Ubud Palace (Puri Saren)

Puri Saren Agung, better known as Ubud Palace, sits at the busy crossroads in the centre of Ubud, right opposite the Ubud Art Market. It remains the home of Ubud’s royal family, whose members still play a leading role in the town’s ceremonies and cultural life. Visitors can step through the ornate entrance into the outer courtyards to admire gilded gates, carved stone and red-brick pavilions, and at night the palace becomes a stage for traditional Balinese dance.

For many, the palace is the natural starting point for exploring Ubud – a symbol of the town’s reputation as Bali’s centre of arts and culture.

History & meaning

The palace was established in the early 19th century under Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, who ruled Ubud from around 1800. Much of it was rebuilt after the 1917 earthquake. In the 20th century, the royal family, particularly Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati, invited foreign artists such as Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet to Ubud, helping spark the Pita Maha arts movement that shaped modern Balinese painting and put Ubud on the world map. The palace remains central to royal ceremonies, including grand cremation processions that draw thousands.

What to see

• The main gate (candi kurung) – elaborately carved and guarded by stone statues.
• Outer courtyards – with bale pavilions, stone carvings and gold-painted doors.
• Evening dance – Legong, Barong and other dances are performed in the courtyard with gamelan orchestras; the gates themselves form a stunning backdrop.
• Pura Taman Saraswati – the lotus-pond temple a short walk west along Jl. Raya Ubud.

How to visit

• Entry to the outer courtyards is free during the day; the inner family quarters are private.
• Dance tickets are sold by vendors in front of the palace or at the Ubud tourist information office across the street during the day.
• Arrive 20–30 minutes early for a good seat at evening shows.
• Morning visits, before the market crowds build, are best for photos.

Etiquette & dress

This is a royal home, so dress modestly and speak softly. Don’t enter roped-off areas, climb on statues or sit on shrine platforms. During ceremonies, the palace may close to visitors; if a procession is taking place, watch respectfully from the side of the road. At dance performances, don’t use flash photography and stay seated during the show.

Watching a dance at the palace is one of Ubud’s must-do evenings. Most shows last around 90 minutes and include gamelan music, masked dancers and colourful costumes, with the palace lit by lamps.

Across the road, the Ubud tourist information office (Bina Wisata) posts the nightly programme of dances at the palace and other venues around town, so you can pick a performance that suits you.

Combine it with

• Ubud Art Market, directly opposite.
• Pura Taman Saraswati, a 3-minute walk.
• Ubud Monkey Forest, 10–15 minutes’ walk south.
• Campuhan Ridge Walk, 15 minutes’ walk west.