Cairo, Egypt

Best places to shop in Cairo

5 markets, malls and shopping districts in Cairo — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Last updated 2026-08-08

1. Khan el-Khalili

The great Fatimid bazaar, trading since 1382 — brass, glass, textiles, perfume oils, silver and coffee houses in a maze of covered lanes.

Where: Bazaar
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Saturday to Thursday 09:00–23:00; many shops closed Friday morning
Cost: Budget–Mid
Tip: El Fishawy coffee house has been open more or less continuously for two centuries and is the place to stop mid-bargain.

Watch outPapyrus is the standard scam: banana-leaf sheets sold as papyrus at papyrus prices. Real papyrus is fibrous, translucent when held to light, and does not crack when folded. 'Government papyrus institutes' with free entry are private shops.

2. Perfume and essential-oil shops

The attar merchants around Khan el-Khalili — blended oils, musk and traditional Egyptian scents sold from cut-glass bottles.

Where: Bazaar
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Saturday to Thursday 10:00–22:00
Cost: Budget–Mid

Watch outShops present themselves as suppliers to French perfume houses and press very hard for a sale over tea. The oils are usually synthetic dilutions in a cheap carrier. Buy a small bottle if you like the scent, and disregard the story.

3. Wekalet El Balah and the Cairo cotton trade

The textile market — Egyptian cotton by the metre, bedding and shirting, at the source of one of the world's best fibres.

Where: Market
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Saturday to Thursday 09:00–19:00
Cost: Budget
Tip: Genuine Egyptian long-staple cotton is soft, matte and heavy. Look for the Cotton Egypt Association trademark on finished goods.

4. Souq al-Gomaa (Friday Market)

The vast Friday flea market south of the city — antiques, furniture, animals, car parts and everything discarded in Cairo.

Where: Flea Market
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Fridays from dawn to about 14:00
Cost: Budget

5. City Stars and Mall of Egypt

The modern malls — international brands, cinemas, supermarkets and an indoor ski slope at Mall of Egypt.

Where: Mall
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 10:00–24:00
Cost: Mid-range