Khan el-Khalili began as a merchants’ khan founded by Amir Jaharkas al-Khalili in the late fourteenth century. Its buildings and markets changed over time, but its name and commercial purpose endured near al-Hussein and the al-Muizz route.
Today the lanes bring together metalwork, silver, textiles, perfumes and cafés. Everyday goods share space with souvenirs, and the quality and amount of handwork vary. The market’s story unfolds through this mixture of trade and visiting, as narrow passages lead from shop displays to café seating and back into the flow of the street.
