Khan El Khalily

About Khan El Khalily

Major souk in Cairo

Khan el-Khalili is Cairo's most famous historic bazaar and one of the main attractions for Egyptian and foreign visitors alike. It was established as a centre of trade in the Mamluk era and named after one of its historic caravanserais, built by the emir Jaharkas al-Khalili; the name originally referred to that single building but today covers the whole market district stretching between al-Muizz Street and the al-Hussein Mosque, opposite Al-Azhar Mosque. Its lanes are packed with shops and stalls selling perfume, spices, gold and silver, beaten copper, lanterns, leather goods, traditional clothing and souvenirs, and many Egyptian artisans still work here in workshops producing traditional crafts. Cafes and popular restaurants abound, the historic El Fishawy cafe among the best known, alongside specialised markets such as the goldsmiths' souk and the coppersmiths' street. The quarter has inspired many Egyptian writers, above all Naguib Mahfouz, whose novel Khan el-Khalili is set here and was later made into a film. Together with Al-Azhar, the al-Hussein Mosque and al-Muizz Street it forms the heart of Fatimid Cairo that visitors come to experience.

Where:

Cairo, Egypt