Shopping · Jerusalem · Israel
Shopping in Jerusalem
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Jerusalem shopping centres on religious and craft items — Armenian ceramics, olive wood, Judaica — plus spices and sweets from the markets. Best souvenirs: Armenian ceramics, Olive-wood carvings and Judaica.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Armenian ceramics
Where to shop
Old City souq
Christian Quarter and Muslim Quarter lanes for ceramics, olive-wood carvings, scarves and spices.
Mamilla Avenue
An open-air street of international brands and Israeli designers leading to Jaffa Gate.
Ben Yehuda Street
Judaica, jewellery and souvenir shops on the pedestrian street in the city centre.
Jewish Quarter and Cardo
Galleries and Judaica shops in the restored colonnaded street.
Markets
Mahane Yehuda Market
Spices, halva, dried fruit, tea blends and baked goods.
Souq Khan al-Zeit
The Old City's main market street for spices, sweets and everyday goods.
What to buy
Armenian ceramics
Hand-painted tiles, bowls and plates from workshops in the Armenian and Christian quarters.
Olive-wood carvings
Nativity sets, crosses and bowls, a long-standing Bethlehem craft.
Judaica
Mezuzahs, menorahs and Kiddush cups from shops on Ben Yehuda Street and in the Jewish Quarter.
Spices and halva
Za'atar, sumac and blocks of halva from Mahane Yehuda, vacuum-packed for travel.
Dead Sea skincare
Mineral salts and mud products widely sold in the city.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Muslim Quarter
Via Dolorosa
The traditional route of Jesus's final walk runs from near Lions' Gate through the Muslim and Christian quarters to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marked by fourteen Stations of the Cross.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Market · Muslim Quarter
Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter souq
Damascus Gate is the most ornate of the Ottoman gates and the busiest entrance to the Old City, with vendors selling ka'ak bread and produce on the steps.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
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Market · Nachlaot and Mahane Yehuda
Mahane Yehuda Market
Jerusalem's main market, known as the shuk, has around 250 stalls of produce, spices, halva, cheeses and baked goods between Jaffa Road and Agrippas Street.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Ka'ak al-Quds, Knafeh, Rugelach and Mint tea and Arabic coffee. Carts and bakeries around Damascus Gate and inside the Muslim Quarter. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Old City | $$ | Stone lanes, holy sites and pilgrim guesthouses inside the walls |
| Mamilla and Jaffa Gate | $$$$ | Luxury hotels and an open-air shopping avenue just outside the walls |
| City Centre | $$ | Ben Yehuda and Jaffa Road cafés, the light rail and mid-range hotels |
| Nachlaot and Mahane Yehuda | $$ | Courtyard lanes, tiny synagogues and the city's liveliest market |
| German Colony and Emek Refaim | $$$ | Templer stone houses, a leafy restaurant street and the First Station |
| East Jerusalem near Damascus Gate | $$ | Arabic-speaking neighbourhoods north of the walls along Nablus Road and Salah ad-Din Street |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in ILS. In restaurants a tip of around 10–15% is customary if service is not included; round up for taxis and tip guides at the end of a tour.
- Bargain politely in the Old City souq; it is expected, and a smile helps.
- Eat a big hummus or falafel lunch and shop for picnic supplies at Mahane Yehuda.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are April.
- March: Jerusalem Marathon (usually March)
- June: Jerusalem Light Festival in the Old City (usually early summer)
- July: Jerusalem Film Festival (usually July)
- December: Christmas celebrations (25 December; Orthodox Christmas on 7 January)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples, first-timers and shopping
Mamilla and Jaffa Gate
Luxury hotels and an open-air shopping avenue just outside the walls
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Jerusalem?
Armenian ceramics, Olive-wood carvings, Judaica and Spices and halva.
+Where is the best shopping in Jerusalem?
Old City souq: Christian Quarter and Muslim Quarter lanes for ceramics, olive-wood carvings, scarves and spices.
+What are the best markets in Jerusalem?
Mahane Yehuda Market and Souq Khan al-Zeit.