Sousse Shopping

If you feel like bartering with the Tunisians, tell them you have BROUGHT a bottle of quality whisky with you, you may bag yourself a bargain. All branded Scotch whisky is a crazy price. I think Chivas Regal in a supermarket was £170 a bottle.

What to buy: Carpets and leatherware are favourite buys for tourists. Make sure to bargain because the street sellers start their prices high. The street sellers are skillful cheaters, though they will never admit they are cheaters. To buy cheap and sell expensive is a profession.

3 more images

If you're after souvenirs then you should head for the Medina, especially the narrow alleyways that run from the Ribat south towards the Kalat el-Koubba in the centre of the Medina. You can buy all sorts of stuff such as brass plates, clothes, shoes, porcelain plates and bowls, leather goods etc. Most of it is pretty tacky but there are some nice items. I have to say that the Medina in Sousse is better that the one in Tunis as it sells fruit and vegetables as well. As you're a tourist, you'll be easily spotted by the guys standing outside their shops or stalls who will call to you and offer you their best prices etc so this can be quite intimidating. Take care of yourself and remember to haggle hard!

If you go to Tunisia you have to go to the markets, they are called 'suuks'. The one I liked was that of Sousse, it is held every Sunday and it is very big. You will find lots of things, especailly bags, ok they are fake not originals but they are the same cute. But be careful if you want to buy do not give the vendor the price he asks, because they will rip you off. always haggle with them, you will get used to it. Some vendors want you to go to take a look at their shop, be careful because theyu will push you for sure to buy something.

Nicely prepared and sowed leather mantels and jackets.

Sami, beduine by origin, is one of the sellers on the leather section. He is plesant, but do not forget that he gives a really good price (high I mean) and bargain as this floor of the shopping center hasno fixed prices.

------
souvenirs are on the lower floor and are of the 'fixed price' kind

What to buy: Leather clothes

Within the walls of the medina you'll find a traditional Tunisian market with goods ranging rom spices to leather handbags or traditional clothing. As at all Tunisian markets haggling is a must, so if you feel uncomfortable about it I suggest you shop at a state shop with set prices. Otherwise, if you're in for a bit of fun remember that the shop keeper should say the price first and you're next step is to say one that's a third of the original. After a bit of haggling you'll come to a price suitable for both of you.

Visit the Soula shopping center (with fixed prices in a proper Western-style shopping center) in the Medina.

What to buy: Local crafts and gifts

What to pay: The prices are really value for money, and you wont need to haggle over the price.

Not all small shops in medina can bargain for price. If there is price tags, usually they don´t bargain. But You can ask - only once. If You try to bargain at fixed price shop, they get angry sometimes and go away. We met a shop owner who abandoned his shop if we asked for lower price and get alone in shop :)

usually You can gargain off two times the price. If some things cost 50 din, ask less than 25 and final price will be probably 25 din. Or less. If You are from UK, USA or other "high priced" country, You get higher price. People from Eastern Europe or Latin America get lower price. They usually ask, from where You are and according to that privovide a starting price. If You are dark brown skin, You get lower price (hint: say that You are inal days here and all money is spent).

What to buy: Handicraft is OK to buy. Quality is very varied but after bargaining, the price is just symbolic for European tourists.

What to pay: It depend on goods, but ask more than 2x lower price than first asked. it´s not quaranteed that You can buy at this price, but bargaining is an art there :)