Khan el-Khalili
Cairo’s Timeless Bazaar
For more than six centuries, Khan el-Khalili has been the heart of Cairo’s trade. Established in the 14th century by the Mamluk sultan Barquq’s son, it was originally built as a caravanserai — a secure inn and market for merchants arriving with caravans of goods from across the Islamic world. Spices from India, silks from Damascus, gold from Africa, and coffee from Yemen all passed through its gates.
Over time, the market grew beyond a single khan into a sprawling district of workshops, warehouses, and stalls. By the 16th century, under the Ottomans, it was already famous as one of the great trading centers of the Middle East. Foreign merchants from Venice and Istanbul came here to buy goods, while local craftsmen established shops that would remain in the same families for generations.
Experience it
Khan el-Khalili remains one of the busiest districts in Cairo. Its lanes twist between tall stone walls, opening into alleys lined with shops where craftsmen display their work. Brass lamps hang in clusters, their patterns glowing when lit. Jewelers set silver and gold by hand, while stalls of spices fill the air with cardamom, cinnamon, and dried hibiscus. Textiles, perfumes, and carved wood spill out into the streets in a display as lively as it was centuries ago.
The bazaar is not only for shopping. It is also a place to pause. Traditional cafés have served travelers and locals here for generations. The most famous, El Fishawy, has been open for more than 200 years. Writers, artists, and politicians gathered at its tables, including Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz, who often described the life of these very streets.
Experience it
On one level, it is a busy market — crowded, energetic, and filled with shops selling souvenirs alongside traditional crafts. On another, it is a place where history is still visible in daily life. Families run the same workshops their ancestors once did, mosques and sabils (public fountains) stand between the stalls, and the call to prayer continues to rise above the hum of trade.
The key is to explore with intention. Beyond the main thoroughfares are quieter lanes where artisans work in copper, leather, and textiles. Courtyards open suddenly, offering a moment of stillness. Step inside a mosque or pause at a café, and the pace shifts. With the right guidance, Khan el-Khalili reveals itself not as a maze, but as a story — one of Cairo’s oldest still in motion.
With us, your visit to Khan el-Khalili is more than shopping. It is a walk through Cairo’s most historic bazaar — where brass lamps, spices, and silver mingle with centuries of trade and tradition.