Ubud Art Market

"Everything you'd expect from a busy market in Bali. Loads of things to see. Yep, there are some pushy sellers, be polite, say no and keep walking. Was my first experience with markets in Bali & yes, it was a little overwhelming & scary but you very quickly understand how it all works. There are so many things you can buy. Enjoyed ourselves & plenty of places around to have something to eat and drink afterwards. Just relax and go with the flow while there. So many little hidden places, so allow a couple hours if you want to have a good look around."

          The Ubud Art Market is known by the locals as the 'Pasar Seni Ubud'. The market is opposite the Puri Saren Royal Ubud Palace on Jalan Raya Ubud No. 35 and is daily open from 06:00 to 18:00. It's absolute a "must" when you visit Ubud. The market is divided into two blocks and has two floors. The western block is the important art market and in the eastern block is a traditional market where daily groceries and other household items are for sale.
On the art market you will find beautiful silk scarves, lightweight shirts, handmade woven bags, pictures, baskets and hats. There are also many flies and other handmade items. The articles you find here also have a higher artistic value compared to other art markets, such as in Kuta.

Most of the items you can buy at Ubud's market are made in neighboring villages such as Pengosekan, Tegallalang, Payangan and Peliatan. The location of the art market of Ubud is in the center of the town. It's also central to the surrounding art-producing villages and opposite the royal palace. This makes this location a strategic market for those, who are looking for Balinese craft items and other souvenirs. The Ubud market also served as a background for the Hollywood movie "Eat Pray Love", where a scene is played on the market with actress Julia Roberts, who walks alongside the stalls with an actor looking for a nice souvenir. In real life this is often done by foreign and domestic visitors. Of course, negotiations with the sellers are still going well. So, you have to bargain.

Prices vary depending on your bargaining. Bargaining is expected and indeed encouraged as part of the fun shopping, but do it kindly and with a smile. It is often useful to decide beforehand what you want to pay for an item before you begin to negotiate.

In the street (Jalan Raya Ubud) there are a number of smaller buildings which you'll find here. These buildings have some shops and are also part of the market.
On the market you will find various articles. It is recommended to skip the items you find in other markets. Concentrate on the special handmade articles, made in Ubud and in the surrounding villages. The skipped articles are undoubtedly found on other markets in Bali.

Some examples of good souvenirs:

Stackable Storage Boxes
In Bali you will find beautiful wicker basket boxes that fit very well in your closet to store, like scarves and other small items. Buy a couple and stack them together to take them home.
Basket Bags
These are also seen elsewherein Bali, but you can buy some. more than you think you need. Nothing worse than to find out later that you need one. In this market you may come once in 10 years, so buy some! These bags are clearly trendy at the moment but prices also. But it's worth it.
Ikat & Batik
Indonesia is famous for its ikat and batik patterns, which was used to dye space patterns on fabric, which are then dyed. I found a nice number of prints that would fit well in a modern wardrobe, when looking for the more minimalistic colors and designs.
Crochet
You will find a large number of different crochet patterns. On your trip to Bali you could add something to your wardrobe. There are also beautiful crochet bikinis, but make sure it's always wise to take a buddy bigger than you think it takes.
Cotton Sarongs
Again, you are overwhelmed by the colors and patterns that are being offered, but you also find some simple minimalist designs between when you are looking for a good one.
Straw Hats
Your trip to Bali is not complete without buying a nice straw hat. Although you can find a lot of hats, most are cheap woven plastic. However, if you are looking for good, you will discover some natural woven straw hats of palm leaves traditionally carried on the rice fields. Perfect to escape the afternoon sun!