The summary
| Souvenir | Where to buy | What to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Wood carvings, masks (barong, rangda) | Sukawati, Mas | Neat finish, wood without cracks |
| Silver and gold jewellery | Celuk | Smooth joints, workshop where you see the work |
| Paintings (Batuan, Kamasan styles) | Sukawati, Ubud | Detail of the line, artist's signature |
| Endek and songket textiles | Sukawati, shops | Even weave, bold colours |
| Small items, sarongs, magnets | Ubud market, Sukawati | Very negotiable price |
Where to go
Sukawati is the largest art market in the area: sculptures of Hindu deities, barong and garuda, dance masks, paintings and textiles. It is very good for bargaining, and the selection is better early in the morning. Celuk is the silver and gold village, with workshops where you see the jewellery made; a 2-hour silver jewellery-making class is sold there from about 38 USD. Mas is the wood-carving village. The Ubud art market is the most convenient if you stay in Ubud, but expect high starting prices.
Bargaining
Ask a price, offer about half and rise slowly until you agree; smile, stay polite and be ready to walk away if the price does not suit you. Keep small change: traders prefer cash. Do not bargain in shops with displayed prices.
How to organise it
A private driver can chain Batubulan (Barong dance), Celuk, Mas and Sukawati in one morning: see the Barong dance in Batubulan, private driver in Bali and Ubud in one day: which tour to choose. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the craftsmen circuit.
Before you leave
Check what you can take on the plane, especially liquids (oils, arak) and sharp objects (kris, knives): they must go in the hold. For the overall trip budget, see Bali travel budget.
FAQ
Where to buy authentic souvenirs in Bali? At Sukawati for choice, Celuk for silver, Mas for wood.
How much to bargain? Start around half the asking price, then rise slowly.
Can you pay by card? Large shops accept cards, but markets prefer cash.
How much time to allow? A 2 to 3 hour morning for Sukawati, Celuk and Mas.
