{"id":6562,"date":"2026-03-25T21:56:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lagardiennedunil.com\/?p=6562"},"modified":"2026-03-25T21:57:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:57:37","slug":"8-things-to-do-in-khan-elkhalili","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lagardiennedunil.com\/fr\/8-things-to-do-in-khan-elkhalili\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Things to Do in Khan Elkhalili"},"content":{"rendered":"
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8 Best Things To Buy In Khan El Khalili (A Local\u2019s Guide)<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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Khan el Khalili is a historic open-air souq packed with medieval mosques, lively cafes and mazes of colorful shops.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an absolute must on your Cairo itinerary to soak in some local atmosphere and browse local handicrafts.<\/p>\n

But Khan el Khalili is also notorious for aggressive vendors. And if you can believe it: about 60% of all items at this souq are not even made in Egypt.<\/p>\n

That means if you\u2019re looking for handcrafted souvenirs, you\u2019ll have to dig through plenty of Chinese dupes and plastic pyramids.<\/p>\n

\"Dee<\/p>\n

\"Lanterns<\/p>\n

So what are the best things to buy in Khan el Khalili?<\/p>\n

And how can you plan your visit to avoid the hassles \u2013 and find the best treasures?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a\u00a0travel planner<\/a>\u00a0living for over a decade in Egypt\u00a0and I\u2019ve been shopping at Khan el Khalili for years.<\/p>\n

And this is my ultimate guide to shopping in Khan el Khalili \u2013 including all the must-haves, insider tips and what to avoid.<\/p>\n

Best things to buy in Khan el Khalili:<\/p>\n

1. Metal lamps and lanterns<\/h2>\n

\"Elaborate<\/p>\n

Head to the historic gate Bab al-Ghuri for an array of shops that sell colorful metal lamps decorated with intricate carvings and colored glass.<\/p>\n

Bab al-Ghuri is especially magical at night when hundreds of the lamps are lit and the intricate metalwork casts patters on the walls.<\/p>\n

These metal lamps range from enormous round chandeliers decorated with Arabic calligraphy that are powered with lightbulbs to small, square candleholders.<\/p>\n

There are also electric egg-shaped lanters \u2013 especially popular during Ramadan \u2013 made with a mosaic of colorful glass pieces.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Egypt\u2019s famous Ramadan lanterns, or fanoos, were invented in Fatimid-era Egypt (10th to 12th centuries). They illuminated the streets during the holy month when the faithful walked to mosques for late-night prayers.<\/p>\n

Metal lamps are very durable and pack easily. You can find many of them at Bab al-Ghuri but also scattered around smaller shops all through Khan el Khalili.<\/p>\n

2. Wooden boxes with mother of pearl<\/h2>\n

\"Rows<\/p>\n

Khan el Khalili has many wooden boxes inlaid with mother of pearl that make beautiful handmade souvenirs.<\/p>\n

These elegant boxes range in shape and dimension from pocket-sized to coffee-table large. They\u2019re made with either mother of pearl or cheaper materials like conch seashells and plastic.<\/p>\n

Inlay work has a long tradition in regional art and furniture. Ancient Egyptians used the technique to adorn wooden shrines and mummy covers.<\/p>\n

\"Rows<\/p>\n

Mother of pearl boxes are made in a painstaking process. The artisan first cuts the beech wood and nails it together. The box is then decorated with white resin and hundreds of mother of pearl pieces. It\u2019s later smoothed down with sandpaper and lined inside with velvet.<\/p>\n

3. Ancient Egyptian figurines<\/h2>\n

\"Rows<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find rows of Ancient Egyptian figurines, pyramids, ankhs and scarabs piled high at Khan el Khalili at an array of shops.<\/p>\n

Quality ranges from masterful replicas that could easily pass for the real thing \u2013 to cheap and sloppily made figurines with creepy and disproportionate features. Browse a few shops and you\u2019ll easily find some quality pieces.<\/p>\n

A small colorful scarab or an ancient Egyptian goddess carved from stone makes a beautiful souvenir.<\/p>\n

\"Rows<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find these figurines all throughout Egypt\u2019s tourist souqs, especially in Luxor where the alabaster is especially fine.<\/p>\n

These statues range from proud figures of feline goddess Bastet and Nefertiti to the canopic jars the ancients used to store mummy innards.<\/p>\n

The statues can be made of anything from alabaster and heavy stone to cheap, painted plastic. It\u2019s easy to tell the difference by the weight and feel of the statue.<\/p>\n

4. Personalized notebooks<\/h2>\n

\"abdelzaher<\/p>\n

\"what<\/p>\n

This beautiful gem of a bookshop is tucked away\u00a0on a side street<\/a>\u00a0behind Cairo\u2019s iconic\u00a0Al Azhar Mosque.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just across the street from Khan el Khalili \u2013 and not far from the Khayamiya tent maker\u2019s market.<\/p>\n

Abd El-Zaher offers personalized leather-bound notebooks, bargain-priced notepads, photo albums with old-fashioned mounting corners, sketchbooks, vintage postcards and a small selection of books.<\/p>\n

The workers can stamp your name (in Arabic or English) into any notebook you choose \u2013 on the spot while you wait.<\/p>\n

You can watch the craftsmen at work on the lettering too.<\/p>\n

\"egyptian<\/p>\n

If you have old books that are falling apart, Abd El-Zaher can rebind them for you. Though rebinding means leaving your book there for approximately 10 days.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Abd El-Zaher Bookstore<\/a>\u00a0is more than 80 years old and it\u2019s home to three generations of craftsmen who keep the rare art of book binding alive.<\/p>\n

Shopping at this small and cozy boutique is an experience.<\/p>\n

And what better way to record your Egyptian vacation than in a personalized travel journal?<\/p>\n

5. Spices<\/h2>\n

\"spices<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find lots of spice shops scattered around Khan el Khalili and vendors with colorful displays of spices.<\/p>\n

But are the spices of Khan el Khalili really worth buying? They\u2019re not necessarily better quality than what you\u2019d find at your local Middle Eastern grocer. Though there are exceptions.<\/p>\n

There are some spices that are worth buying \u2013 and taste better than those you\u2019ll find at home.<\/p>\n