Shopping in Egypt: Opening hours, markets and tips
There are no official business hours in Egypt. Shops are generally open from 10 am to 22 pm; during the summer months, they may stay open until midnight or later. Government offices and banks are closed in the afternoon, as well as on Fridays (the Arab Sunday) and Saturdays.
Countless bazaars, shopping centers, and traditional markets invite you to a leisurely shopping spree. Popular items include handcrafted goods such as carpets, clothing, water pipes, gold and silver jewelry, and oriental spices. Jewelry is crafted in a variety of designs, from classically elegant to ornate and even depicting religious motifs.
Cairo's best shopping streets radiate from Tahrir Square: the wide streets of Talat Harb and Qasr en-Nil are pedestrian zones with a touch of Parisian flair. On the Nile embankment, north of the television building, lies the World Trade Center with its expensive boutiques. Even more chic and elegant shopping, albeit at high prices, can be found in the Zamalek district on 26th of July Street, the Yamama Center on Ismail Mohammed Street, and in the Mohandessin district, the Sharia Gam'atel-Dawel/el-Arabiya near the Sporting Club.
Take a stroll through the traditional markets, soak up the oriental atmosphere, and admire the wide selection of spices and other goods. The vibrant atmosphere of the daily vegetable market in Hurghada's old town and the Friday market in El Quseir are particularly popular.
Remember that haggling is an essential part of shopping in Egypt. It's practically a national pastime. Let the vendor name a price first. Start at a third of that price; if you agree on 50 percent or even less than half, that's a good deal.
That's fine. Take your time, especially when buying valuable items. The price of gold is fixed by the government; you can only haggle over the labor costs.
There are many opportunities for duty-free shopping, which is permitted within 24 hours of arrival. A passport must be presented for duty-free purchases.
A particular gem among coffee houses is the "Café Riche" on Talaat Harb Street in Cairo. It has been lovingly renovated over many years and is now a popular meeting place for artists, journalists and writers.
