Khan El Khalili bazaar

Khan El Khalili bazaar in Egypt is the oldest market of the middle east for handmade Christmas ornaments and handmade gifts, this huge Cairo bazaar located in the center of Islamic Cairo, the bazaar attracts foreign tourists and Egyptians alike, housing a lot of mini bazaars and traditional coffee shops, the market inspires many through the ages such as the Egyptian intellectual author Nageeb Mahfouz who wrote some of his 

About the Khan-el-Khalili Bazaar

The Khan El Khalili bazaar is located in the Islamic district of Cairo. It is said to be the oldest and most well-known open-air market in the Middle East. The local stalls – many arranged around small courtyards - stocks everything from soap powder to semi precious stones, and more. Most shops and stalls open from around 9am to well after sundown.

History of Khan-el-Khalil

Khan El Khalili bazaar was originally built to serve as a mausoleum for the Fatimid royal family and was at that time a part of the Great Eastern Fatimid Palace, which was built in 970 CE. By the 14th century when the first Mamluk sultan ruled the country, the Black Death had ravaged Egypt – nonetheless, it continued to act as a major trade centre, and as a result, several commercial properties were constructed. By 1389 the original Fatimid cemetery had been destroyed in order to make way for a large caravanserai. The original caravanserai can still be seen at Khan El Khalili to this day although most shoppers have little interest in the colourful history of this charismatic bazaar.Instead, most locals are only interested in securing the best possible deals, in a place where haggling is the order of the day.

 Al fishawy coffee shop 

 Al fishawy coffee shop founded in 1769, one of the oldest coffee shops in the middle east , after having your walk through the halls of the bazaar that covered with black shiny basalt stone you can have a seat in al fishawy to try Arabian coffee and shisha while watching the sun light sneak through the wooden ceilings and reflects the shine of the jewelry and golden antiques .

El Khan Crafts 

The Khan includes traditional crafts, hundreds of workers and artisans who specializing hand made masterpieces such as carpets, crystals, papyrus, gold and silver jewelry,it is also famous for beautiful pharaonic artifacts, handicrafts, various stones,natural herbs and incense oud imported from Saudi Arabia, abrasions made of Stained glass and hookah (Arabic shisha).The Khan has a place dedicated to leather and copper products and historical accessories such as swords, copper helmets and belts, in addition to the pharaonic papyrus with hieroglyphic signs and paints that tells the story of Isis and Osiris.

What to find at Khan Al-Khalili bazaar?

 The bazaar is loud, crowded, colorful, and exciting—full of all kinds of goods and shiny baubles. You can find the typical tourist trinkets here, but don’t let them distract you from the genuinely fine shopping to be found here.There is a spice market where you can buy fresh spices of any variety. The perfume market is awash with countless mixing scents of essential oils. Deeper into the market there are gold vendors and antique shops full of interesting pieces. There are fabric shops and carpet vendors and sellers of just about anything you might desire. If you cannot find what you are looking for, do not hesitate to ask a vendor because there is a good chance they will know where to find it. Even if you are not looking to buy, taking a walk through the winding alleys of this labyrinthine district, you are sure to find something that will catch your eye.