Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana, a 16th-century Qutb Shahi city of pearls, palaces, and biryani that is now also one of India's biggest technology and film-making hubs. Charminar and the Laad Bazaar bangle lanes, Golconda Fort, and the Nizams' Chowmahalla Palace sit within a short ride of the glass towers of Hitech City.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Hyderabadi pearls
Cultured freshwater and natural pearls strung or set into jewellery, historically traded through the Charminar area.
Price: ₹1,000-1,00,000+ (~$10-1,040+)
Where: Pathergatti pearl lanes, Laad Bazaar, established showrooms near Charminar
Lac bangles
Colourful bangles made with lac (resin) and set with stones or glass, sold by the dozen.
Price: ₹150-1,500 (~$2-16) per dozen
Where: Laad Bazaar, Sultan Bazaar
Bidri ware
Black-metal pieces (zinc-copper alloy) inlaid with silver, a Deccan craft from Bidar, made into boxes, vases, jewellery and trays.
Price: ₹500-30,000 (~$5-312)
Where: Lepakshi Emporium, Shilparamam, Charminar craft shops
Pochampally ikat sarees and fabrics
Handwoven ikat silks and cottons from Pochampally village, about 50 km from the city, with geometric patterns.
Price: ₹1,500-25,000 (~$16-260)
Where: Lepakshi, Pochampally Handloom Park stores, Abids, Shilparamam
Himroo shawls and Gadwal sarees
Traditional Deccan weaves; Himroo is an Aurangabad-origin silk and cotton weave, and Gadwal is a Telangana silk-cotton saree.
Price: ₹2,000-30,000 (~$21-312)
Where: Lepakshi Emporium, Abids, Gunfoundry
Attar (natural perfume oil)
Alcohol-free perfume oils in small glass bottles, including rose, khus and musk, sold in traditional perfumers near Charminar.
Price: ₹150-3,000 (~$2-31) per 10 ml
Where: Charminar and Pathergatti, Laad Bazaar perfumers
Nirmal paintings and Kondapalli toys
Gold-tinted Nirmal miniature paintings and wooden Kondapalli figurines from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Price: ₹300-8,000 (~$3-83)
Where: Lepakshi Emporium, Shilparamam
Karachi Bakery fruit biscuits and Osmania biscuits
Long-lasting fruit biscuits, cashew biscuits and Osmania biscuits, popular gifts that travel well.
Price: ₹100-500 (~$1-5) per box
Where: Karachi Bakery outlets at Moazzam Jahi Market, Secunderabad and Hyderabad airport
Dry fruit and Hyderabadi spices
Dates, almonds, pistachios and masalas such as biryani mix and haleem mix.
Price: ₹200-2,000 (~$2-21)
Where: Begum Bazaar, Moazzam Jahi Market
Silver filigree and jhumkas
Traditional silver ornaments and oxidised jewellery, including Hyderabadi jhumka earrings.
Price: ₹300-10,000 (~$3-104)
Where: Laad Bazaar, Sultan Bazaar, Charminar showrooms
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Laad Bazaar
A narrow bazaar running west from Charminar with hundreds of bangle shops, pearl dealers and fabric stalls, busiest in the evening and during Ramzan.
Where: Charminar, Old City
Hours: Daily approx 10:30-21:30; many shops closed on Friday mornings
Pathergatti Pearl Market
The Old City's pearl lanes near Charminar, where shops sell loose pearls, strands and jewellery sets and are known as the centre of Hyderabad's centuries-old pearl trade.
Where: Charminar, Old City
Hours: Daily approx 10:30-20:30; some shops closed on Friday mornings
Begum Bazaar
The city's oldest and largest wholesale market with narrow lanes of grain, spice, dry fruit and household-goods dealers.
Where: Begum Bazaar, near Afzalgunj
Hours: Daily approx 10:00-20:30; many shops closed Sunday
Sultan Bazaar
A busy market street in Koti selling sarees, costume jewellery, bangles, kurtas and household goods at negotiable prices.
Where: Koti, Central Hyderabad
Hours: Daily approx 10:30-21:00
Shilparamam Arts, Crafts and Cultural Village
A 65-acre crafts village near Hitech City with artisan stalls, an open-air amphitheatre and rotating regional craft fairs.
Where: Madhapur / Hitech City
Hours: Daily approx 10:30-20:30; check for special exhibitions
Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium (Gunfoundry)
The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana government handicrafts emporium, offering certified handicrafts and handloom items at fixed prices.
Where: Abids, Central Hyderabad
Hours: Daily approx 10:00-20:00; closed on some public holidays
Numaish (All India Industrial Exhibition)
A 45-day annual exhibition organised by the Exhibition Society, drawing stalls from across India and a huge Hyderabadi crowd every winter.
