Street of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya)
Street of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
29 reviews
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25
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4
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Tamar
Kalk Bay, South Africa1 contribution
May 2023 • Couples
We both loved this - like stepping back in time to what you could imagine old markets to be like - amazing handcrafted items made by local artisans. We couldn't resist and had to buy an extra suitcase to take everything home - even a tent!!
Written 8 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navy K
Santorini, Greece43 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
It was lovely ,we like handmade products and support it,it was pleasure to be there and meet all these hardworking men! I was gald I was able to help
Written 15 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maurizio3030
Cairo, Egypt1,544 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We live this market. It is not touristy. It is hard to get to it is aka Al Khayamiyya if you are using google maps or Google Bab Zuwayla. There are so many textile markets etc. We found a great slipper shop. Do Egypt . Enjoy the journey
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy12,232 contributions
Oct 2019
Other reviewers have talked about the tents that are manufactured in this covered street (and in nearby ones), focusing on the qualities of these craft products.
I wouldn't want to repeat what has already been written by them, but I would like to draw attention to the architecture of this street, which in my opinion is equally worthy of note.
This street, located just south of the Bab Zuweila gate, as I understand is also known as Qasaba of Radwan Bey, named after the Bey (governor) who, in addition to having organized the street, redeveloped the entire neighborhood around the middle of XVIIth century. The meaning of the operation was to extend towards the southern part of the historic city the character of a high-level commercial area that originally (at the time of the Fatimid dynasty, X-XII centuries) was proper to the city inside Bab Zuweila gate.
The street is the only surviving covered street in Cairo, which shows almost intact the features with which it was built: two long and tall parallel buildings delimit it: both buildings have a strongly protruding foreground (as they rest on mighty shelves) compared to the ground floor, so that on the first floor the two buildings are very close together. The intention to maximize the useful surface of the buildings , while preserving the width of the street level, is very clear: it is the same process that, in other medieval and early modern cities in the world, has led to the formation of urban porticoes (Bologna, Italy, is probably the best known example). Finally, at the top of the two buildings, the roofs are further protruding, until they join together.
This original architecture (object of careful restoration about 15 years ago) recreates, like few others, the atmosphere of early modern Cairo, giving today also a prestigious frame to the trades that take place inside.
I wouldn't want to repeat what has already been written by them, but I would like to draw attention to the architecture of this street, which in my opinion is equally worthy of note.
This street, located just south of the Bab Zuweila gate, as I understand is also known as Qasaba of Radwan Bey, named after the Bey (governor) who, in addition to having organized the street, redeveloped the entire neighborhood around the middle of XVIIth century. The meaning of the operation was to extend towards the southern part of the historic city the character of a high-level commercial area that originally (at the time of the Fatimid dynasty, X-XII centuries) was proper to the city inside Bab Zuweila gate.
The street is the only surviving covered street in Cairo, which shows almost intact the features with which it was built: two long and tall parallel buildings delimit it: both buildings have a strongly protruding foreground (as they rest on mighty shelves) compared to the ground floor, so that on the first floor the two buildings are very close together. The intention to maximize the useful surface of the buildings , while preserving the width of the street level, is very clear: it is the same process that, in other medieval and early modern cities in the world, has led to the formation of urban porticoes (Bologna, Italy, is probably the best known example). Finally, at the top of the two buildings, the roofs are further protruding, until they join together.
This original architecture (object of careful restoration about 15 years ago) recreates, like few others, the atmosphere of early modern Cairo, giving today also a prestigious frame to the trades that take place inside.
Written 10 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter H
Lenham, UK73 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
I love visiting the street markets of Cairo - and none is more impressive than the “street of tent makers” - it is fantastic. The beautiful colours, people working hard producing their goods. Some photos to of our memories.
Written 21 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sherif Issa
Cairo, Egypt409 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
Khayamiya is one of Islamic Cairo's icons, it is close to the famous Mo'ez Street with its historic scene.
Khayamiya is where the renowned Egyptian tents are made and that’s where you’ll see a craft that haven’t changed for hundreds of years.
