good to know before you plan
April is arguably the best value month in Ubud. You get close to dry-season weather while the landscape is still green from the rains, a combination the calendar only offers briefly.
It is also the last month before dry-season pricing starts, around $95 to $175 per person for the five days. Five days is the right length for Ubud alone: enough for the valley walks, the temples, a workshop and a proper spa afternoon without repeating yourself. We would book April ahead of May if the dates allow, because May costs more for weather only slightly better.
Bali in April: A 5-Day Ubud Itinerary in the Green Shoulder Season
Five days is the sweet spot for one region of Bali, and this plan spends all of it on Ubud. April is the green shoulder month, dry underfoot but still lush from the rains and not yet expensive.
You stay in Ubud the whole time and use it as a hub: temples and rice terraces on the clear mornings, the Campuhan ridge at first light, a waterfall when the rivers are running, and the craft villages when the weather turns. Nothing is more than a short drive, so a shower costs you an hour, not a day.
Five days in Ubud in the green shoulder, before the prices notice
April
Week 1
day by day
One base in Ubud for all five nights. Everything sits within about forty minutes, so the days go into the places rather than into transfers.
Day 1: Arrive, settle, eat well.
Day 2: Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi in the morning, late lunch after.
Day 3: Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise, market and palace, afternoon at Tegalalang.
Day 4: Waterfall day. The rivers still run hard and the paths have dried out.
Day 5: Slow morning, then the airport.
Where to Eat
Central Ubud for the broadest dining selection
Penestanan for cafés and relaxed healthy dining
Tegallalang for restaurants overlooking rice fields
Local villages for traditional Balinese warungs
Ubud markets for casual local food and snacks
Where to Stay
Central Ubud: best for walkable sights.
Monkey Forest Road: best for shops and cafés.
Penestanan: best for a quieter base.
Sayan: best for valley views.
Nyuh Kuning: best for a village setting.
Tegallalang: best for rice terrace stays.
best Things to Do
Explore Ubud’s cultural centre
Walk through rice fields and terraces
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
See Tirta Empul and nearby temples
Walk the Campuhan Ridge
Attend a traditional Balinese dance performance
Join a cooking, craft or wellness class
Explore waterfalls and river valleys
Take a day trip into Bali’s central highlands.
Good weather, before the prices notice
Book the room first. April is the last month of low-season rates in Ubud, and the same hotel in June or July will cost noticeably more, so compare while the gap is in your favour. Activities are still easy to arrange a few days out this month. A car with a driver is what makes an Ubud week work: the temples, terraces and waterfalls are spread across a wide area, and one driver for a day costs less than two separate tours. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Bali in April?
April is the shoulder into the dry season. Showers become brief and occasional rather than daily, humidity drops noticeably from March, and full clear days become common. Temperatures hold around 27 to 31 degrees. The landscape is still deep green from the rains, which is what makes this month unusual.
Is April a good time to visit Bali?
It is arguably the best value month of the year. You get close to dry-season weather while the landscape is still green from the rains, and prices have not yet started the climb that begins in May. Crowds are also well below the June to August peak. The trade is that April is probable rather than guaranteed.
What is the best month to visit Ubud?
April and September, for the same reason: both sit just outside the peak, with good weather and lower prices. April has the greener landscape because it follows the rains. September has the more reliable sky. July and August are the most dependable weather but also the most expensive and the most crowded.