A Guide to Shopping in Cairo
For better or worse, everywhere you go in Cairo is an opportunity to shop. Vendors line the streets, markets stretch into other markets, and Western shopping malls are popping up seemingly every day. So if shopping is your weakness, you’ll rejoice in the diverse experiences to be found in Cairo, where the best of Egypt is brought right to your doorstep. Among the unique items to pick up while you’re visiting are painted papyrus scrolls or banana leaves, which are fairly cheap and can be quite beautiful. There are plenty to choose from, so don’t feel like you have to buy the first one you see. Other good buys include backgammon boards, jewelry boxes, and gold and silver jewelry—often sold simply by weight. And while many of the world’s ancient treasures can indeed be found in Egypt, you’ll have to do some digging to ensure that the antiquities you may be interested in are the real deal. The Main Markets
Much like the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, the city’s main market of Khan al-Khalili is a must. Unlike many shopping venues in Cairo, the market doesn’t cater only to tourists—locals tend to shop in the interior stores—so you’ll not only pick up great purchases, but you’ll also get a feel for how residents of the city live. This market, which was established in the 14th century, stocks everything from shiny brass décor items to silks to jewelry to spices to hand-made clothing. Cairo is also an excellent place to shop for pure essential oils and perfumes, as many French perfumeries obtain their oils from Egypt. To the west of the Khan is the al-Muski market, a smaller venue where cart vendors sell a fascinating blend of real-life staples, souvenirs, and shocking items—like lingerie that may elicit a few gasps. Other great markets to check out: the Bulaq Market in the Bulaq area and the Sharia al-Muski and Souq al-Gomaa markets in Islamic Cairo. Shopping Malls
More than a dozen large shopping malls dot the landscape of Cairo, and they’re becoming a popular place to gather and socialize—especially for the younger crowd. For upscale shopping, head to First Residence Mall, which consists of exclusive boutiques, internationally famous designer stores, and elite local shops. If sheer quantity appeals to you, Arkadia Mall in the Bulaq area is the largest of its kind in Cairo and features more than 500 shops, restaurants and bars, and gaming facilities. The Ramses Hilton Mall is a family-focused complex with a nice mix of housewares, jewelry, and clothing stores—plus a movie theatre—while the Talaat Harb Shopping Complex, with its collection of fashion boutiques, is particularly popular with the younger generation. Metal Mania
If you’re in the market for housewares or accessories made of beautiful metals, you’ve come to the right place. Copper has its very own avenue—the Street of the Coppersmiths in An-Nahassin—where customers can go to buy brass and copper goods. Among the most popular take-aways are cups, plates, bowls, and engraved trays that can be purchased with an accompanying wooden stand to transform it into a table at home. Many visitors return home with handfuls of gold and silver jewelry from Cairo because though the quality is wonderful, the prices are typically low. There are plenty of “traditional” Egyptian-themed jewelry that feature hieroglyphs, pharaoh-inspired symbols, and scarabs. More classic, sophisticated styles are also available, but you may have to search a bit. The areas of Sharia Abdel Khalek Sarwat and Sharia al-Muizz li-Din Allah abound with jewelry shops and are worth a browse. A Visit to the Past
Many visitors to Cairo are interested in bringing back a piece of history, but you must be especially wary of antiques dealers. One of the keys to purchasing an actual antique is the dealer’s comfort—even instance—on playing by the rules. Trust your gut and follow the old adage: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Since there’s no specific antiques area in the city, you’ll have to poke your head into a variety of shops. There are a couple of antiques dealers in the main market, Khan al-Khalili, that may be good bets, and if you’re looking for old jewelry, journey upstairs at the Khan to the metal shops, where they may have a supply of what you’re looking for. There are quite a few shops—many of them without names—along the Shara Hoda Sharaawi in downtown Cairo that have lovely merchandise. An Artistic Pursuit
Hieroglyphics and other ancient art usually draw the most attention in Egypt, but there are a couple of modern galleries worth checking out. The best art gallery in the city is Mashrabia Gallery downtown, a rather unremarkable storefront that consists of quite remarkable work. It exhibits some of the country’s best-known artists—like Muhammad Abla and Hamdi Atteya—and there’s an in-gallery shop where you can purchase things that catch your eye. The Centre des Arts in the Zamalek area, operated by the government, is home to the annual Youth Salon. The gallery is a great opportunity to see and purchase art created by local artists and keep tabs on the heartbeat of the regional scene. If you prefer the kind of art that you can wear, don’t miss Al-Ain Gallery, where the work of internationally celebrated jewelry-maker Azza Fahmy can be found. In addition to the traditionally-inspired jewelry, home goods such as lamps and furniture are also for sale. Unique Cairo
Shops and street hawkers are abundant, and you might get shopper’s fatigue after a while. However, some stores are simply too interesting to miss. Fans of ancient paper treasures will spend hours rifling through the goodies at L’Orientaliste, one of the best places in the world to find antique Middle Eastern maps, books, and old postcards and pictures. With the abundance of shishas (water pipes), it may seem unusual to find La Casa del Habano, a premier cigar store, in downtown Cairo. Any tobacco aficionado will be enraptured with the stock, which features some products that you may not be able to find in the West. “Eclectic” is a good word to describe Khan Misr Toulun, a small crafts store at the entrance to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun. It stocks high-quality handmade wares from all over Egypt, and sorting through the goods is half the fun. |
