Are you looking for Egypt souvenirs? There are lots of fun and unique products to buy or bring home as gifts to friends and family.
Souvenirs are one of the best ways to tell your friends and family that you are thinking about them while traveling. And it’s also something that’s fun to buy to yourself as a memory from your trip.
So, do you want to know what to buy in Egypt for your loved ones? Then continue reading below, because here’s a list of the top 10 things to buy in Egypt!
Table of Contents
Spices
In the souks of Egypt, different kinds of spices are sold. They’re often very fresh and of good quality, comparing to the packaged spices we buy in the Western countries.
There are many delicious spices you can buy in Egypt. Cumin, coriander, cardamom, chili, aniseed, bay leaves, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are some of the most common spices to buy.
Papyrus Scroll
The papyrus scrolls that you can shop in Egypt stores are made of dried banana leaf with a printed design that’s copied from the paintings of the ancient tombs and temples.
They’re very cheap and cost only a few Egyptian pounds. However, if you want a real hand-painted papyrus scroll, head over to a specialist gallery such as Dr. Ragab’s Papyrus Institute in Cairo.
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Silver & Gold Jewelry
In the jewelry shops of Egypt, you can buy both gold and silver pieces. Many of them have amulets, and some of the most common are Scarab, Eye of Horus, and the Ankh.
Local jewelry is one of the most popular Egypt souvenirs to buy. They’re beautiful, easy to bring back home, and will make any person happy!
Scarab – One of the most popular Egypt souvenirs
The scarab beetle is a famous icon in Egypt. It symbolizes the sun god Ra, which was one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion.
In ancient Egypt, the people wore these scarab amulets because it symbolizes eternal life and rebirth. It would give them protection against the dangers of this world.
Today, they’re still popular and can be found on all different kinds of souvenirs – keyrings, jewelry, as stone carvings, etc.
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Alabaster Vase
Alabaster is a mineral that the ancient Egyptians used to create both sculptures and vases. Today, you can buy this type of vases in all different kinds of colors and prints. You can buy them in most places in Egypt, mostly in Luxor and Cairo.
This is one of the Egypt souvenirs that will make a great addition to your home!
Cartouche
This is another Egypt souvenir that’s popular to buy. These are engraved in many ancient temples, as well as sold in several shops and markets around the country.
The most popular cartouche souvenir is the silver necklaces since you can personalize it and write your name with the hieroglyphic alphabet.
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Egyptian Jalabeya
Jalabeya is a traditional outfit in Egypt worn by both men and women. In Cairo, most locals do not use these, but in rural areas and smaller villages they do!
A Jalabeya is a fun souvenir to buy for yourself since you can use it when traveling around in Egypt.
Hookah ”Shisha”
For 450 years it has been a tradition in Egypt to hang out with friends and smoke Shisha. Shisha, or Hookah as it’s also known, is a water-pipe that can be bought in several stores all over the country.
Most of them are made of beautiful colored glass with silver bodies and decorated with all different kinds of prints and patterns.
They come in various sizes – from 30 centimeters to those who are up to 2 meters in height.
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Ceramics
One of my favorite souvenirs to buy when traveling is ceramics. It’s a nice souvenir to buy since it’s both useful and beautiful to have in your home.
Since the ancient pre-dynastic period, Egyptians have been creating beautiful high-quality ceramics and pottery. They made both vases, cups, perfume bottles, and bowls, etc.
Still today, the locals produce pottery and ceramics.
The most popular and famous places to buy it is in Beni Suef in northern Egypt and Aswan in southern Egypt. Beni Suef is famous for it’s glazed colorful pots, dishes, and kitchenware made from the best ceramic materials, and Aswan for its “Aswanian Clay” that is used to make beautiful and high-quality pottery.
It’s definitely one of the best Egypt souvenirs if you’re looking for something for your home!
Fanoos – Ramadan Lantern
Fanoos is a type of lantern that was used in Egypt before electricity was invented. The original fanoos are made by a fawaniski or samkarii – the lantern makers. They make them by welding sheet metal to create these beautiful shapes and patterns.
Today this is not a common profession, and therefore the original lanterns can be pretty expensive.
However, they’re like a beautiful piece of art and will make a great addition to your home. You can find fanoos lanterns at Khan El Khalili in Cairo with prices ranging from 45-900 USD.
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Do you have any further questions about Egypt souvenirs? Leave a comment below!
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