Shopping in Egypt
Malls, souks and markets from every city guide, with tips on bargaining and buying souvenirs.
This page gathers the shopping listings from each city guide, from the big air-conditioned malls of Cairo and the Red Sea resorts to the historic souks of Khan El Khalili, Aswan and Luxor and local weekly markets. Look out for cotton, spices, perfume oils, papyrus, alabaster, brass, silver and handmade carpets. Malls keep fixed prices and take cards. Souks are where you bargain, browse and drink tea with the shopkeepers. Opening hours vary, and many souk shops open late and stay busy into the night, especially during Ramadan.
- Bargain in souks, not malls. In markets, the first price is a starting point. Stay friendly, make a counter-offer and be ready to walk away.
- Carry small notes. Many stalls take cash only and may “have no change” for large notes.
- Be wary of commission stops. Guides and drivers may take you to shops where they earn a commission. You are free to decline.
- Check before you buy. Real papyrus does not tear easily, real alabaster is cold and heavy, and only licensed dealers may sell antiques. Exporting genuine antiquities is illegal.
79 malls, souks and markets in the city guides
Cairo and Giza
Cairo 8
Khan el-Khalili خان الخليلي
Medieval bazaar lanes packed with brass, lanterns, spices, silver and souvenirs; bargaining is expected.
City Stars سيتي ستارز
One of the largest malls in the city, combining international brands, a cinema, hotels and a big food court.
Cairo Festival City Mall كايرو فستيفال سيتي مول
Large open-air and indoor mall with IKEA, many fashion brands and a lakeside fountain area lined with restaurants.
Point 90 Mall بوينت 90 مول
Popular mid-size mall near the American University in Cairo with shops, a cinema and many cafes.
Fustat Traditional Crafts Centre مركز الفسطاط للحرف التقليدية
Government-run crafts centre where artisans make and sell pottery, glass, carpets and woodwork near the Coptic quarter.
26th of July Street, Zamalek شارع 26 يوليو بالزمالك
Leafy island street and side roads with boutiques, design stores, bookshops and handicraft shops.
Wekalet El Balah وكالة البلح
Sprawling street market famous for fabrics, used clothing and bargains, best for adventurous shoppers.
Downtown (Talaat Harb & Qasr El Nil Streets) وسط البلد (شارعا طلعت حرب وقصر النيل)
Belle-epoque streets lined with shoe and clothing stores, old cafes and local shops.
Giza 5
Mall of Egypt مول مصر
Huge mall with hundreds of shops and Ski Egypt, an indoor snow park.
Mall of Arabia مول العرب
One of west Cairo's biggest malls, with department stores, a cinema and many restaurants.
Arkan Plaza أركان بلازا
Open-air lifestyle centre with cafes, restaurants and shops around landscaped walkways.
Americana Plaza أمريكانا بلازا
Busy open-air mall known for its large selection of cafes and restaurants.
Kerdasa Market سوق كرداسة
Village market known for handwoven textiles, galabeyas and embroidered goods.
Banha 1
Nile View Mall نايل فيو مول
Large Delta mall on the Nile with Banha's first Carrefour, fashion shops, a bank branch and cafes.
New Administrative Capital 1
Capital Park (Central Park) كابيتال بارك
Large landscaped park with a growing number of cafes and food outlets; several malls in the city are still under construction.
Alexandria and the North Coast
Alexandria 6
San Stefano Grand Plaza سان ستيفانو جراند بلازا
Seafront mall with international brands, a cinema and sea views, attached to the Four Seasons hotel.
City Centre Alexandria سيتي سنتر الإسكندرية
Large mall anchored by a Carrefour hypermarket with fashion stores and a cinema.
Green Plaza Mall جرين بلازا
Long-established mall and leisure complex with shops, restaurants and a hotel.
Attarine Antiques Market سوق العطارين
Old quarter of antique and furniture dealers, good for vintage hunting.
Zan'et El Settat زنقة الستات
Narrow, crowded alley market selling fabrics, accessories and household goods.
Safeya Zaghloul & Saad Zaghloul Streets شارعا صفية زغلول وسعد زغلول
Central streets lined with local clothing stores, bookshops and historic cafes.
North Coast and El Alamein 1
Marassi Marina مارينا مراسي
Marina promenade of boutiques, cafes and restaurants that becomes the coast's social hub in summer.
