The must see market in Cairo (Khan El-Khalili (Cairo, Egypt))

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Khan El-Khalili (Cairo, Egypt)
Date:	01/08/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An amazing array of items, a market steeped in history

Disadvantages: most people don't like the hustler nature of vendors

I've always had a bit of an obsession with markets, ever since I was a kid and my mum used to take me to "The Moor" in Sheffield, I thought they were fascinating places. There are a few more colourful markets than Khan El-Khalili, Islamic Cairo's ancient market which apparently started in 1382.

An unmissable part of visiting Cairo, some people don't like the franticness of it and feel obliged to buy things by the pushy vendors. It's not the kind of place you want to go on your first day in Egypt, in fact I think that if you want to make a shopping trip there a success, a bit of know how at bartering and how to behave is essential.

The vendors have one objective, to get you to buy some of their things for an inflated price, you too should stick to an objective of ultimately having fun, stick to your guns, look at what you like, compare prices, go for an insanely low price in comparison to theirs and you will soon see them drop it.

It's definitely not a place to rush around, looking for particular gifts and is much more enjoyable if you spend a day or two browsing, talking to dealers and interspersing this with the odd coffee, tea and sheesha in the nearby coffee houses.

Khan El Khalili may be an awesome market, where you can get any number of amazingly decorated lamps, blankets, stones and Egypt related items and as long as you remember they see tourists coming - there's no reason why you can't get yourself a bargain.

There's more to this place than meets the eye and a walk around the vicinity will lead you on to all sorts of nearby streets selling everything from electronics through to spices, whether it's actually classified as Khan-El-Khallili or it's just neighbouring streets, I've never quite worked out.

Summary: great for browsing, takes talent to buy succesfully!