Shopping
Shopping in Egypt provides a sweeping array of choices. You can buy Nubian handicrafts and gifts in southern Egypt and Bedouin choices in Eastern and Western Egypt. Aswan is the best souq among Aswan, Luxor, and Cairo. The shops at Dahab have shops selling fascinating products.
For specialties such as Nubian or Bedouin, it is best to buy them at the nearest Souqs instead of Khan-Al-Khalili. You can buy the best varieties and range at local souqs with prices considerably cheaper than in Cairo.
While shopping use Egyptian pound handy as cash is prominently accepted as a payment method in Egypt. It is easier to negotiate over price if you can show that you only have a few Egyptian Pounds. Some merchants might attempt to stress $ or £ instead of LE if they see that you are carrying them.
Don’t buy anything from the vendors inside Giza. The items they seek to sell can purchased much cheaper at Khan El-Khalili. Be aware that many vendors offer you camel rides but they are not genuine vendors. Visit the local stables, or plan a camel ride at your hotel.
While going to the Citadel avoid vendors who sell papyrus photos because these papyrus are made from banana leaves. If you buy from one vendor, another will come to sell you pictures that the other trader does not have. You can purchase memorabilia, between the bus park and the old bank, where the traders are easier to deal with.
Shopping in Cairo
Cairo is a stunning city for shopping with countless souks and high-end shops. One of Egypt’s most impressive attractions is the Souks or local markets along the larger bazaars.
Cairo is a fantastic place to buy traditional arts, and crafts, furniture, beautifully graved hand-beaten copper and brass trays, coffee pots and urns, beautiful wooden boxes, and motifs that were handcrafted by craftsmen using ancient traditions. Sheesha pipes and incense create unforgettable souvenirs.
Apart from markets, there are numerous retail outlets and export-rejected stores spread across Cairo. Egypt is known to manufacture clothes for many international brands, such as GAP, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, and Polo Ralf Lauren. Across the country, there are numerous stores that sell products rejected due to minor weaving and printing defects. Price varies from 5LE to 90LE for jeans and tank tops.
Popular Markets In Cairo
Immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythm of Cairo’s popular markets. A journey through culture, crafts, and commerce.
1. Kahn al Khalili: Kahn al-Khalili is Cairo’s biggest and most famous souq dating back to the 14th century. It is a maze of streets, squares, markets, and stores in central Cairo. As you walk around the market you can discover Islamic historic buildings and learn more about the history of Cairo. The market has one of the best shops selling silverware, glassware, traditional antiques, crafts, shisha, and Egyptian souvenirs.
2. El Azbakeya Wall: El Azbakeya Wall is the most popular second-hand market for books in Egypt. You can buy vintage, rare, and used books with 130 stalls from the 18th century. You can purchase tour guides, historical books, and literary masterpieces along with unique gems such as Arabic alphabet posters.
3. Mohamid Ali Street: Mohamid Ali Street was named after Mohamed Ali, the father of modern Egypt. The street was built in 1860 as part of the dream of Khedive Ismail who had a vision of European-style Cairo. The street was an Oriental arts center in Cairo where trained belly dancers worked. It is one of the best places where musical instruments are made, sold, and repaired.
4. Tentmakers’ Souk: Cairo’s only remaining covered medieval market El Khayameya or the street of Tentmakers. It is famous for its brightly colored fabrics such as appliqué works, cushion covers, Egyptian cotton beds, wall hangings, car covers, and traditional Egyptian galabeya. It is also known for manufacturing appliqué panels that were originally used for decorating tents and pavilions.
5. Tawfikeya Market: Tawfikeya Market is located near 26th of July Street downtown. The shops and street vendors are open until early morning selling everything.
6. Souq El Gom’aa: Souq El Gom’aa also known as the Friday market is a popular market in Cairo where anything can be found. You can purchase furniture, cell phones, ceramic tiles, clothes, shoes, antiquities, stamps, and coins.
