Khan el-Khalili is one of the highlights of every single travel itinerary for Cairo.
If you have visited Cairo on an organized tour you have most probably been and you can relate to this story.
Khan el Khalili is a place that as soon as you step foot at…
You either fall in love with it or just hate it and want to leave and never look back.
In our group, we had all kinds of feelings.
Some of us just loved it and others couldn’t wait to get out.
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Mind you, we did not visit Khan el Khalili as tourists.
We went there with local friends.
People who are born and raised in Cairo, and knew the market inside out.
We were privileged to be introduced to this place in a way that not many travelers have the opportunity to.
Our friends took us to the areas where locals do their shopping. To coffee shops that a first-timer would never even imagine existed.
They presented us with goods that you do not find in the more touristy frontline areas.
They accompanied us and introduced us to Artisans.
People that their handicrafts of wood, mother of pearls, and ivory mosaic masterpieces took our breath away. Items of great quality and value.
Handmade jewelry with beautiful turquoise stones was next. Handmade rags followed.
Shops that sell exclusively prayer beads made out of sandalwood, rosewood, amber, silver, ceramic, and all kinds of other materials.
Some to hold in hand and others to use as a decor item on a coffee table.
Handmade chess sets.
And of course, all kinds of quality souvenirs including some exceptional artworks make on papyrus.
A few of us got really fond of the prayer beads, which for us obviously do not have such meaning.
They are purely decorative and ideal for gifts. And I honestly cannot recall how many I bought.
The first time I bought the rosewood beads was back in 1999 and to this day the perfume that comes out of them as soon as you touch them is impossible to describe.
And the vast majority of these shops were not close to where the tourists usually go.
I am not even sure how to explain where they were. But if you look and ask around you will surely find them.
You may be wondering by now why some of us did not like Khan el-Khalili…
The reasons were different for each and every one. Some found it overcrowded and hectic. Others thought that it was not clean enough.
Others did not like the odors. And some did not feel comfortable with the reactions of the locals and the way that they would approach us.
That last one, I can understand.
To Enjoy your Visit in Khan el Khalili
Firstly, dress comfortably. Avoid shorts and sexy clothes if you want to be left alone.
Wear sneakers because a lot of walking will be involved. Carry a small crossbody bag with only the items you absolutely need.
Secondly, ask your hotel to make arrangements for a taxi or car service to take you there and come back to pick you up whenever you will be ready to go.
Thirdly, be ready to walk a lot. Explore a lot and most probably shop a lot.
Don’t give in to the children asking you for money.
Don’t let every shop owner “drug” you in their shop. They can be very insistent.
Be aware, that not everything you see is handmade or even locally made. Lots of things are imported from the Far East.
Never forget to bargain if you find something you like. It is something you should do in every shop in Cairo.
It is fun, and it is an experience in itself even if you don’t get a discount at the end. Both you and the shop owner will enjoy it.
Khan el Khalili is one of my favorite spots in Cairo and no matter how often I visit this beautiful city I always want to pass by, even for just an hour.
My Egyptian friends think I am funny and maybe deep inside they believe I am weird. But they always come along. I have a feeling they are amused by me and my interactions with the shop owners.
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