good to know before you plan
May is the first month you can plan an Ubud week without hedging. The rain that defined the previous five months has largely gone and the humidity has dropped to something comfortable.
That matters more over seven days than over three, because you can schedule the long walks and the day trips without holding half of them in reserve. Rates sit between April's low and June's high-season climb, around $140 to $250 per person. We would take May for a first Ubud week, because everything works and nothing is crowded yet.
Bali in May: A 7-Day Ubud Itinerary at the Start of Dry Season
May is the first month you can plan an Ubud week without hedging. The rain that defined the previous five months has largely gone, humidity has dropped to something comfortable, and the days are clear from morning until evening. What is left over from the wet season is the green, which takes a couple of months to burn off.
The crowds are the part that has not caught up. June brings the start of high season and by July the Campuhan ridge has a queue on it, but in May the temples are quiet and the good restaurants will take a table at short notice. Rates have begun to rise from their April floor, but they are nowhere near what you will pay six weeks later.
The rain stops, the crowds have not started, and this is the window
May
Week 1
day by day
One base in Ubud. May weather is settled enough to plan every day in advance, which is not something you can say for most of the year.
Day 1: Arrive, settle in, eat well. May evenings are dry and cool enough to sit outside.
Day 2: Temple morning. Tirta Empul then Gunung Kawi, back for lunch.
Day 3: Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise, before the heat and before the crowd.
Day 4: Tegalalang rice terraces in the morning, craft villages at Mas on the way back.
Day 5: Waterfall day. The rivers are still full from the rains and the paths are properly dry.
Day 6: A day with nothing booked. Spa, museum, long lunch, whatever you feel like.
Day 7: 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.
May is dry-season weather without the July price
Compare hotel prices before you commit, because May rates sit in the middle of the yearly range and the spread between properties is wide right now. Activities are still bookable a few days out, though guided walks and workshops run on small numbers so check earlier. A car with a driver is what makes an Ubud week work: the temples, terraces and waterfalls sit far enough apart that one driver for the day beats two separate tours. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Bali in May?
May is the start of the dry season and one of the most reliable months of the year. Rain is uncommon and brief when it comes, humidity is comfortable, and skies are clear for most of the day. Temperatures sit around 27 to 31 degrees on the coast, with genuinely cool evenings inland and at altitude.
Is May a good time to visit Bali?
It is one of the two best months, alongside September. You get dry-season weather without the June to August crowds, and the landscape is still green from the rains. Prices have started rising from the April floor but remain well below peak. The main trade is that it is no longer cheap.
How far in advance should I book for May?
A few weeks is usually enough for accommodation, and a few days for most activities. May is busier than April but nowhere near July, so you still have room to compare rather than take whatever is left. Popular Ubud hotels and anything involving a small group are the exceptions worth booking earlier.