Top 10 Street Markets in The Middle East

 Top 10 Street Markets in  The Middle East...... 

There are many names for local marketplaces throughout the ancient, ethnic corners of the world of Middle East. Souq, Bazaar, Square, Market, Chowk, the list goes on, and on.

 

Marrakech: 

Marrakech is, Morocco's most exciting city among all. This hectic melting pot of colours, flavours, sights and smells has been a central trading place for centuries. Still today, it's the best place to do some serious shopping, and a choice of some luxurious Moroccan riads dotted around the old Medina will keep you well rested in between trips to the Souk. Venture beyond the tourist trap of Jemaa el Fna Square, where the snake handlers and souvenir stalls dwell, to discover hand-crafted gems hidden in the twisting labyrinth that is the Medina. You will be rewarded for your trip into the depths of this souk with classic Moroccan wares, from lamps to leather goods, carefully displayed by genuine craftsmen & you will be thankful for the trip.

 

The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey: 

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is high on most tourists’ itineraries, and for a good reason. This enormous site is the largest covered market in the world. Since its size and the variety of goods available make it easy to lose one's beatings, so be careful. If your time is limited and depending on what you are looking for, exploring the area around a particular gate can be helpful. Jewelry shoppers might find it easiest to enter through the Beyazıt Gate and follow Kalpakcılar Caddesi, which is the main walkway connecting it with the Nuruosmaniye Gate. Leaving the complex through that gate will take you to Nuruosmaniye Caddesi, with many interesting stores. Halfway between Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye Gates is Çarşıkapı Gate, which comes in handy when you need the easiest way to pass across the entire complex.Restaurants within the Grand Bazaar complex are known to be some of the best in Istanbul for one simple reason: 

Their customers have been depending on their services for decades and their longevity speaks to the quality.

Gold Souk, Dubai, UAE: 

 Largest, oldest and one-of-a-kind gold market happens to be in Dubai. In spite of the fact that the commodity is gold, it is the only market in the whole wide world that has no security outside the shops.More than 300 jewellers carry on their trade inside the Gold Souk, so if you're in the market for something sparkly, this is the place to come. By most accounts this market is known as one of the best places in the world to buy ‘cheap' gold. But rest assured, the government keeps a tight control over the quality of merchandise so you can buy with confidence. If you're prepared top haggle you could bag yourself a genuine bargain.Believe it or not, you have a scope to bargain for this precious metal as the shops sometimes set a high price for their products mostly for the reason that there is a high tourist turnover at the market.

Spice market, Istanbul, Turkey: 

Built in 1664, as part of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) complex, it is known in Turkish as Mısır Çarşısı, and sometimes translated to "Egyptian Bazaar" or 'Corn Market' (mısır means both Egypt and corn in Turkish).

Which spice to buy: 

  Sumac:

 

This maroon/burgundy colored spice is made from the berries of the wild Rhus Coriaria bush. It has a citric tartness that comes from the malic acid inside. Use it in salad dressings instead of lemon, or stir it into freshly steamed vegetables with a little olive oil.

Pul Biber:

 

These dried red pepper flakes are a mainstay of Turkish dishes, and you'll find it beside the salt in most Turkish restaurants.

Nar Ekşisi:

 

Made from a pomegranate reduction, this thick, viscous syrup is another Turkish kitchen essential.

Çörek otu :

 

Known in English as Nigella seeds (or sometimes as black cumin), the name literally translates to 'bun's herb' & many more herbs.

Old Medina, Essaouira, Morocco:   

Essaouira found favour in the sixties when stars such as Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix made their way here. With a touch of French flair, Portuguese architecture, Berber influence and geometric Arab dimensions, the town is a delight to discover. The Souk here is small, charming and very relaxed - the perfect place to improve your haggling technique before taking on the bigger markets, in say Marrakech or Tangier. Traders still observe traditional customs here, so if you do buy something, expect to be invited back to the shop for tea. And, once you’ve finished browsing opt to continue the market experience over lunch with a trip to one of the nearby open-air fish stalls. This is an experience not to be missed – prices can be haggled down and the fish is fresh, delicious and cooked right in front of you.

Medina, Fez, Morocco: 

Founded in the 9th century and home to the oldest university in the world, Fez reached its height in the 13th–14th centuries under the Marinids, when it replaced Marrakesh as the capital of the kingdom. The urban fabric and the principal monuments in the medina – madrasas, fondouks, palaces, residences, mosques and fountains - date from this period. Although the political capital of Morocco was transferred to Rabat in 1912, Fez has retained its status as the country's cultural and spiritual centre.

Muttrah Souk, Muscat, Oman: 

Inside its silver shops you can rummage through bowls of coins from Portugal, China, imperial India and even Nazi Germany. Outside on the waterfront the pretty fish market functions as it has done for centuries.

Khan El-Khalili, Cairo, Egypt: 

Khan el-Khalili is a famous bazaar and Souq in the historic center of Cairo, Egypt. Established as a center of trade in the Mamluk era and named for one of its several historic caravanserais, the bazaar district has since become one of Cairo's main attractions for tourists and Egyptians alike.

Most shops and stalls open from around 9am to well after sundown (except Friday morning and Sunday), although plenty of the souvenir vendors are open as long as there are customers, even on Sunday.

Old City of Jerusalem, Israel and the Palestinian Territories: 

Behind the gates of Jerusalem's Old City lies one of Israel's best attractions. The various quarters - Christian, Armenian, Muslim and Jewish - each offer up their own treasures, all just waiting to be discovered. And although religious souvenirs aimed at tourists are unavoidable, even if you’re not interested in religion a trip here is worth it for the palpable atmosphere alone, try it.

Must: Burj Khalifa, Dubai: 

Among the various places to visit in Dubai, Burj Khalifa is a highly exotic one. It is a skyscraper which was initially known as Burj Dubai before its inauguration in 2010. It has 57 elevators and 8 escalators. The interiors and the ambiance inside seem to be wrapped up in artistic exuberance.

“They say in the Middle East a Pessimist

 is simply an Optimist with Experience"

                                                                                  - Ehud Barak