11 Unique Souvenirs From Bali To Buy (Gifts, Food + More!)

Looking for the best souvenirs from Bali? We are here to help.

As someone who’s been lucky enough to visit Bali multiple times, I’m here to tell you that there are many unique gifts you can buy to remember the island’s spirit. From Kintamani Coffee to intricate silver jewelry, each item tells a story of Bali’s heritage.

And the best part? Bali has a ton of traditional markets and cute boutique stores where you can purchase something for a loved one or just to remember your Bali trip.

So without further ado, here are some of the best Bali souvenirs and places to go shopping in Bali!

---

What Are the Best Souvenirs from Bali to Bring Home?

1. Wood Carvings

Balinese wood carvings are synonymous with the island and an art that has spanned thousands of years, with many of the carvings inspired by Hindu and Balinese folklore.

Whether you are looking for Balinese masks used in traditional dance performances and religious ceremonies, animal sculptures, or even hand-carved furniture, visitors can find plenty to purchase from the local sellers.

As you might expect, it takes exceptional skill to create the carvings and the attention to detail is what makes these pieces truly unique. If you think you’ll want to bring some examples home, the best place to shop for wood carvings is in Ubud, a town known for its art galleries and wood carvings.

Prices can vary depending on the size and the type of wood used, with smaller items from a few dollars up to around $50, whilst larger pieces can be anything from a couple of hundred dollars to even thousands if it’s a large table.

2. Balinese Coffee (Kintamani Coffee)

Another superb type of souvenir would undoubtedly be the Bali’s famous Kintamani coffee. Not only is a visit to one of the island’s coffee plantations one of the best things to do but picking up a freshly ground pack or three for your caffeine-addicted friends back home is also one of the best Bali souvenirs.

Balinese coffee has a very distinct taste thanks to the extremely fertile volcanic soil in the Kintamani region of the island. Along with the hot and humid climate, Bali’s coffee is most definitely one of the best in the world.

Varieties of Balinese coffee include Arabica and Robusta, but the most famous and authentic is Kopi Bali. It is usually beautifully packaged, with the ground coffee itself in a unique pack wrapped with colorful ribbons making it perfect for a gift.

We do have to warn you about the island’s famous Luwak Coffee, or Kopi Luwak. These are also known as poop coffee because they use coffee beans that are pooped out from the civet, a small animal that somewhat looks like a cat.

This process adds extra flavor to the coffee beans, and some aficionados claim it is some of the best coffee in the world.

Because of this, the price of Luwak Coffee is very high, which in turn causes mistreatment of the animals. Not all farms are like this, but most are, and we recommend avoiding Luwak Coffee if possible as souvenirs.

3. Sarongs

If you are lucky enough to be in Bali at the same time as a religious festival such as Nyepi, then you will immediately notice the significance of a Balinese sarong.

They are more than just an item of clothing and a vital piece of Balinese culture that, brought back as a gift, will serve as a vibrant, beautiful, and meaningful reminder of your time on the island.

They’re incredibly versatile pieces too, with many choosing to wear them as clothing for covering up on the beach, or even turning into decorative items like tablecloths or hanging on your wall.

Many sarongs available to buy have been meticulously hand-threaded, with the sarong art having been passed down through generations with local producers and sellers taking extreme pride in the beauty of these garments.

You’ll usually be able to find Balinese sarongs in pretty much every local market across the island, and certainly in most souvenir shops, though these might not be as authentic as some you might find in Ubud Market or Sukawati Art Market for example.

4. Paintings

Balinese paintings might be a little bit of a pain to bring home, but you’ll be guaranteed to be bringing back one of the best Bali souvenirs in an authentic and unique piece of art from one of the world’s most culturally rich islands.

Much like the wood carvings, many Balinese paintings have a distinctive style that has been influenced by centuries of Balinese and Hindu mythology as well as the natural beauty of the lands.

Tales such as the famous Ramayana and Mahabharata feature heavily, and more modern pieces feature abstract work from local artists, interpreting the rural rice fields and other beautiful-looking natural features of the island.

💪 Pro Tip: If you are interested in getting a piece of painting by home from Bali, many places offer direct shipping to your home so you don’t need to stress about getting it on a plane!

5. Balinese Kebaya

Commonly worn during religious ceremonies, visits to temples, and other respectable cultural events, the Balinese Kebaya is an iconic symbol of traditional Balinese female fashion.

