1. Pura Tirta Empul: the temple of sacred water where the ritual of purification of the body, mind and soul is performed. It is believed that the waters that supply these springs have healing properties, so the goal is to go with an open heart and open mind in search of cleansing the impurities of this life and past lives.
It is very important to understand the ritual and its purpose, so there are several guides to give all the necessary instructions, who only ask for a donation. Initially, you need to put a specific sarong to get inside the water (green and red, which you can change in the temple's changing rooms). The sarong and locker to store your things costs 15,000 rupees (€0.90). After, you need to make an offering, known as a canang sari (a small basket made of coconut leaves, rice, flowers and incense) and go to a small altar with your palms facing upwards and the offering next to your heart, to say a short prayer or reflect on the reason why you are there. You leave the offering on the altar and head to the pool.

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Each of the pool's fountains has a specific purpose, from healing to self-purification. The 13 fountains in the first pool are intended to purify the soul and spirit, while the 11th and 12th are reserved for the cult of the dead. Dipping your head in the fountain (never putting your hands in the fountain's spout) signifies protection and prosperity.
In the second pool, there are three fountains, whose purpose is karma (that is, eliminate any bad actions or intentions). Each of the three fountains serves to purify a specific part of the soul.
The feeling of peace and lightness after the ritual is inexplicable. Without a doubt, it is the most special place I have ever been to.
It is open every day from 8am to 6pm and the entry costs 50,000 rupees (€3). I went around 8:30am and it wasn't very crowded. If you go around 5pm, 1 hour before closing, there must be even fewer people.
Note: it is not allowed to perform this ceremony while menstruation. If this is the case, leave it for another day, but do not fail to do it;

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2. Tegallalang Rice Terrace: the most visited rice fields in Bali. The views are breathtaking, however, overtourism – especially in the entrance area – takes away some of the naturalism that gives this place its charm. To avoid this, I have some tips for you:
The entrance fee costs 50,000 rupees (€3), however, if you want to go on the famous swings overlooking the rice fields, to go on the slide or take photos in the most Instagrammable spots, you have to pay an extra value. Not to mention the long queues. The rice fields are huge, so instead of entering through the main entrance, enter through the opposite side and do the route in reverse. In addition to avoiding paying the entrance fee (you can just give a donation to the local workers), you will start the route in the real rice field area, where the older workers are practicing their art of cultivating rice in harmony with their relationship with the gods.
The path to the main entrance is long, but it's worth every second. Along the way, there are several cafés (with amazing coconut water) where you can stop to simply enjoy the view.
There are no opening hours, unless you enter through the main entrance, in which case it's open from 6am to 7pm;

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3. Cretya Ubud: Bali's most famous swimming pools with a dream view of the rice fields. It's a kind of beach club but in a quieter version, with three pools, several bars, restaurants, DJ, hanging hammocks, swings, slides, sky bikes and even coffee plantations and a gorilla-shaped cave. At the end of the day, there are some parties/sunsets. The various restaurants suit all tastes and budgets. It's open every day from 8am to 9pm and the entrance fee is 50,000 rupees (€3). This price includes the use of the pools, hammocks, coffee plantation, walking around rice fields and caves. The other attractions are paid separately. Entry is for over-18s and you can book via WhatsApp (+62 81238021174) or simply buy a ticket at the door. It's totally worth it, for the price and the amount of things you can enjoy.

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1. Campuhan Ridge Walk: a trail through the rice fields. It's a bit disappointing, as it seems abandoned. The grass and trees are not well cared for, so the landscape doesn't look like it does on social media. If you have time, it's a good place for a morning walk. It might be better maintained during peak season and offer better views. It's completely open, so there's no opening hours or entrance fee;

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2. Liyer Spirit House: blessing ceremony and palm reading by the son of Ketut, the healer from the book and film Eat Pray Love. The place is the home of the man himself and his family, and the setting where the film starring Julia Roberts was actually filmed. Ketut, who appears in the film, has already passed away, but his gifts have been passed on to his son, also Ketut. You can choose to have a purification ceremony, a palm reading (exactly like in the film), or both. He leaves you completely free to do whatever you're willing to do or not. Don't be afraid to open your heart, because if you do it, you will have the most interesting and special heart-to-heart conversation of your life. The ceremony is very emotional and intense. If you are not willing to expose yourself to this, you shouldn't do it. A donation of $20 is requested for each ceremony and there are no reservations, just show up and wait for him to be available;

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3. Sayan Point: a restaurant with a swimming pool and stunning views over the rice fields. You can pay 300,000 rupees (€18) to use the pool, amount that can be spent on food or drinks, or simply have lunch on the top floor of the restaurant without having to pay anything (and still having access to the fabulous view);

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4. Ubud Monkey Forest: 12.5 hectares of forest with around 1,260 monkeys. The monkeys are very well looked after and fed constantly, so they are calmer than normal. However, they tend to attack if you get too close or if you have bags or bottles of water in your hands. There are always watchmen around, in case of more dangerous situations. There are many baby monkeys, and watching them interact with their mothers and with each other is something spectacular. It’s open every day from 9am to 5pm and admission costs 80,000 rupees (€4.80) on weekdays and 100,000 rupees (€6) on weekends;

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5. Folk Pool & Gardens: the famous open-air cinema with fairy lights, a swim-up bar, popcorns and delicious food. It’s open every day from 12pm to 10pm, but movie nights are only on Sundays and Tuesdays at 7pm. Make sure to go to their Instagram and reserve your spot (@folkubud), because most of the time, it’s full.

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1. Ubud Palace: right in the heart of Ubud, this is a group of historic buildings and gardens with typical Balinese architecture, where several of the city's cultural events take place. It's a small place, and it's usually full, but it's worth a visit. Entry is free and it's open every day from 7am to 5pm. Every night, there's a traditional Balinese dance show, which you have to pay for. Just go to the entrance to buy your ticket if you want;

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2. Ubud Market: an open-air market on the streets of central Ubud. It's usually open from 10am to 5pm. Ubud Art Market is the coolest part, it's really worth walking down the street and you know what? You always have to negotiate! You will also find some good places to eat in this area;

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3. Tibumana Waterfall: one of my favourite waterfalls. The route from the entrance to the waterfall is a bit long, with very steep steps, but the view is absolutely divine. You can swim relaxed and there's even a lifeguard. I went when I was in Bangli, but it took me ages to get there. It's much closer if you're coming from Ubud. The journey is about 40 minutes from the centre of Ubud, but it's totally worth it. It costs 25,000 rupees (€1.50) and is open every day from 7am to 6pm. Go around 4pm, because it's much less crowded than in the morning. I went at 5pm and it was empty.

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