Bali Shopping Guide

Shopping in Bali can offer excellent bargains, and best buys include modern artwork & fine paintings, leather goods, casual summer clothing, shoes, jeans, DVDs, T-shirts, traditional and modern furniture and pottery, hand carved wooden statues and screens, silver and gold work, hand-woven and painted cottons and silks, batiks, embroidered garments for casual wear, leather and cotton bags, bone carvings, shell ornaments, masks, pottery, ceramics, basketry, sandstone statues, bamboo furniture are all available.

For those who do not want to wander too far from the beach, Sanur, Kuta and Legian have more than enough to appease any shopper's withdrawal symptoms. From sarongs to sandals, wooden statues to Javanese puppets, silver to surf boards.

Two good department stores serve the local community in Denpasar. Jalan Gajah Mada has many handicraft and souvenir shops that stock similar items to those found elsewhere on the island.

Ubud is the place to go if you want to take home a unique canvas or two. For more items, please see list below:

Antiques - Batubulan
Art - Ubud
Bamboo - Bona
Ceramics - Campuhan, Kapal, Tabanan
Clothes - Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Ubud
Jewellery - Celuk, Denpasar - Jalan Hasanuddin
Masks - Singapadu
Music - Kuta, Legian
Puppets - Klungkung, Sukawati, Gianyar
Stone carving - Batubulan, Jimbaran Gallery
Textiles - Sidemen, Kampunggelgel, Klungkung Market, Batuan, Negara, Singaraja, Tampaksiring, Peliatan, Denpasar - Jalan Sulawesi
Toys - Mas, Tampaksiring, Peliatan
Wood carvings - Mas, Kemenuh, Buruan, Tegallalang, Pujung, Nyuh-kuning

Traditional Markets
Bali is known as a treasure house of interesting goods to buy. Products of various kinds from traditional antiques to the latest quality fashions in extraordinary displays await the shoppers. It is quite common to bargain in markets, shops and art shops for buyers, so having a good price is partly dependent upon one's smartness in bargaining. Splendid local hand woven materials, silver and gold works, woodcarvings, garments and many other interesting things can be found at any market or art market. You will find that shops selling similar items are generally grouped together. This makes comparing prices easy as you just have to go next shop to find the something. Remember to bring your cash, as not all places accept credit cards.

Denpasar
The Kumbasari Market near the river gives an interesting overview of an Indonesia market with household wares and clothing on the third level, spices and dried goods on the second level and traditional food markets in the basement but it can be a bit dark in the basement. Nearby is Jalan Hasanuddin, a whole street of gold shops, selling 18-22 carat gold jewelry. Not far away from Jalan Hasanuddin is Jalan Sulawesi where all manner of fabrics are available. The whole street consists of fabric stores on both sides with a few household ware stores in between.

Kuta
Kuta Art Market has a multitude of shops selling a wide variety of goods including, sarongs, handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, furniture and leather goods. You can find some good pieces if you look carefully and smart bargain.

Sanur
Sanur's main shopping street is Jalan Danau Tamblingan and it is more peaceful then shopping in Kuta. Sanur has an interesting variety of shops with lots of nice restaurants.There are still a few hawkers but they are not as aggressive, except at the beach market. You can find woodcarvings, sarongs and other handicrafts in Sanur Art Market.

Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua has traditional markets at the entrance way to the Nusa Dua complex of 5 star hotels where you can still find some bargains or dine at the small restaurants within the market complex.. The main shopping complex is the Bali Collection within the hotels complex which has a variety of restaurants and stores.

Sukawati
Sukawati has a new art market and a traditional market on the main road and side streets. Set in a two-floor building, the market sells everything from statues to dance costumes, all at reasonable prices. A large assortment of woven baskets can be found here along with Balinese ceremonial items made from colorful "Prada" - gold painted cloth. These include dance costumes, fans, umbrellas and clothes worn at tooth filings and weddings. Bargaining is a must.

Ubud
The area of Ubud often regarded as the cultural center of Bali. It is where the image of Bali as a land of artists was created. Ubud gives you the opportunity to see the real Bali. The Ubud Market has kept much of its traditional charm, with squatting Balinese sellers haggling loudly among spices and vegetables. The market also sells handicrafts, many made in the neighboring villages of Mas, Tegalalang, and more.

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