Nasi kerabu
Herb-tinted blue rice served with ulam, sambal and your choice of side dishes.
Kota Bharu · Kelantan
Market, flavour & local stories
Step into the heart of Kota Bharu.
Siti Khadijah Market is more than a place to shop. It is a layered experience — wet produce on the ground floor, food and dry goods on the upper floors, all wrapped around the octagonal atrium that gives the building its signature look.
Reference hours
07:00–17:30
Open daily · check before you go
Suggested time
1–2 hours
Longer if you add nearby museums
Opening hours
Open every day · 07:00–17:30
Fridays usually start a little later, around 7:30 am, and trading slows between roughly 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm for Friday prayers. Reference hours only; festive seasons, Ramadan, public holidays and upgrading works can change trading times.
- Monday – Thursday
- 07:00 – 17:30
- Friday
- 07:30 – 17:30
- Slower around 12:00–14:00
- Saturday – Sunday
- 07:00 – 17:30
About the market
An octagon full of colour, sound and aroma.
The lookout from the upper floors down into the trading floor is what this market is famous for. The open layout turns fresh produce, spices, dried goods, textiles and handicrafts into one big stage of daily life in Kota Bharu.
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Octagonal plan
The architectural motif that gives it its identity.
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Several floors
From wet produce through to local dry goods.
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Trading culture
Women traders are a strong feature of this market.
Eating around the market
Arrive hungry.
Stalls change over time, but these are the Kelantan flavours worth hunting for inside the market and along the streets around it.
Laksam
Soft rolled rice noodles in a rich, coconut-infused fish gravy.
Akok
A soft Kelantan kuih sweetened with egg and palm sugar.
Serunding
Dry-cooked spiced meat or flaked fish; easy to bring home as a gift.
Traditional kuih
Breakfast and snack cakes such as jala mas and tahi itik, best early in the morning.
Local produce
Fruit, vegetables, spices and kitchen staples that fill the ground floor with colour.
How to enjoy it
Do not chase a list. Follow your senses.
Start on the ground floor, see what looks freshest, then work your way up. Ask prices politely, give traders space, and choose whatever genuinely appeals on the day you visit.
Plan your visit
Practical information, without guesswork.
Opening hours
Reference hours: 07:00–17:30 daily (Fridays around 07:30). Some listings show trading until 18:00, so check the map listing and on-site signage before you travel.
Tickets / payment
No entrance ticket is normally charged. Your budget depends on food and shopping. Prices differ by stall, so carry small cash.
Best time
Early morning, 07:00–10:00, offers the liveliest atmosphere, the freshest produce and cooler conditions.
How long
Allow 1–2 hours to explore several floors, eat and buy souvenirs without rushing.
Getting there
How to reach Jalan Buluh Kubu.
1
From Sultan Ismail Petra Airport
E-hailing or taxi is the most direct option. The drive into the market area usually takes around half an hour, depending on traffic.
2
By train
The station serving Kota Bharu is at Wakaf Bharu. From there, continue by taxi or e-hailing to the city centre and Jalan Buluh Kubu.
3
Already downtown
The market sits in a dense city-centre district full of shops and heritage sights. Walking works well if you are staying nearby; e-hailing is easier in heat or heavy rain.
Parking
Park early, walk a little.
Street bays and municipal paid parking surround central Kota Bharu, but spaces closest to the market fill up at busy times. Follow local payment signage and avoid blocking shop entrances or delivery access.
Practical tip
If you arrive after the breakfast rush, look for a space a few lanes away and walk in. It usually beats circling for the closest bay.
Location & contact
In the middle of Kota Bharu.
Jalan Buluh Kubu, Bandar Kota Bharu, 15000 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Plus code: 46JQ+2M Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Nearby attractions
Keep walking into old Kota Bharu.
The market works well as a starting point for exploring the city centre. Plan your walking route around the weather and the opening hours of other places.
Istana Jahar
Royal architecture and exhibitions on Kelantan customs.
Masjid Muhammadi
The state mosque and a landmark of the city skyline.
Kampung Kraftangan
A space to see local craft heritage and culture.
War Museum / Bank Kerapu
Historical stops near the heritage zone.
Kota Bharu street art
Mural lanes that are pleasant to walk and photograph.
Sultan Ismail Petra City Gate
An easy-to-reach city landmark in downtown Kota Bharu.
FAQ · Frequently asked questions
Before you drop by.
What time does Siti Khadijah Market open?+
Reference hours are around 7:00 am every day, with Friday usually starting slightly later at about 7:30 am. The freshest produce is available early in the morning.
What time does the market close?+
Most stalls trade until roughly 5:30 pm, although a few sources list trading up to 6:00 pm. Towards the end of the day some traders start packing up, so arrive earlier for the full selection.
Is Siti Khadijah Market closed on any day?+
The market operates every day of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays, and has no fixed weekly closing day. On Fridays trading slows down between roughly 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm for Friday prayers.
Is there an entrance fee?+
Visiting the market usually costs nothing. You only pay for the food, goods or services you buy. Check the signage on site if a special event changes this.
When is the best time to visit?+
Come between 7:00 am and 10:00 am for an active atmosphere, the widest choice of fresh produce and softer light in the octagonal atrium.
How long should I allow?+
Allow around one to two hours to walk several floors, try Kelantan food and buy souvenirs. Add more time if you plan to visit the museums and heritage buildings nearby.
Where can I park?+
There is street and municipal paid parking around Kota Bharu city centre, but the spaces closest to the market fill up quickly at peak hours. Follow local payment signage and consider parking a few streets away and walking.
What food should I try?+
Look for Kelantan dishes and snacks such as nasi kerabu, laksam, akok, serunding and traditional kuih like jala mas and tahi itik. Availability changes by stall and time of day.
Do stalls accept card or e-wallet payment?+
Bring small cash because many small stalls prefer it. Some traders accept cashless payment, but do not rely on it entirely.
Rating, photo & source notes
The 4.2/5 rating from 22,311 reviews was synchronised from Google Maps — Pasar Siti Khadijah in September 2026. The figure can change over time.
Opening hours are referenced from Waktu Operasi Pasar Siti Khadijah (waktuoperasi.my) and cross-checked with Tourism Kelantan — Pasar Siti Khadijah. Please confirm again before visiting during festive seasons or public holidays.
All photos are processed and stored locally within the project. Photo credits: Marufish (CC BY-SA 2.0), yeowatzup (CC BY 2.0), CK Tan (CC BY 3.0).