It's a wonderful experience that it will keep you coming again and again. It will be worth your trip. Guaranteed
Khayamiya is where the renowned Egyptian tents are made and that’s where you’ll see a craft that haven’t changed for hundreds of years.
It's a wonderful experience that it will keep you coming again and again. It will be worth your trip. Guaranteed
Written 19 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alyssamma
Cleveland, OH479 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Like the other reviews below mention, this is where the locals go and not the tourists. If you walk north, through Bab Zuwayla (the gate), you will find yourself in dozens of small streets packed with truly local shops. Skip Khan el-Khalili and see this instead.
Written 19 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DAVID L
Los Angeles, CA8,327 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
The Tentmakers’ Street - Sharia Khayamiya, was recommended to us by local friends as the site of an Authentic Market place of Cairo vs the quite touristic Khan Al-Khalili - and they were right. Sharia Khayamiya focuses on various textile products, the majority of which are for local consumption with only a smattering of items for tourists. We enjoy textiles and found weavings & textiles that appealed to us. Local restaurants, Shisha pipe smoking & lots of street food vendors are here. Primarily locals here & few English speakers so a guide or local friend who speaks Arabic is very helpful. Enjoy!
Written 8 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mariasilvina214
St. Thomas66 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
We went to the tent maker market expecting to find only fabrics and so , but to our surprise we end up in the most amazing market in Cairo
We have already visit the bazar and thought it was nice, but the tent makers market and its surroundings was by far more authentic.
The colors, the people are so friendly and glad to see you, you can take beautiful pictures, there is fruits meats fish bakery coffee shops food vendors , kids playing around and not that many tourists
I recommend it over the bazar, which is nice but more turisty
Don’t miss it you won’t be disappointed
We have already visit the bazar and thought it was nice, but the tent makers market and its surroundings was by far more authentic.
The colors, the people are so friendly and glad to see you, you can take beautiful pictures, there is fruits meats fish bakery coffee shops food vendors , kids playing around and not that many tourists
I recommend it over the bazar, which is nice but more turisty
Don’t miss it you won’t be disappointed
Written 28 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sobbuh
4 contributions
Dec 2018
Briefly:
A street filled with quilt-makers; we purchased a quilt here (actually, at the one quilt maker on the other side of Bab Zuwayla) and would have likely purchased another had we gone back. Lots of markets adjoining it, and it makes a nice afternoon to walk through.
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Getting here, we walked down the street from Khan El-Khalili, and on the way there we stopped for a delicious fuul sandwich at a stall on the corner (it's on the corner of Al Motaz Ldin Allah and Haret Al Fahamin). It was 5EGP for 2 sandwiches; you could easily order 6 or more, as each sandwich is just a half a pita bread filled with fuul, served with a hot chilli pepper. This is truly delicious egyptian food. So simple, and tasty.
We continued to walk down, where we saw the first stall of a quilter, 'Hany'. He was extremely friendly, and had a wide variety of quilts (some made by him, and others not). We purchased a quilt from him as we appreciated the lack of pushy sales and the price was well within our budget (we did not bother to haggle, though I'm sure that was a surprise for him).
Continuing on, we saw a falafel stand manned by some younger children. Again, stopped for a falafel sandwich here for 5EGP. Again, delicious. The egyptian falafels (ta'amiya) are very fluffy, and spiced with coriander and fennel seeds.
The Tentmakers Alley is quite short -- and the quilts are similar between the different stalls. Explore for a bit and find the ones that you like best. Afterwards, we continued on down a dusty and busy market filled with produce, fish and
We were about to do a food tour (with food bellies, highly recommended) so we held out, but there were 3 or 4 more stalls with delicious looking food that were doing brisk business. Would have liked to stop in and eaten some more delicious food.
We continued on walking down towards the mosque of Mohammed Ali, and walked around the neighbourhoods there -- not a place most tourists venture, and it was definitely getting to the point of being 'slums' -- but the people were friendly (though they could not speak English), though definitely amused to see tourists in their area.