Where: Nampally
Hours: Daily 16:00-22:00 during the exhibition, held about 1 January to 15 February
Moazzam Jahi Market
A 1935 granite market building in the Abids area, known for fresh fruit, the Jumbo Jewel ice cream shop and dry-fruit sellers.
Where: Abids / Nampally
Hours: Daily approx 09:00-21:00
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Laad Bazaar and Charminar
The 400-year-old bazaar street running west from Charminar to Chowmahalla Palace, famous for lac bangles set with stones, pearls, attar, textiles and Nizami-style souvenirs.
Best for: Lac bangles, pearls, attar, wedding wear, souvenirs
Pathergatti and Pearl Market
The Old City's pearl and jewellery lanes, where freshwater and Basra pearls, sets and loose strands are sold from small shops and established showrooms.
Best for: Pearls, silver and gold jewellery
Begum Bazaar
Hyderabad's biggest wholesale market for groceries, spices, dry fruit, utensils, stationery, fabric and electronics, trading on the north bank of the Musi.
Best for: Spices, dry fruit, utensils, wholesale goods
Sultan Bazaar and Koti
A dense retail district for sarees, fabrics, imitation jewellery, bangles, electronics and books along Sultan Bazaar and Koti Women's College roads.
Best for: Sarees, imitation jewellery, fabric
Abids and Nampally
Central Hyderabad's classic shopping belt with bookshops, handicraft stores, Lepakshi emporium, textile showrooms and, in winter, the Nampally Numaish exhibition.
Best for: Books, handicrafts, textiles
Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills
The upmarket boutique and designer belt with fashion stores, jewellery showrooms, art galleries, cafes and GVK One mall.
Best for: Designer wear, jewellery, art, fashion
Hitech City, Madhapur and Gachibowli
The technology corridor with Inorbit Mall, Sarath City Capital Mall and Shilparamam, for brand shopping, cinemas and food courts.
Best for: Malls, electronics, international brands
Secunderabad (Paradise, Regimental Bazaar and Sardar Patel Road)
A British-era cantonment shopping district for clothing, footwear, electronics, Karachi Bakery biscuits and general goods.
Best for: Clothing, footwear, bakery goods
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Inorbit Mall Hyderabad
A large mall on the Hitech City road with international and Indian brands, a multiplex and a food court, near Hitex and Durgam Cheruvu.
Hours: Daily 11:00-22:00
Sarath City Capital Mall
One of Asia's larger malls by size, with major brand stores, a multiplex, an indoor family entertainment area and multiple food courts.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:30
GVK One
Banjara Hills' upscale mall with luxury and premium brands, restaurants and a cinema, next to the Taj Krishna and Park Hyatt hotels.
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Forum Sujana Mall
A busy mall in north-west Hyderabad with department stores, a multiplex and food courts, close to the Kukatpally Metro (Red Line).
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargain at Laad Bazaar, Begum Bazaar, Sultan Bazaar and pavement stalls; do not bargain in malls, government emporia such as Lepakshi or fixed-price pearl showrooms.
Start at about half of the first price and settle at 60 to 75 percent; walk away politely if the seller will not move, as they often call you back.
Ask for a certificate or a bill for pearls, and buy only from shops with a fixed address; ask the shopkeeper how the pearl is graded (natural, cultured or imitation).
Test pearls by rubbing two lightly together; real pearls feel slightly gritty, plastic ones are smooth and lighter.
Compare prices at two or three shops before buying jewellery, and pay by card or UPI at established shops so a receipt exists.
Avoid buying from anyone who approaches you near Charminar offering a special price or a 'factory' visit.
Carry small notes (₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100) because change is often short at stalls, and count change before leaving.
Visit the Old City lanes in the morning or early afternoon; evenings are crowded, especially on Fridays and during Ramzan.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Payment: Cards and UPI are accepted in malls, emporia and most shops; foreign-issued cards cannot use UPI QR codes. Street stalls and older markets prefer cash in rupees, so carry some. ATMs are found at Charminar, Abids and Nampally.
Opening Days: Old City shops usually open around 10:30 and close by 21:00 to 22:00; some pearl and bangle shops close on Friday mornings for prayers. Begum Bazaar is quiet on Sundays. Malls open daily from about 10:00 or 11:00 to 22:00 or 23:00.
Haggling Etiquette: Haggling is friendly and expected in market lanes. Once a price is agreed, backing out is considered poor form. A smile and a walk-away are more effective than an argument.
Tax Refund: India has no general GST refund scheme for tourists on retail purchases, so do not plan around one. Keep the bill for pearls and jewellery for customs when leaving and carrying valuables through the airport.