What to buy in Bali for Malaysians: Travel guide for snacks, souvenirs and more

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Whether you’re travelling to Bali to catch some waves, enjoy the beach or hike and explore nature, there’s one thing that you can’t miss out on, and that’s buying back some Bali souvenirs.

If it’s your first time and you’re wondering what souvenirs, clothes and snacks to buy in Bali, we have you covered in this guide. We’ll also introduce the Wise card, your ideal companion to save on your MYR to IDR transactions, so you have more money to get those souvenirs.

What souvenirs to buy in Bali

Bali is a gorgeous place with plenty of history and culture, and whether it’s self-care items like essential oils for aromatherapy or home decor items like pottery and wood carvings, there’s bound to be something that will catch your eye.

Essential oils and soaps

If you’re into aromatherapy or believe in the healing properties of natural essential oils, you’ll want to check out the offerings in Bali. With oils such as frankincense, blue tansy, clary sage and more available, you’ll definitely be able to find something that strikes your fancy and save money while you’re at it.

For example, a 10ml bottle of lavender essential oil costs around 136,500 IDR (around 36.56 MYR)¹, while a similar 10ml bottle of lavender essential oil in Malaysia can cost up to 64 MYR².

There are plenty of specialty shops around the island, such as Utama Spice, Zero Waste Bali and Ubud Botany Interactive, so you won’t have to worry about travelling too far to find them.

Local crafts

Local crafts are everywhere in Bali, and you’ll be able to see craftsmen selling items like handwoven bags, wood carvings, jewellery and more.

A fantastic place to check out would be Ubud Art Market, where you’ll be able to find hundreds of locals setting up shop with a dizzying array of handicrafts. Whether it’s chic rattan bags, silver jewellery with intricate designs, beautiful wood carvings or even paintings, you’ll be able to spend hours here walking around.

If you’re specifically interested in silver jewellery, you would benefit from checking out Celuk Village, which is the heart of Bali’s gold and silver jewellery-making. The artisans there offer workshops for visitors to craft their own jewellery in addition to selling handmade pieces. Just remember to look out for the 925 stamp which indicates that the piece is made with sterling silver.

What to buy in Bali supermarket

Aside from handicrafts, Bali also has a ton of delicious snacks and drinks that make for perfect, lightweight gifts that won’t take up too much space in your luggage.

Snacks and tidbits

When you think of snacks in Bali, one of the first few options that come to mind has to be Beng-Beng chocolate. This delectable chocolate snack combines layers of wafer, caramel, chocolate and even crispy rice for plenty of texture and crunch. A box of 17 bars can be purchased for around 29,500 IDR (around 7.90 MYR)³, which is definitely great value.

If you prefer something a little more savoury, Bali has some excellent flavours for nuts and potato chips. Whether it’s garlic peanuts or chilli cashews, they’re the perfect snack for the office or home. With prices ranging around 27,900 IDR (around 7.47 MYR)⁴, you’ll be tempted to stock up on these delicious nuts.

Coffees and teas

Need some drinks to go along with those snacks? Kopi Luwak is a famous Indonesian coffee that’s made from the partially digested coffee fruits that are fermented in the Asian palm civet’s digestive system. It might sound a little unappetising, but the idea is that the palm civet only eats selected cherries and then the digestion process influences the taste of the resulting coffee brewed.

Kopi Luwak is one of the most expensive coffees in the world, so if you’re not into that, perhaps a local Kopi Bali blend might be more pleasing to your wallet. A local roastery like Hungry Bird or Tanamera can offer local beans that might be difficult to find outside of Bali, so if you’re a coffee person, make sure to check them out.

If you prefer tea, there are also plenty of herbal teas sold in Bali that are made with local ingredients like lemongrass, mint and more.

What clothes to buy in Bali

While Bali isn’t quite known as a shopping paradise, there’s still plenty on offer, especially if you’re into the bohemian chic look. Whether it’s linen clothing that’s just as suitable for Malaysian weather or beachwear, you’ll be able to find plenty of options around the Ubud, Seminyak and Canggu areas.

Beachwear

It’s no surprise that there are plenty of shops selling beachwear, since Bali’s beach lifestyle is such a big factor in driving tourism. Drifter Surf is one local brand that has cool prints, swimwear, active wear and dresses.

Another great Balinese option is Daya Surf, which stock a nice range of boardshorts, crop tops, Hawaiian shirts and more.

If you’re looking for swimwear, brands like Thaikila and Aanoukis Swimwear manufacture their pieces in Bali and have some great designs for the ladies.

Balinese batik

If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, why not get some Balinese batik? Batik in Bali isn’t quite like batik from other parts of Indonesia, with the patterns mostly inspired by local designs and cultural elements.

Again, you’ll be able to find this in many markets such as the Ubud Art Market. You can either get ready-made pieces of clothing, or opt to purchase a bolt of fabric and tailor your own clothes at a local shop.

Aside from being used in clothes, Balinese batik also makes a great option for use in tablecloths, bags or even wall hangings.

Save more when you shop in Bali when you stretch your MYR to IDR spending using the Wise card

There’s so much to see and do in Bali, but you won’t have to worry about paying more than you have to as long as you spend with Wise. With a Wise account, you can hold and convert between 40+ currencies and spend it in over 150+ countries.

You can order a linked Wise card before flying as well - simply top up your account with MYR and use the card to make payments in IDR so you don’t get hit with unreasonable currency conversion fees. There’s automatic conversion between currencies at the mid-market exchange rate, with low, transparent fees⁹. If you prefer, you can also convert in advance when it’s at your desired exchange rate so you can manage your IDR and card spending all through the Wise app.

Need cash on hand? You’ll be able to get 2 free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR with the Wise card, so you’ll be able to visit markets, restaurants, and shops while always having a way to pay.

For cheap and convenient foreign currency spending in Bali and beyond.

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1. Utama Spice Bali
2. Greenology Malaysia
3. Tokopedia
4. Tokopedia