Shopping in Cairo: An overview

Shopping in Cairo will in all probability leave you exhausted but exhilarated – there is so much to see and buy. Although the city has its fair share of modern malls and boutiques, the real Egyptian shopping experience is of the get-your-hands-dirty-and-your throat-hoarse variety. We are talking souk-shopping. Cairo’s largest and oldest souk is the Khan-al-Khalili market, an incredible maze of streets and shops. It is possible to pick up great bargains in souvenirs and other crafts – one extremely popular souvenir is a cartouche in gold – a pendant with your name inscribed in hieroglyphics. There are souvenir sets consisting of miniature replicas of famous Egyptian icons that can be picked up for around 20 Egyptian pounds. Precious and semi-precious jewellery made from silver, lapis lazuli, turquoise, topaz and aquamarines is also a good buy. Other commonly available crafts include wooden boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl brass and copper trays and pots, perfumes, Oriental silk or wool carpets and hand-woven tapestries, Mouski glass (handblown from recycled bottles) and perfume flacons. Papyrus art, paintings on a rough paper made from papyrus is especially recommended, but beware of banana leaf being passed off as papyrus.

One word of caution about the Khan-al-khalili – the place is teeming with pickpockets, so be alert at all times. Also, do not get brow-beaten into buying something by aggressive shopkeepers – ask around before making a final purchase, especially if it is an expensive item. Kasr el Nil and Talat Harb Streets in the downtown area have more expensive shops and boutiques selling locally made shoes and clothing, bookstores and stalls stocking trinkets. Khaled Sarwat Street is your best bet for fine jewellery. Other upmarket city-center shopping locations are the World Trade Center and the Ramses Hilton Annex. In Heliopolis, try Baghdad Street and in Maadi, Road 9 and the Maadi Grand Mall, Kolleyat el Nasr Square.