7. Wekalet El Balah: Wekalet El Balah is a market of the 19th century that sells second-hand imported garments. Shoppers can also buy affordable clothes, bags, and furniture. The products can be local or imported from countries such as China and Turkey.
8. Souq el-Fustat: Souq el-Fustat is a complex combining some of Egypt’s finest handcrafted arts that deliver an authentic, exclusive shopping experience. At this complex, you can shop for leather, glass, mosaic, copper, wood crafts, bedouin embroidery, and jewelry influenced by various traditions.
9. Souq el Ataba: Souq el Ataba is a popular Cairo street market for Egyptian memorabilia. In this market, you can buy clothes, shoes, fragrances, and other products of beauty.
10. Abdelaziz Street Market: Abdelaziz Street Market is the most popular destination for buying electronic devices, home appliances, cell phones, and accessories for smartphones.
Shopping in Luxor
Luxor offers a unique shopping experience and the products you buy here are not available anywhere else in the world. The best souvenirs to purchase in Luxor include paintings and moldings made of gods, pha-ratios, queens, alabaster vases, papyrus, glass perfume bottles, leather, silver, and gold. Most shops in and around Luxor City are closed every Friday, along with Sunday and Egyptian public holidays.
A note of the Arabic numbers is useful because while prices are often shown, they are typically written in Arabic only.
Popular Markets In Luxor
Luxor, a city in Egypt, is renowned for its historical significance and is a popular tourist destination. While it may not be known for bustling modern markets like some other cities, Luxor has traditional markets and bazaars where you can experience the local culture and find unique items.
1. Station Street: Station Street is the large road that leads to the railway station from behind the Luxor Temple. On this street there are numerous shops that sell shoes, clothes, and small electrical products are located here.
2. Television Street: Television Street is a long road leading from behind the palace of Old Winter to the east. It is a non-tourist area with fixed prices for visitors and locals.
3. Government Shop: Such shops belong to a governmental organization. You will get certified Egyptian goods by shopping in this government-approved store where you can buy a wide variety of items and souvenirs.
4. Savoy Market: The Savoy Market is one of the oldest tourist markets in Luxor. At this market, you can shop for paintings, trinkets, perfume bottles, Egyptian cotton, and carvings of pharaohs as souvenirs.
5. San Giovanni Bazaar: San Giovanni Bazaar is a nice place in Luxor for shopping and there are numerous stores that sell stuffed camels, jewelry boxes, statues, and dresses.
6. Oriental Market: The Oriental Market is packed with shopping treasures to delight shoppers. At this market, you can find true authentic antiques. There are a variety of vendors offering exquisite perfume bottles and regional flora fragrances.
7. Fair Trade Centre: The goal of the Fair Trade Center is to support local businesses. You can buy goods manufactured in Egypt, including the province of Sinai at this center. The complex is remarkable as it gives all profits generated to the poor. All the products made in these shops are handmade by Bedouins, village dwellers, artisans, and craftsmen. You can purchase authentic items like scarves, carpets, belts, pottery, bags, carved toys, rings, earrings, bracelets, perfume, and soaps.
8. Old Market Street: Old Market Street offers a journey into Egyptian life and is not a standard tourist shopping place. It has the genuine feel of a local market, a beautiful and colorful market that appeals to any visitor. At this market, you can shop for food, clothing, household goods, and spices.
Shopping in Alexandria
Alexandria has discovered the wonders of shopping centers recently, as there are numerous malls located around the city. It is home to a large range of shops, and shopping malls, which are also popular for their food, entertainment, coffee houses, and a common place for socialising and meeting places. Most shops in the city close on Fridays and public holidays, and some do not open on Sundays.
On the west side of the Midan Tahrir is a traditional market or souq, offering a memorable shopping experience. Be mindful that most costs are negotiable and can be significantly reduced with a bit of polite haggling.
If you want to see antiques and collectibles, you can enjoy a walk through the maze of backstreets in the Attareen neighborhood, with the vibrant attraction of Attareen Antique Market. The shops around Saad Zaghloul and Sharias Safiyya Zaghloul are hard to beat with high fashion, fashionable clothing, and stylish shoes.
