With all of the beautiful, hand-crafted items on sale, you'll be spoilt for choice when shopping in Jordan!

This Jordan Shopping Guide gives detailed information about some of the best things to consider purchasing during your visit, as well as the best places to look for them. Use this page in conjunction with our Jordan Destination Guide and Jordan Restaurant Guide to ensure you get the most out of your trip.

Jordan Shopping Guide

The best place to start any shopping adventure in Jordan is the town's souk. Usually most towns will also have a number of good jewellery and craft shops. Jordan is famous for its gold and silver. Amman is particularly good in this regard, with a fascinating gold and jewellery market that features over 50 individual shops. Some of the popular items include finely crafted mother-of-pearl boxes, Hebron glass, jewelled worry beads and rosaries, backgammon sets, new and old copper and brass items, various embroidered items and pottery. Necklaces featuring a national symbol of Jordan - a small golden coffee pot, known as a dalleh - are very popular and available throughout the country.

Apart from jewellery, one of the most popular items for visitors to purchase are bottles decorated with coloured sand. Some of them feature extremely intricate sand patterns, done using a funnel and a knitting needle. The best ones are actually made out of coloured stones, ground down into a fine powder. Many of the cheaper versions simply use dyed sand, which tends to fade over time, especially when left in the sun. The best place to purchase these colourful mementos is Petra. Prices range from 5 JD for the dyed sand version to about 8 or 10 JD for the natural sand, or more for those that are larger or have a more intricate design.

The ubiquitous Arab headscarves, known as "kefiyas", are also a common purchase. Available in either red and white or black and white checked cotton, they range greatly in price, depending upon size, quality of material, decoration and whether or not they were made by hand. Wrapped around the head and neck, they are great for protecting oneself from the sun. Blue and green colours are also available, although these are solely for tourists, and locals would never be seen wearing one!

Bedouin knives are a unique purchase, although finding good quality, authentic ones may be difficult. Nevertheless, they can be quite ornate and attractive, with either a metal or horn handle. Be aware that the horn usually comes from a goat, so it is best to ensure that you can get this through customs in your home country before purchasing one. Wadi Rum is the best place to go to purchase an authentic Bedouin knife, although be prepared to pay upwards of 30 JD for one.

Other authentic and interesting souvenirs you may wish to purchase include narghilas (water pipes), various different types of rugs and carpets, including prayer rugs, clothes such as dresses, skirts and shawls, glass trinkets, marquetry and numerous ceramic items.

Standard shopping hours in Jordan are Saturday-Thursday 09:30-13:30 and 15:30-18:00, with some shops open as early as 08:00 and closing at 20:00. Shops are closed Friday except for in the Souk. Most of the souvenir shops accept Visa cards, and may accept other credit cards or travellers cheques as well.