New Alamein City 1
New Alamein Corniche & Downtown كورنيش العلمين الجديدة
New seafront promenade with cafes, restaurants and shops beneath the Alamein Towers; most lively in summer.
Marsa Matrouh 1
Libyan Market (Souk Libya) سوق ليبيا
Large covered market selling imported goods, clothing, blankets and household items.
The Nile Valley
Luxor 3
Luxor Souk سوق الأقصر
Covered tourist market selling spices, scarves, alabaster and souvenirs; haggling is the norm.
West Bank Alabaster Workshops ورش الألباستر بالبر الغربي
Family workshops where you can watch stone vases and statues being carved and buy direct.
Fair Trade Centre Luxor مركز التجارة العادلة بالأقصر
Fixed-price shop selling handicrafts made by Egyptian community projects.
Aswan 2
Aswan Souk (Sharia as-Souq) سوق أسوان
Long market street for spices, hibiscus, Nubian baskets, scarves and perfume oils, and calmer than most Egyptian bazaars.
Gharb Soheil Nubian Village قرية غرب سهيل النوبية
Painted Nubian village where stalls sell handicrafts, beadwork and spices.
Abu Simbel 1
Temple Bazaar بازار المعبد
Row of souvenir stalls along the path to the temples.
Qena 2
Qena Souk سوق قنا
Large working market, one of the better souks in Upper Egypt, for produce, spices, household goods and the region's famous clay water jugs (qulla).
Family Mall فاميلي مول
Small city mall with shops and a cafe that stays open late.
Sohag 2
Souq El Qaysariya سوق القيسارية
Partly covered historic market street selling fabrics, clothing, spices and household goods, especially lively in Ramadan.
Akhmim Community Centre مركز أخميم المجتمعي
Workshop producing Akhmim's traditional hand-woven textiles, a craft dating back to ancient Egypt. Arrange a visit before you go.
Asyut 1
El Qaysariya Bazaar سوق القيسارية
Historic, partly covered market dating back centuries, selling textiles, household goods and spices, with an old fish market section.
Minya 2
Spinneys Minya سبينيس المنيا
Hypermarket that was the chain's first branch in Upper Egypt, opened in 2017.
Cityscape Mall سيتي سكيب مول
Mall on the east bank with a Spinneys hypermarket, shops and cafes.
Faiyum 1
Tunis Village Pottery Workshops ورش فخار قرية تونس
Village of pottery studios where you can watch potters at work and buy pieces directly.
The Red Sea coast
Hurghada 5
Senzo Mall سنزو مول
The city's main enclosed mall, with a supermarket, fashion stores and a food court.
Esplanada Mall إسبلانادا مول
Open-air mall with shops, cafes and an aquarium-style entertainment area.
El Dahar Old Market سوق الدهار
Traditional local market for spices, clothing and souvenirs at prices locals pay.
Hurghada Marina Boulevard مارينا الغردقة
Waterfront promenade of shops, cafes and restaurants beside the yacht marina.
Sheraton Road شارع الشيراتون
Busy strip of bazaars, pharmacies and souvenir shops.
El Gouna 2
El Gouna Downtown (Tamr Henna Square) داون تاون الجونة - ميدان تمر حنة
Car-free centre with small shops, bazaars and cafes around the main square.
Abu Tig Marina مارينا أبو تيج
Yacht marina lined with boutiques, restaurants and bars.
Marsa Alam 1
Port Ghalib Marina مارينا بورت غالب
Marina town with souvenir shops, bazaars and a pharmacy along the waterfront.
Ain Sokhna 2
Porto Sokhna Marina & Promenade ممشى ومارينا بورتو السخنة
Resort promenade with small shops, cafes and family entertainment.
Il Monte Galala Promenade ممشى إل مونت جلالة
Hillside resort promenade with cafes, restaurants and shops overlooking the sea.
Sinai
Sharm El Sheikh 4
Sharm Old Market السوق القديم بشرم الشيخ
Atmospheric bazaar around a mosque square selling spices, perfumes, textiles and souvenirs.
Naama Bay Promenade ممشى خليج نعمة
Pedestrian promenade of shops, bazaars, cafes and bars that comes alive at night.
SOHO Square سوهو سكوير
Entertainment complex with shops, restaurants, an ice rink, bowling and a musical fountain.
