Shopping in Tunisia

Q: I am visiting Tunisia in March and will be staying in Tunis for a week. Could you advise me on where to shop in the city and what to buy. I am on a tight budget, so I will be hunting for bargains. - Fiona Davis

A: Most shopping in Tunis is done in outdoor markets and shops, where local vendors sell their own crafts, art and food. The best place to find items worth taking home is in the souks of the medina. However, you will need to hone your bargaining skills to make sure you secure reasonable prices. If you don't have a local resident to assist you, visit the government shop (Société de Commercialisation des Produits de l'Artisanat at La Palmarium on Habib Bourguiba Avenue) to get an idea of prices. You will find that each souk specialises in one craft, so try the Souk des Étoffes for fabrics and clothes, the Souk el-Attarine for perfumes and spices and the Souk de la Laine for silver jewellery, Others you can try are the Souk el-Trouk for tailors and antique shops and the Souk des Chéchias for traditional scullcaps. You can also find local art, hand-woven carpets, woodwork, woven goods, pottery and copper and tin creations, If you prefer to spend your money in a more conventional shop where prices are listed, then opt for Hanout on Jemaa ez-Zeytouna street for great local crafts and Mains de Femmes on Habib Bourguiba for goods produced by women's co-operatives in the countryside. If you want to go shopping with ordinary Tunis residents, head for the Tunis City Mall. A vast shopping complex on the outskirts of the city, It houses over 80 brand-name outlets and a food court seating 600 diners. (9/1/11)