For a thorough exploration of Balinese culture and tradition -- and a good dose of comfort and quiet -- Ubud is the place. Though unabashedly touristic, the town is the cultural pulse of the island, the richest region in Bali for art production, and the very reason why so many expat artists and collectors have made Bali their home. Ubud has a royal legacy and hosts the Royal Palace, a center for cultural performances and dance. In and among the smaller streets of town, you'll find refined boutiques, chic galleries, and cool trinket shops, alongside open-air cafes that swallow passersby on lazy days. Outside the busy town labyrinth, the phosphorescent rice paddies, virgin jungle, gorges, and river valleys of this hilly Shangri-la are ripe for exploration. Ubud's central location makes the whole island accessible as a day trip. About the only thing it doesn't have is a beach, but they're all a short drive away.
