ubud for solo travellers (especially women) so that you know right away where to book if you want to meet other travellers and feel super safe + cared for!

Ciao for now,

Silvia x