The old city souq is the commercial and social heart of Nablus, a dense network of covered lanes where butchers, spice sellers, sweet shops, fabric merchants, and vegetable stalls operate within metres of each other. It is not a tourist market — it is where Nablus residents actually shop — and this gives it an energy and authenticity that staged bazaars in more heavily visited cities cannot replicate.
The covered sections of the souq, with their vaulted stone ceilings and shafts of light from high windows, are among the most atmospheric urban spaces in the West Bank. Look for the knafeh shops, where the city's famous sweet pastry is made in large circular trays and served warm, and the soap stalls selling locally produced olive oil soap. Allow at least an hour to wander without any particular destination.