Your Guide to Visiting Khan el-Khalili in Egypt

Many great places in Egypt are worth the visit. From the Pyramids to museums, you can’t go wrong when choosing a place to visit. The beauty of Egypt is endless; therefore, one can never run out of places to recommend. Tourists worldwide enjoy coming to the land of the Pyramids, whatever the time was. Whether you visit Egypt in summer or winter, you will have the time of your life. But where exactly should you go is an important question. We have the answer for you! One of the best places to visit in Egypt is Khan el-Khalili, a market with several shops inside. So get ready to have a perfect guide to Khan el-Khalili.

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What Exactly is Khan el-Khalili?

Khan el-Khalili is one of the most famous markets in Egypt, and it has been around since the 14th century. The man behind its establishment is Emir Djaharks el-Khalili. What makes it quite special is that it isn’t a single market. Instead, it has many shops inside it that sell different things. Khan el-Khalili is located in Cairo, Egypt, and you will find it near the Saladin Citadel. In the 14th century, Khan el-Khalili was filled with sellers, and trading began since then. However, its shape, which includes gates and alleys, was built in the 16th century. So it is only logical to consider it one of the oldest markets in the world. It is even the largest one in the Middle East.

Unfortunately, Khan el-Khalili might not be the best place to visit for some people. It’s known always to be busy and filled with people, plus it is mostly loud there. So if you dislike all of these things, we wouldn’t recommend going there. On the other hand, if you love being surrounded by people from different cultures and hearing different languages spoken simultaneously, it is the perfect place for you!

• Opening hours: The opening hours depend on each shop. However, most shops open at 9 a.m. and close at or after midnight. While many shops close on Sunday.
• Location: El-Gamaleya, El Gamaliya, Cairo Governorate 4331302, Egypt.

Check these handpicked tours:

• 8-Hour Private Tour of the Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, and Bazaar from Cairo
• All inclusive trip Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Sphinx
• All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings

Why is Khan el-Khalili Important?

Khan el-Khalili isn’t just about buying; it also has cultural importance, making you want to visit it even more. While you can always buy stuff from there to take home, there is more to do. You can take pictures there and go on tours to know more about it and its history. For example, many Egyptian and Arab authors, whether famous globally or not, included the market in their works. Indeed, one look at it, and you would feel like it is out of a fictional tale. Visiting Khan el-Khalili would also allow you to enjoy the Islamic architecture there. You won’t be able to turn your head without being mesmerized by everything you look at.

Check these handpicked tours:

• Private Guided Tour to Giza Pyramids Egyptian Museum & Khan El Khalili Bazaar
• Best Full-Day Tour to Giza Pyramids Egyptian Museum and Bazaar
• Cairo Sightseeing Tour (Giza Pyramids + Museum + Khan el Khalili Bazaar)

What Would You Find in Khan el-Khalili?

Of course, the first thing you would find at Khan el-Khalili is lots and many shops. You will probably find shops for anything you have in mind and want to buy. For example, you will find gold shops, spice shops, gifts and souvenir shops, and much more. There are many items sold there, too. In Khan el-Khalili, you will also find lanterns, jewelry, musical instruments, perfumes, and handicrafts, and these are a few examples. Luckily for you and us, most shop owners there know how to speak English, so you won’t find it difficult to ask about prices. So get ready with your wallet because you will need it.

Check these handpicked tours:

• Cairo City Tour Visit Egyptian Museum Coptic Christian Cairo and old Market
• Best tour to Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Bazaar and Felucca
• Giza Pyramids, Ride a Camel, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum& Bazaar, Lunch is included.

What Are The Things You Could Buy From There?

We mentioned some of the stuff you would find at Khan el-Khalili, but what should you buy from there as a tourist? There are many items to recommend, like copies of Pharaonic statues and plates—clothes, and leather stuff like bags, jackets, and wallets. Speaking of clothes, you will also find traditional Egyptian outfits if you want to feel connected to Egyptian culture. You will also find décor, which you can buy and use inside your house; the décor items there are like masterpieces.

Not to mention that music lovers will love Khan el-Khalili. This is because you would find different musical instruments, including oriental drums. What is music without dancing, too? You will find belly-dancing outfits since Egypt is famous for its belly-dancing talents. At the same time, the handicrafts in Khan el-Khalili include carefully made carpets, jewelry, and glass. There are also all the spices you might think of. Our last recommendation would be to check the bookstores there if you love reading. You can tell by now that Khan el-Khalili won’t leave you disappointed!

