Is Ubud safe?
Very safe for Bali. Scooter crashes, aggressive monkeys and flooded roads are bigger risks than crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-07-06.
- Homicide rate in Indonesia: 0.3 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Indonesia: 11.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Ubud at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Occasional bag theft from scooters and unlocked rooms; violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Quiet after 10 pm and dark on village lanes; carry a phone torch and order a Gojek rather than walking far. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women, with many retreats and women-only classes. Use app rides after dark on unlit lanes. |
| Other risks | Scooter crashes on narrow, wet roads; Flash floods and slippery waterfall trails; Dengue in the rainy season |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Money changers on Monkey Forest Road short-counting notes
- Drivers quoting inflated day-trip prices; compare two quotes
- Scooter rental damage claims after return
Take care
- Monkey Forest: macaques snatch phones, sunglasses and food
- Jl. Raya Ubud and Jl. Monkey Forest: heavy traffic and crashes
- Waterfall trails after rain: slippery steps and flash flooding
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- From 2026, sex outside marriage and unmarried cohabitation are crimes, prosecuted only on a spouse's, parent's or child's complaint
- Drug trafficking can bring the death penalty; even small amounts mean prison
- Disrespecting temples or sacred sites in Bali can lead to deportation
How Ubud compares in Indonesia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Nusa Dua | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bali | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ubud | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Canggu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Seminyak | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluwatu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yogyakarta | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gili Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Penida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Labuan Bajo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sanur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Raja Ampat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mount Bromo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bandung | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nusa Lembongan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lake Toba | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kuta Lombok | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amed | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Batam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bintan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Malang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bukit Lawang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Surabaya | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manado | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tana Toraja | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jimbaran | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jakarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Kuta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Medan | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Ubud safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women, with many retreats and women-only classes. Use app rides after dark on unlit lanes.
Is Ubud safe at night?
Quiet after 10 pm and dark on village lanes; carry a phone torch and order a Gojek rather than walking far.
What is the crime rate in Ubud?
Occasional bag theft from scooters and unlocked rooms; violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, Indonesia records 0.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Ubud?
Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113 · All emergencies 112.
More about Ubud
Going to Ubud solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- Outpost
- Kura-Kura Bus
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.