Some people just like to go sightseeing and explore when they visit new towns and cities while others along with these like to shop and buy local crafts. Vacation shopping is a lot of fun and most people love to go on a shopping spree while on holiday.
The Middle East is increasingly becoming a shopping hub across the world with shopping festivals in Dubai and other main cities in the Middle East. Jordan is no exception when it comes to shopping culture!
This country has no shortage of shopping opportunities with towns all having their local markets called souqs. You’ll be able to find everything under the sun from live chickens to handcrafted clothing for sale and a walk through the stalls is a traditional Middle Eastern style.
Haggling is a common thing, but remember that most patrons are not in the business to rip people off, and negotiating should be done mutually respectful and, even better, with a grin.
Handicrafts are a big thing in Jordan as many traditional individuals make cultural emblems to merchandise in the markets. One favorite is the mosaic and many youths are sent to local mosaic training centers to learn the ancient craft.
There is no shortage of vendors peddling new designs so you’re bound to find something that tickles their passion. Another popular souvenir here is the painstaking art of one of a kind, hand-painted ostrich eggs.
Strikingly complex scenes have been painted on these oversized eggs, one needle prick at a time. No two dots are the same so you can be sure you have a genuinely unique gift.
Unlike Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, the trading history of the country mostly revolves around goods passing through rather than being manufactured; no city within the boundaries of modern Jordan has ever come near to matching the craftsmanship on display in the workshops and bazaars of Aleppo, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Cairo.
Ultimately, travelers who visit local souqs can also get massive deals on gold jewelry in the country. Usually, no less than eighteen karats, a local craftsman can shape the metal into any design requested, often only prising for the precious metal itself and not for the labor.
Traditionally, people here have simply made whatever they want for themselves; carpets, jugs, jewelry -without their skills being taken into account or valued by outsiders.
Today, although a few countable outlets around the country sell local crafts, Jordan has no Damascus-style craft malls. You may come across products of aesthetic value here and there, but your chances of picking up bargain antiques are very slim, and any that you might come across almost certainly originate from outside the country.
For the record, Jordanian law disallows the purchase of any item dating from before 1700.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
