Among Bali’s many markets, Sukawati Art Market stands out as one of the most famous, alongside the equally popular, Ubud Art Market. But while Ubud leans touristy and polished, Sukawati plays a different game: it’s raw, loud, old-school, and totally unfiltered.
This isn’t the kind of place you visit for cute Instagram reels. It’s the kind of place where you’ll get shouted at, handed ten sarongs at once, and somehow walk away with a phallic wooden ashtray you didn’t mean to buy—but love anyway.
If you’re after real bargains, handmade goods, and a proper local shopping experience (with a bit of chaos thrown in), Sukawati delivers. It’s not fancy. It’s not curated. But it’s absolutely Bali–But it’s absolutely Bali—and a must-visit if you’re exploring the world of art markets in Bali.
Sukawati Art Market Quick Summary
Sukawati Art Market isn’t fancy, and that’s the point. It’s three big buildings with multiple floors stacked with everything from intricate wood carvings to cheap mass-produced souvenirs and Bintang singlets.
Every vendor will try to get your attention—and I mean every vendor. Expect to be called out to, blocked, handed things, and maybe even followed for a few steps. It’s not aggressive, it’s just how it works. If that annoys you, don’t go.
Haggling is absolutely expected. Never pay the first price. Offer half, walk away if needed, and don’t get emotional about it—it’s part of the dance.
On a more positive note, Sukawati is fully indoor and feel more organized (compared to Ubud Art Market). It’s quite clean with elevators in every building, bathrooms on every floor, and loads of underground parking.
Bottom line: Sukawati Art Market is gritty, busy, and actually worth visiting if you want a real but organized Balinese traditional market experience. Just don’t show up expecting air-con and price tags.
📍 Location: Jalan Raya Sukawati, Gianyar
🕕 Opening hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm, daily
🎟️ Entrance fee: Free
🛵 Parking fee (scooters): IDR 2,000
🚗 Parking fee (cars): IDR 5,000
Sukawati Art Market Location & Layout
As the name hints, Sukawati Art Market is located in Sukawati, a large district in Gianyar Regency.
The market is about 15 km northeast of Denpasar, 10 km south of Ubud, and about 30 km away from Seminyak and Canggu.
If you’re coming from Seminyak or Canggu, expect a 45-60 minute journey. However if you’re staying in Ubud, it’s just a quick 15-20 drive.
Depending on the time of day, parking might be limited, so hiring a private car and driver is the best, stress-free way to get there with a knowledgable local. Note: Many of our drivers are originally from Gianyar!
The market is divided into 3 big buildings, all selling pretty much the same products:
- Block A – The most popular building
- Block B – Smaller than the rest and less busy.
- Block C – Opposite Block A with a grand entrance. Much quieter.
These 3 buildings (which are government owned) are sometimes confused with another location down the street – also called Pasar Sukawati. This one’s run by the local village and less popular.
A short distance towards the other side of the 3 buildings is Sukawati Night Market (Pasar Malam Sukawati). If you’re on the hunt for local food in the area at night, this is it.
Sukawati Art Market Entrance Fee
Sukawati Art Market does not have an entrance fee – it’s completely free to enter and explore. You’ll only need to pay for whatever you buy, and prices are negotiable, so bargaining is expected.
Unlike some tourist attractions in Bali, there’s no ticket or admission charge. However, bring some extra IDR cash, as most vendors at the market don’t accept cards or electronic payment methods. You can find Bank BPD Bali ATMs in Block A. There is also a standalone BCA ATM just outside of Block B.
If you’re driving, you will need to pay a small parking fee (IDR 2,000), but beyond that, browsing and window shopping won’t cost you a dime.
Sukawati Opening Hours, Crowds, & When to Visit
Sukawati Art Market is open daily from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. However, most vendors will open between 9:00 and 10:00 am. You can visit earlier but only a few vendors will be open.
The best time to visit around 10:00 am – this gives you first pick of fresh stock and better bargaining power, as vendors tend to be keen to make their first sale of the day.
Avoid midday if you dislike crowds and the heat. Bali’s humidity can be unforgiving. Midday also sees a bigger crowd of visitors.
Late afternoons can also be a good time for quieter shopping, but some stalls may start packing up early. However, shopping just before closing hours can get you better deals
If possible, visit on a weekday to skip the weekend rush of local shoppers. On the other hand, if you want a chaotic experience, visit on a weekend to witness a full house.
How to get to Sukawati Art Market?
