Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)

At a Glance

• Local name: Puri Saren Agung
• Where: central Ubud, at the Jalan Raya Ubud / Jalan Suweta crossroads, Gianyar regency
• Hours: courtyards open in the daytime, roughly 8:00–18:00; dances in the evening
• Time needed: 20–40 minutes by day; the evening show runs about 1–1.5 hours
• Built: in its present form under Tjokorda Putu Kandel (1800–1823)
• Getting there: right in the centre of Ubud, opposite the art market

Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) is the former residence of Ubud's royal family, sitting right at the heart of town. By day you can wander its courtyards of carved gateways and gardens for free; by night the main courtyard hosts traditional Balinese dance. This is no roped-off museum — part of the complex is still home to the royal family, and the palace remains Ubud's cultural anchor on the town's main crossroads.

Why Visit

The palace offers a quick, free window into Balinese court architecture and living culture, steps from the market and the main cafés. In 20–30 minutes you take in the stone and wood carving, the open bale pavilions and the temple gateways; in the evening you can stay for a Legong or Barong performance played to a live gamelan.

• Who it's for: anyone into culture, architecture and photography, and audiences for the evening dances.
• Keep in mind: by day the palace is compact and the visit is short — pair it with the market and a stroll through central Ubud.

History

The palace as it stands today was built in traditional Balinese style during the reign of Tjokorda Putu Kandel (1800–1823). Ubud was the seat of a small princedom, and Puri Saren Agung served as the ruling family's official residence.

The major 1917 earthquake badly damaged the structures, but as the home of the ruling family the palace was quickly rebuilt, and by 1928 it began welcoming foreign guests. Through the early 20th century Ubud's royals were active patrons of painters and musicians — a big reason Ubud grew into the island's creative capital.

The Layout

The complex is a sequence of courtyards divided by carved gateways in the classic Balinese idiom — red brick, grey paras sandstone and fine relief work.

• Gates and pavilions — the most photogenic features: the split candi bentar gateways and the roofed bale pavilions once used for ceremonies.
• Gardens and statues — tidy courtyards with tropical greenery, stone figures and gilded detail.
• Pura Marajan Agung — the royal family's private temple just to the north; the residential parts of the complex remain closed to visitors.

Some of the courtyards now operate as a small boutique hotel, so a few areas are off-limits — you explore the open courtyards.

Evening Dance in the Courtyard

The main reason to come after dark is the traditional Balinese dance staged in the open palace courtyard. Performances start around 19:30 and run about an hour to ninety minutes to a live gamelan orchestra.

The programme rotates by day of the week: different evenings feature Legong, a Ramayana dance-drama, Barong and other classical dances. Tickets are sold at the entrance on the night; arrive early to get a seat near the stage, as they fill up fast.

Combine Your Trip

The palace pairs easily with other spots in central Ubud, all within walking distance.

• Ubud Art Market — directly across the road from the palace.
• Sacred Monkey Forest — about 15 minutes on foot south down Monkey Forest Road.
• Campuhan Ridge Walk — a scenic hilltop stroll a few minutes west of the centre.

Plan Your Visit

• Finding it — the palace sits on Ubud's main crossroads (Jalan Raya Ubud and Jalan Suweta), opposite the art market; it's hard to miss.
• When to come — daytime for the courtyards and photos, or in the evening (by 19:00–19:15) for a dance.
• Dress — there's no strict dress code for the courtyards, but it's a cultural site, so modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is appropriate.
• Entry — walking the open courtyards by day is free; the evening dance performance is ticketed at the entrance.

FAQ

Is there an entrance fee for Ubud Palace? Walking the open courtyards during the day is free. Only the evening dance performance is ticketed, paid at the entrance.

What time do the dances at Ubud Palace start? Usually around 19:30, with the programme (Legong, Ramayana, Barong) changing by day of the week.

How long do you need at Ubud Palace? By day, 20–40 minutes is enough for the courtyards and photos; add about 1–1.5 hours if you stay for an evening dance.

Does the royal family still live there? Yes — part of the complex remains the Ubud royal family's residence, so the living quarters are closed to visitors.