Plovdiv Shopping

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Walking around the main pedestrian streets we noticed numerous stores, most of them with clothes, there are some upscale brands too. The prices a bit lower from Sofia and definitely much lower than other European countries.

Ulitsa Knyaz Aleksander is the main commercial street but you can also try some side streets or ulitsa Hristo Danov where there are less expensive stores.

For souvenirs, magnets and other typical things like that you can try some of the souvenir stores in the Old Town, there are many of them along Saborna street. You can also try some local handmade items like ceramics, some colorful plates, paintings etc

In late February most locals buy some red/white things, the streets were full of people selling those things, they call it martinica and they don’t cost much but it’s a symbolic move for health and happiness before spring. If you give this to a friend or relative is like wish them good health and happiness, they have to wear it till they see a stork, I guess they wont be many around so the alternative is till spring arrives :)

This lovely little store is very well-stocked with local hand-made produce, a run by the proprietory couple.

Georgi would even demonstrate the creation of a lovely little pot, making it seem so effortless.

The set I loved the most was the jug with holes around it, in which to hang the little ceramic spoons used for drinking raakia, for example. You can place this pot on one of the lovely colourful & ornate plates.

What to buy: Colourful plates, or the pot with the dainty spoons hung on it.

What to pay: Prices start from 5 levas for small single items.

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It is a regular shopping center.It has 2 parts,like twins.On the 1-st and 2-nd floor there are shops where you can buy shoes and clothes.In the center there are also 2 restaurants,cafe and disco.
It is nothing special,I actually go there if I can't find what I'm looking for at other places but ut's not bad. Sometimes there are good offers

This is Plovdiv's newest shopping mall which is due to open in spring 2010. Markovo Tepe was one of the city's seven hills before it was razed in the early 20th century and its rock used as paving for the city's streets. Laying the foundations for the building proved to be a major undertaking as the former hills syenite rock base was still intact and had to be labouriously cleared before the 16 metre foundations could be sunk. The finished mall will be a three storey building with a 10 storey high rise. It will host over 100 shops, a major supermarket, a bowling centre and a variety of restaurants and cafes.

What to buy: At the old town, along Saborna street you will find lots of souvenirs. Crafts and work (reproductions) of artists can be bought for 10 lv. Popular are prints of painting of old plovdiv. At the State Gallery of Fine arts you can buy traditional music for about 10 lv on cd’s. At house museums and galleries you also might find possibilities to purchase art, which might be a more expensive business.

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I'm always a sucker for a real, live market. It must come from shopping at the supermarket so often in my daily life, and being able to thrill that people, in the course of their day, buy fresh, flavorful produce.

This isn't the most colorful market if you've been to them in, say, SE Asia, but it is great to see what's in season, and watch the interaction of the locals.

There are also several stalls selling food that's already made, in the grilled meat on a pita vein.

What to buy: Whatever looks good and is in season. There was also an amazing selection of honey.

We used the spice for years later on lamb chops. Can't get anything as good in Oz.

What to pay: I think they were 2 leva each