The Monkey Forest in Ubud: tickets, opening hours and what to see nearby

The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud (Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Monkey Forest, locally Mandala Suci Wenara Wana) is a nature reserve in the very centre of the town where more than a thousand long-tailed macaques live. It is searched for with queries such as “Ubud monkey forest tickets”, “opening hours”, “how to get there from Ubud” and “rules with the monkeys”. It combines jungle, three temples and banana groves, so it is interesting even for those who do not like zoos.

Hours, tickets and how to avoid queues

The sanctuary is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00, with entry closing at 17:00. Tickets for adults and children cost different amounts, and at weekends and on holidays the price is higher; the exact tariffs are published by the operator, and in the catalogue below you can book a ticket in advance and pay by Russian card in roubles. Queues gather at the central ticket office on Monkey Forest Road from 10 to 14 hours; the quietest time is opening and the last two hours, when the monkeys are more active and the groups leave.

How to get there from Ubud and the surroundings

• On foot. From the Ubud Palace (Puri Saren) down Monkey Forest Road is about 15–20 minutes. It is the most pleasant way if you are staying in the centre.
• By taxi or Grab. From Sanur, Seminyak and Canggu about 1–1.5 hours, from Nusa Dua about the same. It is better to hire a driver for a few hours with stops.
• Entrances. The main entrance is from Monkey Forest Road, and the second gate is on Hanoman Street. Choose the one closer to your hotel.

What to see and how to behave

The sanctuary has three active temples: Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal (the main temple of the dead, only worshippers go inside), Pura Beji with a bathing place and Pura Prajapati, next to which is a cemetery. The paths run along stone bridges and the roots of giant trees, and the spiral staircase is a favourite photo spot. The monkeys are used to people, but steal anything that looks like food: glasses, hats, bottles, phones.

The rules are simple: do not keep anything in open pockets, do not show food, do not look them in the eye, do not touch the babies, and if you are bitten go straight to the staff, because rabies occurs in Bali. You may feed the monkeys only the bananas sold by the staff, and only in the designated places.

How to plan a visit

A full circuit of the sanctuary takes 1–2 hours. Begin with the main avenue by the central entrance, walk to Pura Beji with its bathing place, then descend to the stream and the little bridges, where the macaques catch the sun on the stones. It is better to go clockwise and not linger at the feeding spots, where the monkeys behave more aggressively. After the forest stroll around the centre of Ubud: it is 10–15 minutes’ walk to the Ubud Palace, then the Art Market and the Campuhan rice fields. If you are with children, bring water and wet wipes, and towards closing the sanctuary empties and becomes especially picturesque.

Which tickets and tours there are

Prices are as of 10 October 2026. Check the contents, language and conditions on the page of the offer you choose.

What else

All offers: excursions in Ubud and central Bali.

Restrictions and tips

• Dress code. Clothing with shoulders and knees covered; for the temple zones you wear a sarong, which is provided if needed.
• What is not allowed. Drones and food in the open. Zip up your backpack and fasten your glasses with a cord.
• For women. It is not customary to enter temples in Bali during menstruation; this is a general rule for all the island’s temples.
• Passport. Not needed at the entrance, but bring a copy for booking and transport.
• Weather. The best time is the dry season from April to October. In the rainy season the paths are slippery, so bring shoes with a tread.
• With children. Little ones need to hold a hand: the macaques may snatch a toy.

The description is based on Trip.com cards; opening hours and the contents of offers may change.