Gifts & Souvenirs -- Just like Recife, Natal has transformed its former prison complex into a crafts market, Centro de Turismo de Natal, Rua Aderbal de Figueiredo 980, Petrópolis (tel. 084/3211-6149). About 40 crafts shops are now housed in the cells and provide easy one-stop shopping for local crafts. The best-known items are the handmade white-linen tablecloths, and the small painted clay figurines depicting characters from folk dances such as the bumba-meu-boi. You will also find hammocks, woodwork, and lots of sweets made with sugar cane and coconut. Prices are negotiable. The market is a steep 15-minute walk from Praia dos Artistas, and is open daily from 9am to 7pm. The tourist information booth at the entrance is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
In Praia dos Artistas on Av. Pres. Cafe Filho s/n is the large Centro de Artesanato da Praia dos Artistas (tel. 084/3202-4971). Dozens of booths are packed with tacky souvenir T-shirts and trinkets as well as with nice locally made handicrafts. The market is open daily from 10am to 10pm. A smaller evening crafts market takes place Thursday to Sunday from 6 to 10pm, near the waterfront at Rua Conselheiro de Medeiros in Praia dos Artistas.
Recently opened in Ponta Negra, the Shopping do Artesanato Potiguar (Av. Engenheiro Roberto Freire 8000; tel. 084/3215-9781) features more than 180 shops packed with souvenirs and local handicrafts.
If you want to mix some shopping with an evening stroll, there's Alma Brasiliera, Rua Dr. Manoel, A.B. de Araújo 130 (tel. 084/3219-3174). Located in the nightlife area of Alto de Ponta Negra, the shop has a fine selection of local crafts, though prices are higher than at the downtown Centro de Turismo.
Shopping Malls -- The midsize Praia Shopping (Av. Engenheiro Roberto 8790; tel. 084/3219-4323) is located at the edge of Ponta Negra, a short cab ride (or a tiring and not all that pleasant 15- to 20-min. walk) back in the direction of downtown. Shops are open Monday through Saturday 10am to 10pm, Sunday 3 to 9pm.
