 | Cairo Khan el Khalili Reviews | Tips 21 - 30 of 88 |  |
As I was reading the tips about it before I want to Cairo, I had a picture of how it should look like. The picture was wrong. I expected huge market but I am still not conviced that it is the largest matket in Arab world, although I didn't have enough time to "check its size". I found the shopping impossible, the sellers were to pushy so I found myself runing away even before I started to look at the goods. The few prices I mannage to pick up vere ridiculosly high comparing to other places.
The original khan-caravansary was built in 1382. Leave a Comment |
This lively souq dates back to the 1300's.
Although it could be a tourist trap, it is much more than that. If you take time to wander around you will find areas where many locals buy at this market.
If you do want to spend money, haggle!haggle!haggle!
What you can buy: brass items, leather, belly-dance outfits, prefume, spices etc.
You will find coffee houses and the market is very lively at night, with a great atmosphere.
A taxi from downtown should not be more tha 15 EPounds. |
Do not miss...I repeat, do NOT MISS out on Khan el Khalili! This bazar/souk is what made me fall in love with Cairo. They pyramids and the museum dazzled me, the mosques and the architecture took my mind away, but it is Khan el Khalili that has kept its mark in my mind, and the memory of the laughs, the chit chats I had with the sales people, the souvenirs I bought, and the shishas I had in its little ancient cafes that makes this place so dear to my heart.
At Khan el Khalili you will truly feel what Cairo is all about... you will see the goodness of the people, you will bargain your way and get so many beautiful things, you will feel the culture, and you will really have a great time ;-) Leave a Comment |
shopping at khan al khalili bazaar is a " must do activity" for tourists...well..dont you just love shopping ....especially when you have the money or if someone pay for it hahahah.Lots of choices here fo antiques, papyrus paintings, jewellery box, ornaments, vases, crystals, handicraft and such.. price are relatively good if you know how to bargain. Love the mugs and tea set with pharaohs paintings...sure looks great as souvenir. Price for papyrus painting should be around 3 to 130 egp pound depending on sizes and the quality of paintings...again also depending on a person bargaining power. Mugs costs about 7 egp pound for regular size. Pewter jewellery box should be about egp 30 for small ones and rounded ones about 65..big ones about 100. Leave a Comment Directions: city centre, near Al Azhar mosque |
This is a historical place in Cairo,it has the Hussien Mosque and the Khan El Khalil Souk.
Truely an inspiring place with all the people from all over the world gather,to tour the place or to buy a souvenir from an old antique shop,or a local person who came to worship Allah(God) in one of the city`s oldest mosques.
If you wish to see the biggest crowd ever go to the Hussein at the Moulid festival(you should ask your local tour guide which date does it match your calender)because the Islamic calender is different.
This is a picture of one of the buildings there. Leave a Comment |
Yes this is a tourist trap. But as long as you are aware of this, it can be an enjoyable experience.
Tips on buying:
- Bargaining is a must. Offer 30% of the total of what they are offering and go from there.
- Don't show interest in what you want.
- Don't buy from the 1st store. See what the competitors have and then if you must, return to the same store.
- Remember, let the bargaining be a fun experience.
- Last tip: as a foreigner you'll always pay more than what it's worth. Just remember these people are less fortunate than you.
A must is to visit Fishawi's coffehouse ( in an alley one block west of Midan Hussein). Go there for coffee and relax. It's entertaining to watch the roaming salesman and the many women and children trying to sell you their many wares. Fishawi has a claim that it's been open for the last 200 years.
Go to Beit el-Suhaymi to see the finest example of a 19th century family mansion built during the Mamluk times. The exterior is plain but once you enter through the tunnel-like entrance you'll encounter a beautiful courtyard. Explore the many rooms with their large wooden doors, decorated walls and ceilings, tiled floors. Imagine how they worshipped in their large prayer rooms or gathered for intimate conversations in the family rooms. Admission is 20 Egyptian pounds. It's located down an alley off Sharia al-Muizz li-Din Allah. Ask the police for directions. They are always around.
Time for lunch! Try the Khan el-Khalili Restaurant & Mahfouz Coffee Shop. It's the only upscale restaurant in the area with the only clean toilets in the khan. Call ahead to reserve a table as they are popular with tour groups. (590-3788) 5 Sikket el-Baddistan Leave a Comment |
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wander around the Khan-Al-Khalili bazar in Islamic Cairo. You'll be amazed by the overwhelming amount of what's on sale. The place is also littered with monumental mosques (the Al-Hussein mosque is in the pic), so there's a lot to see and do. Leave a Comment |
This 19th century Sabil (water fountain), Kuttab (religious reading school) of Ahmed Pasha is a beautiful example of Ottoman Baroque architecture. The school was located on the upper floor with the ornate wooden balcony. This small edifice is located across the narrow street from Mosque of Sayyidna el-Hussain, next to Khan el-Khalili. Directions: Next to Sayyidna el-Hussain Mosque and Khan el Khalili Bazar |
So you have certain pre-conceptions about the middle east and Cairo? So come to the grand bazaar and have them confirmed! It began as a caravanserai more than 630 years ago - now its a sprawl of market stalls and coffee stands. Parts are touristy but vast areas of this bazaar are as much about local trade as they are about the dollar or the euro. And then there's the sheer throng of people squeezing through the narrow alleyways - nowhere else in Cairo emphasises the sheer number of poeple that live in the city as the Khan al-Khalil. Leave a Comment |
I was surprised (in the nicest of ways) at the lack of tourists here. I am not sure if we actually even saw another Westerner & after our Pharoah Day (museum & pyramids) it was very refreshing and a very encouraging start to the day.
The market is hustle and bustle but at no point did anybody hassle us, try to drag us into a shop or interfere in any way. Everybody was friendly but most people just went about their own business.
Cairo is the place to buy things and we got a few really good bargains here. The haggling was hard but then the prices were so much more realistic (compared to places like Sharm el-Sheikh) to begin with.
Tip : The best time to visit Khan al-Khalili is during prayer time due to people mass on the streets.
Tip : The mosque of Sayyidna al-Hussein is here and it is a very (world) important mosque so you should take care to remember / respect / be sensitve to the fact that you are in an important Islamic area.
Khan al-Khalili should be high on priority and if you are a well travelled soul who is anticipating it to be a big tourist trap, you will probably be as pleasantly surprised as I ! |
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