Saraswati Temple Ubud (Ubud Water Palace): Entrance Fee, Dance Show & Opening Hours 2026

✅ Spiritual & Cultural Significance — as a place of worship for Dewi Saraswati, the temple holds deep cultural importance for Balinese Hindus and is still actively used for ceremonies.
✅ Lotus Pond & Tranquil Ambience — a gorgeous lotus-filled pond and peaceful path lead to the main shrine, perfect for quiet reflection and photography.
✅ Traditional Balinese Carvings — beautifully carved temple walls created by renowned artists from Ubud.
✅ Easy to Reach — centrally located just off Jalan Kajeng, close to Jalan Raya Ubud, right behind Café Lotus.

In 1951 the construction of the Pura Saraswati Temple, also called The Ubud Water Palace Temple, began, and construction was completed in 1952. In accordance with the name, Pura Saraswati is intended for the worship of Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of science in Hinduism.
The architect of Pura Taman Saraswati Ubud was I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, a famous sculpture artist and architect in Bali, commissioned by Prince Ubud Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati.

For those interested in traditional Balinese design, Saraswati Temple is a perfect example. Classic features include:
✅ Candi Bentar (split gates)
✅ Ornamental stone carvings
✅ Lotus ponds as sacred space
✅ Golden temple doors and statues

Every element reflects the careful balance between spiritual purpose and artistic beauty — a signature of Balinese temple architecture.

Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati is one of Ubud’s most beautiful and unique temples. Unlike many other temples in Bali, it features a large pond filled with blooming pink lotus flowers, neatly framed by stone walls and walkways — the temple’s most iconic feature and a favorite photo spot.

Along the pond’s edges are frangipani flower trees adding color and fragrance. A stone bridge crosses the pond, guiding visitors toward the temple’s majestic main gate, lined with rows of statues — a symbolic path leading from the outside world into a sacred space.

At the end of the bridge stands the main gate with three large doorways, decorated with golden carvings and intricate Balinese art.

The temple honors Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, art, wisdom, and learning. Local Balinese often come here to pray for inspiration in school, art, and life. On Saraswati Day, the temple becomes a hub of activity, filled with prayers, offerings, and traditional ceremonies.

Two different zones, two different rules: General tourists are welcome to walk the outer courtyard — the lotus pond, stone bridge, and area around the main gate — which is where the dress code and included costume apply. The temple’s inner sanctum (utama mandala), however, is reserved only for those coming to pray.

When entering through the main gate toward the inner area, you’ll see a high wall, and behind it a giant statue about 3 meters high. On the northeast side is a place of worship called Padmasana. At the base of the Padmasana building is a turtle-shaped sculpture wrapped around two dragons.

Most tourists visiting the temple take photos in the outer courtyard, since the combination of temple gate and lotus pond architecture makes an excellent background.

Every visitor who wants to enter the temple area in Bali must comply with the same rules that apply to each temple in Bali:
✅ Wear sarong cloth with a shawl tied around the waist.
❌ For women who are menstruating, please do not enter the temple area.
❌ Do not throw garbage at random.
❌ Do not climb the place of worship.
❌ Don’t make litter.
❌ Don’t say harsh words.

Pura Taman Saraswati is open every day from 08:00 – 18:30.
✅ On Fridays, hours extend to 21:30 — though note there’s no dance performance that night.
✅ Balinese Hindus wishing to pray have 24-hour access, outside standard tourist visiting hours.

To help preserve and maintain the sacred grounds of Pura Taman Saraswati, a modest entrance fee applies to all visitors. Prices vary by nationality and whether you’d like a temple photo included.

If you wish to watch a Balinese traditional dance performance at the temple (usually held in the evening), an additional ticket is required for the show.
✅ Balinese Dance Ticket: IDR 100,000 per person
✅ Performance Time: Around 7:30 PM, subject to schedule
✅ Where to Buy: Directly at the temple entrance or nearby venues such as Café Lotus

The dance is performed on a stage with the lotus pond and temple gate as the backdrop — a magical cultural experience you shouldn’t miss!

When visiting Pura Taman Saraswati, it’s important to follow the traditional Balinese dress code out of respect for the sacred space and local culture.

