Planning a trip to Bali? Visiting the majestic water palaces is one of the best things to do on the island. This guide goes over everything you need to know about visiting one of the top water palaces in Bali, the Ujung Water Palace.
Located in Bali’s Karangasem region, the Ujung Water Palace is one of the top places to visit on a day trip in East Bali. In this guide, I’ll share all you need to know about this stunning water palace, including how to get there, what to expect and tips to help you make the most out of your visit.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ujung Water Palace!
About Ujung Water Palace
Formerly a royal palace, the Ujung Water palace (also known as Taman Ujung) is now a beautiful historical landmark visited by both local and international tourists every year.
Built in 1901, the water palace combines both Balinese and Dutch architecture. Originally commissioned by the King of Karangasem, the water palace was built to be a summer palace to relax and escape the heat. Over the years, the grounds and its building have gone through multiple renovations to make it the stunning property it is today.
Set near the coast and below the majestic Moung Agung (an active volcano!), the Ujung Water Palace is a complex of beautiful gardens and serene ponds connected by elaborate bridges and walkways. At nearly 25 acres, the property is expansive and features three sizable ponds.
The primary structure, Gili Bale, look as if it’s floating in the center of the water and is connected to the edge of the pool by an ornate bridge.
How to Get to Ujung Water Palace
The Ujung Water Palace is located in Bali’s eastern region. East Bali is home to tons of beautiful and historical attractions so it would be easy to visit Ujung Water Palace on a day trip along with a few other sights in the area as well.
Located about 3 miles from Karangasem’s capital, Amlapura, Ujung Water Palace is best reached by scooter. Renting a scooter to explore East Bali is a great way to visit the area at your own pace. Another option is to hire a private driver for the day — while more costly, it’s very convenient and helpful if you don’t want to drive a scooter!
From Ubud, the drive time is about 1.5 – 2 hours and from Canggu, it will take about 2 – 2.5 hours. If you’re planning to visit the Tirta Gangga Water Palace as well, it’s just 20 minutes away — I’d highly recommend visiting both of these gorgeous palaces if you can!
What to Expect
The water palace is open every day from 7am to 7pm with an entrance fee of IDR 75,000 (about $5) per person.
If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of Bali, then you must visit Ujung Water Palace. The water palace is truly a beautiful place with a lot of history. And, it’s absolutely worth spending a few hours exploring, so make sure to set aside a morning or afternoon for the water palace during your trip to East Bali!
During your visit, take a stroll through the lush gardens, walk across the ponds via the beautiful bridges and ascend the staircase to the top of the grounds for panoramic sea views.
Taking in the views at the top of the grand staircase was actually my favorite part of visiting this water palace. Not only do you get stunning views of the sea but also you can take in the entire grounds from above!
In the lush garden around the Taman Ujung water palace, there are beautiful statues and carvings, as well as remarkable architecture that merges with nature. All of this makes for some beautiful photo opportunities so make sure to have your camera on hand!
Tips for Visiting
Consider Time of Day: Bali is a tropical island and can get very hot in the middle of the day! There isn’t much in the way of shade at this water palace so make sure to arrive early or late in the day to avoid the midday heat. This way, you will be able to explore the gardens without the heat bringing you down. While going later in the day can be helpful for steering clear of the heat, the early morning tends to offer the best time to see the Mount Agung volcano clearly.
Visit Ujung After Tirta Gangga: If you’re planning to visit both water palaces in the area (which I recommend!), plan to visit Ujung after Tirta Gangga. Tirta Gangga seems to be more popular with tourists and is smaller in size so can get quite crowded. To avoid the crowds, I got there at opening time (8am) and was able to enjoy the tranquil grounds without throngs of people. Since Taman Ujung is larger and more spread out, it’s less likely that you’ll encounter crowds here. On my visit after Tirta Gangga, it almost felt like we had the place to ourselves!
Dress Appropriately (and Comfortably!): Since you’ll be doing some walking, make sure to wear a comfortable pair of shoes that you can walk around in. Also, be sure to wear appropriate clothes (not too revealing) as water palaces respect the Balinese Hindu religion and culture. Wearing breathable fabrics and bringing a hat and sunglasses is also a good idea to protect yourself from the heat.
Pack Sunscreen and Buy Spray: Speaking of heat, it’s always good to have these items handy while you’re traveling in Bali. The sun here is no joke… and neither are the mosquitos!
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