good to know before you plan
December divides sharply. Early in the month Ubud sits near its yearly low, while the fortnight from roughly the twentieth to early January is the most expensive period of the year, rivalling and often exceeding August.
The weather is the same wet-season weather across both, which is what makes the second half poor value rather than simply expensive. Five days run around $120 to $210 per person depending where they land. We would book the first three weeks, and if the holiday fortnight is fixed for you, book it a long way out.
Bali in December: A 5-Day Ubud Itinerary Before the Holiday Rush
Five days is the sweet spot for one region of Bali, and this plan spends all of it on Ubud. December is wet, and splits into a cheap first three weeks and an expensive holiday fortnight.
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, cheap before the holidays and green from the rain
December
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: Temples in the morning, back before the afternoon rain.
Day 3: Campuhan Ridge Walk at first light, Tegalalang in the afternoon.
Day 4: Waterfall day. The rivers are running hard and the falls are at their best.
Day 5: Slow morning, then the airport with generous time for December traffic.
If your dates fall after roughly 20 December, book the restaurants, the activities and the airport transfer before you fly. The holiday fortnight sells out and prices roughly triple.
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.
Early December is cheap. The holidays are not
Compare hotel prices carefully, because December splits in two: the first three weeks sit near the yearly low, and the Christmas fortnight is the most expensive period of the year. If your dates are over the holidays, book everything now, including restaurants and the airport transfer. A car with a driver is worth more in December than most months, since wet afternoons and holiday traffic both reward having someone else deal with the road. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Bali in December?
Wet and humid throughout. December sits in the rainy season, with heavy afternoon showers most days and temperatures around 27 to 31 degrees. Mornings are often clear, which is when anything outdoors is best done. The weather does not improve over the holiday period, which catches out many people booking the Christmas fortnight.
Is Bali expensive at Christmas?
Very. The fortnight from roughly 20 December to early January is the most expensive period of the year, rivalling and often exceeding August. Accommodation can multiply several times over, restaurants require advance booking, and airport transfers cost more. Early December, by contrast, is one of the cheapest weeks on the calendar.
When should you book for Christmas in Bali?
Months ahead. The good accommodation for the Christmas and New Year fortnight is taken well in advance, and what remains late is expensive and poorly located. Restaurants for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve run set menus that book out early, and transfers should be arranged before arrival rather than on the day.