Would be a nice area to tour with someone who knows it, as there are many workshops there and I'm sure some are making things that would be interesting for tourists (though we only saw carpenters and people working on car parts as we wandered the streets).
A street filled with quilt-makers; we purchased a quilt here (actually, at the one quilt maker on the other side of Bab Zuwayla) and would have likely purchased another had we gone back. Lots of markets adjoining it, and it makes a nice afternoon to walk through.
---
Getting here, we walked down the street from Khan El-Khalili, and on the way there we stopped for a delicious fuul sandwich at a stall on the corner (it's on the corner of Al Motaz Ldin Allah and Haret Al Fahamin). It was 5EGP for 2 sandwiches; you could easily order 6 or more, as each sandwich is just a half a pita bread filled with fuul, served with a hot chilli pepper. This is truly delicious egyptian food. So simple, and tasty.
We continued to walk down, where we saw the first stall of a quilter, 'Hany'. He was extremely friendly, and had a wide variety of quilts (some made by him, and others not). We purchased a quilt from him as we appreciated the lack of pushy sales and the price was well within our budget (we did not bother to haggle, though I'm sure that was a surprise for him).
Continuing on, we saw a falafel stand manned by some younger children. Again, stopped for a falafel sandwich here for 5EGP. Again, delicious. The egyptian falafels (ta'amiya) are very fluffy, and spiced with coriander and fennel seeds.
The Tentmakers Alley is quite short -- and the quilts are similar between the different stalls. Explore for a bit and find the ones that you like best. Afterwards, we continued on down a dusty and busy market filled with produce, fish and
We were about to do a food tour (with food bellies, highly recommended) so we held out, but there were 3 or 4 more stalls with delicious looking food that were doing brisk business. Would have liked to stop in and eaten some more delicious food.
We continued on walking down towards the mosque of Mohammed Ali, and walked around the neighbourhoods there -- not a place most tourists venture, and it was definitely getting to the point of being 'slums' -- but the people were friendly (though they could not speak English), though definitely amused to see tourists in their area.
Would be a nice area to tour with someone who knows it, as there are many workshops there and I'm sure some are making things that would be interesting for tourists (though we only saw carpenters and people working on car parts as we wandered the streets).
Written 16 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kevinkey2016
Berwyn, IL
Do you know if the tentmakers are willing/able to ship purchase to the USA? I am traveling to Egypt next month, and I'm GOING to figure out how to get to the market from my hotel on one of the afternoons we have free time, but I'm not sure I'll have room in my luggage to carry a couple of pieces home. And what about duty at the airports?
amyzengrace
Amman, Jordan505 contributions
I can't answer you about shipping to the US, but I do have a name and several email addresses from the guy I did business with.
Egyptian Patchwork
The guy's name is Ashraf Hashem
18 El Kyyamia St. (Facing Bab Zuweila), Cairo
Oops--I tried to post his email address but trip advisor wouldn't let me. However, if you send me a personal message, I can try to get it to you that way.
Phone number: 01 005687206
I bought 8, and carried them all in my suitcase, which was a garment bag--they really compress well. There was absolutely no problem leaving via CAI.
I once tried to mail something out of Cairo, and it never arrived, so if you're going to ship, I'd go with someone like DHL to be safe. This wasn't a big operation, so I don't know how well organized they are on shipping matters. However, they did deliver overnight to my hotel for an extra fee--they were made in less than 24 hours.
Going there from your hotel: be sure you get someone who knows where they're going. I grabbed a local taxi and wound up using Google maps and navigation to get us there.
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Claim your listingStreet of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Street of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya)
- Hotels near Street of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya):
- (0.02 km) Brothers Pyramids View Hotel
- (0.72 km) Le Riad Hotel de Charme
- (0.38 km) Arabian Nights
- (0.37 km) Sydna All Hussain Hotel
- (2.64 km) The Australian Hostel
- Restaurants near Street of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya):
- (0.39 km) Baba Abdo
- (0.83 km) Naguib Mahfouz Cafe
- (0.80 km) El Fishawi
- (0.79 km) Khan El Khalili
- (0.82 km) Khan El Khalili Restaurant