Ubud Traditional Art Market, or Pasar Seni Ubud, is the most popular art market in Bali, and it’s even appeared in the movie Eat, Pray, Love!
But is it a tourist trap or a great place to get a genuine piece of Balinese art or hand-crafted goods for a bargain price?
Our guide to the Ubud Art Market will tell you everything you need to know.
Where Is Ubud Art Market?
Ubud Art Market is in the centre of Ubud, which is in Central Bali. It’s a short walk from most hotels, resorts, restaurants and attractions in Ubud.
The address of the market is Jalan Raya Ubud No.35, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia.
How To Get To Ubud Art Market?
We think that the best way to get to and enjoy Ubud is to book a guided tour with the Bali Res Centre (see contact details below).
There’s much more to Ubud than a role in a Hollywood Movie, and you will get more out of this frequently visited attraction with a local showing you around.
You could also arrange a hotel transfer to Ubud from the airport if Ubud is your first destination, rent a private car and driver, or rent a scooter (though we don’t recommend renting scooters in Bali).
When To Go To Ubud Art Market?
There is no bad time of year to visit the Ubud Traditional Art Market. Ubud is cooler than the rest of Bali for most of the year, and while it does see rain during the rainy season, it doesn’t rain all day long, either.
However, we do recommend going to the market early in the day. This helps you avoid crowds and surprisingly get better prices, too.
Ubud Market Opening Times
The Ubud Art Market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. nearly every day of the year.
How Much Is The Entrance Free For Ubud Art Market in Bali?
There is no entrance to Ubud Art Market, nor are you obliged to spend any money inside.
What Do They Sell At Ubud Market?
The Ubud Market offers a ton of locally made and sourced products. You can find beautiful silk scarves, woven baskets, stylish hats, amazing kites, handmade woven bags, Balinese-style paintings, Balinese handicrafts, Moroccan-style oil lamps, beach clothes and much more.
We found magnificent brass Buddha statuettes on our last visit, and the Ikat woven skirts are really eye-catching, too.
All the shops at Bali art markets tend to place an emphasis on hand-crafted goods that are made in neighbouring villages. You can find both typical Balinese and exemplary Balinese items at the stalls here.
The art-producing villages nearby create their products by hand rather than mass-producing work.
This makes the Ubud traditional art market rather different to the markets you may have encountered elsewhere in Southeast Asia. A lot of art markets in other countries are simply selling rebadged Chinese factory-made products. There is no universal and international assortment of goods here.
It is very much a traditional market, and things at this market are done as they have been done in Balinese culture for the longest time.
It’s just not the best place to buy your daily groceries, there are other places in Ubud to do that rather than Ubud Traditional Art Market.
Can You Haggle At Ubud Art Market in Bali?
Yes! There’s not really any such thing as a set price at Ubud Traditional Art Market, and the vendors here expect you to haggle.
You should be aware that they are often willing to do a better deal at the Ubud Traditional Art Market based on volume sales and the time of day that you buy.
The first customer of the day tends to get the best deal, as it makes for luck for the vendor for the rest of the day.
Haggling should be a good-natured and mutual affair. The vendor will start with their top price, and you then make an offer much lower than that price. You then go back and forth for several rounds until you meet somewhere in the middle.
You can walk away from negotiations at any time. However, if you agree on a price – then, you’re honor-bound to accept it. Don’t get angry. This is a basic rule of haggling, not just at this Ubud Traditional Market.
Tips For Ubud Market
We’ve got some small tips that can help you get the most out of a visit to Ubud Art Market. They include:
Go early – not only will you beat the crowds, which can be huge at this market during the peak season, but sellers are favourably inclined towards the first buyer of the day and will give you a better price than normal. They believe this brings luck for the rest of the day.
Shop around – there are a lot of stalls selling similar products, so make sure you’ve found the best before you buy.
Watch the locals – locals won’t spend more money than they need to on an item. They will only buy things from Ubud Art Market that can’t be bought for less elsewhere in Ubud. If you’re shopping in the same places as they are, you’ve probably got a bargain.
Don’t be afraid to haggle – but do be aware that once you’ve agreed on a price, you’re sort of obligated to buy whatever you haggled over. You can walk away at any time during the negotiations, but once you agree on a figure, you should pay up.
Take a camera – if you’ve always fancied yourself to be the next great street photographer, then this is a great place to practice your art.
