Taman Ujung Water Palace in Bali: All You Need to Know

A floating palace set amongst pristinely manicured and peaceful gardens – sounds like the perfect escape from the hectic nature of some of Bali’s tourist attractions, doesn’t it? Taman Ujung Water Palace is easy on the eye, a relaxing stop during a day’s adventure, and should definitely be on your itinerary when you’re visiting east Bali. 

You’d expect this place to be hugely popular and packed with tourists, but due to its proximity to other tourist attractions, you’ll often have this place almost to yourself. We visited in mid-afternoon, and there were only a handful of other people there! In this guide, we’ll give you all you need to know before you visit and a few other things to put on your itinerary for the day.

Top Tips for Visiting Taman Ujung Water Palace

• Entry cost is 100,000 IDR.
• Try to visit in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.
• It doesn’t really get that busy anyway, so if you don’t mind the heat you can visit any time.
• Opening times are 7 am – 7 pm. 
• You don’t need to wear a sarong at Ujung Water Palace, this is a water palace, not a temple or religious site so no specific clothing is needed.
• Visit Tirta Gangga first then Taman Ujung (which you do on this combined tour).
• There is on-site parking right by the entrance for 5,000 IDR.
• Climb the large staircase for a beautiful view over the palace, the ocean, and up to Mount Agung.
• It will cost you 500,000 IDR to fly your drone here!

Bali Travel Essentials

Before we dive into this gorgeous water palace, let’s make sure your Bali trip is smooth and safe.

First things first, have you thought about how you’ll get around Bali?
🛵 If you’re comfortable on a scooter, it’s one of the easiest ways to travel. You can book your scooter here. Most companies deliver and collect from your accommodation for free.
🚗 If you prefer to have a private driver so you can customise your own itinerary, you can book this full-day private customisable tour option here.

😴 Still need a place to stay? You can book your accommodation here.

✋ And don’t forget about travel insurance. It’s super important to be covered for any unexpected events. Grab your travel insurance here.

Is Taman Ujung Water Palace Worth Visiting?

Yes! Although the entrance is a little more pricey than you might expect (100,000 IDR), it’s still worth coming to Taman Ujung Water Palace. The great thing about this place is that it is usually relatively quiet, as most people tend to go to Tirta Gangga (water temple and former palace), which is just 15 minutes away. In our opinion, Taman Ujung is equally as impressive as Tirta Gangga. And, thanks to there only being a few people around, we were able to wander the gardens and take some unobstructed photos. Overall, we spent close to two hours here, and it was super chilled.

Also, we’d recommend visiting both Taman Ujung and Tirta Gangga on the same day. Get to Tirta Gangga early, then make your way to Taman Ujung. 

🎒 On this full day adventure, visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace first before Taman Ujung, and also visit Tukad Cepung Waterfall, Sidemen village, lots of viewpoints and Lahangan Sweet.

History of the Taman Ujung Water Palace

Taman Ujung, also known as Ujung Water Palace, is in the eastern part of Bali. When construction started on Taman Ujung Water Palace in 1919, the King of Karangasem, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, wanted a beautiful place for his family to relax and enjoy themselves, combining elements from both Balinese and European architecture and featuring large pools, gardens, and historic buildings. It was completed in 1921, and over the years, Taman Ujung served as a place where the royal family could entertain guests and hold important events.

Unfortunately, in 1963, the eruption of Mount Agung caused damage to the palace, and it was hit again by an earthquake in 1979. These events left it in a state of disrepair.

However, recognising its historical and cultural value, efforts were made to restore Taman Ujung. Now, it stands restored and is open to the public. You can visit and see how the palace blends nature, architecture, and history in a serene setting, offering a glimpse into the royal past of Bali.

Where is Taman Ujung Water Palace?

Taman Ujung is located in the village of Tumbu, in the Karangasem regency of eastern Bali, Indonesia. It’s in the shadow of Mount Agung and right on the coast, near the town of Amlapura (the capital of Karangasem). 

In terms of timings, Taman Ujung is located:

• 40 – 45 minutes minutes from Amed
• 45 – 50 minutes from Sidemen
• 1 hour 45 minutes from Ubud
• 2 hours from Seminyak
• 2 hours from Kuta

What To Expect at Taman Ujung Water Palace

Taman Ujung reminded us of many European royal or stately home gardens. There are manicured lawns, precisely placed trees, flower beds blooming and many places to sit and enjoy the peacefulness. The buildings and architecture on the other hand are definitely more Indonesian and Chinese-inspired, with the pavilions, bridges, and the palace itself looking more at home in this part of the world. 

There are a few main points of interest:

The floating palace, the main attraction, also known as Gili Bali, this small white building, connected to land by two bridges, would have been the residence of the King. Now, there is no furniture in here, but the rooms are adorned with pictures of the King and his family.

The floating pavilion, located on the left lake as you look from the entrance, the official name is Bale Kambang. This is an open-sided pavilion that would have been used for gatherings.

The meditation quarters, a round gazebo-type structure that sits at the top of a short staircase, offer beautiful views back to the palace and across the gardens.

The old entrance, at the top of the grand 100-ish step staircase in the main garden area, you’ll see Bale Kapal, this is the old entrance to the compound. It is now in disrepair, but climbing up here is worth it for the incredible views.

Even if you aren’t someone who is keen on history, Taman Ujung is a great spot to stop for some peacefulness. You’ll feel a distinct sense of serenity wash over you and you’ll almost instantly start talking in whispers – you know like when you walk into a library or a church and for some reason, the whispers take over? It’s like that. 

Take your time to wander and explore or find a spot to sit and take in your surroundings. This place is relatively large in size, but all easily walkable (the climbs up the stairs might not be to everyone’s liking), so don’t worry about tiring yourself out.

Getting to Taman Ujung Water Palace

Taman Ujung is relatively easy to get to no matter where you’re coming from. It is located just off the main coastal road as you travel east in Bali. As with most places in Bali, a scooter is the preferable method, especially if you’re coming from busy places like Kuta, Ubud and Seminyak. However, if you’re staying close by, or in east Bali, then a car with a driver will be fine. The roads are quieter with less traffic, so journey times aren’t as bad out here in more rural Bali.

Taman Ujung Water Palace Opening Times

The water palace is open every day from 7 am – 7 pm. 

Other Things To Do Near Taman Ujung Water Palace

Tirta Gangga

Tirta Gangga is another, probably more popular, former royal palace and gardens. Around 15-20 minutes away, this place is famous for its beautiful ponds and sculptures, particularly the stepping stones across one of the ponds. We’d recommend visiting Taman Ujung and Tirta Gangga on the same day, but get to Tirta Gangga early to avoid the crowds.

Read our: Ultimate Guide to Tirta Gangga Water Palace in Bali

Lahangan Sweet

35-40 minutes north of Taman Ujung, you’ll find Lahangan Sweet. This place is up there with one of our favourite things we’ve done in Bali. It’s a lookout point and incredible photo spot that has the most sensational views of Mount Agung, Bali’s largest and most sacred volcano.

Because of its location, combining Lahangan Sweet with Taman Ujung and Tirta Gangga, and even Tukad Cepung Waterfall, is a great idea to make the most of your day – and you can do this on a combined tour like this one.

Read our: Lahangan Sweet: Full Guide With All You Need To Know

Visit Sidemen

Even if you’re not staying in Sidemen, which is about 50 minutes west of Taman Ujung Water Palace, you should definitely visit. There are plenty of places to eat and lots of things to do in Sidemen. It’s a small rural village that has started attracting tourists only recently. You’ll find stunning rice terraces, amazing views of Mount Agung, and a very relaxed atmosphere.

🎒 On this tour designed to be tourist-free, can visit the Water Palace and Sidemen village, as well as heading to the coast to witness salt panners (who work in the hot sun to retrieve some of the world’s tastiest sea salt), swimming at Monkey Bar overlooking the jungle and exploring the hidden gem Candidasa Village.