Ubud is about 35 km north of Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar. There is no railway on Bali and public buses are of little use to visitors, so the journey is made by car, shuttle or scooter. The distance is short; the traffic is not, so allow time.
1. From the airport
Ngurah Rai International Airport handles international and domestic flights. The drive to Ubud usually takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, and can take two hours or more at peak times or on busy holiday weekends.
- Pre-booked private transfer: the easiest option, especially after a long flight. Your driver waits in arrivals with a name sign, and the price is fixed per vehicle.
- Hotel car: many Ubud hotels offer airport pickup; ask when you book.
- Airport taxi counter: fixed-price taxis are available inside the terminal.
- Ride-hailing apps: Grab and Gojek operate at the airport from designated pickup points.
2. From Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta or Sanur
Most visitors combine Ubud with a beach stay in the south.
- Seminyak and Canggu: usually around 1 to 1.5 hours by car, longer in afternoon traffic.
- Kuta and Legian: usually around 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Sanur: usually around 45 minutes to 1 hour — the closest of the beach towns.
Options are the same as from the airport: a private driver, a ride-hailing app or your hotel. Tourist shuttle buses also run between the main resort areas and Ubud on a schedule, and are cheaper if you are travelling alone.
3. By scooter
Riding a scooter yourself is possible but only advisable if you are an experienced rider. You need an international driving permit valid for motorcycles in addition to your home licence, insurance that covers you, and a helmet. Roads are busy and narrow, and accidents are the biggest risk to travellers in Bali.
Getting around Ubud
Central Ubud is compact enough to walk, although pavements are narrow and uneven. For trips beyond the centre:
- Hire a driver: the classic Bali solution. A car with driver for a day is easy to arrange through your hotel or online, and the driver waits while you visit each sight.
- Ride-hailing apps: Grab and Gojek work for many trips, but pickups are restricted in some parts of central Ubud, where local transport cooperatives operate. You may need to walk to a nearby pickup point, or use a local taxi.
- Hotel shuttles: resorts in Sayan, Kedewatan, Payangan and Tegallalang usually run free shuttles into town at set times.
- Tours: for the main sights, a day tour with pickup solves transport and timing at once.
Which should you choose?
Arriving by air: book a private transfer or hotel pickup. Coming from the south: a driver or app car, or a shuttle bus if you are on a budget. Once in Ubud: walk in town, and use a driver or tours for the countryside. If you are planning to visit several sights in a day, a car with driver is usually the most efficient choice.
Onward travel
From Ubud, it is about an hour to the Kintamani highlands and Mount Batur, and around 45–60 minutes to Sanur, where fast boats leave for Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. For Denpasar, see our sister site Denpasar.com. Once you have your transport sorted, see where to stay in Ubud.
