good to know before you plan
September is arguably the best month of the year in Ubud. Dry-season weather continues while the July and August crowds have gone home, and prices fall through the month from the August peak.
Around $110 to $185 per person for five days, and cheaper the later in the month you go. The valley walks are dry, the sites are manageable and the evenings are comfortable. There is no catch to September, which is unusual enough to be worth saying plainly. We put it first whenever anyone asks which month to pick.
Bali in September: A 5-Day Ubud Itinerary in the Best Month
Five days is the sweet spot for one region of Bali, and this plan spends all of it on Ubud. September holds dry-season weather after the July and August crowds have gone home.
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 best-value month on the calendar
September
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, lunch after.
Day 3: Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise, Tegalalang in the afternoon.
Day 4: Waterfall day at a civilised hour.
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.
September is the best week of the Bali year
Compare hotel prices carefully, because September rates move week by week as high season unwinds and the second half of the month is meaningfully cheaper than the first. Activities are easy to book a few days out again. A car with a driver still makes an Ubud week work, since the temples, terraces and waterfalls are spread wide, and in September you can start at a civilised hour rather than racing the tour buses. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Bali in September?
Dry and settled, with the wind dropping from its July and August peak. Rain is uncommon, humidity is comfortable and skies are clear for most of the day. Coastal temperatures sit around 27 to 31 degrees, with cool evenings in Ubud and cold nights at altitude. It is one of the most dependable months of the year.
Is September a good time to visit Bali?
It is arguably the best month of the year. Dry-season weather continues while the July and August crowds have gone, and prices fall through the month from the August peak. The sea is calmer than in the windy months. The only trade is that the landscape is at its driest after five months without much rain.
Is Bali cheaper in September?
Yes, noticeably. Rates fall from the August peak through the first half of the month and settle well below high season by the second half. The drop is largest in the areas most dependent on the school-holiday market, which includes Kuta, Legian and much of Seminyak. Ubud follows the same pattern with slightly less swing.