Ubud, the Cultural Capital of Bali
The Ubud Market: The Most Spectacular on the Island
Travelers from all over the world come here to dive deep into Balinese culture, admire the most beautiful rice terraces, chase waterfalls, and, of course, shop at the Ubud Market. While you’ll find souvenir shops practically everywhere on the island, there’s no better place for shopping clothes, accessories, souvenirs, and much more than the Ubud Market.
The Ubud Art Market is one of Ubud’s must-visit spots, and after shopping here a couple of times, we thought we’d share our tips and tricks so you can decide for yourself if the Ubud Market is something you’d like to add to your Bali itinerary. Keep reading to find out where the Ubud Art Market is, what you can find here, and tips on how to get the best deals!
Where is the Ubud Market
The Ubud Market is not hard to find, as it’s right in the center of Ubud. The Ubud Market consists of several buildings and a long street where vendors have set up their shops for the day. While you’ll find shops selling similar items all over Bali, it’s the Ubud Art Market that is perhaps the most well-known place for shopping for Balinese souvenirs and crafts, perfect to take home for family and friends or simply for your personal collection.
Here, you can make the best deals on quality products at the lowest prices.
The Best Time to Visit the Ubud Market
The Ubud Market is open from 9 AM to around 6 PM. You’ll see vendors start setting up their shops and opening them around 9 AM, and by 10 AM, you’ll notice the market crowd getting thicker. We personally recommend avoiding the market in the afternoon, as from 1 PM to 4 PM, buses full of tourists from all over the island come eager to shop at the market. We personally suggest going either early in the morning or late in the day to get the best deals. At the Ubud Market, you’ll often find vendors trying to make their first sale of the day early in the morning, as this brings them luck, and for this reason, they are often willing to lower prices! However, we have also visited the Ubud Market around closing time, and while it was crowded, we noticed many vendors offering their goods at lower prices just to make a few more sales before heading home.
What You’ll Find at the Ubud Market
Now that you know where the Ubud Market is, you might be wondering what they sell here and if it’s something that might interest you. The market’s name might slightly mislead you, but this market sells much more than art and probably has something for everyone. Here are some of the main items you’ll find along the streets of the Ubud Market:
Clothing: Didn’t pack enough clothes, or looking for a new outfit? Head to the Ubud Art Market! Dresses, skirts, tops, shorts, the classic elephant pants, t-shirts, this market really has it all. The clothes in this market are mainly for girls and women, however, with a bit of searching, you’ll find plenty of outfits for men and kids too. You’ll find many shops selling the same items, so if the first shop doesn’t have the color you were looking for, check a few other shops, and you’re almost guaranteed to find it!
Sarong: You’ll also be able to find beautiful traditional Balinese fabrics like Batik and Ikat sarongs at the Ubud Market, available in a wide variety of styles. From vibrant colors to darker tones, from simple designs to elaborate ones, and some even decorated with golden lines. You’ll find sarongs in all price ranges, with simpler sarongs at the lower end of the price range and Ikat sarongs at the higher end.
Jewelry: Maybe you’re looking for a slightly smaller souvenir to take home? Check out the jewelry at the Ubud Market! Bracelets, rings, silver necklaces, you’ll find several vendors selling a bit of everything. I personally love the minimalist jewelry you’ll find at the Ubud Art Market, like the simple and delicate silver rings, however, with the large number of different styles of jewelry being sold here, I’m sure there’s something here for everyone!
Bags: You might be wondering if this market sells the famous round rattan bags of Bali… don’t worry, almost every vendor at the Ubud Art Market sells them! Square, round, white, black, with patterns, or just the traditional bag, this market has it all. Besides the traditional round rattan bags, you’ll also find many other design bags made from rattan, bamboo, and fabric, all perfect souvenirs to take home from your trip to Bali! I can assure you that I bought one 7 years ago and it’s still perfect!
Homeware: Besides clothing and accessories, you’ll also find some of the most beautiful homeware inside the Ubud Market! Wooden plates, coconut bowls, woven baskets, dreamcatchers, macrame plant hangers, bamboo straws, cushion covers, and much more. There’s so much to choose from that I honestly think I could fill an entire suitcase to take home!
Balinese Crafts: If you’re looking for a more traditional souvenir, you might want to check out the beautiful Balinese crafts. You’ll find stunning handcrafted wood and stone carvings, including small and large statues, and wooden masks at the Ubud Market. Besides wood and stone carvings, you’ll also find paintings at the market, and of course, let’s not forget the beautiful Balinese textiles as mentioned earlier!
Typical Souvenirs: And lastly, besides all the beautiful handcrafted Balinese crafts, homeware, and clothing, you’ll also find typical souvenirs at the Ubud Art Market. Keychains, toys, brightly colored statues, and beer bottle openers of all shapes and sizes, we weren’t lying when we said this market has it all!
Shopping at the Ubud Market is a bit different from visiting shops, as there are no price tags here. To get a price, you simply have to ask, or often the vendor will give you the price as soon as they see you have a slight interest. To get a good deal here, make sure to bring your bargaining skills, as the vendors will expect you to haggle, and as a result, they have raised the prices, all part of shopping at the Ubud Market. If the vendor gives you a price you think you can accept and afford, then the bargaining game can begin. Start with a counteroffer and slowly work your way up to a price that both you and the vendor are happy to accept. Make sure not to make offers too low to the vendors and only haggle if you’re interested in buying the product. And in the end, if you’ve agreed on a price, it’s almost mandatory that you buy the product, not doing so or trying to haggle even more will be considered quite rude.
Shopping Tip: Look around before buying anything. You’ll see many shops selling the same products only in different colors or sizes. This way, you won’t have bought something only to realize you found a similar product, perhaps something you would have preferred more, a couple of shops down. Also, buying multiple items in the same shop will often result in a better price, perfect for those looking to bring home some souvenirs for family and friends!
Where to Stay in Ubud
With Ubud being one of Bali’s most popular destinations, you won’t have to worry about finding accommodation you like. From local homestays and guesthouses to luxury villas, Ubud really has it all. However, as Ubud can get quite crowded in the center, we have always preferred to stay a bit outside the center, to be able to enjoy some peace and tranquility surrounding Ubud! We personally stayed in a locally managed home, which is a 10-minute scooter ride from the Ubud Market, and we loved our stay here. Quiet nights, beautiful views of rice fields and palm trees, an infinity pool overlooking the rice fields owned by some of the friendliest people we met in Bali.
We loved our months in Bali where Giulia made friends with the kids in the neighborhood.
This choice is a great option for those traveling on a slightly more limited budget and have a scooter, without it, it would be a bit too far.
Happy to have kept you company with this part of the world that stole our hearts, I’ll leave you with other articles on a less touristy Indonesia, because yes, there are still some authentic areas.
Digitally yours
☀️Sara☀️
