A lot of people claim that grab or gojek are unavailable in Ubud due to the local taxi mafia, who control transport, making it difficult for tourists to get around.

We’ve got all the information you need to help you actually use grab and gojek in Ubud (because it is possible), including specific advice on transport in places like Tegenungan Waterfall, the Ubud Markets, the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, the Monkey Forest and more.

Make getting around Ubud easy with this complete guide.

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Why you can trust this article about grab and gojek in Ubud

Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’m your go-to source for Bali and Indonesia travel information.

I’ve lived on this beautiful island for several years now and visited plenty of times before that, both as a tourist and backpacker. I know how to save money and when to splurge on things, so I’ll introduce you to the best luxury getaways for a special occasion but also the cheapest airport pickups and fun group tours you can join if you want to make friends.

Ubud was one of the first places I ever visited in Bali, and it’s changed a lot in recent years. The town is no longer the quiet oasis with peaceful rice fields that it once used to be, so many guides online are very outdated.

I’m in Ubud at least once a month if not more, so I’ll be the first to know if anything changes.

Are grab and gojek available in Ubud?

Grab and gojek are Indonesia’s most popular ridesharing apps similar to Uber, but they don’t always work in some areas of Bali (even though they’re perfectly legal). This is mostly due to a lack of drivers and demand in remote communities or the local taxi mafia, who try to keep prices inflated.

Ubud is a very touristy place, which means that the taxi mafia has a large presence, trying to prohibit grab and gojek drivers from operating. This leads to a lot of myths of grab and gojek being completely unusable in the area, which is not true.

Grab and gojek are definitely available in Ubud, although there are some streets and locations where it may be difficult to find a driver. This problem is usually easily solved by walking for about five to ten minutes to an area where the taxi mafia is not as present.

Drop-offs with grab or gojek are always no problem, it’s only pick-ups that become an issue.

The taxi mafia in Ubud

The taxi mafia refers to organisations of local drivers in Bali who oppose the use of grab and gojek and aim to keep prices as high as possible. They’re known for their pushy sales tactics, unreasonable prices and for refusing to use a taxi metre.

You’ll come across the taxi mafia in most touristy places in Bali, Ubud included. In fact, this is one of their strongest locations, and there are few other places on the Island of the Gods where the taxi mafia is this powerful.

This is why grand and gojek usage in Ubud is sometimes impacted, and you might find yourself unable to get a driver in central locations. We give more information below.

Is the taxi mafia in Ubud dangerous?

The taxi mafia is not dangerous for tourists, although grab and gojek drivers may be threatened by them. To avoid conflict, they’re usually hesitant to pick up passengers in an area controlled by the mafia, which you should respect.

There has been violence against gojek and grab drivers in Bali in the past, although the passengers are not affected.

As a tourist, you’ll overpay when using a taxi by the mafia, but there won’t be any other dangers to worry about.

Should you take a taxi in Ubud?

If you don’t want to have to walk to get out of a no-gojek zone in Ubud, you might not have a lot of choices other than taking a taxi. We don’t recommend taking taxis operated by the taxi mafia in Bali unless you absolutely have to.

You’ll just pay unneccesarily high prices and make yourself vulnerable to scams. Instead, try to find a metred taxi, ideally a Bluebird taxi, which you can recognise by their blue colour, bird logo and ID of the driver on the dashboard. Their prices are similar to grab and gojek and they’re not part of the mafia.

If you absolutely have to take an unmeteered taxi from the local mafia in Ubud, make sure to haggle and negotiate to get a better price. Sometimes, it can help to show the driver the price on the gojek app, so you can get a better deal.

Traffic in Ubud

Ubud used to be relatively quiet, but a lot has changed, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. The traffic in Ubud is now just as bad, if not worse, than southern Bali in areas like Canggu, Seminyak or Kuta.

Be prepared to be stuck in traffic a lot, especially if you’re getting around Ubud by car. Definitely take a scooter taxi (ojek) instead for shorter distances if you can.

