When choosing where to study abroad, shopping is not usually the reason for making that choice. This is true until you step into Djiboutia! Streets buzz with shoppers on an everyday basis.
Many students here find the country to be so addictive when it comes to its shopping! If you are a shopaholic then Djiboutia will take your breath away with its souvenirs and crafts across its markest!
The country is free from large commercial malls, but the country won’t disappoint when it comes to shopping. For both locals and visitors, the market scene is something to look forward to.
The cities offer exciting, lively, and colorful stalls that sell all kinds of curiosities, crafts, and artifacts. Qat, a legal herbal stimulant (milder than coke or meth) is of particular interest.
Natives are fond of chewing this Ethiopian herb, which is regularly flown into the country every morning and sold in the Central Market in the afternoon.
Also called Arabian tea, Khat is relatively cheap but like most drugs, the quality varies. If you are curious to try this tradition, do shop with caution. Small markets are a hodgepodge of vendors selling fresh local fruits alongside shoes, shirts, and crafts.
Craft production is not a big thing in Djibouti, which is why the majority of souvenirs are mostly from neighboring countries like Kenya, Somalia, Yemen, and Ethiopia. African garments are of good quality and you can buy colorful dresses (known as boubous) at reasonably low prices.
If you enjoy seafood with your drink, La Mer Rouge (Ambouli, near the airport) is the place to try. This restaurant and bar specializing in crab and fresh fish dishes, along with other seafood delights like lobster, mussels, and clams.
It's one of the most popular restaurants in the country and features both indoor and outdoor seating at a beautiful location near the airport in Djibouti City.
Woodcarvings are also sold almost everywhere, but like most products, they come from outside of the country. Ethiopian coffee is a good treaty, as well as wooden vases and bead wallets.
In the sprawling central market, there’s a long line of souvenir stalls where all kinds of mass-produced gifts can be bought, most of which are from Kenya, India, Egypt, and Yemen.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
