Herat's old city bazaar is among the finest in Afghanistan, a warren of covered lanes and specialized markets — each timar (market street) traditionally given over to a particular trade. The carpet bazaar is the most celebrated: Herat carpets, woven with fine wool and distinctive geometric patterns in reds and blues, are prized throughout the country and exported worldwide. The textile bazaar sells embroidered cloth in the Persian style, quite different from the heavier work of Kandahar or Kabul.
Beyond carpets, the bazaar trades in dried fruit, spices, metalwork, and the blue glassware traditionally associated with Herat. The morning hours are the most active, before the midday heat and prayer breaks. Bargaining is expected; prices start well above what you will ultimately pay.