Ubud With Kids: Where To Stay, Eat & Play
About Ubud
Ubud is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bali, Indonesia. Famous for its emerald-green rice fields and great foodie scene, it encapsulates the mythical and exotic aspects of Bali that draw people to the island. With a bustling market offering local crafts and plenty of restaurants offering everything from high-end dining to family eats and vegan fare, as well as being a central location for many of Bali’s most popular excursions, Ubud is a natural destination for a Bali family holiday. Visiting Ubud with kids adds another layer to your Indonesian adventure and there are plenty of hotels, activities and trips to keep the whole family happy.
We recommend splitting your Bali holiday into two halves- one half in the countryside of Ubud and the other on the coast, in the beach resort of Sanur. Sanur is an excellent coastal destination for families and where we now live with our family- see the Sanur section in our guide to the Best Places To Stay In Bali and our Top 5 Private Sanur Villas for more info on planning a trip there. You may also wish to check out our Beginners’ Guide To Bali and our list of Essential Travel Gear For Families Visiting Asia.
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Key Stats for Ubud
- Distance from the airport- Around 90 minutes in typical Bali traffic (book a reliable private transfer here).
- Population – around 30,000 people
- Currency – Indonesian Rupiah, same for all of Bali & Indonesia
- Language – Bahasa Indonesia, English and Balinese (you will get by fine with only English)
- Wet season- October to February
- Temperature- Ubud has a steady temperature of around 28 degrees.
- Sunniest month- April and May
Transport in Ubud
The easiest way to get around Ubud with kids is by taxi. The Grab app is the cheapest way of getting a taxi in Bali, but central Ubud has a strictly-run taxi service that often will not allow Grab drivers to pick up passengers. Scooter hire is easily available from any hotel; we personally did not do this as we didn’t feel it was as safe as taxis, but Bali roads are generally pretty slow due to the traffic so it is a popular option.
Accommodation In Ubud With Kids
Finding accommodation when visiting Bali with kids can be a minefield. Ubud was the first place we visited on the island and we scoped out a load of different styles of family accommodation in Ubud to suit all budgets. After much research here is our top pick for a budget, mid-range and luxury hotel & villa that are great for staying in Ubud with kids.
Santun Luxury Private Villas, Ubud *****
A tropical family paradise, the Santun Luxury Private Villas each have their own private pool in lush green gardens. Spacious open living areas and fully equipped kitchens make holidaying with kids easy, and every bedroom comes with an iPod dock, flatscreen television and DVD players. Don’t worry about taxis- there is a complimentary shuttle to central Ubud exclusively for guests. Guests can also enjoy a full program of complimentary activities such as private yoga and meditation sessions, morning trekking to the river and rice fields, daily afternoon tea and traditional Balinese dance shows. Private family barbecues can also be arranged in your garden with a personal chef.
> Get the latest prices for Santun Luxury Private Villas here! <
Wadari Retreat Villa, Ubud ****
This stunning property features infinity pools overlooking the iconic rice fields of Ubud, flat-screen televisions, high speed Wifi and an on-site restaurant that caters for children. The luxurious four poster beds will be decorated with flowers on arrival and the villas are perfectly situated for visiting local attractions such as the nearby forest, rice paddies and the markets.
Graha Rusni ***
This very affordable air conditioned property offers spacious four-poster bedrooms and a free shuttle service to central Ubud. A kitchenette provides convenience for families wanting to prepare food, or nearby restaurants offer local and international cuisine. Guests can enjoy views of the rice paddies and a quiet location conveniently situated for exploring Ubud with kids.
Traditional Villa Lumbung, Ubud ***
This comfortable, simple accommodation offers free Wifi, a sundeck and outdoor swimming pool as well as a shuttle to Bali airport. Freestanding stone bathtubs and hammered copper sinks offer comfort and luxury alongside traditional wood carvings and authentic Balinese design. Breakfast is served each morning and guests can conveniently dine at the on-site restaurant.
To see more family accommodation in Ubud try our favourite hotel booking platform, Hotels Combined.
