El-Khalili Market is one of the oldest markets in Egypt and one of the largest ones in the Middle East. It is located in Old Cairo and dates back to the 14th century. The history on how this market was established is pretty interesting. During the reign of Sultan Barqur, Jaharkas El Khalili who worked for Sultan Barquq built a building called a caravanserai for traders to stay and sell their stuff. Over time, more of these caravanserais were added by other sultans and the place eventually grew into what's now known as Khan El Khalili.
Today, the market bustles with activities on all days of the week from sunrise to sunset in all seasons. You can walk through the narrow streets of the market and find shops of all sizes and genres on either side. AT this massive market, you can shop for everything - gold jewellery, semi-precious stones, shisha pipes, and aromatic spices. It is the best place to shop for souvenirs like golden Arabian lamps, scarabs, pyramids, and toy camels to freeze your Cairo trip.
Location: Off Al-Azhar Street, Islamic Cairo District
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
