Aswan is Egypt's southernmost governorate, a sun-drenched city on the banks of the Nile renowned for its ancient Nubian heritage, towering pharaonic monuments, and dramatic desert-island scenery. It serves as the gateway to iconic sites including Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam, and the legendary Abu Simbel temples.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Hand-woven Nubian textiles and baskets
Brightly coloured woven baskets, mats and table runners in traditional Nubian geometric patterns — one of the most distinctive and authentic souvenirs from Aswan
Price: EGP 50-400 ($1.60-13)
Where: Aswan souk, Gharb Soheil village, Elephantine Island
Karkadeh (dried hibiscus flowers)
Aswan is the primary hibiscus-growing region of Egypt; bags of dried flowers for brewing into tea are the iconic Aswan food souvenir
Price: EGP 30-80 ($1-2.50) per 500g bag
Where: Aswan spice market (Sharia El Souk)
Nubian silver and bead jewellery
Hand-crafted silver necklaces, bracelets and anklets with traditional Nubian geometric designs; also colourful bead necklaces in traditional Nubian patterns
Price: EGP 80-600 ($2.60-19)
Where: Aswan souk, Nubian village craft stalls
Alabaster carvings
Hand-carved alabaster statues, bowls, vases and scarabs — Aswan is famous for its stone craftsmen; quality ranges from tourist trinkets to fine art pieces
Price: EGP 50-2,000 ($1.60-65)
Where: Souk alabaster shops, artisan workshops near Aswan Museum
Papyrus paintings
Scenes of pharaonic life, cartouches with your name in hieroglyphics, and copies of famous tomb paintings on genuine papyrus (ask to test with water to distinguish from banana leaf fakes)
Price: EGP 100-1,500 ($3.20-48)
Where: Papyrus shops near the corniche; Aswan souk
Nubian spice blends
Pre-mixed Nubian spice blends for fish, meat and tea — featuring fenugreek, cumin, dried coriander, cardamom and black pepper in regional proportions
Price: EGP 40-120 ($1.30-3.90) per bag
Where: Aswan spice stalls, Sharia El Souk
Nubian galabiyya and scarves
Colourful cotton galabiyyas (traditional Egyptian robes) and lightweight Nubian-patterned scarves in turquoise, gold and burnt orange
Price: EGP 80-400 ($2.60-13)
Where: Fabric stalls throughout the Aswan souk
Egyptian essential oil perfumes
Pure essential oil blends sold in small vials — lotus, jasmine, amber and musk are the most popular; Aswan vendors often offer to blend custom scents
Price: EGP 100-500 ($3.20-16) per vial
Where: Perfume stalls in the souk; Old Cataract Hotel gift shop for higher quality
Hand-painted Nubian pottery
Small clay pots, cups and platters hand-painted with traditional Nubian geometric patterns in turquoise, blue and terracotta
Price: EGP 40-300 ($1.30-9.70)
Where: Nubian village craft sellers, souk ceramics stalls
Pharaonic replica statuettes
Plaster, stone and resin replicas of famous Egyptian statues — Nefertiti busts, Horus falcons, Anubis dogs; always clearly labelled as replicas, never genuine antiques
Price: EGP 50-400 ($1.60-13)
Where: Souk stalls near temple ticket areas
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Aswan Central Souk (Sharia El Souk)
Aswan's main and most vibrant market street running several blocks from the corniche inland. A mix of spice merchants, textile sellers, jewellery stalls, tourist souvenir shops and local produce vendors.
Where: Sharia El Souk, Central Aswan
Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily (some stalls close Fri morning)
Aswan Morning Fish Market
A bustling dawn market along the south corniche where Nile fishermen sell the overnight catch directly to buyers, restaurants and households.
Where: South Corniche, Aswan
Hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 AM daily
Nubian Village Craft Market (Gharb Soheil)
Women in the Gharb Soheil Nubian village sell hand-crafted baskets, jewellery, henna services and small pottery items from their homes and courtyard tables.
Where: Gharb Soheil Village, West Bank
Hours: Variable — best 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Abu Simbel Village Market
A small market outside the Abu Simbel temples with local vendors selling miniature temple replicas, postcards and basic refreshments.
Where: Abu Simbel Village
Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (when tourists are present)
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Sharia El Souk (Market Street)
The main shopping street in Aswan — a few hundred metres of densely packed stalls selling everything from fresh produce to tourist goods in a fragrant, visually vibrant atmosphere
Best for: Spices, karkadeh, Nubian textiles, jewellery and general souvenirs
Corniche retail strip
Several small shops along the corniche sell papyrus paintings, alabaster carvings and jewellery at prices 20-30% higher than the souk, but with fixed prices and less haggling
Best for: Fixed-price souvenir shopping for those uncomfortable with bargaining
Old Cataract Hotel Gift Shop
High-quality reproductions, Agatha Christie-themed gifts, Egyptian design items and upscale souvenirs at premium prices but with guaranteed authenticity
Best for: High-quality gifts; Agatha Christie memorabilia
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected and normal in the Aswan souk — starting at 40-50% of the asking price is the standard approach
Maintain a friendly, light-hearted tone — walking away with a smile often results in the seller calling you back with a lower price
Show genuine interest but don't appear desperate to buy — admire the item, express mild doubt about the price, and let the seller work to earn your business
Bundle purchases from one vendor for a better overall discount
Never accept the very first price quoted for any item in the souk
Karkadeh, spices and textiles from the wholesale end of the souk (away from the corniche) are 30-50% cheaper than tourist-facing stalls
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Genuine Egyptian antiquities may not be exported without an official export permit from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities — penalties include imprisonment; replicas are fine to export
Tax Refund: VAT refund not currently available for tourist purchases in Egypt
Duty Free: Duty-free allowances: 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes; check current limits with your airline
Shipping: Several souk shops will pack and ship larger purchases internationally via DHL or Egypt Post; get insurance for valuable items