Khan el-Khalili in Cairo: opening hours, what to buy and visit from Hurghada
Khan el-Khalili is Cairo's great historic bazaar, founded in the late 14th century: lanes of goldsmiths, copper lamps, spices and papyrus around the Al-Hussein Mosque. Entry is free; most shops open from about 9:30 am until late at night, but some stay closed on Friday mornings and Sundays. Allow two to three hours on site, more with a coffee. From Hurghada it is a day trip by plane or bus, with Giza in the morning and the bazaar in the afternoon: see Cairo by plane from Hurghada.
Highlights
The bazaar lanes
They are explored on foot, with shops grouped by street: copper, silver jewellery, fabrics, perfumes. Always bargain and start at about half the quoted price.
El Fishawi café
Open in the heart of the bazaar, it serves mint tea and shisha under the mirrors; hours vary by source, but it remains the best place to catch your breath. Neighbouring shops are often pricier.
Practical info
Tips
- To sort the options: the day trip by plane with Giza, the museum and the bazaar (the most booked from Hurghada) costs more but saves 10 hours on the road; the private Citadel, Old Cairo and Khan el-Khalili tour in Cairo (about 6 hours, 77 to 85 dollars per person depending on the offer, 4.6 from about 1,300 reviews, seen in October 2026) suits you if you sleep in Cairo. Beware of unannounced perfume and papyrus shop stops in tours: some travellers complain about them. Agree the taxi fare before getting in. See also the Cairo Citadel, 15 minutes from the bazaar.
How to get there
From Hurghada: a flight of about an hour then a car, or an overnight bus and an excursion; details in Hurghada to Cairo by bus. In Cairo the bazaar is in the Islamic district, opposite the Al-Hussein Mosque.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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