There are actually dozens of different markets in the Kuta area. Some, like the Kuta Art Market and Wake Bali Art Market, are found along Jl. Tegal Wangi. Others, like the Senggol Night Market and Warung Strawberry Night Market, are located on Jl. Blambangan. Head north on Jl. Melasti and you’ll find the Kantor Pasar Seni Merthanadi and Pasar Seni Kuta markets. Each market has a little something different to offer, although you can also find many of the same types of products as well.

Shopping at the Kuta Markets is a feast for the eyes. Most visitors come here for the quality handmade products at unbelievable prices. Clothes and other textiles such as fine silk and batiks are probably the most dominant products you’ll find at these markets. Accessories such as necklaces, silver rings, bracelets, hats, and leather bags are also very popular. The Kuta markets are a great place to go shopping for souvenirs like Balinese statues and folk masks for yourself or your loved ones at home.

What You Can Find at the Kuta Beach Market

Since the Kuta Beach Market lines the street near the beach, most of what you will find are beach products. Things like beach tank tops, sunglasses, hats and glasses. Surfing is also really popular in Kuta.  So you’ll find more surf brands here than anything else!

Bali is a popular travel destination for people all around the world, but especially for Australians given its close proximity. Kuta is nearby the airport and has one of the most popular beaches in Bali, so as you can imagine, Kuta is full of hotels catering to all types of tourists.

There are a number of resorts in and around Kuta, Bali. But you can also find more boutique hotels and local “non-chain” hotels as well.

Bali is also really popular with backpackers, so you will find a number of budget hotels and hostels all around Kuta too.

Another really popular option for accommodations in Kuta, as well as the rest of Bali, are Airbnbs. In fact, you can stay at some pretty amazing and luxurious villas for a really reasonable price in Bali! 

I’d recommend starting your stay in Kuta for a few nights. Kuta is famous for its beach and entertainment/nightlife. Relax after your long flight, get acquainted with the area then rent a scooter and head north to Ubud for another few nights. After that, go furthest north to visit the volcano and hot springs!

Popular Bali Areas for Visitors

• Kuta. It’s very close to the airport and has a lot to offer to tourists. This urban village has excellent restaurants, thriving nightlife, and as already discusses, some of the best shopping opportunities in Bali.
• Munduk. If you enjoy almost non-touristy places, then you’ll love Munduk. The small town is surrounded by mountains, forests, and rice terraces. There are some really nice hikes in the area.
• Ubud. This little town is considered the cultural center of the island. Here, you can see superb temples dating 400 years back, including the Goa Gajak and Gunung Kawi.
• Canggu. For a chilled and laid-back atmosphere, head to Canggu. You can experience great surf and beautiful beaches. Unlike the commercialized hubs like Kuta, this village has a relaxed vibe that will set you in that holiday mood.
• Seminyak. A classy coastal area of Bali, Seminyak is full of luxury villas, great restaurants, and shopping boutiques. Seminyak Square is a good place to check out if you want to buy anything from clothes to souvenirs.

Popular Tourist Sites

• Tanah Lot Temple. Arguably the island’s most iconic temple, it is positioned on top of a rock and surrounded by water. With its scenic blue ocean and sky during the day and dramatic sunsets in the evening, the Tanah Lot is one of Bali’s signature postcard images.
• Uluwatu Temple. One of the most important sea temples, Uluwatu is positioned on a tall cliff on the Bukit peninsula. The waves below the cliff are hailed as among the most internationally known surf spots.
• Besakih Temple. This is the “mother temple” of Bali, made up of more than 80 clan temples and shrines. The complex is found on the south-western slopes of Mount Agung and offers spectacular countryside views.
• Tegallalang Rice Terraces. These rice terraces in Ubud are famed for their beauty and innovative irrigation system known as the “subak.” There are numerous art kiosks and cafés near the ledge and locals often invite visitors to sample their coconut drinks.
• Ubud Monkey Forest. This natural sanctuary is home to grey long-tailed macaques. Visitors can watch the playful monkeys in their natural habitat and take a walk along paved pathways through the lush forest.