Souk El Attarine is a maze of narrow alleys and streets. The souk explodes with all kinds of shops on both sides of the street. The souk has vendors who market all kinds of souvenirs and traditional artifacts from Egypt. You can buy Egyptian products such as sheeshas, colorful blown glassware, Gallabeyyas, belly dancing dresses, spices, and antiques. The Souk El Attarine is especially renowned for its antiques. Bear in mind that the sale of any ancient Egyptian antiquities without a permit from Egypt is forbidden.
Zan ah Al Sitat is a street market that is filled with women’s clothes, and accessories and that is unusual but absolutely beautiful.
Al Aksander Al Akbar and Ebadah Ibn Al Somet Souk have various shops selling shoes, clothes, accessories, and jewelry. Prices are written in Arabic so it is handy to keep a conversion chart with you. The rates in the shops are fixed but it is worth asking for a discount.
In Alexandria, western-style malls are becoming more and more popular with the middle classes. Both large and extra-large malls can be found in and around the town, some with compounds so big that they will dwarf typical European malls.
Shopping in Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el Sheik has many popular Egyptian souvenirs available at shops, bazaars, and shopping centers. In Sharm el Sheik you can buy many famous souvenirs such as jewelry, leather goods, papyrus, postcards, rugs, silk shawls, vases, and water pipes. It is a common practice to bargain with shopkeepers in Sharm el Sheik markets. You will find plenty of places to satisfy your retail therapy from busy local bazaars and markets to fully-fledged urban shopping centers.
Popular Markets In Sharm el Sheikh
Welcome to the heart of Sharm el Sheikh, where the allure of Popular Markets beckons locals and tourists alike. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll navigate through the bustling markets, uncovering hidden gems, and offering insights to make your shopping spree an unforgettable journey.
1. Old Market: Old Market also known as Old Town entices you to walk along its winding paths to absorb the Egyptian culture along with smell, taste, sights, and sounds which are very popular with tourists. The smell of shisha, perfumes, and oil in one street quickly transforms into an exotic new scent of herbs, spices, and grilled meats, with the scene of camels lying around the entrance immediately transforming to glittering jewels and souvenirs as you go further into the market.
A wide range of items, including tapestries, herbs and spices, cotton and silk fabrics, ceramics, shisha, pipe, ornaments, jewelry, leather goods, handbags, purses, suitcases, and souvenirs can be purchased. The Attar or herb shop, especially those selling medicinal products and beauty products along with foods and herbs are particularly interesting. There are many cafés, juice bars, and conventional restaurants on the old street.
2. Naama Bay: Naama Bay is the biggest shopping destination in Sharm el Sheik and has the largest selection of shops and shopping centers. The vibrant tourist area is filled with fashionable clothing shops, jewelry stores, and gift shops. At Nama Bay, you can do duty-free shopping where you need to buy within 48 hours of arrival. Cafés, pubs, hotels, and nightclubs are popular at Naama Bay.
3. Soho Square: Soho Square is one of Sharm el Sheikh’s biggest shopping areas, with an array of shops and boutiques selling everything from clothing to jewelry. The square has many restaurants, bars, and clubs to keep the entire family delighted and entertained.
Shopping in Aswan
Shopping in Aswan is an unforgettable and pleasant experience. It is famous for local markets known as Souqs. In Aswan, you can buy Nubian handicrafts of high quality, fragrant spices such as hibiscus and saffron, lanterns, silk scarves, Nubian skullcaps, roast peanuts, spicy deep-fried snacks, and fruits.
Aswan is the most popular place to buy 18-carat gold because of its purity and quantity. A common jewelry item to purchase is the personalized gold cartouche with your name added in hieroglyphics.
Aswan is a popular place that produces essential oils such as mint and eucalyptus. They are ingredients for famous fragrances such as Chanel, Hugo Boss, and Christian Dior. The fragrances are known locally with names such as Queen Cleopatra and Tutankhamun.
