Alternative Egypt Travel Guide
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Khan el Khalili Market

Khan El Khalili Market

Despite being less authentic than other markets in Cairo, Khan el Khalili market is still one of the more colourful and fun places to spend an evening and stock up on gifts for the family back home.

Today the passing trade largely consist of tour groups and vacationers, however, this market is as historic as any other, a thriving centre of commerce, where merchants and shoppers have bargained, bartered and quibbled over prices since the Middle Ages (Read more about haggling in Egypt).

The market spills out from the west of Midan El Hussien, the square that stretches between the two great mosques of Saiyidna Hussein and Al-Azhar. Generally speaking, certain products are restricted to specific areas or streets meaning that the bazaar is actually a collection of highly focused mini bazaars selling perfumes, or spices, or gold, or copper, or textiles.

More memorable however than the products on offer, are the unrelenting merchants offering them. The persistence of the Egyptian shopkeeper rarely dwindles.

Each year, evermore innovative and shameless ‘chat up lines’ are offered with a tongue in cheek smile in the hope of luring in passers by. Familiar phrases like “Happy hour”, “Lovely jubbly”, or “Asda price” amuse most the first time they hear it, but rapidly lose their novelty.

And even if you take a seat in a coffee shop don’t expect sanctuary. Roaming salesman with a variety of novelty goods, work the tables with admirable enthusiasm. Yo-yos, fake moustaches, and stuffed rabbits attached to shisha pipe are just some of the more pointless items on offer.

If you’re looking for some peace and quiet in which to shop for souvenirs stay away. This is an Egyptian retail experience of which the pushy hawkers and merchants are an integral part.

When to visit?

The market thrives every night of the week except Sunday when most of the shops are closed. Shops will also close at varying hours during Ramadan. To the see it in full swing, it’s best to arrive in early evening. By 11pm already shops are closing.

Directions

You can take a taxi to Khan el Khalili market from anywhere in Cairo. From downtown the journey should cost you no more than 10-15 Egyptian pounds.

Most likely you will ‘dropped off‘ on Sharia Al Azhar and ushered towards the pedestrian bridge that navigates over the traffic to the edge of the market close to the square and the Egyptian Pancake house.

Travel Tips

One shop that never closes if Fishawis Coffee shop, located off the tiny backstreets around Gamal el Sawy. A twenty four hour shisha café not lacking in character nor ambience, the staff at Fishawi’s claim that the premises have remained open for business solidly for the last two hundred years.

For an altogether more authentic experience explore Islamic Cairo located to the South of the market. The Al Ghuri Sufi Show performs bi weekly just a short walk from the market and entrance is free.

Food

If you want to rest your feet while sampling a selection of sweet and savoury Egyptian pancakes, the famed Egyptian pancake house is also located in this district. Alternatively lots of shoarma and other typical Egyptian food are sold at the restaurants around the west side of Midan El Hussien.

Toilets

Until recently, shoppers requiring decent facilities in which to relieve themselves had little option but to hold it in or visit a restaurant. With the construction of the newly built indoor mall close to Naguib Mahfouz coffee shop there are now modern, public toilets available for use in exchange for a small baksheesh.

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