The souks in the medina are the best places to shop for local flavour, but bargaining is essential. The main drag is the rue Jemaa ez-Zeytouna with shops selling mainly tourist souvenirs. Traditionally each souk is dedicated to a craft, so there is the Souk el-Attarine (perfumes and spices), Souk de la Laine (now silver jewellery) Souk des Étoffes (fabrics and clothes), Souk el-Trouk (tailors and some good antique shops), and the Souk des Chéchias (traditional felt scullcaps).

To get an idea of the range of crafts and prices, visit the government shop Société de Commercialisation des Produits de l'Artisanat at La Palmarium, avenue Habib Bourguiba. Mains des Femmes, 1st floor, 47 avenue Habib Bourguiba, sells crafts produced by women's cooperatives in the countryside. Slightly more expensive but quite unique is Hanout, 52 rue Jemaa ez-Zeytouna in the medina, which offers the best of Tunisian crafts.

Shops in the medina and in the new town are usually open Monday to Saturday 0900-1900.