Popular Markets In Aswan
When it comes to experiencing the vibrant culture and commerce of Egypt, Aswan stands out as a gem. Nestled along the banks of the Nile, this city boasts a rich history and is home to markets that offer a sensory delight for locals and tourists alike.
1. Night Market: The night market in Aswan is a popular outdoor market At this market you can buy spices, Nubian baskets, textiles, jewelry, souvenirs, and clothes. It is always crowded and a fantastic place to visit even if you don’t want to buy.
2. Sharia as-Souq: Sharia as-Souq is Egypt’s most beautiful souq. At this souq, you can buy Nubian talismans, baskets, Sudanese swords, African masks, live produce, fruit, vegetables, henna powder, T- T-shirts, perfume, spices, and statues.
3. Aswan Bazaar: The Aswan Bazaar is situated three blocks south of the Nile River. It consists of seven shopping blocks and offers a unique shopping experience to visitors. The Bazaar is full of stalls and draws tourists for its beautiful products. It is a shopper’s paradise where you can buy Persian rugs, and traditional smoking pots called shisha. You can buy from this market various souvenirs and gifts.
4. Spice Market: Aswan is known for its spices and the cuisine of Egypt is full of flavors and the secret behind it is its rich spices. In Aswan, the spice market is a dedicated market solely for the spice trade and is packed with a variety of condiments that you will find at various spice shops in this market. The colors and aromas of spices such as cumin, fennel, peppermint, and basil will attract you to this market situated along the Nile’s river valley.
5. Hubia Craft Center: Nubian art in ancient times was considered sacred. The Hubia Craft Center is an endeavor to rekindle the art form and to employ the various artists in this genre. The Centre displays and sells different components of this art form. Visitors can see sculptures and figures carved from stones and bronze. You can also buy ancient postage stamps.
Shopping in Hurghada
Hurghada has several gift shops selling perfumes, jewelry, trinkets, rugs, papyrus, and pots around the city. You can also find a large selection of clothing stores and fashion shops, where designer T-shirts are for sale.
Popular Markets In Hurghada
Hurghada’s proximity to the Red Sea makes its seafood market a must-visit. Dive into a seafood extravaganza with a variety of fresh catches, from succulent shrimp to flavorful fish. Experience the essence of coastal living through the local culinary offerings.
1. Senzo Mall: You can walk and stroll at leisure in Senzo Mall. The mall has numerous places to shop such as Spinney’s hypermarket, and numerous large and small international clothing stores including Aldo, Adidas, Geox Tommy Hilfiger, etc.
2. Hurghada Marina: Enjoy the Mediterranean feel on the waterfront of Hurghada Marina. It is situated directly at the picturesque marina with shops and restaurants welcoming visitors.
3. Cleopatra Centre: The Cleopatra Center is located in Sekalla, and is a good place to shop if you are tired of bargaining with set prices for all shops. If you want to buy souvenirs and presentations like Egyptian gifts, jewelry, leather clothes, and bags, the Cleopatra Center is a great choice.
4. Sheraton Road: There are a number of large and small shops and small shopping centers on Sheraton Boulevard. It is a famous Hurghada street and one of the best shopping places for souvenirs. It pulsates with real Egyptian life, especially along the side street, called Sherry Street is reminiscent of roads in residential areas of Cairo.
5. Downtown: Hurghada’s old town is full of local crafts, t-shirts, spices, and other souvenirs. It is the oldest tourist shopping district in Hurghada, and some parts of the road are pedestrian zones. At night, it bursts with mobile vendors who put tables on sidewalks with their products.
Shopping in Dahab
Shopping in Dahab is something to experience with each shop owner welcoming you to visit their store. At certain stores rates are fixed and haggling can be done over the final price. Dahab offers a variety of shops from big stores to small shops where you can shop for souvenirs, jewelry, carpets, perfumes, T-shirts, postcards, spices, artwork, and glass pieces, among other products.