Ubud: Bali Cultural Centre
Situated in the hills 20km north of Denpasar, Ubud is the serene cultural centre of Bali. Extensive development in recent years means that Ubud has engulfed a number of nearby villages, although these have retained their distinct identities. Head off in any direction and you're in for an interesting walk to a secluded craft hamlet, through the rice paddies or into the dense Monkey Forest, just south of the town centre.
In Ubud itself, Puri Lukisan Museum displays fine examples of all schools of Balinese art in a beautiful garden setting. There are several other quality galleries such as Neka Gallery, which features works of Western artists who have painted in Bali, and Agung Rai Gallery, a commercial operation which also houses a small, but important, permanent collection. Ubud is a good place to see Balinese dancing and hear Balinese music, and it has some of the finest restaurants on the island.