There’s more than one way to get to Sukawati, and each option comes with its own pros, cons, and stress levels. Here’s the breakdown so you can pick what works best (and avoid arriving already in a bad mood).
By Private Car and Driver
This is hands-down the easiest and most comfortable way to get there. No maps, no wrong turns, no sweating through your shirt in traffic. Just sit back and let your driver handle the chaos. If you’re booking an Ubud Day Tour, you can easily add on Sukawati as a stop between Ubud and some waterfalls or temples.
By Scooter
If you’re renting a scooter in Bali and feeling adventurous, tt’s cheap, quick, and gives you total freedom—just make sure you’ve got an international driving permit and nerves of steel. Traffic near the market can get wild, but if you’re confident on two wheels, it’s doable. Grab a scooter with Bikago.
By Grab or GoJek
Grab and Gojek work well in most popular parts of Bali, and they’ll take you straight to Sukawati without any awkward bargaining. Taxis are fine too—just insist on using the meter, or agree on the fare before you get in. However, not many taxis hang out near Sukawati.
What to buy at Sukawati Art Market?
If you’re heading to Sukawati Art Market and planning to “just browse,” good luck with that. This place has a fascinating way of turning even the most disciplined window-shoppers into full-blown souvenir smugglers.
It’s one of the OG Bali art markets—packed with stuff you didn’t know you wanted until you saw it, touched it, and were guilt-tripped by a friendly vendor into buying it. Yes, it happened to me while taking these photos.
Trust me, this isn’t the place for minimalist restraint. This is where your inner collector comes alive.
Here’s some of the best souvenirs at Sukawati Market:
- Traditional and Contemporary Paintings: Balinese mythology, village life, lotus ponds, sunsets—painted on everything from canvas to recycled wood. Great for gifts or upgrading that blank wall at home.
- Wood Carvings: From palm-sized Buddhas to life-sized Garuda statues, all hand-carved with insane detail. Pack wisely.
- Batik and Traditional Textiles: Sarongs, scarves, shirts, and wraps in hand-drawn or stamped designs. Lightweight, easy to pack, and surprisingly wearable back home.
- Decorative Masks: Carved and painted masks that range from elegant to slightly terrifying. Good for walls or Halloween.
- Rattan Bags: Yes, those round woven bags you’ve seen all over Instagram. Buy them here for half the boutique price.
- Handmade Jewelry: Mostly beads and semi-precious stones, with the occasional silver find. Not Celuk quality, but you’ll get change from a 100k note.
- Beaded Crafts and Dreamcatchers: Perfect for adding a little ‘Eat Pray Love’ to your bedroom, or gifting to that friend who’s always burning incense.
- Home Decor: Candle holders, painted mirror frames, wind chimes, hanging ornaments, and other things you didn’t plan to buy but somehow will.
- Toys and Wooden Instruments: Wooden frogs that croak when you stroke them (yes, really), mini drums, spinning tops, and more fun stuff if you’re shopping with kids—or for yourself.
- Bulk Souvenirs: Keychains, fridge magnets, bookmarks, coasters. Buy a bunch for cheap, and call it a productive day.
Red Flags to Watch For at Sukawati
Sukawati isn’t a scammy place, but it is a market—and markets come with a few classic traps if you’re not paying attention.
First up: mass-produced masquerading as handmade. If five stalls are selling the exact same “one-of-a-kind” wooden turtle, guess what? It’s not one-of-a-kind. That’s fine if the price is low—but don’t pay artisan prices for factory stuff.
Next: the bonus item hustle. Vendors will sometimes hand you extras while you’re browsing—bracelets, magnets, random small stuff—and then sneak them into the total at checkout like you agreed. Be polite, but firm. If you didn’t ask for it, don’t buy it.
And finally: never accept the first price. It’s not rude to bargain here—it’s expected. If you don’t haggle, they’ll assume you’re either new to Bali or just feeling generous. Offer half, smile, and get ready to walk away if it doesn’t budge.
10 Sukawati Art Market Shopping Tips
Shopping at Sukawati Art Market is an adventure, but to make the most out of it, you will need to master the art of bargaining. Here are some essential tips to play the game right:
- Block A is the busiest: This is the main building and most visitors tend to head here first.
- Haggling is expect: Yes, even the locals get pitched high prices too. It’s part of the shopping experience. They pitch high, you pitch low – cue the dance.
- Have patience: If you’re just window shopping, it might become frustrating to have every vendor try to form a conversation with you.
- Start low: Vendors often quote high prices, especially to tourists. Start off with half of the asking price and work your way up.
- Be polite: A smile and some friendly small talk can go a long way in negotiations.
