For 600 years, this traditional souk has carried the name of its founder.
Khan El Khalili is one of the most famous souks in the Egyptian capitol Cairo.
The origin of the names goes like this: Khan means hotel, and Khalili is the name of the Mamlouki prince Jarks Al Khalili who built the souk in the year 1382.
The first thing to face the visitor of this famous souk is the Hussein mosque and its wide yard ...
and amidst this spiritual atmosphere, there are the daily trading and activities like Henna drawing, perfume oil filling the air and so many other things that will have the first time visitor dazed and maybe confused! But it is a must for the tourist to pay a visit to this Khan, and experience the hospitality and maybe pushiness of the vendors in the tight streets and alleys of this ancient souk.
It is very difficult to control ones self from buying; the items sold are beautiful and fascinating, the prices are so cheap and the vendors are so good in persuading the tourist to buy! Whether needed or not, the buying happens and that's that!
Correction! The prices are not at all cheap unless you are Egyptian or with Egyptians that will bargain for you. I'm American, and when I went to Khan el Khalili, I had to keep my mouth shut the whole time and let my Egyptian friends do the talking for me. In other cases, when I spoke English or Arabic with an accent, the vendors would make the price triple, or turn it into US dollars. An item will go from 60 Egyptian Pounds to 60 USD! Be prepared to be a hard bargainer!