Il Mercato إل ميركاتو
Italian-style open-air shopping village with shops, cafes and restaurants.
Dahab 1
Dahab Promenade (Masbat & Lighthouse) ممشى دهب (المسبط والفنار)
Seafront walkway lined with Bedouin crafts, silver jewellery, clothing and dive shops.
St Catherine 1
Fansina Bedouin Crafts فانسينا للمشغولات البدوية
Women's handicraft project selling Bedouin embroidery and beadwork.
El Arish 1
El-Fayrouz Association جمعية الفيروز
Local women's association, founded in 2010, that makes and sells North Sinai Bedouin embroidery. Contact them before you visit.
The Western Desert and oases
Siwa Oasis 1
Siwa Market Square سوق سيوة
Small square of shops selling dates, olive oil, Siwan embroidery, salt lamps and baskets.
El Bahariya Oasis 2
Oases Bookshop مكتبة الواحات
Small shop selling books, maps and oasis souvenirs.
Oasis Heritage Museum متحف تراث الواحات
Artist's museum of clay figures showing oasis life, where some handmade pieces can be bought.
El Farafra Oasis 2
Mr. Socks مستر سوكس
Local workshop selling socks, scarves, hats and gloves knitted from camel hair and sheep wool, also stocked in some hotels.
Badr's Museum متحف بدر
Mud-brick museum and gallery of artist Badr Abdel Moghny's sculptures and paintings of oasis life, free entry with a donation requested.
El Dakhla Oasis 1
Mut fruit and vegetable market سوق الخضار والفاكهة بموط
Local produce market where you can buy oasis dates, fruit and vegetables, with small shops nearby on the main road.
El Kharga Oasis 1
Kharga Souk سوق الخارجة
Local market for dates, spices and everyday goods in the old quarter.
The Nile Delta and Suez Canal
Mansoura 2
Souq El Khawagat سوق الخواجات
Centuries-old market among historic buildings near Dar Ibn Luqman, popular for cheap clothing and fabrics, especially before Eid.
El Sikka El Gedida Street شارع السكة الجديدة
Busy old shopping street best known for gold jewellery and clothing shops.
Tanta 2
Mall of Tanta مول طنطا
Local mall with shops and restaurants in the city centre.
Sayed El Badawy Mosque Market سوق مسجد السيد البدوي
Busy streets around the shrine famous for halawa, hummus (roasted chickpeas) and festival sweets.
Zagazig 2
Zagazig New City Mall زقازيق نيو سيتي مول
About 30,000 sqm mall with Sharqia's first Carrefour hypermarket, fashion shops, cafes and restaurants.
Ninety Nine Mall نايتي ناين مول
Newer shopping mall with retail stores and cafes.
Damietta 1
Damietta Furniture Market سوق الأثاث بدمياط
Egypt's furniture-making capital, with streets of showrooms and workshops selling handmade furniture.
Rashid 2
Rashid Bazaar سوق رشيد
Local market for fruit, vegetables and fresh fish, busiest from late morning to afternoon.
Rashid Fish Market سوق السمك
The town's fish market, selling the catch from the Nile mouth and the Mediterranean.
Damanhur 2
Centro Mall سنترو مول
Small city-centre mall anchored by a Carrefour Market, with clothing shops and cafes.
Souq El Bandar سوق البندر
Busy traditional market in the heart of Damanhur for clothes, fabrics, produce and household goods.
Shibin El Kom 1
Maxim Mall مول ماكسيم
Modern shopping centre opened by the governor, anchored by a Carrefour hypermarket, with shops and eateries.
Port Said 1
Port Said Commercial District (Souk El Togary) السوق التجاري ببورسعيد
Shopping streets known for imported clothing and goods, a legacy of the city's free-zone status.
Ismailia 2
Carrefour Ismailia كارفور الإسماعيلية
Shopping centre opened by Majid Al Futtaim in 2019 around a Carrefour hypermarket, with shops and eateries.
El Geish Street شارع الجيش
The city's favourite shopping street, quiet and pleasant to stroll, with clothing shops, pastry shops and cafes.
Suez 2
El Ansari Market سوق الأنصاري
The city's central market and largest open-air fish market in the governorate, a lively look at local life.
El Arbaeen Markets أسواق الأربعين
Main traditional shopping area for fruit, vegetables, clothing and household goods.