Make sure to factor in plenty of time to get around, especially if you’ll be exploring the centre of Ubud.

Can you use grab or gojek to get to and from the Monkey Forest in Ubud?

The Monkey Forest in Ubud is one of those places where getting a grab or gojek is really difficult. It has a very central location, and since so many tourists come here, the taxi mafia is very present.

You cannot get grab or gojek to pick you up at the main entrance to the Monkey Forest, and to find a ride, you’ll have to walk away from this part of central Ubud for around 10 minutes.

You’ll have plenty of taxi drivers approaching you, and gojeks won’t be able to stop there while they are present.

Dropoffs with grab or gojek at the Monkey Forest are no problem.

Are grab and gojek available at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud?

The Tegallalang Rice Terraces (sometimes also spelt Tegalalang) are some of the most famous in Bali and they’ve become very commercialised in recent years.

You can be dropped off with grab and gojek at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, but some people report having problems getting a pickup.

Since the rice terraces are located on a busy road, the usual technique of walking a little bit isn’t very comfortable.

That being said, I personally have never had an issue finding a gojek at Tegallalang. Maybe it comes down to luck or the time of day, but I would recommend giving it a trip while keeping in mind that you might have to make do with a taxi instead.

Are grab and gojek available at the Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud?

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a beautiful little trail through lush greenery, located just a quick drive from the centre of Ubud. It’s best done in the early morning before it gets too busy.

The walk begins at Ibah Restaurant, Spa and Villas, which is a narrow area along a major road, so transport options are limited. It ends at Warung Bukit Sari, which is located on a relatively quiet street.

Getting dropped off at the starting point of the Campuhan Ridge Walk with a grab or gojek is no problem, but if you end up circling back, you probably won’t be able to find a ride here.

At the endpoint, I’ve personally found grabs and gojeks without any problems, but I know others seem to struggle. Since this part of Ubud isn’t super busy and there are plenty of little hotels and villas around, I would recommend walking a little bit further and try getting a grab from down the road.

Can you use grab or gojek to get to Ubud Market?

Ubud’s famous Art Market is located right in the centre of town, next to the Ubud Palace, and getting a grab or gojek here is usually next to impossible.

There are now several different markets around town, but the main ones are right where the taxi mafia is at its most powerful.

You’re going to have to walk out of the centre for a little bit to get a ride, keeping mind, that the traffic is usually a nightmare here.

I’ve had much greater success finding a motorbike grab/gojek instead of a car since they’re much faster in the traffic and less obvious.

Are grab and gojek available at Tegenungan Waterfall in Ubud?

Tegenungan is one of the most famous waterfalls in Bali, and it’s now home to its very own glass-bottom bridge and even a day club. It’s a busy and commercialised place, but the beauty of the waterfall is undeniable, so I would definitely still recommend visiting it.

Arriving at Tegenungan Waterfall by gojek or grab is no problem at all, and I’ve personally also been picked up with gojek here, so I can recommend trying it.

I would make sure to walk out of the main parking area to call your ride and avoid doing it very close to the entrance gate where the taxi drivers wait.

Are grab and gojek available in Sayan?

Sayan is a beautiful little town located just a quick drive from Ubud, and home to many of the area’s best hotels including the famous Uma Kalai Resort.

Sayan is a lot quieter with fewer tourists and the taxi mafia is not as present.

I’ve always managed to find a grab or gojek in Sayan, and pickups are no problem in my experience. Since we stay at Uma Kalai quite a lot, I’ve had gojeks pick us up very frequently, and the only time I couldn’t find a ride was very late at night, so keep that in mind.

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How to find transport in Ubud late at night

Ubud is by no means a hotspot for nightlife, but you can still go out at night to a variety of bars or even some small clubs. If you’re out late at night in Ubud, you can definitely use grab and gojek as transport to get home.

Just make sure to avoid calling a ride from the centre of town and go away from any taxi drivers that may be waiting.

If you’re somewhere remote, it might take a while to find a driver.

