Handicraft Market (solo trip)
How Solo-Friendly is Handicraft Market?
What makes it 85% Solo-Friendly: A lone traveler can move easily through narrow aisles, chat with artisans, bargain freely, and snack at cheap stalls; crowding poses minimal issue and no special facilities are needed.
Positives:
- Waterfront setting: Open-air layout offers cooling evening breeze and sunset views.
- Artisan interactions: Solo travelers are welcomed for casual chats and hands-on bargaining.
Challenges:
- Narrow aisles: Busy evenings can feel cramped between stalls.
- Limited seating: Few spots to sit; most food stalls expect you to stand.
What is Handicraft Market?
- A waterfront market of adjacent stalls offering a curated selection of Sabah handicrafts, textiles and jewelry
- A showcase of artisanal products including elaborately carved wood figurines, hand-dyed batik fabrics and cultured pearls
- An open-air bazaar lining the Kota Kinabalu coastal promenade, organized into themed sections for crafts, clothing and accessories
What is so special about Handicraft Market for solo trip?
- Browse over 200 stalls of local handicrafts
- Sample affordable street food by the waterfront
- Practice haggling in a friendly, solo-friendly setting
- Capture colorful crafts and sunset photo ops
- Pick up unique souvenirs like beaded jewelry and batik textiles
Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours
Why 1-2 hours visit duration is ideal for solo trip: Enough time to browse stalls, sample street food, and shop at a relaxed pace.
Solo-Friendly Activities in Handicraft Market
Browse artisan stalls:
Walk through rows of handicraft booths featuring batik, wood carvings, and beadwork.
Tip: Start at the waterfront end and work inward to spot new items in each aisle.
Sample street food:
Try local snacks like fresh fruit shakes, kuih, or grilled seafood skewers.
Tip: Visit shortly after opening for shorter queues and fresher items.
Chat and bargain:
Negotiate prices with friendly artisans to learn about their crafts.
Tip: Use simple Malay phrases like “Boleh kurang?” (Can you lower?) to start haggling.
Photograph vibrant displays:
Capture colorful textiles and jewelry against the sunset-lit waterfront.
Tip: Use a wide-angle setting to include both stalls and the sea view.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Handicraft Market
- Go early evening: Arrive around 5pm to beat peak crowd and catch sunset light.
- Carry small bills: Use RM1, RM5, and RM10 notes to make payments smoother.
Reviews of Handicraft Market
Richard goldman
This market was mindnumbingly packed with an eclectic mix of everything. The energy in this market was electric. By far one of the best markets we had been to on our 5 week journey through Malaysia. We ate several different seafood choices and. Fought back about ten pounds of the most delicious mango’s we’ve ever had. Several varieties, all slightly different and bursting with flavor. That was an ...
Zafirah Zabidin
Had a great experience when buying dried fishes and snacks here in particular when dealing with the shopkeeper, Khabib. His service was second to none! He was friendly and easy to deal with. He gave good discounts and free gifts if buy more ! One of the best experience I've had when did my shopping here. Definitely a nice place to buy sabahan snacks and dried seafoods because of the choices they o...
Shapiai Mohd Saiful
My opinion is, know what you want to buy, study the price and try to nego with the sellers as low as you can. Item such as amplang, kerepek cincin, ikan bilis, pearl brooch, you can buy here. But for item such as T-shirt, kaftan etc just go to normal shop around KK or accross this market. For the sellers, I think they’re all so friendly & can nego. They Even can packup your bought item in a box.
Bridgitte *
We leisurely meandered through the KK (Kota Kinabalu) Handicraft Centre, also referred to as the Filipino Market or Anjung Kinabalu, on a Saturday. The market boasts a vast array of souvenirs, including Sabah pearls in various shapes and sizes. We even bought a T-shirt for RM 40. There were stunning batiks for sale, along with fresh fruits, vegetables, dried snacks, and everything else you'd expec...
DR. ALVIN TUNG
We came to visit the Filipino market during the day and there were lots of vendors selling various dried seafood and snacks! They are super friendly and offered samples to try! Of course we could not resist and ended up buying several bags of snacks!
When is the best time to visit Handicraft Market (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia)?
Expect brief heavy showers from November to February. Carry a compact umbrella or poncho. For drier evenings, visit March–October.
Explore These Activities
Typical Budget for Solo Traveler (1 Adult)
| Item | Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Fresh fruit shake | MYR 3 |
| Grilled seafood skewer | MYR 15 |
| Beaded bracelet | MYR 20 |
| Local cake (kuih) | MYR 2 |
| Total Estimated | MYR 40 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Map of Handicraft Market
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
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About Handicraft Market
Opening Hours
Hours may vary during holidays, special events, and peak seasons. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
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