Has anyone ever been? The girls love markets and I was wondering if this one on Thursdays is worth a visit.

If not, do you have other suggestions?

Thanks.

I'll ask my friend, who is pretty familiar with Beersheba.

Hello Kim,

I'm short on time right now, but in my opinion you'd be better off seeing the other major markets in the country :

1) Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem : probably the most attractive, and even slowly acquiring a "hip" side (cafes, restaurants, even a good gelateria)

2) The bazaar in the Old City, Jerusalem - very colorful, and very easy to get lost in. Plus you have the benefit of being very close to the interesting historical, religious and archeological sites inside the walls.

3) The Carmel market in Tel Aviv

4) The market in Haifa (Wadi Nisnas, and another whose name has slipped my mind). Also close to the Bahai Temple and Gardens. BTW, Haifa has a nice festival during December called the Holiday of Holidays - because of the coinciding Jewish, Moslem and Christian religious holidays during this month. Here's an outdated link :
http://www.ynetnews.com/articl...40,L-3339569,00.html

5) The market in Nazareth

Any of these will make the Be'er Sheba market look drab.

I'll try get back to your posts on the weekend.

Kim, did you get to the Nachalat Benyamin craft market on Tuesdays and Fridays next to the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv last time?

We did Amy but are hoping to return again this trip.

Joe, thanks for the tip on the festival. One of my other questions is whether or not it makes sense to stay in Haifa or visit on day trips from Tel Aviv...

I think I found the site for the Holiday of Holidays festival but unfortunately, my Hebrew is non-existent.

quote:

Originally posted by Kim:
I think I found the site for the Holiday of Holidays festival but unfortunately, my Hebrew is non-existent.

The English part is here : http://www.haifahag.co.il/english.htm

but under construction. You know what "under construction" means in Israel. Depends on who's in gov't....
IAC, by the time you get here you'll probably be able to get the relevant info. If you are only coming towards the end of December, you might miss the festival.

quote:

Originally posted by Kim:
One of my other questions is whether or not it makes sense to stay in Haifa or visit on day trips from Tel Aviv...

You'll have to be the judge of that. Personally, I hate driving in and out of a big city, more so if I'm not familiar with it. Waste of time for the effort put in. At the end of December days are also very short - so the drive back will probably be in the dark. No scenery, and harder to to navigate. Unless you are going for taxis and trains as your way of getting around between the cities.

Haifa has enough to offer for a nice day, after which you can either stay overnight in the city, or leave in the evening for a more closer destination.

Check also the option of staying in an out-of-town B&B ("zimmer") : this mode of accommodation has become very popular the last five years, and there are many nice ones in any area of the country.

Another two markets that you might be familiar with : the open market in old Akko (Acre), and the Jaffa flea market (Tel Aviv). In addition, there is a relatively new night market at the Tel Aviv port, open from 18:00 - 02:00 twice a week. Not sure if all year round. In the same area you have a farmer's market every Friday afternoon.

I would try the market in Nablus
or
the turkey swam-ma shop off the main plaza in Ramallah.