What to Wear:
✅ A sarong (wrap) and sash (belt) are required.
✅ Clothing must cover your shoulders and knees. Avoid sleeveless tops, short skirts, or revealing outfits.

Don’t worry if you don’t have traditional Balinese clothing with you — it’s included in your ticket price!

When you arrive:
✅ You’ll receive a sarong and sash, or full Balinese attire if needed.
✅ Friendly local staff will assist you in putting on the outfit correctly, so you’ll feel comfortable and respectful during your visit.

This small gesture helps preserve temple tradition while also giving you the chance to experience Balinese culture more personally.

Temple Etiquette:
❌ Please remove hats and sunglasses inside the temple.
✅ Stay quiet and respectful — avoid touching statues or ceremonial offerings.
❌ Women are advised not to enter certain inner areas during menstruation, in line with local customs.

Wearing the traditional outfit not only honors Balinese culture but also makes for a beautiful photo with the temple’s lotus pond backdrop!

✅ 07:00–09:00 AM — the best window for calm photography with soft natural light, before tour groups arrive.
✅ 16:00–17:00 — also popular, especially if you plan to stay on for the evening dance performance.
❌ Avoid midday for a more comfortable visit.
✅ Saraswati Temple can be crowded especially during performances or peak tourist seasons, but early visits are usually quieter. Even when crowded, the atmosphere remains respectful and serene.

Every night in the Ubud area, a dance performance is held, including the Balinese Kecak dance. Ubud is one of the best places to watch the Kecak dance in Bali, besides Uluwatu Temple — and Pura Saraswati Ubud Park is one of the venues.

Pura Saraswati Ubud has a stage for Balinese dance such as the Kecak dance, surrounded by lotus ponds. The schedule for traditional Balinese dance shows is held at night starting at 19:30, with different types of dance every night — except Friday, when there are no Balinese dance performances.

Every visitor who wants to watch a Balinese dance performance at the Saraswati Ubud temple pays an entrance ticket of Rp 100,000 / person, buyable from staff at the entrance gate. You can also watch Balinese dance at the Saraswati Temple from Café Lotus without an entrance fee — you only need to spend on dinner, with a minimum order of Rp 200,000.

If you’re planning to watch Kecak at Pura Taman Saraswati, check the schedule first — a Kecak dance is not held every day. Many tourists comment that this is the best place to see dance performances at night.

The Kecak Dance Performance at Saraswati Ubud Temple is scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday. It starts at 19:30, with a ticket price of Rp 80,000 / person, performed by the Sandhi Suara dance group.

For those who want to watch the Kecak dance in Ubud on other days, it won’t be difficult — every day a staging of the Kecak dance is held somewhere in Ubud, just at different locations.

The location of the Saraswati Ubud temple is on Jalan Raya Ubud No. 14 (also referenced as Jalan Kajeng) — hidden right behind Café Lotus and Starbucks Central Ubud, just a few minutes’ walk from Ubud Palace and Ubud Art Market.
✅ From the tourist attractions of Kuta Bali to the temple location: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
❌ On-site parking is limited — it’s recommended to park at Ubud Central Parking on Jalan Suweta and walk in.
⭐ Rated 4.2 stars on Google from roughly 5,300 reviews.

So there are many taxi services to get around Ubud. For those of you who do not stay at one of the hotels in Ubud and plan to tour Ubud, there are several transportation options that you can choose to tour the attractions of Ubud. Here are the choices.

✅ 1. Using a Motorcycle — see Ubud Scooter Rental. For cost-effective transportation options, you can use a motorcycle. There are many motorbike rental services in Bali with a range of prices around Rp 100,000 – Rp 200,000 / 24 hours a day.
✅ 2. Car Rental Services with Drivers in Bali — see Ubud Car Rental. By renting a car + driver, it’s very easy to travel from one tourist spot to another without worrying about finding a parking space, shortcuts, or road congestion. Parking is rare in central Ubud, so we strongly recommend a car rental with a driver.
✅ 3. Cheap Tour Packages in Bali — see Ubud Taxi. Because Ubud is very famous and gets very high demand from tourists, many travel providers offer Ubud tour packages — giving you the advantages of car rental with a driver, plus a planned and directed schedule and budget.