The souq of Hebron's old city is one of the most atmospheric markets in the West Bank. It fills the narrow alleys beneath the Cave of the Patriarchs with stalls selling hand-blown glass — a craft Hebron has been known for since the Ottoman period — alongside pottery, leather goods, spices, dried fruit, and local sweets. The glassblowing workshops in the nearby Bab al-Zawiyah district are open to visitors; you can watch craftsmen gather molten glass from wood-fired furnaces and blow it into the distinctive cobalt and turquoise vessels sold throughout the region.
The old city around the souq is also where the political reality of Hebron is most visible. A section of the market has been closed for years by Israeli security orders; nets stretched above some alleys catch rubbish thrown from settler buildings above. Despite this, the Palestinian community here trades daily, and the quality of local crafts — particularly glass and ceramic tiles — is worth seeking out. Bargaining is expected.