The market’s colourful assemblage of goods and lively atmosphere make it an irresistible treat for shutterbugs. Its sights are best captured from the third floor. The market is open daily from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Nearby, Laman Siti Khadijah features a clock tower that represents the twin cities of Kota Bharu and Kasaoka in Japan.

This three-storey shopping complex is a not-to-be-missed spot for avid shoppers and collectors of craft items. Visitors can find everything imaginable from beautiful handmade shoes, miniature replicas of musical instruments, colourful kites, pretty bags, lovely silverware, rare accessories to a variety of other irresistible collectibles. The reasonable prices make it a popular spot for locals and foreigners alike.

This is an open-air night market situated about 4km outside of Kota Bharu town. Sprawling over a quarter of an acre, Wakaf Che Yeh is the place for a profusion of merchandise from local snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables to seafood. There are also rows after rows of traders selling attires for both ladies and men. Wakaf Che Yeh operates round the clock with multiple functions - it is a wholesale market in the mornings, wet market during the day and turns into a night market as the sun sets. Take a stroll and watch the interesting scenes that unfold - the haggling, the promotion of goods and the cheerful banter among traders.

There are several modern shopping malls in Kota Bharu, including KB Mall in Jalan Hamzah, Billion Shopping Centre (next to Renaissance Hotel), as well as Pantai Timur Supermarket and Mydin Supermarket, both situated at Jalan Pintu Pong. The malls are equipped with food courts, supermarkets, pharmacies and retail outlets.

One of the greatest attractions of shopping in Kelantan is the duty-free zones at the border of Thailand, where an assortment of goods is available at attractive prizes. In fact, many Malaysians make a trip to Kelantan with the main aim of indulging in a shopping spree! The towns of Rantau Panjang (45km from Kota Bharu) and Pengkalan Kubor (21 km from Kota Bharu) are the most popular duty-free shopping zones. Visitors are spoilt for choice with a bewildering variety of goods, from trendy clothes, prayer mats, dainty tea sets, personal accessories to household equipment. More shopping can be done at Bukit Bunga in Jell. All these towns are equipped with Immigration and Customs offices. Business hours are usually from 900am to 700pm. In Rantau Panjang, accommodation is available for overnight visitors.

Cottage industries have long been a popular feature of the state. Although many crafts are now being produced in factories, cottage industries still thrive and are a big draw among tourists. Kelantan’s cottage industries are found mainly on the outskirts of Kota Bharu with the majority being not more than 10km from the town centre. The road to Pantai Cahaya Bulan is another highly recommended location for shoppers interested in cottage industries. Some of Kelantan’s most popular souvenirs are products of cottage industries.

One of the most sought-after products in Kelantan, batik is a fabric available in floral, geometrical or abstract patterns. Originally worn as a sarong, these days batik is used to create fashionable scarves, shirts, pareos and other fashion items. The art of batik-painting consists of creating hand-drawn or printed motifs on a fabric, then applying waxes and dyes onto the cloth. Watch the artists create beautiful hand drawn patterns or try your hand at batik-painting. Batik factories are located in Kampung Putih, Kubor Kuda and Kampung Badan.

kite is made and coloured as well as purchase exquisite souvenirs.

Songket or the Malaysian brocade is richly woven with gold or silver threadwork. Once exclusive to royalty, songket is now used by all, especially in weddings and ceremonies. In some songket weaving factories, visitors can watch ladies weaving this beautiful textile using traditional methods. Visit Kampung Penambang about 4km north of Kota Bharu to see this beautiful art.

Kelantan is renowned for its 925 silver jewellery and silverware. The skilled silversmiths produce a variety of items such as rings, earrings, trays, cases and brooches. You can visit silversmiths at Kampung Sireh, Kampung Morak and Kampung Badang.

Kelantan’s woodcarving is acclaimed as one of the best in the region. The artisans here produce ornate mirror frames, head boards, decorative panels for wall mounting and many more. Popular designs reflect floral motives and Islamic scriptures.