Khan El Khalili Bazaar, Khan El Khalili is the Grand Bazaar of Cairo, a former commercial area that has grown over the years and is home to all manner of shops, from industrial souvenirs to workshops manufacturing unique pieces.
Khan el Khalili shopping with the smell of spices And if we want to spend a day of shopping in our visit to Cairo, walking the streets and put, nothing better than visiting khan el Khalili bazaar, the most famous bazaar in Egypt and one of the best known in the world.
We will find it in the intersection of the street of the same name with one of the main arteries of the area: al-Mu’iz Li-Din Allah Street.
The hustle and bustle, the color and the aromas are the protagonists of this visit.
We will find countless stalls with lamps and all kinds of decorative objects, tablecloths, cushions, slippers, scarves and beautiful carpets. There are many Arab dresses that usually fall into the hands of tourists while the residents of the city pay more attention to the cotton clothes that are sold there.
Its origins can be traced back to 1382, when Emir Diaharx Al-Khalili ordered the construction of a large khan, also called a caravanserai. This is the name given to the inns where merchants stayed and which had rooms for the rest of the animals and for the exit of the cargo.
It was also a place that merchants, who were just passing through, took advantage of, just as a break to move on to the surrounding areas, to trade with each other.
Gradually, around this place a market grew up that became the Khan el-Khalili Grand Bazaar, with all the charm of Cairo’s atmosphere and its small streets where you can get lost and live an unforgettable experience. Above all, because its location is in the heart of the Islamic Center, a completely walled district where you can breathe the medieval air with the majestic Mamluk architecture.
In the Grand Bazaar you can find all kinds of things that you can take as souvenirs of your trip to Egypt. You have at your disposal more than 900 functions to choose from.
Open all day and with over 200 years of history, this is a must-see place to sit for a cup of tea or coffee and admire its mirrored decor.
This is the setting for the novel “Miracle Alley” by the 1988 Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz. To get there, take Al-Muizz Street, follow Al-Sanadqiya and in the first alley you find on your left you will be in Al-Midaq.
This is where all the craftsmen who work with copper and who create unique pieces of amazing quality are gathered together.
In addition to the usual shopping that all tourists love to do in Khan el Khalili, there are two special places that deserve a stop: the traditional El-Fishawy café and the Naguib Mahfouz café-restaurant. If you get a chance to enjoy the moment when evening comes, wander over to Al Ghoury for a phenomenal Tanoura (whirling dervishes) performance.
Currently, there are about 900 stalls and several restaurants and cafes. Some stalls are located by sectors: you will find the spice alley, the gold alley, and the silver street.
You will also find fabrics, traditional costumes, pottery, papyrus scrolls, carpets, and all kinds of souvenirs (reproductions of camels and pyramids, Fatima hands, scarabs and eyes of God are a must) and more.
Most stalls are open from morning until dusk, but many stay open all night. As usual in these markets, bargaining is mandatory. We recommend you be careful with your purchases.
There is no lack of reproductions of objects from ancient Egypt sold, from figures of gods or kings to beetles made of stone, pottery or alabaster. Another typical purchase here is the narghiles, their characteristic water pipes that are sold along with the tobacco and charcoal you will need to use them. And there is also no lack of species, which are what fill the area with smells.
The bazaar is always very busy, both day and night, except on Friday morning when the shops close and offer an image of unusual tranquility.
The easiest and most comfortable way to get to the Grand Bazaar in Khan El Khalili is by metro. The nearest station is Bab El Shaaria on the green line.
You can, through our company and choose our best offers, provide you during your trip with a private car with a cheerful driver and a specialized tour guide to answer all your questions and help you deal and buy. Your trip will certainly be the most wonderful.
If you are planning your trip to Egypt, you should take a tour inside Khan El Khalili market and enjoy taking wonderful souvenir photos and buying gifts of antiques, statues, papyrus and perfumes, all of which are souvenirs that remind you of a visit to Egypt. You should also enjoy drinking tea in the cafes advised in Khan El Khalili.
