Food & cultureBy Clever Tourists · Published
The best souvenirs from Bali are hand-woven cloth (endek and songket), real batik, silver from Celuk, woodcarvings from Mas and the villages around Ubud, and Bali coffee from the Kintamani highlands. The one to skip is kopi luwak, the civet coffee sold at plantation stops, because most of it comes from caged animals. If you are flying on to Australia or New Zealand, declare anything wooden or woven. We spent our time in Bali around Ubud, Sidemen, Munduk and Kintamani. Here are 10 souvenirs worth buying, grouped by type, with where to find them, price tiers ($ small change, $$ a considered buy, $$$ a splurge) and Indonesia's VAT refund. Every country we covered is in our hub, best souvenirs to buy in 20 countries.
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• Endek and songket weaving ($$ to $$$). Bali's own hand-woven cloth. Sidemen, a rice-terrace valley below Mount Agung, has weaving workshops where you can watch the looms and buy from the people working them. Hand-woven cloth has slight irregularities and costs far more than printed copies, which is how you tell them apart. See our Sidemen guide.
• Batik ($ to $$$). Hand-drawn batik tulis takes far longer than stamped batik cap, and printed "batik" fabric is not batik at all. Uneven lines and wax marks visible on both sides are signs of the real thing.
• Silver from Celuk ($$ to $$$). Celuk, between Denpasar and Ubud, is Bali's silver and goldsmith village. Prices follow the international silver and gold price, so ask for the weight and the price per gram.
• Woodcarvings from Mas ($ to $$$). Mas, near Ubud, is known for its carved wooden figures and masks. Expect to pay more for a single, fine piece from a workshop than for the repeated figures in the markets.
• Stone carving from Batubulan ($$ to $$$). The road through Batubulan is lined with carved stone figures. Lovely, heavy, and best shipped by the workshop.
• Bali coffee from Kintamani ($). The Kintamani highlands are the island's best-known coffee-growing area. Buy ground or whole beans in a sealed bag, and drink it Balinese style as kopi tubruk, with the grounds in the cup. See what to eat in Bali.
• Kecap manis, sambal and spice pastes ($). Indonesian sweet soy sauce and chilli sauces are cheaper in a supermarket than anywhere else; our Indonesian supermarket guide lists what is worth carrying home.
• Sarongs ($). Useful at home and in Bali, where you need one to enter temples; see our Bali temple etiquette guide.
• Small carvings and masks ($). From the art markets. Haggle, smile, and do not start bargaining for something you do not want.
• Woven baskets and bags ($). Light and cheap, but see the Australia and New Zealand rule below before you pack them.
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• A hand-woven songket or endek length from Sidemen ($$$). Buy it from the workshop that wove it.
• A silver piece made to order in Celuk ($$ to $$$). Several workshops will make a design over a few days.
• A large carving or stone figure ($$$). Have the workshop ship it and get a receipt that describes the material.
The villages sit along the road between Denpasar and Ubud, so a driver for half a day covers several. Our Ubud guide and 10-day Bali itinerary have the rest. For overcharging and "special price" tactics, read tourist scams in Bali.
| Where | Best for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Sidemen weaving workshops | Endek, songket | Buy from the people at the looms |
| Celuk | Silver jewellery | Ask the weight and price per gram |
| Mas | Woodcarving | Workshops beat market stalls for fine pieces |
| Batubulan | Stone carving | Arrange shipping |
| Sukawati Art Market, south of Ubud | Crafts, textiles, paintings, cheap gifts | Bargaining is expected |
Indonesia refunds VAT to foreign tourists who buy at shops in the VAT refund scheme and take the goods out of the country. The minimum is set on the tax, not the spend: at least Rp500,000 of VAT, and since a 2019 rule change you can add up receipts from different purchases to reach it. Refunds up to Rp5 million are paid in cash at the airport; larger ones go by bank transfer.
The refund counter at Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) is in the international departures area. Keep the goods and receipts with you and go before you check in your bags. On a few market souvenirs it will not apply; on silver or a large textile purchase from a participating shop it can.
• Kopi luwak. A 2016 study by World Animal Protection and Oxford researchers found every one of the 16 Bali civet coffee plantations it visited failed basic welfare standards, with wild civets kept in small cages. Buy ordinary Kintamani coffee instead.
• Printed "batik". If the pattern is on one side only and every repeat is identical, it is printed fabric.
• Shell, coral and turtle products. You cannot tell whether they are legal, and many countries will confiscate them.
• Wood and woven goods without declaring them. Australia requires you to declare wooden articles and other plant and animal material on arrival, and New Zealand requires every arrival to declare wooden carvings, masks and woven items. Clean, finished pieces are usually released after inspection; bark, seeds and soil are not. Undeclared items can mean a fine. More in our NZ Traveller Declaration guide.
More in things to know before visiting Bali and tipping in Bali.
Hand-woven endek or songket from Sidemen, real batik, silver from Celuk, a woodcarving from Mas, or Kintamani coffee. Skip kopi luwak.
Usually, but you must declare them on arrival. Clean, finished carvings are normally released after inspection; bark, seeds and soil are not, and undeclared items can mean a fine. New Zealand has the same declaration rule.
Mostly not. A 2016 World Animal Protection study found all 16 Bali civet coffee plantations it visited failed basic welfare standards, with civets kept in small cages.
Yes, at shops in the scheme, if the VAT on your receipts adds up to at least Rp500,000. You claim at Ngurah Rai airport before check-in; refunds up to Rp5 million are paid in cash.
Celuk, the silversmith village between Denpasar and Ubud. Prices follow the international silver price, so ask for the weight and the price per gram.
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