Indonesia, Bali – Traditional dances and local markets in Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali

After a two-day itinerary from Lovina Beach to Ubud to discover the center of Bali, and after a first very local discovery of Ubud, we continue to explore Ubud and its local culture. During our 5 day stay in Ubud, we attended two traditional dance performances : a mesmerizing Kecak dance performance, without music, and a Balinese dance performance. The cultural heart of Bali, Ubud offers many magical performances that immerse us in the heart of Hindu mythological tales. It is a must-do in Ubud to discover Balinese artistic culture.

Kecak dance performance in Ubud: an immersion in Balinese culture

Sunday, February 08, 2026

Attending a Kecak dance in Ubud is an essential experience to discover Balinese culture. The Kecak dance is a traditional Balinese dance. It is a unique dance in Bali, as it is distinguished by the absence of musical instruments. It is the rhythmic and hypnotic chants of a hundred men chanting ” cak ” (pronounced ” tchak “) at full speed that set the rhythm. Thus, it is a visual spectacle, but also auditory. For nearly 1 h 30, we witness the spiritual and mythological narrative of the Ramayana epic, blending precise gestures, traditional costumes, and an enchanting atmosphere. The Kecak dance is a true cultural identity of Bali and one of the must-do activities in Ubud, rich in spirituality and art.

Also known as the fire dance, the Kecak dance ends with a spectacular scene involving flames.

Traditional Balinese dance during a performance in Ubud

A few days later, we attend a new dance performance in Ubud. There are performances every evening in Ubud, and we have plenty of choices. This time, we choose a traditional Balinese dance performance. The dancers are accompanied by traditional Balinese musical instruments. Even though the mythological tales told are the same, the atmosphere is quite different from that of the Kecak dance.

Buy souvenirs in Ubud markets

Ubud is a must-visit place in Bali to buy souvenirs. The alleys are filled with all kinds of shops that delight us as tourists. After chasing away an unwanted resident who had made our room his home, we set out to stroll around the city in search of souvenirs to bring back in our suitcase.

Ubud Art Market, the perfect place to buy souvenirs

The place we prefer to buy souvenirs in Ubud is the covered market in the city. It is located on the main street, a 10 minute walk from our hotel. During the 5 days we spent in Ubud, we made many incursions there. We love to wander through the aisles, admire the trinkets and art objects for sale, search for the perfect souvenir, hesitate, compare prices between different shops, and bargain. The covered market in Ubud is always very lively and is the perfect place to find souvenirs in Bali.

Prepare for the rest of our stay in Ubud

Souvenirs are great, but we also need to organize the next days of our trip. Since we have been in Ubud, men sitting on the sidewalk constantly call out to us: ” Taxi ? ” Usually, we politely decline, but this time, we are looking for a taxi. The first one who calls out to us seems surprised when we respond ” yes ! ” We negotiate for a long time with him to plan the next day’s itinerary, as we want to visit the must-see places around Ubud. Then we head to the travel agencies lining the main avenue to negotiate the volcano climbs we want to do in the coming days.

Like every evening since we arrived in Ubud, we return to the hotel under a beautiful tropical downpour. The sidewalk is flooded, and it is pouring rain. Fortunately, we are now moving around in sandals. Our feet are soaked, but they dry faster than our hiking shoes. Tomorrow, we are off for a day of natural and cultural discoveries around Ubud during a busy day.