I'll be in Egypt later this December. Can anyone share practical tips for shopping in Cairo? All the guidebooks say go to Khan al-Khalili bazaar. How big is this market, and where are the best areas to focus if you're pressed for time? I'm interested in getting some traditional Egyptian clothing and jewelry, tapestries, cotton sheets, and other decorative stuff for my apartment back home. Also, is it safe for a female to be wandering around the markets alone? Is it possible to hire a local female guide for the day to accompany me during shopping trips? How much would it cost and where can I arrange this?
Shopping in Cairo
Re: Shopping in Cairo
Hello Venus,
You will find Khan el Khalili an incredibly huge place, with lane ways wandering off. You will find belly dancing outfits (one of which I bought),gallebaya's ( probably not correct spelling, headscarves, tshirts etc. There will be little alabaster pyramids, glass perfume bottles that look like genie bottles, gold and silver cartouches...just about anything in the way of jewellery. There will be tapestery mats, shesha pipes, spice shops, gosh it just goes on and on. Probably you really need a couple of days to go round it.
You must barter at all times. Just keep saying la shukran, which means no thank you, or just la, meaning no. Remember as far as the egyptian trader is concerned he just wants to sell for as high a price as he can get. So you have to try to beat him at his own game.
I would wait until you get to Luxour to buy the genie bottles. There used to be a shop in Luxour that Im Trav suggested you buy cartouches. I bought one from there which was very good quality, also bought some tshirts with my name in hieroglyphs...almost 3 years later they are still in excellent condition, I wear mine alot and they have never gone out of shape, stretched or shrank.
I think you would probably be safe visiting this bazaar alone, however I think it is much more fiun if you have someone with you to share the visit with. I don't think you can cover this bazaar in a quick visit. You will find little shops to buy lunch & also drinks, make the most of it and shop 'til you drop.
When buying bottled water check that the seals are intact, carry water with you at all times. If travelling on the wagonlits train do not use the water onboard to clean your teeth or hands, use the bottled water.
I wish I could be there with you, hoping you have a great time. Please have a lemon juice for me...very thirst quenching!!
Re: Shopping in Cairo
Hi Venus,
I went shopping at Kahn el Khalili twice while in Cairo last year, once with a couple of others and once on my own after they had left. I caught a taxi there and back from the hotel and had no trouble at all. There were a couple of times I wandered into an area where there were few tourists so I quickly back tracked to where I felt safer. These areas appeared to have few interesting shops any way.
The market is huge and is divided by a main road. It was my impression that one side had more stuff of interst to locals and the other side more of the tourist stuff, including jewellery and clothes. It was certainly a fascinating place and ideal for lots of small bits and pieces to bring home as gifts. Have a great time.
Tina