Shopping · Cairo · Egypt
Shopping in Cairo
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hesham Ebaid, CC0
Quick answer
Cairo shopping ranges from the bazaar lanes of Khan el-Khalili to craft shops in Zamalek and huge modern malls. Cotton, spices, lanterns, silverwork and papyrus are the classic buys; bargain in the bazaar, but expect fixed prices in malls and boutiques. Best souvenirs: Egyptian cotton, Spices and hibiscus and Lanterns and brass.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Egyptian cotton
Where to shop
Khan el-Khalili
Lanterns, brass, spices, perfume oils, silver and souvenirs in the historic bazaar; bargain firmly.
Zamalek
Boutiques and craft shops selling Egyptian design, textiles and handmade goods at fixed prices.
Downtown
Everyday shopping streets around Talaat Harb with clothes, shoes and bookshops.
City Stars and Mall of Egypt
Large modern malls with international brands; Mall of Egypt also has an indoor ski slope.
Markets
Street of the Tentmakers
A covered medieval market just south of Bab Zuweila where craftsmen hand-stitch appliqué khayamiya textiles.
Souq al-Fustat
A small, calm crafts centre near Coptic Cairo with fixed-price workshops and shops.
Wekalet el-Balah
A sprawling fabric and second-hand clothing market in Bulaq, north of Downtown.
What to buy
Egyptian cotton
Sheets, towels and clothing; check labels, as not everything sold as Egyptian cotton is.
Spices and hibiscus
Cumin, dukkah blends and dried hibiscus flowers from the spice stalls of Khan el-Khalili.
Lanterns and brass
Pierced brass and coloured-glass lanterns from the bazaar workshops.
Papyrus
Genuine papyrus is thick and slightly flexible; cheap versions are often banana leaf, so buy from reputable galleries.
Cartouche jewellery
Silver or gold pendants with your name in hieroglyphs, usually made to order within a day or two.
Khayamiya textiles
Hand-stitched appliqué cushion covers and wall hangings from the tentmakers' street.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Islamic Cairo
Khan el-Khalili
Cairo's great bazaar has traded since the 14th century in a tangle of lanes selling lanterns, brass, spices, perfume oils, textiles and silver, among old caravanserai gateways.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- Free
- After dark
- Food
Street · Islamic Cairo
Al-Muizz Street
The main street of the medieval Fatimid city runs from Bab al-Futuh south to Bab Zuweila, lined with some of the finest Islamic architecture anywhere: the Qalawun complex with its hospital and mausoleum, the madrasa of Barquq, ornate sabil-kuttab fountains and the Ottoman merchant's house of Bayt al-Suhaymi.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
Historic site · Islamic Cairo
Bab Zuweila
The southern gate of the Fatimid city, built in 1092, is crowned by the twin minarets of the neighbouring Al-Mu'ayyad Mosque, which you can climb for views across the domes and rooftops of medieval Cairo.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Feteer meshaltet, Om Ali, Basbousa and konafa and Sugarcane juice. Feteer shops (fatatri) across the city, many open late. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $ | Belle-époque boulevards, Tahrir Square and budget hotels |
| Zamalek | $$$ | Leafy Nile island of embassies, cafés and boutique hotels |
| Garden City | $$$$ | Quiet curving streets and Nile-front luxury hotels |
| Islamic Cairo | $ | Medieval mosques, minarets and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar |
| Maadi | $$ | Green southern suburb with international restaurants and the metro |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EGP. Restaurants often add a service charge, but leaving another 5–10% for the waiter is customary. Small tips are expected by guards who open a tomb or show you a view, toilet attendants, porters and drivers; guides usually expect a larger tip at the end of a tour.
- Many antiquities ticket offices accept cards only, so carry a card that works abroad.
- Students with a valid international student card often get reduced entry at antiquities sites.
- Ride-hailing apps avoid haggling over taxi fares and are usually cheaper for visitors.
- Koshari, ful and ta'ameya shops cost a fraction of hotel restaurants.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–August; the busiest months are December.
- January: Coptic Christmas (7 January)
- January: Cairo International Book Fair (usually late January to early February)
- February: Cairo International Book Fair continues (usually into early February)
- April: Sham el-Nessim — spring festival on the Monday after Coptic Easter (usually April)
- November: Cairo International Film Festival (usually November)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Cairo?
Egyptian cotton, Spices and hibiscus, Lanterns and brass and Papyrus.
+Where is the best shopping in Cairo?
Khan el-Khalili: Lanterns, brass, spices, perfume oils, silver and souvenirs in the historic bazaar; bargain firmly.
+What are the best markets in Cairo?
Street of the Tentmakers, Souq al-Fustat and Wekalet el-Balah.