Though Ubud is the centre of Bali’s handicrafts industries, all kinds of souvenirs and goods are available for sale across the whole island. Everything from wall hangings and surfboards to fake DVDs and very fine quality jewelry is for sale in Bali. Buyers with a keen eye can snare a good bargain in precious stones and works of art, while anyone after a novelty t shirt or Bali themed beachwear will not have to look far to buy something to take with them back home.

Classic Balinese painting is readily available, especially at the galleries in Ubud but there are now so many new and up and coming young Balinese artists that modern art and pop art is increasingly popular. It isn’t only art lovers or the truly knowledgeable that can make a good buy here – most gallery owners and artists are more than happy to invite novice art shoppers into their stores and run them through the history and future of all the work available for sale.

Balinese wood carving is world famous but visitors should be aware that certain countries have very strict customs and quarantine regulations that may prevent the importation of goods made from organic materials – this includes anything made of wood, naturally. Once this hurdle is overcome, however, the range of tribal and festive masks carved rom wood, paper and even some grasses and bamboos are great conversation pieces that will light up any wall. North of Ubud are the towns of Tegallalang, Pujung, and Sebatu, where Balinese woodcarving is at its absolute best.

Jewelry is invariably hand made and justifiably world famous for its distinctive styles and patterns. Belts, bangles, pins, necklaces and rings are embellished with intricate silver work and precious stones including rubies and emeralds are set into fine gold pieces. The town of Celuk is especially well known for its decorative jewelry like rings and earrings and nearby Kamasan continues a several thousand year old tradition of tribal jewelry, made on the spot.

The quintessential Bali souvenir is the batik, which is the decorative fabric used as a wall hanging or mainly, as a sarong. Batik of all sizes, shapes and colours are available for sale in every corner of Bali and the quality is generally sound. Batik are woven from fine cottons and the smaller towns and villages will not only offer a more authentic and wider range but also sell for less that the inferior batik goods and sarongs on offer at the tourist traps in Kuta and Denpasar.

Bali has many market places spread over the island and some are outdoor free for alls while others are located inside multi-storey buildings. As a general rule, Bali markets are a bit of a mixed bag with most markets containing an eccentric range of goods that don’t really relate to each other. There are some exceptions, though, such as the Denpasar Bird Market.

The Kuta Art Market is within a one minute stroll from the beach and sells a great range of Bali batik and traditional beach and hot weather clothing (not western style bikinis and board shorts). Poppies Lane is the most famous concentration of stalls in all of Bali and everything from shoes to lipsticks can be bought here day and night.

Credit cards are not accepted in markets in Bali, on the whole, and bargaining and haggling is essential. The general Southeast Aian rule applies – start with a price about one third of the stated price, and work towards the centre of that. No vendor will ever sell for below cost, so whilever haggling continues the shopper knows they have room to move.

In Denpasar, the Badung Market sells fresh produce including meat and fresh fruits and is an enclosed market place spread over three floors. Opposite Badung Market is Kumbasari Market, which sells mainly gold and silver goods including jewelry and also textiles and handicrafts. Denpasar’s Bird Market sells a wide range of exotic tropical birds.

Markets in Ubud are a little more upscale, and the fake CD and DVD industry doesn’t thrive up in the hills of Ubud as healthily as it does down at Kuta. The Pasar Seni Sukawait Market takes over a two-storey building and vendors line the stairwells and every other available centimetre of space. This market sells textiles and weaving ware such as baskets.

The Ubud Art Market is another crowded Ubud market, this one selling little art, surprisingly, but plenty of chocolates,oils, fragrances and incense, and locally made goods like umbrellas and sarongs.

Bali is a shopper’s paradise, but not in the same way that Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore are havens for shoppers. Anyone after high fashion or electronics will come up short in Bali but on the other hand, the quality of arts and crafts as well as some casual, quirky clothing is very high and prices are low.

The best buys by far in Bali are to be found at the artisans and craftspeople who sell out of shops in Ubud or in official tourist centres in Kuta and Denpasar. Silverware is particularly well made in Bali, and hand crafted gold jewelry is relatively inexpensive and exquisitely detailed.

Still in Ubud, shoppers can invest in art from the latest up and coming Balinese artists, some of whom exhibit and sell their work at art galleries all over the world. No one knows who is going to be the next best thing, so buying art in Bali is a bit of a gamble as far as making as investment goes. Better, perhaps, to just buy what takes the eye.

Down at Kuta, the day and night markets sell the usual Southeast Asian array of pirated CDs and DVDs as well as knock of t-shirts and designer jeans. Quality varies and refunds and exchanges are not the norm. Also, laws on importing pirated merchandise are being tightened the world over so your goods may be confiscated when you return home – buyer beware.

Kuta Square is a nice retail mall where Matahari Department Store has a branch. The shops around here are a great place to stock up on essentials like t shirts, sunscreen, toiletries and other beach basics.

In Tuban, the enormous Kartika Discovery Mall has an underground car park and boutiques including Gucci and Bulgari. There are also plenty of surf wear shops – all the big names.

Bali is famous all over the world for its fine handicrafts and artworks. People travel here from all corners of the globe to purchase wood carvings, metal ware and paintings not as souvenirs from a well-earned tropical holiday, but as wholesale produce to take back to their galleries and art stores back at home. Balinese arts and crafts are sold in museums and stores the world over.

Balinese woodcrafts are best displayed at the Mas Village, a wood carving centre of the island that is now a large outdoor exhibit, museum and also, shop. All kinds of practical and decorative wood carvings can be found here and you can also see local artisans working with wood as their families have been doing for generations now.

Stone carving is also very popular in Bali. Soapstone and volcanic rock is often favoured by the local stone workers who operate all over the island but who have a thriving centre between Denpasar and Ubud, in the village of Batubulan. Here, thousands of carvings are lined up for display along the roadside and like the woodcraft centre of the Mas Village, visitors can observe artisans plying their trade.

For something lighter and of quick convenience and souvenir value, hit the day or night time markets that are all over Bali, especially in the crowded tourists areas of Kuta and Seminyak. Here, you can buy imitation sunglasses, jeans and leathergoods as well as DVDs and CDs. A lot of the time these goods are of variable quality and some are obviously fake but you may want to consider the legalities of purchasing counterfeit goods.

Beautiful Bali

One of Asia’s most popular destinations continues to draw the crowd, with its fantastic beaches, excellent hospitality, lovely landscapes, intriguing temples, tropical gardens and exotic Balinese culture. Whether you’re coming for a party or some peace and quiet, the island offers all that and more, both in the mountains and beside the sea.

This Bali guide and blog is the pre-cursor to a full travel guide to the island, featuring dozens of pages and images to help you plan your trip and get the most from your visit. From spas to surfing, food to festivals we have it covered here with our expert travel writers. It’s part of a larger series on Southeast Asia travel destinations.

Bali has recovered from it’s terrible bombing and offers a safe and relaxed destination that epitomises the best of tropical Pacific islands. Come on in to this site to see it for yourself before you’ve left home. Before planning your trip consider saving money on flights, travel deals and hotels with discount vouchers offered by some sites.