How to get around Ubud

Whether you’re visiting Ubud on a day trip, or staying at one of the best hotels, villas or resorts in the area, you’re going to need some transport options.

Here are the best ways to get around Ubud if you’re not sure about using taxis or grab and gojek.

1. Renting a scooter in Ubud

Renting a scooter in Bali is one of the most popular ways to get around for tourists. The traffic in Ubud is extremely busy, and driving here is only suitable for experienced drivers and not beginners.

Some of the roads outside of town are winding and steep, and accidents involving tourists are very common. Only rent a scooter if you already have experience driving, and always wear a helmet.

Every traveller should have insurance, including coverage for medical emergencies, hospital visits and unforeseen accidents. SafetyWing is not only the best choice for shorter trips but also offers long-term plans for digital nomads or those travelling for extended periods of time.

They have a great selection of plans, including trip insurance, which supports you in case of cancelled flights or lost baggage.

My favourite part is that they offer adventure sports coverage ad-ons, so you can do all the exciting activities without having to worry about taking unnecessary risks.

No matter where you’re travelling, you cannot put a price on peace of mind.

Find out more about SafetyWing here.

2. Renting a car in Ubud

If you want flexibility but don’t feel comfortable driving a scooter, you can also rent a car to explore Ubud. Daily rates are more affordable than you might think, and driving a car is much easier and safer than a scooter.

Our complete car rental guide for Bali has all the info you will need.

3. Hiring a driver in Ubud

One of my favourite ways to explore Bali is to hire a private driver for a day. This is especially suitable for a day trip to Ubud if you don’t have a lot of time. You can tell the driver where you want to go or have him help suggest an itinerary.

It’s more affordable than you might expect, and rates include between 10 to 12 hours with the driver, as well as petrol and parking.

4. Public transport and buses in Ubud

Public transport isn’t really possible in Bali, and Ubud is no exception. You can use the Kura-Kura shuttle to get to Ubud, although it may not necessarily be cheaper than a grab or gojek.

There is also the Trans Metro Dewata bus, which has a route that goes from Denpasar to the Monkey Forest. It’s not really a common thing for tourists to use but may be worth looking into if you happen to be staying along the route.

Finally, the Perama shuttles have the most extensive public transport network in Bali, but tickets can be pricey.

5. Walking around Ubud

Bali is not very walkable, but the centre of Ubud is actually not too bad. You can walk short distances, and you’ll find sidewalks in most places, although they’re not the best in many places.

I would recommend walking up to around 15 minutes in the heart of Ubud, but anything longer won’t be very comfortable due to the traffic, hot sun and bad quality of the roads.

Definitely don’t try to walk outside of the central areas and take a gojek instead.

6. Guided tours of Ubud

If you don’t want to worry about transport or planning your Ubud itinerary, a guided tour might be the best choice for you. We love this tour, which takes you to see all the highlights of Ubud in a jam-packed 10-hour day trip.

You’ll have lunch, drinking water, a Bali swing experience and a private driver included plus plenty of secret spots and fun activities. They will even pick you up at your hotel in areas like Seminyak, Sanur, Jimbaran, Kuta, Nusa Dua or Canggu.

Highly recommended!

Other no-gojek zones around Bali

Ubud isn’t the only place in Bali where getting around with grab and gojek can be a bit tricky.

Read our grab and gojek guides for places like the airport, Seminyak, Canggu, Nusa Dua, Amed, Uluwatu, Sanur, Tanah Lot Temple, Lovina, Kintamani, Padang Bai Harbour, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and even Kuta in Lombok or Labuan Bajo in Flores.

Grab and gojek in Ubud FAQ

Before you go…

You’re ready to explore beautiful Ubud now let us help you plan the rest of your Bali trip.

You might enjoy our review of the best group tours in Bali, how to make friends as a solo traveller, the best ways to celebrate your birthday on the island and our beer price guide.

Don’t forget to check out our Nusa Penida, Uluwatu and Gili Trawangan hotel guides.

Did I miss anything?
If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post, please leave a comment below or contact me.