The extensive shopping opportunities in Indonesia are a good reason in itself to visit. Whether you are looking for furniture, fashion, antiques, art or jewellery, the archipelago is renowned for producing exquisitely crafted goods, many of which can be bought straight from the craftsman.  

The island of Java is a good shopping base. Jakarta in particular has an array of mega, air-conditioned malls; jam packed with every international brand known to man. The world's fashion capitals are well condensed into upscale shopping malls, compact with sharp Italian tailoring, romantic French ensembles and innovational Japanese labels.

It is easy to get sidetracked by these shops but it would be a serious mistake not to become acquainted with some of the homegrown produce of Indonesia. Highly-skilled artisans produce painstakingly beautiful textiles, silver goods, dynamic ceramics and furniture pieces thaare unique in style and of an admirable standard of quality. Perfect presents for loved ones or a well deserved treat for yourself. Shopping hours usually fall between 09:00-21:00. 

 

Downtown Jakarta is a dense warren of bars, clubs, stalls, restaurants, offices and of course, shops. From unique handicrafts to haute couture labels and the latest in technology, Jakarta has something for everyone. As eclectic as the produce is, so are the shopping environments in which to find it.

Like any capital city, world-class mega-malls, stacked with international brands, sit at the top end of the scale. Beyond the air conditioned walls of the contained shopping centres, downtown Jakarta (the old neighborhoods around the South of the city) has an abundance of stores selling various products, including batiks, silks and unique handicrafts.

The ‘Pasars’ (markets) are jam packed with interesting finds, meaning a lot of patience is required along with good bartering skills. The usual procedure is to start off with a counter offer of 40% of the asking price and settle at 50%-60% of the original asking price.

 

Virtually everybody comes to Bali to shop, and even if shopping wasn't the ultimate aim, you'll still end up with fascinating and irresistible buys. Bali is a treasure trove of fine art and handicrafts, antique and semi-antique furniture, paintings, delicately carved jewellery, wood and stone carvings, masks, woven and dyed fabrics.

Bargaining in markets, shops and art shops, is normal practice and getting a good price depends largely on one's bargaining prowess. As bargaining forms a

large part of the fun of shopping in Bali, remember to carry cash, as not all places accept credit cards - and be good humoured. Shops are usually open from 10am to 11pm.

International labels, local designer clothes plus skillful tailors and dressmakers offer reliable 24-hours services. Shops selling similar items are normally grouped together to make comparing prices easy, and if the shop you're in doesn't have a particular colour or size, why, just pop over next door! 

 

Lombok’s shopping potential defies the mass-produced stream of products many of us have come to associate with modern consumer culture. Pottery, basket weaving and textiles are the three main crafts produced in Lombok.

This is a place where visitors should take advantage of local handmade, high-quality and unique products. Highly skilled craftsmen create jaw-droppingly skillful furniture, clothes and jewellry, the sort of stuff you won't find too often on anyone else’s mantelpiece or in wardrobes back home. Painstaking work goes into the production of these goods, with little compromise on the quality of the product. Eye-watering price tags are few and far between so essentially you will pay less for more.

As when in any foreign port of call, a good way to get to grips with the society around you is to venture down to a local market. The island is peppered with shops selling various apparel, furniture, crafts and jewelry. Keeping with the romantic theme of the island, pearls can be found in abundance.

 

There may be no sprawling shopping malls on Bintan Island that offer miles upon miles of retail therapy under one roof, but you can get pretty unique souvenirs and some really neat bargains here.

There’s a huge array of beautiful, exotic Indonesian handicrafts sold on this island, from stunning hand-drawn batiks to cultural artifacts, guaranteed to impress the receiver or make an attention-grabbing decorative ornament.

The best deals and items can usually be found in local markets – best of all, you can haggle on the prices to bring them even lower.

 

It is no secret that the layout and design of Batam seeks to imitate neighboring Singapore and that the island wishes to become the next international trading hub in Southeast Asia. The island takes on a decidedly cosmopolitan approach when it comes to the business of shopping. Fresh produce markets and unique handicrafts are not easily come across here. Instead, expect air-conditioned, contained malls selling international brands and the latest in technological commodities.

For shoppers, the real appeal of Batam lies predominantly in the fact that it is tax-free. As you might expect, the island is emerging as something of a shopping destination in Southeast Asia. With a total of five malls, visitors are spoilt when it comes to the business of discount designer shopping, and many tourists come over from Singapore just for this reason, so expect some serious consumer junkies to be flexing their cards.

 

Yogyakarta is known as the best place to shop for Indonesian items. Shoppers will also find some souvenirs from Bali or Asmat though they will usually get a better deal here than on those two islands. Go to Malioboro Street. The main commercial area is home to numerous souvenir and handcrafts shops, great restaurants, and fine accommodation.

Pasar Beringharjo, a traditional market, sells everything you can think of, ranging from household items, crafts, and souvenirs that revolve around Yogyakarta’s culture and history. Also, there are numbers of art galleries in the city displaying and selling fine art prints, abstract oil paintings, contemporary batik prints, and silverware.