Khan El Khalili Bazaar in Cairo

Khan El Khalili Bazaar dates back to the 14th century, a long time ago! It all started when Amir Karkas el-Khalili built the famous trade complex near the Za'afran tomb, which is the traditional burial place of the Fatimid rulers in Egypt. The trade complex was part of a reconstruction project led by Sultan Barquq of 1382 - 1399 to help recover from the ruins brought by the Black Death of the 13th and 14th centuries.

Even though the Khan El Khalili Bazaar is now re-imagined into modern architectural styles, the antique architectural build is still evident in some parts of the Bazaar, which exemplifies the Mamluk era characterized by arched portals and vaulted ceilings.
 

The Khan El Khalili Bazaar has a mixture of Islamic and Mamluk architectural designs. The Khan El Khalili is located on the northeastern edge of Egypt in the center of Cairo. It spans about 5,000 sq. km. of land on the sandy plains of the Red Sea Governorate in Cairo.
 

Being a historic trade center in Cairo, Khan El Khalili Bazaar is famous for unique and antique items from Egyptian perfumes and spices to jewelry and gift items of a sort. Little wonder this bazaar is one of the brightest and most colorful places in Cairo. 

Tailor your Customized Tour in Khan el Khalili Bazaar Here

In the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, a wide variety of items are available for sale, from Egyptian-crafted items to foreign products. You just need to select your piece(s) from beautiful varieties.

• Jewelry
  Beautiful rings with emeralds and pearls, run necklaces, bracelets with onyx and hematite, and unique earrings with sapphires and cubic zirconia are all available in different designs, sizes, and shapes— you just have to pick according to your taste and style. These pieces of jewelry are mostly Egyptian-crafted and they bring out such cultural history; talk about some oriental cultural antique designs. You should take note that these indigenous prices are usually very expensive because of the precious stones on them. But one thing is for sure, they are worth the price!
• Spices
  Just like it is common in most oriental bazaars, you get to find different varieties of aromatic and flavorful spices from different eastern countries. The Khan El Khalili Bazaar is not left out, you can get the famed cinnamon sticks, clove flavors, ginger, seed of calamus, amaranth, garcinia, hyssop, and the popular Egyptian black pepper. You could step into one of the stores to get one!
• Antique Egyptian Pieces
  This is the section of the market where it all gets emotional and memorable; you get to come across different items that were popular in ancient Egypt. You can find the antique Aladdin lamps of the 19th century, antique Egyptian baskets, metal figurines of varying sorts, painted utensils, and lots more. Before going to the bazaar, you could just do a check online about the particular antique item(s) you'll want to own. It makes your purchase easier as there are numerous pieces that can be confusing.
• Hookahs (Shisha)
  If you don't know, hookahs were first made in India, but they are now very popular in Egypt. In the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, you'll find many stores selling hookahs of varying designs, shapes, and colors. There are Chinese versions and locally crafted versions of these hookahs. The indigenous ones are sturdy and beautiful.
• Egyptian Furniture and Ceramics
  There is a particular section of the Khan El Khalili Bazaar dedicated to the sale of Egyptian furniture and ceramics. You get to choose from various shoes and designs of Egyptian furniture carved with local wood and designed with antique stones. There are also curtains, bedspreads, bedside lamps, paintings, and other home items of Egyptian crafts on sale.

The bazaar also houses locally crafted ceramic products, particularly plates. These ceramic players have beautiful designs and geometric builds. You can also get tea sets, and flower vases, all in ceramic builds. 
 

• Carpets and Leather Products
  Egyptian carpets and leather products are good buys from this bazaar. The carpets are specially woven, different from other pieces you'll find on the continent. They are usually warm in color, with a predominant number of geometric weaving on them. Egyptian carpets do not contain many Arabic elements like those of other Arab nations, which is why they fit well into modern interiors.

You could also get an Egyptian -crafted leather sandal, shoe, bag, belt, jacket, or clothing even. Just to feel immersed in Egyptian culture, you could get these at not too expensive rates. 
 

• Egyptian Glassware
  Famous herein is the multi-colored Egyptian glass lamp. This glassware is not only colorful but also elegant to fit modern interior styles. Other glassware you could get: blown glass figurines, patterned glass shades, and other glass mugs.
• Do Not Forget To Visit Cafe El-Fishawy 
  The Cafe El-Fishawy is the oldest cafe in Cairo. Famous for its huge mirrors and antique furniture which exudes the brilliance of Egypt's ancient civilization, the Cafe El-Fishawy is visited by numerous tourists. The dishes and drinks in this cafe are exotic— even Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz used to visit this cafe frequently. You should visit and experience what it feels like! 
   

Visit Khan El Khalili with our Amazing Egypt Tour Packages 

The best time to visit this exotic bazaar is in April. At this time, you can be sure to come across the richest of cultural pieces as this is the time of the Sufi Celebration. During the Sufi celebration, numerous traders and craftsmen come to showcase their antique and culture-rich products; you get to pick from the best on show. There is also a famous carnival on Muizz street in April. It was more colorful during this period.