Ubud Art Market: Bargaining Guide, Best Hours & Smart Buys

Directly across from Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) on Jl. Raya Ubud, Gianyar, Pasar Seni Ubud — the Ubud Art Market — is Bali’s most iconic souvenir market. The two-storey building and the rows of stalls spilling onto the pavement became famous after appearing in Eat Pray Love, and it is still the place to hunt for textiles, rattan bags, incense and wood carvings, with no entrance fee.

Two Markets in One Day

Before sunrise, roughly 05:00–09:00, the site works as a wet market for locals: vegetables, fruit, spices, flowers and canang sari offerings. By 08:00–10:00 the art stalls are fully open and the place becomes a souvenir market until around 17:00–18:00. Drop by at dawn, then return for the crafts, and you get two completely different experiences in one morning.

Best Hours & the Art of Bargaining

• Arrive between 08:00 and 10:00: it is still quiet and cool, and many traders believe in penglaris — the first sale of the day brings luck — so good prices come more easily.
• Open at roughly half the asking price and work up slowly; discounts of 30–50% are completely normal here.
• Bargain with a smile, and never haggle over something you do not actually intend to buy.
• Bring small cash notes; many stalls still do not accept cards.

What Is Worth Buying & What It Should Cost

• Sarongs, batik or endek cloth: around IDR 50,000–200,000 depending on the fabric.
• Rattan and ata-weave bags: around IDR 100,000–500,000; genuine ata weave is tighter, lasts far longer and fairly costs more.
• Incense, aromatherapy oils and coconut soap: from around IDR 10,000–50,000.
• Wood carvings, masks and small paintings: from around IDR 75,000 up to millions for signed work.

Ground-floor and roadside stalls target passing foot traffic, so their opening prices are the highest. Head upstairs or into the inner aisles: quieter, more relaxed sellers, and starting prices that are usually far more reasonable.

Practical Info & Booking

• Location: Jl. Raya Ubud, directly opposite Ubud Palace, Gianyar — about a five-minute walk from Pura Taman Saraswati. View on Google Maps
• Hours & tickets: wet market approx. 05:00–09:00, art market approx. 08:00–17:00 daily; entry is free, scooter parking about IDR 2,000 and cars about IDR 10,000.
• Getting there: it sits in central Ubud, so walking is easiest; about 1–1.5 hours by car from Denpasar and 1.5–2 hours from Ngurah Rai Airport. Allow 1–2 hours to browse.
• Booking/Info: no booking needed, simply turn up; to see how it looks right now, search on Instagram.

Pasar Seni Ubud is best enjoyed unhurried: bargain lightly, chat with the sellers, then cross the road for a coffee in front of Ubud Palace. Planning to stay nearby? Compare rates and book your hotel voucher on AccessiaPass.