Bali: Ubud or the coast? Choose before you book

Bali is four holidays sharing one airport. A weekend only has room for one of them.

Why go now

For a first long weekend away from Singapore’s pace, base yourself in Ubud and stay put. Bali is the escape this city never tires of, partly because it is several islands in one, and the usual mistake is trying to do them all in three nights and spending one of them in traffic. Pick one base, book the one dinner that matters before you book the flight, and Bali repays you.

Ubud also has the momentum this year. The Kimpton Suntaya Bali Ubud is due to open, and Locavore NXT climbed from 92nd to 44th on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026. If you wrote Ubud off as all smoothie bowls, it is time to look again.

How to get there

Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Jetstar and Garuda Indonesia are among the airlines flying direct from Changi to Denpasar, and the flight is typically just under three hours: less time than some Friday-evening drives to Johor. Sort the paperwork before you land. Pay the Bali tourist levy through the official Love Bali website or app, and check the current e-Visa on Arrival rules and fee on official channels before you fly; both change. Pre-book an airport transfer, and allow for traffic if you are heading to the coast.

Ubud or the coast

Choose by what you want to do between meals. Ubud is the cultural and nature base: temples, yoga studios, rice terraces and craft shops, and our pick for a first trip. Canggu is surfers, digital nomads, cafés and beach clubs, so go there for the scene, not for a rest. Seminyak is the polished option for restaurants and boutiques. Uluwatu is cliffs, secluded beaches, luxury villas and surf breaks, and the one for a couple who want a villa and very little else.

Where to stay

The most talked-about name, Kimpton Suntaya on Jalan Bisma beside the Wos River, isn’t open yet; check the hotel’s own site for the opening date and rates. Its pitch is a central location within walking distance of Ubud Palace and the art market, which is rare for an Ubud luxury stay. Until then, in the hills north of town, COMO Shambhala Estate is the choice if you want a structured wellness programme, and The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud has pool villas overlooking rice paddies and a river. Both sit at the upper end of the price range.

When the Kimpton does open, food will be a big part of its pitch. Its reported plans include five dining venues, among them an omakase counter, Imamura Ubud, led by Michelin-starred chef Hirofumi Imamura, a more casual izakaya, Shaku by Imamura, and a progressive Indonesian restaurant, Cascara. One for a future trip, once it is taking guests.

What to eat

Book Locavore NXT well ahead: it is built around local, seasonal ingredients and lower-impact methods, and it is Bali’s highest-ranked restaurant on this year’s Asia’s 50 Best list. For everything else, Ubud’s warungs and cafés are the joy of the place: eat where it is busy, and eat early.

What to do

Get to Tegallalang Rice Terrace, about 20 minutes north of the centre, as early as you can stand, before the heat and the tour buses. Walk the Campuhan Ridge trail, browse the art market, book a class at a yoga studio such as The Yoga Barn, and visit a temple. Cover shoulders and knees, wear a sash, and don’t step on the canang sari offerings on the pavement.

What to skip

Skip the cross-island day trip. Traffic is heaviest in July and August, especially around Canggu, Ubud and Seminyak, and the drive from one to another can eat a whole afternoon. And check the calendar for Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence, when tourists must stay in their accommodation.

Good to know Pay the Bali tourist levy via the official Love Bali channels and check e-Visa on Arrival rules before flying; Kimpton Suntaya Bali Ubud is not yet open (expected late 2026).