Shopping: Bandung, Indonesia

Cibaduyut - The Shoe Lovers' Haven

If you have been to Cihampelas and the Ci Walk in Bandung, there is one more spot that one has to visit to experience shopping at its best in Bandung. This spot is called Cibaduyut, and Cibaduyut is to shoes what Cihampelas is to jeans and clothes. You would be able to find a fine collection of shoes in all types of designs, colours and types from all the renowned designers here at Jalan Cibaduyut. As you get to the place, a statue made out of two bronze shoes would greet you at the entrance, giving you an indication of what to expect once you start walking along Cibaduyut.

The bulk of shops along this street sell shoes of all sizes and sorts for your viewing and purchasing pleasure, and trust me when I tell you that you can get absolutely fantastic deals here, if you know the art of bargaining of course. The shops owners tend to raise the prices of their items further when they encounter foreign tourists, thus ensure that you are well-versed in the art of bargaining if you want to obtain excellent deals while you hunt for shoes that match your needs and budget.

The street is quite narrow, thus you would need to watch your step while you walk along the street looking for shoes, or you might end up nursing a twisted ankle before you can even reach a store. You would also need to be careful with the constantly moving traffic around the area that fills the atmosphere with undesirable fumes from the vehicles. Tourists brave these challenges for the simple fact that you can actually get really good bargains here at Cibaduyut, ask anyone who has been here, the mere size of the collections that are available would make you want to but a few pairs.

Remember however that the branded shoes that you find here are most likely to be imitations, nevertheless the quality of these items are acceptable, and they work fine if you are looking for some footwear to wear or bring home as souvenirs.  There are also plenty of local Indonesian shoes available, all of them priced reasonably and proving to be quite comfortable on the feet.

You would find all kinds of shoes here, for example there is a store called the Land Cruiser that sells safety shoes that are made of leather, useful if you are planning some hiking trips or looking at accomplishing some outdoor activities here at Bandung. Ladies should head to Nextdoors’ Grutty as they possess a large collection of women’s shoes and heels. Another store called Rofina sells soccer shoes that are not only functional but also attractive. There are also whole shoe markets (Nikita) as well as a large-sclae shoe centre (Pusat Perdagangan Sepatu) here, thus there is something for every need and budget when we speak of shoes and slippers.

All set for a shoe-shopping trip? Put on your walking shoes and head to Cibaduyut, you would return smiling with large bags filled with pairs and pairs of shoes, trust me on that!

 

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