Top 10 Cairo Traveler
Top 10 Shopping in Cairo
10. Souq al-Fustat
Our first Top 10 Cairo shopping stop is a gem and a half—a sprawling shopping complex with shops and stands for basically everything you can imagine. Check out their gallabayas for men and women (you’ll need one for that Nile River cruise, one of our Top Ten Cairo MOVES!) or their modern carpets and ceramics—it’s all beautiful! You will have to step up your bartering game if you want to get anywhere with a little change left in your pocket. Be strong—you’ve got this! Typical hours are 8 AM – 4 PM.
9. L’Oiseau du Nil
If you’re looking for something beautiful, original, and jaw-dropping, check out L-Oiseau du Nil for some rad gifts. Boasting true Egyptian cotton bedding and clothing, you’ll be swimming in the softest sea of fabric you ever did see. The bulk of their merchandise are home goods so if you only came with the pack on your back, you might want to think twice before you buy that table set you really liked at this Top 10 Cairo shop… Open Sat – Thurs 11 AM – 10 PM.
8. City Stars Mall
Oh my stars, you won’t want to miss this Top 10 Cairo shop! A lovely (and probably needed) break from the street markets of Egypt, the City Stars Mall is a modern shopping mall housing all the popular brands of the region. With over one hundred shops of all shapes and sizes and a food court with multiple options, you’ll be entertained for hours. If ever there was a rainy day in the desert capital, head to the stars (mall, that is). Open daily 10 AM – 12 AM.
7. Han El Halili
Located in the bazaar district of the great Egyptian capital, this is another Top Ten Cairo shopping bazaar that you will need to get your bartering game on for! From trinkets to treasures, this marketplace has a little something for everyone. Experience some of the flavors of Cairo and chat with the locals, let them teach you a thing or two you didn’t know before. Heck, you might even find that perfect gift for grandma you’ve been ever searching for. Hours vary by vendor.
6. Mall of Arabia
This Top 10 Cairo shopping mall will knock your socks off! But it’s totally cool because there are hundreds of shops where you can buy more! This awesome establishment brings in all the latest fashion trends and plops them into one place for easy shopping and less stress. Find that perfect outfit, grab a snack, or see a movie, no matter what you do you won’t be in the hot Egyptian sun. Soak up the artificial lighting and enjoy your fountain soda, you’ve earned it. Open 10 AM – 12 AM.
5. Oum El Dounia Gallery
Oumm, oumm. Now that we have you relaxed, check out this amazing gallery. The inside of this Top 10 Cairo gallery is so beautiful, they might have to coax you out of the store with some Egyptian ice cream. Bold, wonderful colors and original, handcrafted items, the Oum El Dounia Gallery is a great spot to pick out individual art pieces and gifts for family or friends. Anything you buy on the street is questionably made in Egypt, but you’re getting the good stuff at Oum El Dounia. Open Sun – Sat 10 AM – 9 PM.
4. Tawfikeya Market
Now that you’re an expert barterer, this Top Ten Cairo market should be a grand ‘ol time! The Tawfikeya Market is located downtown near 26th street and is continuously bustling with vendors and shoppers and travelers galore. A lot of the street markets in Egypt are open till the early hours of the morning, so make sure to drink an espresso after supper so you can get your game face on. You’ll be bartering like a maniac in no time—twenty, wait fifteen! Wait ten! Hours vary by vendor.
3. Festival City Mall
This Top Ten Cairo shopping district adds to the interesting mix of street markets and shopping malls in Cairo—barter in the heat for a fair price, then head into the A/C and pay a fixed price, annnnnnd repeat. But the Festival City Mall isn’t your average shopping mall—it has a fabulous 50-restaurant outdoor food court overlooking a beautiful water feature with an outdoor amphitheater for entertainment. Open 9 AM – 12 AM.
2. Khan El-Khalili
Alright travelers, all of your bartering training has been building to this test: Khan El-Khalili. Located in the same district as many other street markets (including Han El Halili, another one of our Top Ten Cairo shopping districts!), this magical place brings in tourists from all over hoping to get a great deal. Shop through the vendor’s stands and search for your own treasures, all while learning about Egyptian sights, sounds, and maybe smells. The markets are open until the wee hours of the morning so drop by whenever you’re in the area!
1. Fair Trade Egypt
This is a pretty cool place run by pretty cool cats, totally worthy of our number one Top Ten Cairo shops! The products at Fair Trade Egypt are produced from income-generating projects throughout the country—pretty neat right? Rugs, cotton, pottery, shawls, bedspreads, and many other wonderful things are beautifully hand-crafted by local artists. This is the spot to get unique, stunning gifts that you can’t find anywhere else. Support the Egyptian artist culture and get an amazing memento while you’re at it! Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM.