Can you get around Ubud and nearby attractions by scooter or car without a driver?

Comfort on longer trips around Ubud and nearby sights depends heavily on the scooter model: compact Honda Vario or Scoopy scooters are less comfortable for both rider and passenger, while a Honda PCX or Yamaha NMAX is substantially more suitable even for longer rides.

A scooter is the most practical way to get around Ubud. There are a few notorious traffic bottlenecks, but overall it's faster and more flexible than a car. Your exact location within the area affects which routes make sense.

Getting to Mount Batur from Ubud is faster by scooter than by car. Budget around 2 hours for the ride, and note that the road quality is rough in places.

Waterfalls and lakes around Ubud are easily reachable independently by scooter or car. Maps show roughly 1.5 hours — which is fairly accurate, though a scooter is typically quicker.

Grab generally works in the Ubud area and southern Bali (Dreamland, Uluwatu), but availability can be very limited or impossible in some remote spots. For trips between Dreamland and Uluwatu, Grab is usually available.