Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shops and Markets
When it comes to shopping, the main attractions in
Jerusalem are the souks (markets) of the Old City. In
comparison with the great bazaars of Istanbul or Cairo,
Jerusalem's souks are perhaps a little small, and the
array of goods on offer is largely limited to souvenir
items such as T-shirts and religious articles, but they
still reward exploration. There is better shopping
elsewhere, however, notably in the modern centre of
West Jerusalem, where you'll find high-street shopping
and malls, and areas of interesting boutiques: see
Where to Shop, below. For more information on
methods of payment and bargaining, see pp284-5.
Sacks of spices at a shop on the Old
City's Souk Khan el-Zeit Street
shopping. For boutique
shopping, visit nearby Ben
Hillel and Bezalel Streets.
However, for the most diverse
selection of interesting shops
you need to take a taxi south
to Emek Refa'im Street in the
German Colony (it is just five
minutes from the King David
Hotel/Y
in the Muristan
(see pp90-91)
specialise in leather, while
the Via Dolorosa is strong on
religious items. Most diverse
of all is Souk Khan el-Zeit,
where stores sell everything
from CDs and clothes to live
chickens and honey-drenched
Arabic pastries.
West Jerusalem has an
excellent covered central
market in
Mahane Yehuda
,
which runs between Agrippas
Street and Jaffa Road. Many
stalls sell fruit and vegetables,
but there are also fishmongers,
butchers, sellers of dairy
produce, olives, nuts and
dried fruits, plus clothing
stalls. There are a handful
of cafés and even a couple of
small jewellery and designer
apparel boutiques. The
market is open Monday to
Thursday from 9am to 8pm,
and Friday 9am to one hour
before Shabbat.
Y CA), which boasts
A
a mile-long stretch of chic
boutiques and cafés.
MARKETS
The streets in the Muslim
and Christian Quarters of the
Old City form a single large
market, or souk. In the
traditional Middle Eastern
manner, different areas
specialise in specific wares.
David Street, for example,
which runs east from the Jaffa
Gate area, is almost entirely
devoted to tourist trinkets and
is the place to buy Christian-
themed kitsch. Christian
Quarter Road, off David
Street, is more upmarket and,
in addition to more religious
souvenirs, also sells items
such as richly coloured
Palestinian rugs, covers and
dresses. Many of the shops
Religious souvenirs are popular
throughout the Old City
OPENING HOURS
Shops in the Muslim Quarter
of the Old City and in East
Jerusalem are open daily
except for Friday morning -
Friday being the Islamic holy
day. Many shops and stalls in
the souks of the Old City are
also closed all day Sunday, as
many of the shop owners are
Christian. Shops in the Jewish
Quarter of the Old City and
throughout West Jerusalem
are open Sunday to Thursday
from around 9am to 7pm,
Friday from 9am to 3pm, and
closed Saturday. Beware of
local religious holidays
(see
pp36-9)
: during the holy
month of Ramadan Muslim
shops close 30 minutes to
one hour before sunset. All
Jewish-owned businesses
close for Jewish holidays.
ANTIQUES
In Jerusalem (and Israel in
general), unlike other parts
of the Holy Land, you may
buy antiques and objects from
excavations, but to take them
WHERE TO SHOP
Away from the Old City, visit
A
King George V Street around
the intersection with Jaffa
Road for general high-street
A typical antiques shop in the Christian Quarter of the Old City