Balinese cuisine uses a variety of spices, fresh vegetables, fish, and meat. It demonstrates both indigenous traditions and influences from other Indonesian cuisines, as well as Chinese and Indian cuisines. Because the Balinese people are Hindu, their dishes are somewhat different from the rest of Indonesia, with many special foods prepared as offerings to the Hindu deities they worship.

Rice is the primary grain eaten by the locals and it is always consumed accompanied by vegetables, seafood, or meat. Pork and chicken are found in many of the dishes, while beef is never or rarely consumed. Visitors interested in learning more about Balinese food can take one of the many daily courses of Balinese cuisine which are very popular among visitors to the island.

Best Foods in Bali

The island is famed for dishes such as babi guling (whole spit-roast pig), sate lilit (Balinese satay), lawar (minced meat salad), betutu (roast duck), and sate lilit (Balinese satay). For your sweet tooth, try some delicious desserts such as Bubur Sumsum (coconut rice porridge), Klepon (sticky rice balls with caramelized sugar), and Pisang Goreng (banana fritters).

Market Foods in Bali

There are numerous food markets in Bali that serve tasty traditional dishes at affordable prices. Street food and fresh produce are available at most of the markets in Kuta as well as other regions of Bali such as Denpasar, Tabanan, Buleleng, among others.

International Foods in Bali

Since Bali is such a popular travel destination, you will also find a number of international food options. The Kuta area, in particular, is very geared towards tourists so there’s a lot of western food choices here.

So choose what looks good for you during the day and hit up the Hard Rock Bali at night. Awesome place with great food!

Kuta is the most popular tourist neighborhood on the island of Bali. The area was originally discovered by tourists and became a surfing paradise. It’s a must-see spot on the classic backpacking route in South East Asia. Today, Kuta attracts not only backpackers but also families from all over the world. The area is continually developing and can come across as chaotic and overcrowded. Yet this doesn’t seem to mind the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Kuta every year.

Kuta Markets

The village is home to some of the best shopping spots in Bali. The crowds and traffic can turn off some visitors, but this is just part of Kuta’s unique charm. If you want to get your hands on some of the best locals products, head over to some of the most appreciated markets in Kuta such as Guwang Art Market, Ubud Art Market, Pasar Badung Market, Badung And Kumbasari Traditional Market, Jimbaran Conventional Market, Sanur Night Market, and Kereneng Night Market. And of course if you are wanting some beach gear, don’t miss the Kuta Beach Market!

The history of Bali can be traced to the Stone Age but most of its rich heritage started developing during the Majapahit Empire (1293 to 1520 AD). When Islam rose through Java in the 12th century, the kings of the Empire of Majapahit moved to Bali while the priest Dang Hyang Nirartha established temples, including including the spectacular Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple.

In the 19th century, the Dutch – who fell in love with the island way before this – conquered Bali and it became part of the Dutch East Indies. In the 1920s, the Dutch realized the island’s unique culture that could be marketed internationally to grow a strong tourism industry. But then came WWII when the Japanese Empire occupied the Dutch East Indies. Although the war ended in 1945, it took four years for the Dutch to finally recognize Indonesia’s independence. The pre-War Bali was revived in a modern form and resulted in a massive tourism growth, as we can observe today.

Trade is the third-largest source of income for the people of Bali, after agriculture and tourism. In ancient times, Indonesia was best known for its spices such as nutmeg, pepper, and cubeb, which were sent to other major Asian civilizations such as India and China. During the Dutch rule, Balinese farmers were also required to deliver crops like sugar, coffee, and tea.

Today, Bali is famous for its skilled artisans who produce a wide array of handicrafts, including ethnic batik and ikat cloth and clothing, jewelry, painted art, silverware, wooden carvings, and stone carvings. Individual villages typically adopt a single product, such as wooden furniture or wind chimes. The island is also a major exporter of Arabica coffee, which is produced in the highland region of Kintamani near Mount Batur.