Ubud Palace is a royal home that you can walk into for nothing. Carved gateways, shaded courtyards and open pavilions sit right in the middle of Ubud's busiest streets. The building complex is the old seat of Ubud's royal family, and it still feels like part of town life, not a roped-off ruin. You come to see Balinese palace craft up close: stone carving, ornate doors and a layout built around courtyards.
Visiting Ubud Palace: the essentials
| Type | History & ruins |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 09:00-18:00,09:00-19:00 |
| Price | Free |
| Getting there | On foot in central Ubud |
| Map | Open the map |
The palace works as a first stop in Ubud. It is free to enter, it sits in the centre, and it is open through the day. Visitors often start here and then walk on to the Ubud Art Market and the art museums. It also gives the town some context before you see the galleries, because the royal house and the arts of Ubud are closely tied together.
Reading the carved gates and courtyards
Look at the doorways first. Balinese palaces are built as a series of walled courtyards, and each gate marks a step from the street toward the private rooms. The stone is carved with leaves, mythic faces and guardian figures. Take your time at each entrance and look up as well as ahead.
The open pavilions are the other thing to read. They are raised platforms under roofs, where families once met, worked and held ceremonies. Their wooden posts and painted details show the skill of local craftsmen. Even a short walk through the courtyards shows how a royal household was organised around shared space.
A palace that is still part of the town
Ubud Palace is not a site frozen in the past. It stands among shops, cafés and traffic, and the town moves around it. This is why a visit feels easy and casual. You can step in between other stops, spend a short while looking, and step back out into the street.
The palace is also tied to Ubud's name as a centre of Balinese arts. The nearby Puri Lukisan Museum, Neka Art Museum, Agung Rai Museum of Art and Blanco Renaissance Museum all follow from that tradition. Seeing the palace first helps you understand why painters, dancers and carvers gathered here.
Morning, afternoon or evening
The palace opens from 09:00, and closing is given as either 09:00-18:00 or 09:00-19:00. A morning visit is a good way to begin a day in Ubud, before the streets fill. The courtyards are easier to photograph when fewer people are moving through them.
Because it is free, it also fits at the end of the day. Many itineraries place it in the afternoon, after you arrive and settle in, and you can walk there from the town centre. An evening Legong dance performance at the palace is a popular way to close a day. It lets you see the courtyards in a different mood, with dance as the main event.
Where it fits in a day around Ubud
A sensible order runs from Goa Gajah to Ubud Palace and then to the Monkey Forest. That route moves from an ancient site to the royal centre of town and then to the forest. The palace sits in the middle and gives the day a calm, cultural pause.
If you are staying longer in Ubud, add it to a day with the Campuhan Ridge Walk, the Sacred Monkey Forest and the Ubud Art Market. The market is close to the palace, so the two make a natural pair on foot. Finish the day at one of the art museums if you want to see the painting tradition that grew around the royal house.
Before you go to Ubud Palace
Is Ubud Palace free to enter?
Yes, entry to Ubud Palace is free. You can walk in without a ticket, which makes it an easy stop in the middle of a day in Ubud.
What are the opening hours of Ubud Palace?
Ubud Palace is open from 09:00. Closing time is given as either 18:00 or 19:00, so the hours run 09:00-18:00 or 09:00-19:00.
What can I combine with Ubud Palace?
The Ubud Art Market, the Sacred Monkey Forest and the Campuhan Ridge Walk are natural companions. One route runs from Goa Gajah to Ubud Palace and then to the Monkey Forest. The Puri Lukisan Museum is another good stop nearby.
Can I see a dance performance at Ubud Palace?
Yes, a Legong dance performance at Ubud Palace is a popular way to end a day in Ubud. It shows the palace courtyards in an evening setting.
Near Ubud Palace
- Puri Lukisan Museum (0.32 km)
- Blanco Renaissance Museum (0.92 km)
- Agung Rai Museum of Art (1.29 km)
- Neka Art Museum (2.21 km)
Guided trips to Ubud Palace
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