Books about Jordan and Petra and other Jordan Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Jeff's Book Shop

This is mainly a book shop, where you can find a wide assortment of the different books published about Jordan in general and Petra in particular. It is not specially cheap compared to others, but I wouldn't say that is more expensive than those other shops near Petra's entrance. Books are properly stored and you will find the all different language versions of the titles published.

What To Buy: Books, postcards and a few souvenirs.


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Theme: Books
Address: Just next to Petra's access gate

Wedouine tents in the middle of the desert are usually situated near the places where the 4x4 cars stop. Visitors will be offered a glass of tea (really nice and tasty), without the need to buy anything. You might find some interesting handicraft, maybe some local clothing, desert stones, tea, cardamom .... but the price is not specially cheap. Remember that these shops are certainly made for tourists. But, it is a nice experience. And the shop tenders are always nice, polite, and they welcome you to sit for a while at their tent, no matter if you finally buy anything from them



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Theme: Local Craft

Name of Shop: Music Box

If you want to buy cds in Amman, mind that most of the shops downtown, specially those in the souk, sell only home made copied cds. When asking for original cds, shop owners looked suprised and insisted in selling a copy telling that the quality is the same and the price is much lower. However, I didn't want to buy any copy, but some original jordanian pop cds. So I was told to go to Music Box shop at Mecca Mall shopping center. And yeah ... there I found a shop with original cds to buy. 4 brand new jordanian cds recently released for 24 dinars. Not bad.

What To Buy: Cds, Jordanian and Arabic music, International music.


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Theme: Music
Address: Mecca Mall, Mecca Street (end)

Name of Shop: Shops in the souq

Don't expect to find a souq like in Istanbul or Marrakesh. Apart from being an "open air" souq (with no roofs or buildings holding it), Amman's souq is not really a place for tourists to buy things. It is more a place for locals, with cheap prices, with food shops, barber shops, groceries, butchers', cheap clothing shops etc ... you might find some shops with handicraft or souvenirs for tourists, but just a very very few. But, be sure that prices here are much lower than in any other touristc place in Jordan. As low as 4 or 5 times the price you would be asked for if you buy anything in a shop near a touristic site.

However, it's an interesting place, and spending a while walking around Amman's souq won't be a waste of time.

The souq is located downtown, near the Roman Theatre and King Hussein Mosque.

What To Buy: Cheap clothes, food, vegetables, kitchen tools, handicrafts

What To Pay: Not much

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Theme: Other