A stay right on Ubud's most walkable street

Monkey Forest Road, known locally as Jalan Monkey Forest, runs from the middle of Ubud down to the gates of the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. It's one of the easiest stretches of Ubud to get around without a car, lined for its whole length with art shops, day spas, warungs and cafes. Stay here and you can walk to Ubud's Royal Palace and traditional market in one direction, and to the forest itself in the other.

Where to stay on Monkey Forest Road

Most rooms on this street sit back from the road behind a garden wall or a short path, so things stay reasonably quiet even with the foot traffic and scooters out front. Ubud Village Hotel is a four-star property built directly on the road, popular for its central position. A short walk further along, Komaneka at Monkey Forest is a long-running boutique resort with rice-field and garden views, a pool and an on-site spa, set just off the main foot traffic. Adiwana Monkey Forest sits nearby with a similar upscale, romantic style and is a common pick for couples. If you're after something simpler, Bumi Muwa Ubud is a small budget lodge near the sanctuary end of the road, with a garden, an outdoor pool and a noticeably lower nightly rate than the resorts closer to the middle of the road.

Compare accommodation offers

Compare the same dates, complete guest count and room category on Traveloka. Check the total stay cost, bedding, meals, pool access and cancellation conditions in the selected offer. Room-only and package rates can have different inclusions.

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, at the end of the road

Monkey Forest Road takes its name from the nature reserve at its southern end. Inside, shaded walking trails wind beneath towering banyan trees, their roots spilling down over old stone walkways and small stream crossings. The reserve is home to several hundred long-tailed macaques, which move freely through the forest canopy and along the paths, so keep food and loose items out of sight while you walk through. Set aside an hour or so to follow the main trails at an easy pace, and go early in the morning if you want the forest at its quietest, before the tour groups arrive.

Shops and galleries along the way

Beyond hotels and food, Monkey Forest Road is one of Ubud's main casual shopping stretches. Small art shops and stalls line both sides for most of its length, selling wood carvings, batik and other handicrafts from across Bali, alongside the odd bookshop, day spa and yoga studio. It's an easy road to wander before or after a visit to the sanctuary, even if you're not looking to buy anything.

Eating on Monkey Forest Road

The road is dense with places to eat, from roadside warungs to some of Ubud's longer-standing restaurants. Ibu Rai, open since the 1960s, is one of the street's oldest restaurants and still serves a mix of Indonesian and Western dishes. Cafe Wayan, set around a garden courtyard just off the road, is another long-time favourite for a relaxed lunch or afternoon coffee. Between these are dozens of smaller warungs, juice bars and bakeries, so you're rarely more than a couple of minutes from a meal wherever you're staying.

Getting around from Monkey Forest Road

The road offers access to central Ubud's restaurants and shops, but the actual hotel entrance determines the walk to the palace, market or sanctuary. Plan road transport separately for outings beyond the centre, including Tegallalang.

A few things to know before you book

Monkey Forest Road gets busy with foot and scooter traffic through the middle of the day, so rooms set further back from the street or on a higher floor tend to be quieter. If you're visiting the sanctuary, wear closed shoes rather than sandals for the uneven stone paths, and avoid carrying food, sunglasses or anything dangling that a macaque might try to grab. Ubud's wet season, roughly November to March, brings short, heavy afternoon downpours, so a covered walkway or a hotel close to the road is handy if you're relying on walking rather than a car.