You can spot a Kebaya easily as it is a beautifully embroidered semi-sheer white blouse that is usually paired with a ruby red patterned long skirt.

The blouses are often embroidered completely by hand, showcasing the magnificent efforts of the local producers of the Kebaya. It is an incredibly elegant piece of clothing and would make for a wonderful gift to bring home for a female friend that is unique to Bali.

Prices for Balinese kebayas can vary depending on the quality, intricacy of the design, and whether it’s custom-made or not.

You can usually pick Kebaya’s up from most markets and will be in the $10 – $20 range, though this can usually be haggled down.

6. Batik

Balinese batik is one of the most unique gifts you can bring back from the Indonesian island and only those who are familiar with the traditional techniques will understand how significant a piece is.

The incredible wax-resist dyeing technique is what makes it so unique, originating on the neighboring island of Java in the early 6th century.

Like the traditional Kebaya, a Batik is an important item to native Indonesians, with many people wearing a Batik to formal events, similar to Kebaya, and is a way of preserving the important cultural heritage of the island.

If you’re still unsure whether or not to bring a Batik home as a souvenir, UNESCO officially recognized the Batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, honoring the craftsmanship of the Indonesian people that produce these garments.

By bringing one home, you are quite literally bringing a masterpiece of humanity home with you and you can’t ask for a better souvenir than that.

7. Rattan Bags

Rattan bags would make for an excellent souvenir to bring back from Bali as they are not only super fashionable, but they also are a great symbol of sustainability, using completely natural materials twined with the unique craftsmanship of the local Balinese.

The bags themselves look wooden in appearance, but it is a natural material called rattan which is taken from the outer layer of the rattan palm stems which can be found all over the island.

This natural layer is stripped from the plant and then soaked in water for days at a time to make it soft and pliable for weaving into the cute and uniform bags you see in all of Bali’s markets.

Rattan bags can be found hanging in pretty much all of the markets across the island, including the Sukawati Art Market, and also in a lot of boutique shops with each one handmade, ensuring your support of the local economy.

Prices can vary depending on the size; however, you should expect to pay around $5-10 for a small to medium-sized one.

8. Balinese Arak

Balinese arak is an incredibly strong spirit that is manufactured on the island from palm trees. It is often one of the cheapest spirits you can find primarily because it is made on the island with some villages, like Karengasem, actually specializing in brewing arak.

As you can probably tell then, the Balinese love their arak, and if you see groups of men sitting on the street with shot glasses out, you can be guaranteed arak is the drink of choice.

As a Westerner, it doesn’t taste too different than a mega cheap bottle of vodka, but its aroma is incredibly gasoline-like so whatever you do, don’t give it a whiff before you shoot a glass.

There are plenty of wine and spirit shops dotted throughout the island which is where you will be able to buy the spirit to bring home with you, making for a unique souvenir or gift.

9. Balinese Gamelan Instruments

Bringing home elements of traditional Balinese music gamelan could be an exceptional souvenir of your time on one of the most cultured islands in the world. It consists of several instruments including various-sized gongs, metallophones, xylophones, and other percussion items like bamboo flutes.

The only thing you may find a little tricky is bringing them back home. The majority of gamelan instruments are quite large and heavy, meaning on top of the cost of buying them, you’ll also need to pay a considerable amount to ship them home.

Even if you can afford the airfare, the safety of the instruments in transit will also be an issue. You’ll have to bubble wrap them extremely well, in an attempt to ensure that no amount of rough handling can break them.

10. Pie Susu

The sweet and deliciously moreish Balinese pie susu (milk pie) is another superb consumable souvenir for you to bring home either for yourself or to share with your foodie friends.

It is a gorgeously flaky buttery pastry tart filled with a thin layer of rich milk custard made from condensed milk making for a quick and tasty sweet snack.

The circular shape of the pie susu is iconic and immediately recognizable in a place like Bali, as the region is not exactly famed for its superb baking skills.

They have become more and more popular as gifts in recent years thanks to the attractive packaging that you can often find when buying pie susu from local markets and bakeries.

11. Handmade Silver Jewellery

If you’re a fan of exquisite silver jewelry, Bali is the place to come. The vast majority of handmade silver jewelry Bali is famous for is handmade in the villages of the Gianyar Regency, south of Ubud.

