Khan el-Khalili is Cairo’s great historic bazaar – a maze of lanes in Islamic Cairo, founded as a merchants’ inn in 1382, where you can shop for lanterns, spices and silver, drink tea at El Fishawy café and walk on to Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Muizz Street. Entry is free, most shops open from late morning to around midnight, and the evening is the best time to go.
| Entry | Free, it is a public market |
|---|---|
| Hours | Most shops open late morning until late at night. Many close on Friday morning. |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours, more with Al-Muizz Street |
| Best time | Late afternoon into the evening |
Khan el-Khalili takes its name from a khan – a caravanserai where travelling merchants stored goods and slept – built in 1382 by the Mamluk emir Jaharkas al-Khalili, master of the horse to Sultan Barquq. The area around it was already the commercial heart of Fatimid Cairo, and over the following centuries the khan grew into a whole district of workshops, warehouses and shops.
Much of what you see today dates from later rebuilding, especially under Sultan al-Ghuri in the early 16th century, whose stone gateways still stand in the lanes off Al-Muizz Street. The bazaar has been rebuilt and repaired many times, but it has never stopped trading.
Khan el-Khalili is not one building but a maze of lanes between Al-Hussein Mosque and Al-Muizz Street. The main lanes near Al-Hussein Square are lined with souvenir shops; the further you walk, the more you find working craftsmen – coppersmiths, silversmiths, lantern makers and perfume sellers – and shops selling to Egyptians rather than tourists.
First prices for visitors are often high. Smile, offer much less and meet in the middle, and walk away politely if it does not feel right, because the same item is usually in the next shop too. Our guide to haggling in Egypt has the phrases and tactics.
The bazaar is in Islamic (historic) Cairo, in the Al-Gamaliya district, on the north side of Al-Azhar Street opposite Al-Azhar Mosque. Al-Hussein Mosque and its square mark the main entrance; Al-Muizz Street runs along its western edge.
Yes, for the atmosphere more than for bargains. Walking the lanes at dusk, drinking mint tea in a crowded café and watching craftsmen at work is one of Cairo’s classic experiences. It’s less enjoyable if you dislike crowds or being called into shops – in that case, come in the morning or go with a guide.
El Fishawy, a narrow café of mirrors and brass in an alley of the bazaar, is said to have been open since the 18th century and is the classic stop for mint tea or Turkish coffee. For a meal, look for koshari and grilled food in the streets around Al-Hussein, or read our Cairo food guide. During Ramadan, the area is busiest after sunset and stays awake until the early hours.
Late afternoon into the evening is the most atmospheric time: the heat drops, the lights come on and the cafés fill up. Mornings are quieter and better for serious shopping. Many shops open late on Friday mornings because of midday prayers, and during Ramadan the bazaar is busiest after iftar, well into the night.
The easiest way is Uber or a taxi to “Al-Hussein” or “Khan el-Khalili” – about 20–40 minutes from Downtown or Zamalek depending on traffic. Drivers usually drop you on Al-Azhar Street; a pedestrian tunnel under the road links Al-Azhar Mosque with Al-Hussein Square. By metro, Bab El Shaaria (Line 3) is the nearest station, about a 15-minute walk.
Dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered for both men and women. You’ll be walking on uneven, sometimes dusty streets, so wear comfortable closed shoes. Women visiting Al-Azhar or Al-Hussein mosques need a headscarf; carry one in your bag.
Yes, it’s one of the busiest and most visited places in Cairo, with tourist police around the main square. The usual risks are pickpockets in crowds and persistent sellers. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag, and don’t follow anyone who offers to show you a “special shop”.
Yes, though many shops open late and some close on Friday morning for prayers.
Yes. You only pay for what you buy.
Yes, it is busy and well policed. Watch your bag in crowds, as in any big market.
It grew from a caravanserai built in 1382 and has traded ever since.
Bargaining is expected in most souvenir shops. Decide what an item is worth to you before asking the price, start well below the first offer, and settle somewhere in between – often 40–60% of the first price in the busiest lanes. Smile, take your time, and be ready to walk away politely; the price often drops as you leave. Shops with fixed, printed prices usually don’t bargain. Our guide to haggling in Egypt has more tips and Arabic phrases.
| Item | Tip |
|---|---|
| Lanterns (fanous) | Ask about flat-packing for your suitcase |
| Brass and copper | Heavier pieces are usually better made |
| Silver jewellery | Look for the hallmark |
| Spices and herbal teas | Smell before you buy; hibiscus (karkadeh) travels well |
| Perfume oils | Small bottles are easier to carry |
| Cotton scarves and galabeyas | Check the fabric label – not everything is Egyptian cotton |
On your own, start at Al-Hussein Square, walk west into the lanes, then turn north onto Al-Muizz Street and finish at a café. With a guide, you’ll understand the buildings and avoid the pushiest shops – our Islamic and Coptic Cairo day tour includes Khan el-Khalili with the Citadel and the old mosques.
Allow one to two hours for a walk and a drink, and three hours or more if you combine the bazaar with Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Muizz Street. Serious shoppers can easily spend half a day.
No. Khan el-Khalili is a public market and free to enter. You pay only for what you buy, your tea, and – separately – tickets for some of the historic buildings along Al-Muizz Street.
The bazaar has no official opening hours. Most shops open from late morning (around 10 AM) until about midnight, and the cafés stay open later. Some shops close on Sundays or open late on Friday mornings; Ramadan nights are busiest of all.
Come for an evening: walk in from Al-Hussein Square, get a little lost in the side lanes, bargain for a lantern and finish with tea at El Fishawy. Go in the morning if you want to shop seriously, and with a guide if you’d like the history and fewer sales pitches.
Book this experience: Islamic and Coptic Cairo day tour – the Citadel, old mosques and Khan el-Khalili with a local guide, from $30.
Khan Al Khalili | A Guide for First-Time Visitors
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Explore Islamic Cairo, the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili with a local guide on our Cairo day tours.
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