Monkey Forest Road & Padang Tegal

Monkey Forest Road has the most restaurants, bars and accommodation in Ubud, so it is the easiest base. It is also busier, more touristy and more expensive than the quieter villages.

Monkey Forest Road is the main tourist strip, running south from the centre to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The surrounding Padang Tegal area is packed with guesthouses, restaurants, spas and shops. It has the most places to eat and stay, plenty of other travelers, and a lit main road, which makes it an easy first base. Evenings are social, with live music in bars and many restaurants open late. Because it is so busy, expect repeated taxi and massage offers and some risk of bag snatching from passing scooters. The Monkey Forest itself is worth a visit but needs some care: keep food and shiny items out of sight, avoid eye contact and showing teeth, and keep your distance. Side lanes off the main road are poorly lit after dark.