Where to Shop in Niue
Niue is certainly not a shopping destination but shopping is more like a welcome addition to your getaway to paradise. The island doesn’t have any malls, a cinema or even a pharmacy. What it does have are boutique gift shops and markets to at least give you your shopping fix when it comes to handcrafted and locally-designed souvenirs. Getting supplies for groceries or on-the-shelf health products is easy with the island’s large supermarket and well-stocked convenience stores. Find out more about shopping in Niue in this guide.
5 Quick Tips for Shopping in Niue
Before we get into a more in-depth guide to shopping in Niue, here are a few quick tips to get you started:
- While stores accept New Zealand bank cards, MasterCard and Visa, make sure you have cash available for the markets, weaving groups and Village Show Days
- Haggling the price is not customary in Niue
- While most stores are open 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday, be aware of “odd hours” especially kept by gift shops and art galleries
- If you have bought any food products to take home with you, be sure to check if you need a phytosanitary or a zoosanitary certificate for them at the quarantine office of Hanan Airport
- Pack foods like honey or coconuts into your check-in luggage for your departure flight from Niue, remembering that you can’t carry pastes or liquids into your carry-on.
We also have a few tips about paying for things in Niue listed in the 11 Money Tips for Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comThe Best Places to Go Shopping in Niue
Forget bustling shopping malls where you can shop until you drop, fuel up with a McDonald’s, and keep going. Niue provides a very relaxed shopping experience with a small choice of gift shops and supermarkets. While there is the odd store hidden here and there around the island, most of Niue’s shopping opportunities are in the Alofi Commerical Centre, as well as at the Swanson Shopping Complex near the airport.
Alofi Commercial Centre
Located in the town centre of Alofi, opposite the Ekalesia Church and a short stroll from the Visitor Information Centre, the Commercial Centre is where you’ll find a small selection of gift shops, an art gallery, a few restaurants, the bank and post office and a phone store. The small complex of shops surrounds a central grassy courtyard with a children’s playground and picnic tables in the shade.
Swanson Shopping Complex
Situated along Tapeu-Poritt Road between Hanan Airport and Alofi, the Swanson Complex is impossible to miss with its giant uga (coconut crab) sculpture at the entrance. It’s home to the Swanson Supermarket (see the section below), as well as a couple of clothes stores, a cocktail bar, a cafe, the Niue Philatelic & Numismatic office and more.
Niue Market
The Niue Market or “Markete” is located in Alofi town centre next door to the Visitor Information Centre. Markets take place several times a week, with a usual schedule in the 5 Best Markets in Niue, as well as posted at the entrance of the Visitor Information Centre (next door). It’s a good place to pick up local gifts, produce and hot food.
© NiuePocketGuide.comThe Best Shops in Niue
Niue has a fantastic range of gifts and souvenirs to purchase, each individually made or locally grown for something unique and special. Gifts and souvenirs can be picked up from Niue’s gift shops, as well as the local markets.
The 5 Best Gift Shops in Niue
Niue has a small selection of gift shops, particularly in the Commercial Centre in Alofi. As you travel around the island, you’ll also find the occasional hidden gem.
- Kauhi Krafts, behind the Alofi Commercial Centre
- Hinapoto Handicrafts, Alofi Commercial Centre
- Tahiono Art Gallery, Alofi Commercial Centre
- Niue Vanilla International, opposite Utuko Reef, Alofi
- Tiki’s Coconut & Handicrafts, Hakupu village green.
Find out more about the gift shops, opening hours and what they sell in the 10 Best Shops to Buy Souvenirs in Niue.
The Best Clothing Stores in Niue
Whether you’re looking for some Niue apparel to remember your trip by or you broke your sunglasses and need a new pair, these are the stores that will keep you well-dressed in Niue:
- Taoke Prints, Alofi Commercial Centre
- Soul, Swanson Complex
- Kauhi Krafts, behind the Alofi Commercial Centre
- Niue Vanilla International, opposite Utuko Reef, Alofi
- Kendra’s Kollection/KMark, Swanson Complex.
Learn more about some of these stores in the 10 Best Shops to Buy Souvenirs in Niue.
5 Best Craft Markets & Events in Niue
The Niue Market has an array of stalls selling handicrafts and local food products. It’s the ideal place to mingle with the locals and pick up something authentic. The Airport Market is a smaller affair but still has an interesting selection of stalls, typically the same as what is at the Niue Market.
- Niue Market, next to the Information Centre, Alofi
- Women at Work Market, Niue Market, Alofi
- Airport Market, Hanan Airport, Alofi
- Weaving Groups, Aliutu Hall and Makini Hall, Alofi
- Village Show Days, all over Niue.
Learn more about show days in What are the Village Show Days in Niue? Plus, check out the usual schedule of markets in the 5 Best Markets in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comGroceries and Essentials in Niue
For a remote island, Niue is well stocked with the type of groceries and essentials you’re probably used to. In the supermarkets, convenience stores and village shops, you’ll find a mix of imported goods from New Zealand, as well as local produce and products.
Learn more about where to buy food and essential items in The Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Niue and Information, Shops & Services in Niue.
More About Shopping in Niue
Now that you know all about shopping in Niue, as well as the best shops in Niue, take a look at more of our guides that will help plan the perfect shop-a-holic’s outing:
- Duty-Free Shopping in Niue
- 10 Best Souvenirs & Gifts from Niue
- Information, Shops & Services in Niue
Finally, add more activities beyond shopping to the bucket list using the 101 Things to Do in Niue: The Ultimate List. Plus, work out all the logistics of planning a Niue getaway in The Complete Travel Guide to Niue.
