Khan el-Khalili at a glance
Khan el-Khalili sits in the Al-Hussein district of historic Cairo. The Al-Hussein Mosque and the Al-Azhar Mosque stand right next to it. The market dates from the Mamluk period, and today it is a dense web of lanes where goldsmiths, coppersmiths and spice sellers still have their own corners.
There is no entrance fee for the open market district, and there are no single opening hours for all shops and cafés. Late afternoon and evening are the busiest hours. The monuments around the bazaar, such as the Al-Muizz Street buildings, the Citadel and the Sultan Hassan complex, are separate sights with their own tickets and daytime hours.
What this guide covers
The bazaar and the Islamic and Coptic districts around it.
This guide starts at the bazaar and works outward. It covers guided tours and evening walks, what to buy and how to treat papyrus, tipping and haggling, Al-Muizz Street with Bayt al-Suhaymi, the Al-Azhar Mosque, the Saladin Citadel, Bab Zuweila and Sultan Hassan, and Coptic Cairo. It also has practical pages on weather, where to stay, the airport and safety. The pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum have their own guide at Giza Plateau.
Prices are in Egyptian pounds (EGP) as listed for 2026 and can change. Where several figures exist for one sight, the page shows a range and tells you to check at the ticket desk.
Our picks: Khan el-Khalili tours
A walk with an Egyptologist for most visitors, a full private day through Islamic Cairo if you want the Citadel and mosques, and a shopping-focused tour as the simple start. The first two include the entries.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Islamic Cairo in a day: Citadel, mosques and the bazaar
- Entries to named sites
- Lunch included
- Private guide
Six hours through the Muhammad Ali Mosque, Sultan Hassan and Al-Azhar to Khan el-Khalili, with a private guide. Entries to the named sites and lunch are included.
Check availability →
Old Cairo walk from Bab al-Futuh to the bazaar
- Entries on the route
- Egyptologist guide
- Koshary and street snacks
A walk along Al-Muizz Street past Bayt al-Suhaymi and the Qalawun complex that ends in Khan el-Khalili, led by an Egyptologist. Entries to the sites on the route are in the price.
Check availability →Private shopping tour: local markets and Khan el-Khalili
- Private guide and car
- Hotel pickup
- Khan el-Khalili
A tour built around shopping, with your own guide and car through local markets and the bazaar. Water is included.
Check availability →Khan el-Khalili and Cairo tours
Bazaar walks, Islamic Cairo, evening tours and day trips, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Start with the bazaar pages, then add the monuments that fit your time.
Cairo tours
Bazaar walks, Islamic Cairo and what each ticket costs.
Cairo at night
Evening lanes, the historic café and what stays open.
Souvenirs from Egypt
Metalwork, cotton, perfume, jewelry and cartouches.
Papyrus in Egypt
How it is made and how to buy it with care.
Tipping and bazaar tips
Haggling, dress, scams and photo rules.
Al-Muizz Street
Medieval Cairo on foot, with tickets and hours.
Al-Azhar Mosque
History from 970 and how to dress.
Saladin Citadel
Tickets, hours and the Muhammad Ali Mosque.
Islamic Cairo
Bab Zuweila, Sultan Hassan and the old gates.
Coptic Cairo
The Hanging Church, Ben Ezra and the museum.
Things to do in Cairo
Bazaar, mosques, museums and the Nile.
Cairo weather
Month-by-month climate and the best time to visit.
Where to stay
Areas near the bazaar and in Downtown.
Cairo Airport
Taxi, Uber, transfers and the visa.
Is Cairo safe?
Crowds, scams and current travel advice.
Khan el-Khalili history
Caravanserai, Mamluk bazaar and later rebuilding.
A few things to know before you go
Practical details worth checking before you travel.
Two tickets on Al-Muizz Street
The area ticket (EGP 220 for foreign adults in 2026) does not include Bayt al-Suhaymi or Wekalet Bazaraa. Bayt al-Suhaymi has its own ticket at the same price.
Al-Muizz Street →Citadel price
The Saladin Citadel costs EGP 550 for foreign adults and EGP 275 for students in 2026.
Saladin Citadel →Founding year
The khan was founded in the 1380s and the market was rebuilt under al-Ghuri in 1511, so what you walk through today is not an untouched medieval inn.
History →Two different museums
The Egyptian Museum at Tahrir and the Grand Egyptian Museum have separate tickets. The Grand Egyptian Museum ticket now includes the Tutankhamun galleries.
Things to do →Airport and metro
Do not plan on a direct metro ride from Cairo Airport (CAI) to the bazaar. A taxi, ride-hailing or a booked transfer is the straightforward way in.
Cairo Airport →Visa at the airport
As of 2026, visa on arrival at CAI costs USD 30 plus a USD 6 processing fee if you pay in advance with the QR procedure, or USD 36 in cash at the bank counter. The e-visa is a separate application on the government portal.
Arrival →Khan el-Khalili: frequently asked questions
Is Khan el-Khalili free to enter?
There is no general entrance fee for the open market district. Guided tours and the monuments nearby are separate and have their own prices.
When is Khan el-Khalili open?
There are no single opening hours for all shops and cafés, and each trader sets his own. The late afternoon and evening are the busy hours. The monuments in the area keep daytime hours, for example 09:00–17:00 on Al-Muizz Street.
How much time do I need?
Plan two to three hours for the bazaar itself. Add a half day if you want Al-Muizz Street and Bab Zuweila, and a further half day for the Citadel and Sultan Hassan.
What should I wear?
Cover shoulders and legs, and carry a headscarf for mosques. Check the rule at each mosque when you arrive.
Is this the official Khan el-Khalili website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not connected to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, to any shop, tour operator, hotel or transfer service.