You’ll be able to visit actual working silver workshops watching skilled local producers make intricate designs for earrings, necklaces, chains, and even rings, with some workshops even going one step further and allowing you to have a go yourself at making these precious silver items. 

Being authentic sterling silver, these pieces of jewelry are fairly expensive, but still more than affordable compared to western prices and would certainly be one of the best Bali souvenirs to bring home.

---

Where To Buy Souvenirs In Bali?

Love Anchor

Perfectly representing the genuine island vibe, Love Anchor in the surf-central town of Canggu stands out as one of Bali’s best marketplaces.

With its completely authentic design, Love Anchor is built in the traditional wooden Joglo architectural style and is completely open-air, yet features a robust roof allowing you to shop freely whether it’s pouring rain during the monsoon season, or if the sun is gloriously beaming down.

📚 Read More: When Is The Worst Time To Visit Bali?

Love Anchor is home to a wide variety of stalls and independent boutique shops selling handwoven clothes, bags, jewelry, and other accessories in traditional markets.

As is the custom in all of Bali’s marketplaces, bargaining is essential. Sellers usually bump the prices by about 20-30%, so keep that in mind when bartering.

Ubud Art Market

The famous Ubud Art Market, or Pasar Seni Ubud as it is more locally known, is arguably the best market on the island and is home to a dizzying array of shops and stalls selling all sorts of arts and crafts wooden masks, soft silk scarves, loose fit buttoned shirts, rattan bags, and other types of handmade goods.

Open daily, Ubud Art Market’s products are primarily sourced from the neighboring villages of Pengosekan and Tagallalang, and provide the best spot on the island for local producers to sell their goods.

The items you find here are usually of much better quality than in other touristy art markets across Bali and with that comes a little bit of a price increase, but still, haggling is always welcomed.

Kuta Art Market

Kuta is famous for its wide variety of busy bars, shops, and restaurants all just a short stroll from the beachfront. Also calling the area home is Kuta Art Market, a large bazaar filled with locals selling souvenirs, handmade goods, clothing, and smaller accessories.

You’ll mainly find more tourist-oriented items here like fridge magnets, beer chillers, funny t-shirts, and other bits and pieces like sarongs and batik prints.

Whilst it is not as large and not as varied as Ubud’s Art Market, a lot of the products you’ll find here are the same, so don’t worry if you leave Ubud not having found what you’ve been looking for. There’s still a chance if you pop into Kuta’s Art Market before jumping on your plane.

The market is open daily from opening hours of 8 AM until 10 PM, perfect for late-night shopping.

---

Tips For Shopping In Bali

Shopping, much like other parts of Southeast Asia, can be quite tricky. There are plenty of scams, counterfeits, and tricks that vendors do to get the most money out of you. Here are some tips that will make your shopping experience in Bali much more pleasant.

• Be Ready to Bargain – Bargaining is practically a given in any of Bali’s markets, and you can easily save up to 20 to 50 percent depending on how good your bargaining skills are.
• Survey Prices – When bargaining for an item, it massively helps to have an idea as to the value of the item you want to buy. Before jumping straight in, survey some prices of similar items from other shops so you know what to begin your bargaining at.
• Pay in the Local Currency – In Bali, foreign currencies such as Euros, USD and GBP are accepted in most places for souvenirs. You may think this makes things easier and perhaps even cheaper. Well, from personal experience, paying in the local Indonesian Rupiah is always the cheapest option.
• Buy in Bulk to Save Money – Many vendors in Bali offer you a discount if you buy more than one thing from their shop. Of course, the more you buy, the more likely you are going to save!
• Avoid Shopping at Famous Attractions – Try to avoid buying items at, or outside, key attractions like Tegalalang Rice Terrace (Ceking Rice Terrace), Ubud Monkey Forest, and the famous Bali waterfalls. They will generally be noticeably more expensive than if you were to get the item directly from the market.

---

Bali Souvenirs FAQs

---

Finals Thoughts On Souvenirs In Bali

As you can see, there are plenty of unique souvenirs you can buy from Bali. Whether you are looking for something cultural or just something to eat, you can find it in Bali. The best part? Shopping for souvenirs in Bali is so easy, thanks to its multitude of local markets selling their crafts and items!

Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links. That means if you book or make a purchase through the links, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! The money will help run this site! Thank you!