Persistence is not aggression – sellers will work hard to get your attention and try to get you to buy things. Their livelihood depends on it. They’re not being obnoxious, and it’s how selling works in Bali. Just ignore pushy salespeople, and they will soon stop badgering you and move on.
Feel like Julia Roberts – the Ubud art market was featured in Eat, Pray, Love, and if you watch it, you will find the global megastar happily strolling through the stalls here. You can be the real-life star of your own private movie here.
Visit the monkey forest before you visit the Ubud Art Market – unless your intention is to buy gifts for the monkeys, it’s best to go shopping after you visit them as they often steal from tourists.
Other Attractions Near Ubud Art Market
There are quite a few places to visit near Ubud Art Market and once you’ve bought some awesome souvenirs in this traditional market, you might want to check out the following:
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Monkey Forest and Monkey Forest Road – the sacred monkey forest is a real highlight of a visit to Ubud. You can find our guide to this awesome place here.
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Royal Ubud Palace – Bali no longer has an official royal family, but they still exist and perform a ceremonial role. You can see how Balinese royalty live at the palace.
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Camphuan Ridge Walk – this is the ultimate sunset hike in Ubud, and you can find out more about it in our guide here. (We also have a list of all the best hikes in Bali).
Where To Stay Near Ubud Art Market
Ubud Art Market is on the doorstep of some lovely hotels and resorts. In fact, Ubud has a better range of accommodation options than nearly anywhere on the island, and it should be easy to find something that suits your budget and needs.
We especially like:
Alaya Resort – this luxury resort sits in the centre of the city and is just a 700-meter walk from the market. All the contemporary and Balinese-style rooms here offer a lovely private terrace to enjoy the lush rainforest backdrop. The bathrooms are decorated in Balinese art, too.
Pertiwi Bisma 2 – this mid-range resort is a bit further out, but it has some lovely pools and an excellent restaurant. The hotel provides a free shuttle bus to several locations in Ubud, including the market.
Sila Urip Guest House – if you’re on a tight budget, this pleasant guest house has a garden environment and is not too far from the market. If you don’t fancy walking, they can rent you a bicycle to visit.
Where To Eat Near Ubud Art Market
There are some great local places to eat, too, including:
Donna – they say they have the best lunch in Ubud, and judging by the queues at this place, they might be right. Certainly, the buffalo cauliflower is amazing!
Sweet Orange Warung – This hidden gem makes some of the best Balinese food in Ubud. It’s great value for money too.
Simply Social – if you want great service, a range of cuisines, fantastic views, and good food, this is where to come.
FAQs
What Is Ubud Market Famous For?
Ubud Art Market is famous for starring in Eat, Pray, Love, which starred the actress Julia Roberts opposite a male character strolling through the various shops and stalls at the main Ubud Art Market.
It’s also the main art market in Bali, and Ubud Art Market has always been very popular with tourists. In fact, if you come to the Ubud Traditional Art Market in the middle of the day, you may be surprised to find it gets very, very crowded indeed.
The Balinese handicrafts here are first-rate and better than you can find in other art markets anywhere in Southeast Asia. The artistic Central Region of Bali is one of the best places for amazing art at sensible prices.
It’s a strategic shopping place for foreign and domestic visitors alike, and it’s the best art market around by a long way.
Is Ubud Art Market Good Value?
It very much depends on you. If you are buying products in the Ubud Traditional Art Market at their asking price, then you are probably overpaying for them. We’re not joking when we say that haggling is standard at art markets like this one.
Vendors deliberately set their prices higher than the value of the product. This is particularly true of pieces that have a higher artistic value than others.
Your actual purchase price is meant to be negotiated upon, and you can find that you can pay as little as 50% (sometimes even less) of the asking price of those quilt-stitched batik camisoles or handmade woven bags/baskets or even those quadruple-coloured bohemian skirts. That you like.
If you’re visiting Bali with the hopes of getting a bargain, you have to help yourself to find it. We’d also recommend shopping where the locals shop for the best value of all.
How To Book A Trip To Ubud Art Market
If you want to see the Ubud Art Market, we recommend that you book a guided tour of Ubud through the Bali Res Centre.
A local guide will be able to help you make the most of your Ubud Shopping experience and ensure that you see much.
Final Thoughts On Ubud Traditional Art Market
Ubud Art Market is definitely not a tourist trap. It’s one of the best places to buy art in Bali. Don’t miss it if you’re in Ubud.
