Stores, Malls or Markets in Jerusalem

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The old city market is famous for its variety of people, items and everything, however, this is a truly tourist place where some items are well over prices. Barging is common here and often you can reduce prices of items.

MAMILLA's shopping street is newly openned and is a beautifull antic style open air mall that leads to the old city and offers a wondefull view and best shopping in town (clothing, jewellery);

Mamilla (Hebrew: îîéìàý) was an early neighbourhood constructed outside Jerusalem's Old City west from the Jaffa Gate, and now refers to the $400 million commercial and housing district developed in selected parts of the area.

Mamilla was originally established in the late 19th century as a mixed Jewish-Arab central business district. Between the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War, it was located along the armistice line between the Israeli and Jordanian-held sector of the city. It went into decline after many of its buildings were destroyed by Jordanian shelling. After 1967, the government decided to demolish what remained and rebuild it. Land was apportioned to residential and commercial zones, including hotels and office space, in what was to become one of the longest and most costly development plans in the history of modern Jerusalem. Most of the plan was finally realized by the summer of 2007 with the opening of its major mall and entertainment components.

What to buy: clothing jewellery everything

There is a realtively new shop on Salah ed Din Street which is beautyfully decorated and has a great selection on spices. If you don't want to get lost in the Old City, looking for the spices you would like to bring home to impress your friends and family, this is the place to go.

Even the israeli Haaretz had a report on it:

A taste of the Muslim Quarter
By Michal Palti

"Muakat, an orderly, meticulously run spice shop opened on Salah a-Din about a year ago. Every imaginable spice, from lavender to saffron, is displayed on wooden shelves - one will not find sacks of spices resting on the floor in this establishment. Prices range from a few to hundreds of shekels per 100 grams, and the service is excellent"

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/942963.html

What to buy: Spices, spices, spices...!

What to pay: range from a few to hundreds of shekels per 100 grams.

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Since 1922, the Balian family has been producing authentic and original ceramics.

The Balians were one of three Armenian families brought over to Jerusalem from Kutahya, Turkey (by the British government in 1917) to renovate the ceramic tiles of the Dome of The Rock.

All Balian's pottery is made from local and imported clays at their studio in East Jerusalem.

Hours Open: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM [Closed Sundays]

What to buy: Everything you like.

Everything you have ever seen in a Middle Eastern souq can be found in the shops of the Old City. Since there is no shortage of tourists, many of which will overpay to have something "from" Jerusalem, the asking prices are very high. I write "from" because a lot of what is for sale is not made in Jerusalem. I know this because you see many of the same exact things in Turkey and Egypt.

The shop owners can get pretty annoying as it is hard to avoid them because of the narrow streets. In order to walk to the Holy Sepulchre from Jaffa Gate, for example, you will have to walk past at least 50 shops.

Armenian crafts and art is a famous thing in Jerusalem and a lot of people love to buy those crafts.

Beside the things that you can buy like plates , vases you can also see the armenian art on buildings in jerusalem.

What to buy: Plates , Vases

What to pay: Depends on the thing you want to buy and of course the location

Mahne Yehuda market (in hebrew it is Shook Mahne yehuda) is a famous market in Jerusalem and one of the most in Israel.

This is a big open market with many stores (meat , fruits , vegetables , bakery and more).
The place is very colorful and is known as place for Beitar jerusalem's fan (and right winged people).


What to buy: You can find a lot of good things : fruits , vegetables , places to eat , spices , meat , toys and many many more.

Street vendor

What to buy: This is a bit bizarre experience. Instead of going to a shop, the shop comes to you. It looks like a regular Jewish clergyman, dressed in black with the traditional cap on top of his head. He would approach you with a greeting and a question about your place of origin (this must be an international tout trick). In my case this time it worked because he was quite knowledgeable of the soccer stars of BG so I was open for negotiation. What he wanted to sell to me was some sort of a good charm, represented by a red thread which is supposed to be worn as a bracelet. This reminded me of the BG martenitza minus the white thread so I was in for the bargain.

What to pay: Price of the bracelet was negligible but the value of his advice not leave my head uncovered was priceless.