- Bring cash: Vendors don’t accept cards. Cash also works better in bargaining. Small bills are better.
- Don’t get excited: If a vendor notices how interested you are in a product, they might not budge from their price. Try to suppress the “Oh my god, that is so cute! how much is it?“
- Walk away: A beautiful technique. If you feel the price is too high, simply walk away. They might call you back with a better offer. If they don’t, there are many other vendors likely selling the same item.
- Know the prices: Do some window shopping first before settling on an item. This way you understand the general price range.
- Hide your bags: Not for safety, but to avoid being bombarded with offers. If vendors see that you’re holding a bunch of bags, they know you’re a buyer. It makes you a target. Ditch the bags in the car or scooter storage.
Ubud vs Sukawati: Which is better?
If you’re looking for art and souvenirs in Bali, both Ubud Art Market and Sukawati Art Market have their strengths, but the better choice depends on your priorities.
Ubud Art Market is located in the heart of Ubud, right across from Ubud Palace. It’s famous due to its convenient location in Central Ubud, but it’s also highly commercialized.
- + Convenient location
- + More polished & cleaner
- + More aesthetic for photos
- – Prices are higher
- – Some stalls sell mass-produced products
Sukawati Art Market on the other hand, is more old-school. It’s less polished and less touristy. Since it’s a great market for bulk shopping, it’s also known to be the place where many local vendors source their products before selling elsewhere.
- + Less tourists
- + Cheaper prices
- + More authentic / local
- + Fully indoor
- + Modern facilities (like elevators)
- – Less organized
- – Further from Ubud
Verdict: If you want variety and convenience without having to stray too far from Ubud, Ubud Art Market is the better choice. But if you’re hunting for better prices and find a more local atmosphere, Sukawati Art Market wins the debate.
Final Thoughts about Sukawati
Sukawati Art Market is the kind of place where shopping feels like a sport. It’s fun, chaotic, colorful, and occasionally overwhelming—but that’s part of the charm. For some, the haggling is half the fun (especially when the walk-away tactic works and you get that proud “I nailed it” deal). For others, it can feel a bit intense, especially if you’re not used to vendors calling out for your attention at every turn.
The market is huge, with multiple buildings and floors, so don’t expect a quick in-and-out. Realistically, you’ll want to spend at least an hour here—more if you’re the type who likes to touch everything, bargain hard, and circle back “just to look one more time.”
It’s not your average tourist trap. It’s an energetic, real-deal Balinese marketplace where you can score beautiful, handmade goods—if you bring your patience, your best poker face, and a little cash.
Sukawati Art Market FAQs
Is Sukawati Art Market worth visiting?
Yes! Sukawati is worth visiting if you’re looking for authentic handicrafts at bargain prices. It’s a more traditional shopping experience with a wider variety of goods at lower prices – especially if you’re up for some haggling.
Where is Sukawati Art Market located?
Sukawati Art Market is located in Gianyar. The exact location on Google Maps is Jalan Raya Sukawati, Sukawati, Kec. Sukawati, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80582, Indonesia
When is Sukawati Art Market open?
It is open every day from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. However, most vendors will open later and some might stay open past 6:00 pm.
What is the entrance fee to Sukawati Art Market?
There is no entrance fee to Sukawati Art Market. You can explore the market without spending any money. If you’re visiting on your own, the only costs involved is the parking fee.
Is Sukawati Art Market kid-friendly?
Sukawati can be kid-friendly, but with a few caveats. If your little ones enjoy exploring vibrant markets, they might find it interesting. However, the market (especially Block A) can get crowded, and some of the narrow aisles can be overwhelming for young children.
How to get to Gianyar from Bali Airport?
If you’re staying in the area, book our Bali Airport Transfer to get to Gianyar in the comfort of your own private, air-conditioned vehicle.
Neil
I’ve been in Bali for so long I’ve grown roots (literally and metaphorically). For the past 10 years, I’ve experienced Bali from every angle. I’ve explored the temples, I’ve tried all the food, and I’m proudly fluent in the Indonesian language. I hope our website helps you get an authentic experience for your holiday in Bali, whether you’re here to enjoy the finer things in life, or to learn more about Bali’s rich culture.
More things to do in Ubud
Jalan Goutama Ubud – What to Do and Where to Eat
Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets – All you need to know
Goa Gajah – The Elephant Cave: Info and Entrance Fees [2025]
Canang Sari Workshop – Learn how to make Balinese Offerings
Ubud Palace Legong Dance – All you need to know [2025]
