Ornate carved gateway of the Ubud Palace with visitors in the courtyard below, framed by trees

Heritage · Ubud, Gianyar, Bali

Ubud Palace & Ubud Art Market

The royal residence at the heart of Ubud, with evening dance shows and the craft market opposite

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Photo: Niklas Weiss (@treesoftheplanet) / Unsplash

Discover Ubud Palace & Ubud Art Market

Puri Saren Agung, the Ubud Palace, stands at the crossroads in the centre of Ubud. Behind its carved brick gateways are courtyards of pavilions, shrines and stone guardians, and while members of the royal family still live in parts of the compound, the front courtyards are open to visitors during the day.

In the evening the palace becomes a stage, with traditional dances performed to live gamelan music in front of an ornate gateway. Directly across the road, the Ubud Art Market fills a warren of stalls with sarongs, baskets, paintings and carvings, making this corner the natural starting point for exploring the town.

Don’t miss

01Carved brick and stone gateways of the palace courtyards
02Evening dance performances with gamelan orchestra in the palace courtyard
03Ubud Art Market's stalls of textiles, baskets, carvings and paintings
04The large banyan tree in front of the palace
05Pura Taman Saraswati and its lotus pond, a short walk west

History & culture

The story of Ubud Palace & Ubud Art Market

The palace in its present form was built in traditional Balinese style during the reign of Tjokorda Putu Kandel in the early 19th century. It was badly damaged by the 1917 earthquake and restored by the royal family, and it began receiving foreign guests in 1928. Many of its stone carvings are attributed to the celebrated Ubud artist I Gusti Nyoman Lempad.

The royal family has long been patron of Ubud's arts, and the palace remains a focus of the town's ceremonial life. Next to it stands Pura Marajan Agung, the family's private temple, and the lotus-pond temple of Pura Taman Saraswati lies a short walk to the west.

Local life & traditions

The palace is still the home of Ubud's royal family, and its courtyards host ceremonies, cremation preparations and temple festivals in which the whole town takes part. Many of the dancers and musicians who perform here belong to local village troupes. The market is a working place for traders from Ubud and surrounding villages, many of whom have run their stalls for years.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Visit the palace courtyards in the morning or late afternoon, then return after dark for a dance performance; tickets are usually sold on the street outside during the day. Programmes vary by night and may include Legong, Barong or other classical dances.

The Art Market is liveliest in the morning. Prices are rarely fixed, so friendly bargaining is expected. From here, it is easy to walk to the Saraswati temple, the galleries and cafes along Jalan Raya Ubud, or south along Jalan Monkey Forest to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

When to go

The palace and market can be enjoyed all year. Mornings are the coolest and least crowded time for the courtyards and market, and the evening dance shows run year-round, though heavy rain in the wet season, roughly November to March, can affect outdoor performances. Ubud is busiest in July, August and over the end-of-year holidays.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours: Palace open 8:00 to 18:00. Source: indonesia.travel ↗
Dance performances: Traditional dance performances run from 19:30 to 21:00, about an hour and a half. Source: indonesia.travel ↗
Ubud Art Market: Directly in front of the palace, about two minutes' walk; sells souvenirs, paintings, housewares and handicrafts. Source: indonesia.travel ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Dress modestly when entering the palace courtyards; parts are still a royal residence.
Buy dance tickets during the day and arrive early for a seat with a clear view.
Bargain politely at the market and agree a price before handing over money.
Visit the market early in the morning for fewer crowds and cooler temperatures.
Walk rather than drive around central Ubud; traffic at the palace crossroads is often slow.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Ubud Palace & Ubud Art Market: food, markets & places to stay

Central Ubud surrounds the palace, with restaurants, cafes, galleries and spas along Jalan Raya Ubud, Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman; several restaurants in Ubud are halal-certified or serve halal food, but check before ordering. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is about 15 minutes' walk south, and accommodation of every type lies within walking distance. Taxi apps and private drivers serve the area.