Khan el-Khalili Restaurants and Cafes

Not only does Khan el-Khalili offer you the chance to browse thousands of different products you could buy, but it also offers you many spots to eat and drink. That’s right, Khan el-Khalili isn’t just for shopping, although this is what it’s famous for, but it also has different famous restaurants and cafes. These spots are considered part of the place’s history; they are irreplaceable. They mostly match the vibes at Khan el-Khalili; therefore, you won’t feel like the restaurants and cafes there are ruining the atmosphere. They may look ancient, but that is only because they have been serving tourists and Egyptians visiting Khan el-Khalili for years.

You would also find restaurants, street food vendors, and small cafes. You can sit at one of the cafes and try their different drinks, including tea and Arabic coffee. Since there are many spots there, it is only fair if we tell you the most famous one in Khan el-Khalili. That one would be El Fishawi, which is simply part of history. It is always open, so you don’t have to worry about missing it or not getting the chance to witness such a historic place. I’m not kidding; it is open 24/7. El Fishawi café has been around since the mid-1700s, so now you know the most famous, and probably oldest, café in Khan el-Khalili. The café also has cultural importance since famous Egyptian writers used to go there, including Naguib Mahfouz.

Since I mentioned Naguib Mahfouz, you should also know there is a café named Naguib Mahfouz café inside Khan el-Khalili. It is also a very famous one like El Fishawi. The only difference is that it is more expensive than any other café or restaurant in Khan el-Khalili. However, you can expect higher quality and better service since it is more well-managed and is run by a hotel. So you have many choices to pick from, including cheap ones and expensive ones.

Advice When Buying From Khan el-Khalili

When visiting a market that is as large as Khan el-Khalili, there are certain things you need to do to make sure you won’t have a bad experience. For starters, Khan el-Khalili has a lot of visitors every day, and by a lot, I mean more than you can manage to count. These visitors come from different nationalities and cultures, so while some might be tourists like you, others are Egyptians and Arabs. Like any place in the world, theft happens everywhere. So, it is possible that some people in the crowd at Khan el-Khalili could be thieves. Therefore, make sure to keep your items around you all the time and keep your valuable stuff at your hotel.

Another thing you have to keep in mind is that most of the sellers at Khan el-Khalili don’t use credit cards. It would be rare to find someone who offers the option to buy using a credit card. So, since few stores accept credit cards, it would always be better for you to have some cash on you. Some stores may accept that you pay cash in your currency rather than Egyptian currency. While other stores only offer to accept cash in Egyptian currency. It would be perfect if you could check out the exchange rate if you decided to pay in any other currency so no one would try and scam you into paying extra amounts.

I also know that all the shops will look great and dazzling there. One shop may attract you, and you will want to check out everything they have in store, but I do not recommend this. As I mentioned, Khan el-Khalili is such a wide place with different products to check out. It would be best if you checked most of the stores there rather than spend your entire day at only one store and one only. Almost all the stores at Khan el-Khalili put some of their products on the outside of their shop so you can look at what they offer while you are walking.

How to Haggle When Buying From Khan el-Khalili

Egypt, like any other country, has its own culture and traditions. Part of Egypt’s culture is the concept of haggling, which is bargaining but doing so persistently. Haggling is a skill you will need to learn and practice, especially when buying things from Khan el-Khalili. It is a practice that is very common in Egypt, but it is a respectful practice. This means you should not get angry or upset if you don’t get the price you tried to negotiate. Consider haggling a game of chess.

It might sound complex, but don’t worry! Some steps will make haggling easy for you if you follow them. For starters, know the exchange rate from the local to your currency. The second step would be right after you like an item and want to buy it. You should know the value of that item so you can know on your own what it is worth without 100% believing the price the seller says. After you know the item’s value and the price the seller is asking for, offer a lower price than he wants. This will allow you to bargain with him until you reach a fair price that pleases both.

More Tips on Haggling in Khan el-Khalili

The previous steps aren’t everything there is to know about haggling. There are more tips you could follow to make you a pro at this skill. For example, be open to walking away from the seller if he says a very high price. Maybe they would insist on a price you think is unfair and aren’t willing to budge. When the seller sees that he is close to losing you, his buyer, he would call out to you and offer a lower price. This trick works with most sellers, too!

Another tip to follow is to be patient when it comes to haggling. It’s okay if the bargaining process between you and the seller takes a long time. This is all part of this practice, and patience will never harm you. Plus, it would be even better if you liked the item you were bargaining for and bought it fairly because you were patient.

From the history of Khan el-Khalili to what you can buy from there, plus how to haggle, we have told you everything you need to know if you go there. You can now enjoy Khan el-Khalili like a pro!