Shopping · Ubud · Indonesia
Shopping in Ubud
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rollan Budi from Kuta, Bali,, Indonesia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Ubud is Bali's centre for crafts: paintings, carvings, silver, textiles and homewares, sold from market stalls, artists' studios and designer boutiques. The villages around it specialise — Mas in woodcarving, Celuk in silver and Batubulan in stone carving. Best souvenirs: Balinese paintings, Carved wooden masks and Silver jewellery.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Balinese paintings
Where to shop
Monkey Forest Road and Jalan Hanoman
Boutiques selling linen clothing, jewellery, ceramics and yoga wear, plus homeware shops with rattan and teak.
Jalan Raya Ubud
Galleries and art shops around the palace and Museum Puri Lukisan, where you can compare painting styles before buying.
Mas and Celuk
Craft villages south of Ubud: Mas for carved wooden masks and statues, Celuk for silver jewellery made in family workshops.
Tegallalang road
The road north to the rice terraces is lined with workshops making wooden carvings, bowls and furniture, often cheaper than in town.
Markets
Ubud Art Market
Opposite the palace: sarongs, rattan bags, kites and carvings, with produce and offering supplies in the early morning.
Gianyar night market
About 10 km east, an evening food market in Gianyar town with babi guling, sate and Balinese snacks at local prices.
What to buy
Balinese paintings
From small Ubud-style village scenes to large Batuan works; buy from galleries that name the artist.
Carved wooden masks
Barong, Rangda and topeng dance masks, carved and painted in the village of Mas.
Silver jewellery
Hand-made filigree and granulation work from the workshops of Celuk.
Ikat and songket textiles
Hand-woven cloth from Bali and other islands; songket uses metallic threads and is the most prized.
Kintamani coffee
Bags of Kintamani arabica from Ubud's roasters travel well and are often sold freshly roasted.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Central Ubud
Ubud Art Market
Across from the palace, the Pasar Seni and the traditional Pasar Ubud behind it sell rattan bags, sarongs, carvings, kites and paintings on several floors.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Food
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Black rice pudding, Jaje Bali, Balinese coffee and Jamu. Warung breakfast menus and homestay breakfasts; also sold at Ubud Market in the early morning. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Central Ubud | $$ | Palace, market and the crossroads of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road |
| Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal | $$ | Shops, spas and cafés running down to the Monkey Forest |
| Jalan Hanoman and Pengosekan | $$ | Yoga studios, health cafés and the ARMA museum south-east of the centre |
| Campuhan and Sanggingan | $$$ | River confluence, the ridge walk and fine-dining restaurants on the road west |
| Sayan and Kedewatan | $$$$ | Resorts on the Ayung river gorge, about 4 km west of town |
| Peliatan | $ | Dance-troupe village and royal compound just south-east of Ubud |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in IDR. Tipping is not expected in warungs, but leaving small change is appreciated. Restaurants often add a service charge; drivers, guides and spa therapists appreciate about Rp 20,000–50,000 for good service.
- Use ATMs attached to banks rather than standalone machines, and count cash at money changers before leaving the counter.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February–March and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- June: Bali Arts Festival — month-long programme of dance and music in Denpasar (usually mid-June to mid-July)
- October: Ubud Writers & Readers Festival — talks, readings and events across town (usually October)
- December: Galungan and Kuningan — ten-day festival when bamboo penjor poles line the streets (every 210 days, so dates vary)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Monkey Forest Road and Padangtegal
Shops, spas and cafés running down to the Monkey Forest
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Ubud?
Balinese paintings, Carved wooden masks, Silver jewellery and Ikat and songket textiles.
+Where is the best shopping in Ubud?
Monkey Forest Road and Jalan Hanoman: Boutiques selling linen clothing, jewellery, ceramics and yoga wear, plus homeware shops with rattan and teak.
+What are the best markets in Ubud?
Ubud Art Market and Gianyar night market.