Shopping in Egypt
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
200 g of cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200 g of tobacco;
1 liter of alcoholic beverages;
Personal effects such as hair dryers and razors
and valuables up to E £ 1500.
Note: People who travel with valuable electronic devices such as cameras, video cameras, computers and cell phones must have these items on their passport if they plan to stay for more than 4 weeks. If the items remain in the country, customs duties will apply.
Prohibited imports
Drugs, narcotics, medicines (other than personal use), cotton, and live, frozen and stuffed birds; Bird products and products made from birds; a full list is available from the Egyptian Tourist Office (see contact addresses).
Prohibited exports
There is a strict export ban on antique objects (more than 100 years old), all plants and animals under nature and species protection (e.g. corals). An export license is required for the export of such items. Drugs and food are not allowed. Gold and silver bought in markets may only be exported in small quantities for personal use.
Export regulations
A permit from the Ministry of Commerce is required to export carpets.
SHOP
Annotation
Warning: tourists are occasionally offered genuine antiques, the export of which is strictly prohibited.
Overview
Popular souvenirs are alabaster vases, old books, leather goods, carpets and ceramics. A well-known souvenir is the colorful Muski glass, which can be recognized by its air bubbles and has been hand-blown in Cairo for centuries.
Cairo has a lot to offer for shopping. The Khan El Khalili, the old Cairo bazaar, is a treasure trove for antiques reproductions, jewelry, spices, copper and brass items as well as Coptic fabrics are on offer. A visit to the spice bazaar is worthwhile, where it smells beguilingly of cloves, coriander and cinnamon. The perfume bazaar is very close by. The more modern malls and department stores are on Tahir Square.
In Alexandria you will find numerous antique dealers in the area around Sharia el-ʿAṭṭārīn, while the souk in Luxor is more of a tourist market, where you can stroll especially in the evening hours.
Most vendors give their prices arbitrarily, so tourists are usually given a price that is much too high. Haggling is absolutely advisable! Even with food and drinks, the prices should be carefully checked and compared before buying (and consuming). The prices shown apply in large department stores.
Opening hours
Winter: Sa-Thu 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Mo and Thu until 8 p.m. Summer: Sa-Thu 9 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Only shops with a tourism license are allowed to open after 10 p.m. There are different opening times in the fasting month of Ramadan. Some shops close for Friday prayers, and Christian owner shops are sometimes closed on Sundays.
Annotation
Warning: tourists are occasionally offered genuine antiques, the export of which is strictly prohibited.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
When the sun goes down, the streets of Egypt get lively and people gather in the coffee shops and restaurants. In Cairo and Luxor, couples stroll arm in arm along the banks of the Nile while street vendors sell kebabs, tea and all kinds of costume jewelry. The same can be found on the promenade in Alexandria and Sharm el Sheikh. Here you meet the locals, get an impression of the national atmosphere and share the joy of winning a football game.
A great attraction – for both locals and foreigners – are the spectacular light and sound shows that take place at many archaeological sites in the country, such as the Sphinx of Giza, the Karnak Temple or the Temple of Luxor. The best show of this kind can be seen at the rock temple of Abu Simbel, which was built in honor of Ramses II. The explanations are often given in a different language every evening, so you should clarify in advance which evening a suitable language will be offered.
Sophisticated nightclubs, discos and excellent restaurants can be found in Cairo and Alexandria. Similar entertainment is available in Luxor and Aswan. Some larger hotels and holiday complexes have their own bars and nightclubs.
Restaurants and bars must close by midnight at the latest. Only restaurants, discos and bars with a tourism license are allowed to stay open longer.
Introduction
According to areacodesexplorer, when the sun goes down, the streets of Egypt get lively and people gather in the coffee shops and restaurants. In Cairo and Luxor, couples stroll arm in arm along the banks of the Nile while street vendors sell kebabs, tea and all kinds of costume jewelry. The same can be found on the promenade in Alexandria and Sharm el Sheikh. Here you meet the locals, get an impression of the national atmosphere and share the joy of winning a football game.
A great attraction – for both locals and foreigners – are the spectacular light and sound shows that take place at many archaeological sites in the country, such as the Sphinx of Giza, the Karnak Temple or the Temple of Luxor. The best show of this kind can be seen at the rock temple of Abu Simbel, which was built in honor of Ramses II. The explanations are often given in a different language every evening, so you should clarify in advance which evening a suitable language will be offered.
Sophisticated nightclubs, discos and excellent restaurants can be found in Cairo and Alexandria. Similar entertainment is available in Luxor and Aswan. Some larger hotels and holiday complexes have their own bars and nightclubs.
Restaurants and bars must close by midnight at the latest. Only restaurants, discos and bars with a tourism license are allowed to stay open longer.
