The atmosphere at Sharm el-Sheikh's shopping areas is festive. Shops are crammed with merchandise, and everything is colourful with lots of noise and talking all around. Shopping is an inseparable part of Sharm El Sheikh and every effort has been made to promote it here.
While there are shops all over Sharm el-Sheikh, the old market place offers some of the best shopping.
Sharm El Sheikh Shopping Guide
While there are shops all over Sharm el-Sheikh, the old market place offers some of the best shopping. Many tourists prefer the shops at Na'ama Bay too because of the wide variety on offer.
Old Market
The old market is crammed with stuff and is a shopaholic's paradise. Though referred to as the old market, it is actually quite new. This market is a nice place to buy all the things you are craving for. Just a few decades old, the buildings have been built in traditional Egyptian style. Most of the things being sold here can be seen elsewhere in Egypt too. Only the handicrafts are authentic local stuff. The Old Market in Sharm el-Sheikh is probably one of the few places where you can pick up gifts at reasonable prices.
Na'ama Bay
The market of Na'ama Bay is known to stock some unusual things. This is a brand new market that is very spacious and promises to become a big shopping hub. Silver and gold jewellery are some of the things that can be bought here.
What to Buy
If you love everything Egyptian, then Sharm el-Sheikh is the place to buy authentic Egyptian treasures. The shops in the city stock dry herbs of the highest quality. The carpets and cotton clothes are of excellent quality too. Don't miss the local handicrafts in Sharm El Sheikh. Other good buys are glassware, leather items, jewellery, ceramics, and pottery among other items.
Tourists regularly shop for silver cartouches. Shishas from shish bazaar find favour among tourists too. Prices at the shish bazaar are pretty reasonable. Another excellent buy is spices, which are of impeccable quality. Most tourists take some home.
Many shops around Sharm el-Sheikh stock diving gear but they are often of doubtful quality and meant for starters only. Exercise caution when you shop in Sharm el-Sheikh and ensure that the souvenir is not a cleverly made fake. If you are not convinced of the quality it is best not to make a purchase.
Shopping Hours
You can do your shopping in Sharm El Sheikh any day from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday and Sunday too. Friday is the official holiday. It is quite common, especially during the off-season, to see many establishments closed on Sunday.
During the summer season, shops in Sharm El Sheikh open late as shoppers are not likely to venture out in the heat. An unofficial siesta and long break during the afternoon is quite common too. The shops make up by staying open till late at night. The same hours are followed during the holy Ramadan period too.
