Egypt Guide
The Nile Valley
The bazaar
Aswan's bazaar is renowned as the best in Egypt outside Cairo, both for its wares and its atmosphere. Unlike Luxor's bazaar, it has retained its character after a recent makeover, with tiled paving instead of broken cobblestones, more uniform shopfronts, and fewer street vendors to impede tourists. Souvenirs, jewellery, basketwork and piles of spices vie for attention starting a few blocks from the train station, all the way down to Sharia Saiyida Nafisa, beyond which fruit and veg sellers, ironmongers and other merchants take over. Popular buys include colourful Nubian skullcaps or long scarves; heavier, woven shawls; or baskets and trays, some semi-antique and others new. Galabiyyas and embroidered Nubian robes can be bought off the peg or tailored to order; try Metry Tawdros Mansour on Sharia Saiyida Nafisa. For contemporary and antique Bedouin and Nubian jewellery, check out the Butterfly Bazaar at 208 Sharia al-Souk. Pyramids or baskets of spices and dyes are another eye-catching feature; dried hibiscus (used to make karkaday), indigo dye and what is labelled as "saffron" are common tourist purchases. Aswan is also famous for its peanuts and its henna powder, sold in different grades.