Things to Do in Ubud With Kids
We’ve taken many excursions and day trips in Bali and always recommend Get Your Guide as the most reliable and good value tour provider. We’ve tried trips with other providers and experience unexpected extra charges and other issues, whereas Get Your Guide have consistently provided us with an excellent all-inclusive service and engaging, English-speaking guides. We have come up with a small list of trips that combine the essential essences of Bali- nature, fun and wildlife. Our top 4 day trips (we almost included 5 but narrowed it down to the absolute must-do tours to allow plenty of time for relaxation) that we would recommend taking while visiting Ubud with kids are the following:
Waterbom Bali Waterpark
We love this place so much that we’ve been back three times. Voted the best waterpark in Asia, this place has earned its title with the friendliest staff we’ve ever met (smiling, hi-fiving and giving thumbs-up to every kid who goes down the slides they’re supervising), an outstanding selection of rides and pools (including a lagoon with a swim-up bar and a huge lazy river) and top quality, reasonably priced food. Even if your kids are tiny, the splash playground with small slides, paddling pool and various water toys will be more than enough to keep them entertained for the day. There are ice cream and snack stalls and restaurants throughout the park as well as a Billabong clothing and swimwear shop and nail/ massage/ hair braiding areas. You can see our video of our first day at Waterbom here.
> Get the latest prices and discounts on Waterbom Bali tickets here! <
A Personalised Ubud Day Tour
Ubud is surrounded by stunning countryside including sprawling rice paddies, temples, volcanos and gorgeous waterfalls. We took a personalised day tour in a private van and enjoyed the services of an English speaking guide for the day. He listened carefully to our likes and dislikes and recommended an itinerary that included the rice paddies, a tea and coffee plantation, a treehouse restaurant and a gorgeous Bali waterfall. The Get Your Guide drivers are always super patient and happy to stop for toilet breaks, take family photos for you, wait around so you can spend more time at a particular attraction and generally make life easy for you, even while travelling with kids! We would highly recommend this tour as it’s still one of our favourite days in Bali. You can see the video of our tour here.
> Get the latest prices and discounts on Personalised Ubud Day Tour here! <
Ubud Jungle Swing & Indigenous Village Tour
You can’t go to Bali without experiencing one of the Instagram-famous jungle swings. The Ubud Jungle Swing Tour starts with a trip to a magical waterfall where sun beams fall across the top of the falls and create a stunning light effect- you can also swim in the waterfall if you fancy. After the waterfall experience traditional way of life at the Pengelipuran Village, known as one of the world’s cleanest villages, where you will see how rural day to day life in Balinese homes happens. After that enjoy a scenic lunch looking out over Lake Batur and its volcano, and then head to the Jungle Swing where you can swing 30 metres out over jungle for once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities!
> Get the latest prices and discounts on Ubud Jungle Swing Tour here! <
Snorkelling Day Trip to 3 Islands inc. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida
Even less confident swimmers can enjoy viewing the stunning underwater wildlife as this snorkelling day tour provides floatation jackets for those who wish to float on top of the water with googles or a snorkel mask- ideal for kids who want the snorkel experience in an easy, fun and safe way! Guest will be able to see angel fish, moray eels, parrot fish, turtles and manta rays in three locations around small islands near Bali. Enjoy a tropical barbecue lunch on the sands as well as a kayak tour of island mangroves to see another side of Bali’s landscape.
Get the latest prices and discounts on Snorkelling Day Trip here! <
Places To Eat In Ubud With Kids
Ubud is a foodie’s paradise, and last time we were there we wrote this guide on the top 10 places best restaurants in Ubud. We had some personal favourites as a family, and these were:
Warung Mendez
We ate here almost every night of the trip- I highly recommend the papaya salad and the kids loved the fresh soups. The staff are really sweet and there is a little fish pond to entertain the kids.
Warung Made
This is just down the road and opposite from Warung Mendez (above). This is our go-to restaurant for cheap lunchtime meals and great Wifi. The manager is a sweet guy who is more than happy for travellers to set up camp in a corner to use the Internet, or to connect visitors with local taxi drivers. The portion sizes aren’t enormous but the prices are very low (£2 a main meal) so all the more reason to order a couple each and try everything on the menu!
Sari Organik
This is a lovely peaceful garden with wooden gazebos, loungers and beanbags. Does excellent pasta and nasi campur and is great for vegans.
Alchemy
A lovely airy vegan cafe and restaurant with plenty of desserts and treats that kids will love, plus a salad bar and lots of vegan & raw mains and snacks. Alchemy also sells lots of health supplement foods and has links to yoga & alternative health organisations.
Useful Bali information
You may find the following articles useful when planning your trip to Bali or Ubud with kids:
- Essential Beginners’ Guide to Bali
- Best Travel Strollers
- Best Places To Stay In Bali (and the one place to avoid!)
- The Only Ethical Turtle Sanctuary In Bali (+ How To Visit)
- Luxury Family Villas in Sanur
- 10 Reasons We Moved To Bali with kids
- Aerial Yoga in Bali
- 5 Attractions to Avoid In Bali
- Top 5 Nature Activities For Kids in Bali
- Guide to Nusa Penida
- How to Get to Gili Islands
- What We Spend In One Month In Bali
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