Shopping in Jordan - outlets, shopping streets and boutiques

Jordan is a marvelous country with a rich heritage that is famous for its unique landmarks. However, these treasures are not the only reason why so many tourists visit Jordan every year. Many of them come to enjoy shopping. When choosing popular souvenirs for friends and family, pay your attention to such traditional choices as bottles with colorful sand, old coins, wooden and stone figurines depicting animals and birds, and handmade Bedouin jewelry. A carpet or kitchen wares made of ceramics or copper will be a more practical gift. Quite often, tourists buy hookah, items with traditional embroidery, tobacco, spices, sweets, coffee, and tea.

Candles from Jerusalem and glass crosses filled with water from the Jordan River are sold virtually everywhere. Fans of magnets will be excited to receive skillfully made ceramic magnets depicting scenes from the Bible. Cosmetics with the Dead Sea ingredients never lose its popularity. These can be mud for body and face, shampoo, soap, masks, cream, and bath salt. To buy local cosmetics, it is better to visit a special cosmetic shop or pharmacy because professional consultants will help to choose suitable treatments for each skin type and age.

As a rule, shops work from 9 – 10 am to 6 pm. Local shops can be closed for lunch from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Shopping centers do not have a lunchtime break and stay open two hours longer in the evening. Holidaymakers shouldn’t forget that shops can have different work hours during the month of Ramadan. Unlike many other countries, Friday is a day off in Jordan instead of Sunday. On Friday, shops close and numerous markets resume their work. This means that Friday is the best day to explore local markets. Of course, local markets are very crowded on this day because many Jordanians come to see their acquaintances rather than make purchases. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Merchants in both shops and markets are friendly and hospitable. Tourists shouldn’t be surprised or worried when they receive an invitation to drink a cup of tea. Do not refuse and respect this tradition in order not to offend the hospitable merchant. Bargaining is not just recommended, it is necessary because sellers always tell much higher prices at first. Female travelers have an advantage here - they are more likely to get a higher discount, as well as small gifts for purchase. Some sellers can deliver purchased goods to hotels. It may also be possible to ship large and heavy purchases using international carriers to tourists’ home countries.

Aqaba is the most popular shopping destination in the country. Not long ago, the city became the tax-free shopping zone, and this fact makes it even more pleasant for tourists to make purchases here. Among the most popular shopping centers in this city, it is important to mention Shweikh Mall, Dream Mall, Aqaba Gateway, and City Center Mall. The choice of oriental sweets is incredibly rich here. It is possible to buy delicious pastries virtually everywhere, but the South Market has, perhaps, the biggest variety.

Shopping in the capital is also pleasant and has its advantages. In Amman, tourists can visit the biggest market in Jordan, the Gold Souk. This is the right place for everyone who wants to feel the real atmosphere of the Middle East. Interesting handmade goods, gold and silver jewelry, colorful textiles, sweets, fruits, nuts, vegetables, spices – the list of goods for sale is virtually endless. Antiquity hunters will also find it interesting to visit the Gold Souk. However, travelers need to remember that they may not be allowed to take some antiquities home. According to local customs regulations, it is prohibited to export items older than a hundred years from the country.

Gold jewelry is one of the most popular categories of goods that travelers enjoy taking home. Local jewelry shops look absolutely fantastic – rows of shiny gold chains, bracelets, rings, and other jewelry pieces. The quality of items is high because this industry is regulated and controlled by the government. It is impossible to find fakes or gold of the lower quality than indicated. There are many shops in Safeway, Plaza Super Stores, and Jabal Al Hussein neighborhood. Al-Ameed Coffee is one of the best places to purchase coffee beans. This company also offers dried hibiscus flowers that are internationally consumed as a herbal tea.