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City Guide - Jerusalem - Shopping | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shopping The Old City has much to offer, with the colourful bazaars of the Muslim Quarter selling souvenirs of olive wood, mother-of-pearl, leather and hand-blown glass. As the Muslim Quarter leads onto the Christian Quarter, souvenirs take the form of religious artefacts. Arabic sweets and pastries are plentiful if you have a sweet tooth. Bargaining here is standard practice and you can generally get about one quarter off the asking price. The hub of East Jerusalem is centred on the Damascus Gate, where traders gather to sell anything from household wares to fresh farm produce. This market is full of the bustle of a living city and unlike the markets of the Muslim Quarter sells to locals as well as tourists. By contrast, the shops of West Jerusalem are much as you'd find in Europe. For traditional crafts and Judaica head for the House of Quality, the Khutzot Hayotser Arts and Crafts Lane, Yochanan Migush Halav Street and the Mea Shearin area. The Cardo in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City has several exclusive shops selling clothing and objets d'art. Several hundred shops are listed by the Ministry of Tourism and display a special emblem as a symbol of fair pricing. These carry a range of goods from exclusive jewellery and diamonds to oriental carpets, ladies' wear and leather goods. In general, opening hours for most shops are Sunday to Thursday 0900-1900, although some close for a midday break between 1300 and 1600. All shops and businesses in West Jerusalem are closed on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath; but the Muslim Quarter and the markets of East Jerusalem are also quiet on Saturday as it is the Muslim holy day as well. The Christian Quarter and shops will close on Sundays. Value Added Tax (VAT) at a current rate of 17% is quoted in the price of all goods and services. Tourists buying goods at shops listed by the Ministry of Tourism may be entitled to claim the tax back. Be sure to obtain a special invoice at the time of purchase, and on departure, tax will be refunded. |
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