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Old Market, Sharm El Sheikh

Pharaonic-style entrance gate with the OLD MARKET sign in Old Sharm, Sharm El Sheikh
Photo: Tanya Dedyukhina, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
Hours
Daily, morning until late; busiest after sunset
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Time needed
1–1.5 hours; about 2 hours with the Al Sahaba Mosque
Where
Sharm El Maya (Old Sharm), Qatar Street, south end of town
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
From Naama Bay
≈ 7 km by road: taxi 10–15 min or microbus along Peace Road
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Microbus
Most lines end at the Old Market; fare EGP 10–25
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Payment
Egyptian pounds in small notes; USD and EUR at a poor rate; cards in a few shops only
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Haggling
Expected — counter at half the first price or less
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
27.86595, 34.29484YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

Sharm El Mayathe old part of town by the bay of the same name, where the market stands
2 sourcesOpenStreetMapJet2holidays guide
≈ 7 kmby road from Naama Bay (6 km in a straight line)
SourceYesGo calculation from OpenStreetMap coordinates and the OSRM router
Freeto enter — the market is a set of open streets
2 sourcesTonkosti travel guidenashaplaneta.net
2017the Al Sahaba Mosque opened at the heart of the market
2 sourcesAl-MonitorEgypt Independent
76 mheight of each of the mosque’s two minarets, visible from every lane
2 sourcesEgypt IndependentTonkosti travel guide
3,000 peoplecapacity of the Al Sahaba Mosque
2 sourcesEgypt IndependentEgyptian Streets
Last stopfor most town microbuses — tell the driver “Old Market”
2 sourcesTonkosti travel guidenashaplaneta.net
Waterfallan artificial one by the market entrance, lit up at night
2 sourcesnashaplaneta.netmykingsgate.co.za
2–4×the usual mark-up on a first asking price — haggling is expected
2 sourcesTonkosti travel guidenashaplaneta.net
≈ 18 kmby road to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
SourceYesGo calculation from OpenStreetMap coordinates and the OSRM router
Coralmay not be taken out of Egypt, souvenirs included
SourceEgypt customs rules as summarised by nashaplaneta.net and ukrcrewing.com.ua

What is the Old Market in Sharm El Sheikh?

The Old Market is a bazaar in the oldest part of town, Sharm El Maya — not a single building but a few pedestrian lanes of shops, cafés and shisha bars spreading out from the square of the Al Sahaba Mosque. You’ll see it called Old Market, Old Sharm or Old Town; taxi and microbus drivers all know “Old Market”.

It is a souk aimed squarely at visitors: spices, perfume oils, papyrus, alabaster, shisha pipes, galabiyas, textiles, jewellery and souvenirs. It isn’t a historic monument: “old” comes from the district, Old Sharm, at the southern tip of town by Sharm El Maya bay, while the resort bays stretch away to the north.

The real backdrop is the Al Sahaba Mosque, opened in 2017. Its two 76-metre minarets rise above every lane and the whole building is floodlit at night. By the market entrance there’s an artificial waterfall that is lit up after dark too.

Opening hours: when to go

There are no official hours — it’s a street of privately run shops. The market is open every day; many shops start trading around midday and close near midnight. Daytime is hot and quiet, and with few customers around the sales pitch gets pushier.

Go around sunset. It’s cooler, every shop and café is open and the mosque is lit. Arrive an hour before sunset if you want photos of the square without the crowd, then stay on for dinner and shopping once it’s dark.

What to see and buy

  • The Al Sahaba Mosque and its square — the façade looks best floodlit in the evening.
  • Spices and tea: hibiscus (karkadeh), turmeric, cardamom, spice mixes for meat and fish — sold by weight, so ask to taste first.
  • Perfume oils in glass and alabaster bottles — test the scent on your skin, not on a paper strip.
  • Papyrus, figurines and alabaster vases — the classic Egyptian souvenir, and light to pack.
  • Shisha pipes, backgammon boards, hammered copper and lamps — lovely, but heavy and fragile, so think about your luggage.
  • Galabiyas, scarves, cotton towels and tablecloths.
  • Cafés and seafood restaurants around the market — grilled fish, falafel, shawarma, coffee and mint tea.
  • The artificial waterfall by the entrance, lit up after sunset.

How to haggle and how to pay

Haggling at the Old Market is normal, not rude. First prices are usually two to four times what the seller will accept, so offer half or less and move up slowly. Decide in advance what you’ll pay, and don’t pick something up unless you’re interested. Even a price tag is only a starting point.

Your strongest move is to walk away politely — the seller often follows with a better price. To know what things are really worth, check a fixed-price shop such as Mango Market first. To say no without offending, “la, shukran” (no, thank you) works.

Pay in Egyptian pounds and carry small notes, as sellers are reluctant to change large ones. US dollars and euros are taken but at a poor rate, and only some shops accept foreign Visa or Mastercard. Withdraw pounds from an ATM or change money at your hotel or a bank before you come.

How to get to the Old Market from Naama Bay

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

  • Al Sahaba Mosque is about 2 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. Easiest: your hotel shuttle. Many hotels run evening shuttles to the Old Market and back, sometimes free — ask at reception.
  2. By microbus: walk from the Naama Bay promenade up to Peace Road (Al Salam) and flag down a blue-and-white minibus heading south. Say “Old Market” — it’s the last stop on most lines. About 15–20 minutes; fares around EGP 10–25 (unofficial).
  3. By taxi: about 7 km, 10–15 minutes. Taxis are not metered — agree the fare before you get in and pay in pounds at the end.
  4. From the microbus terminus or the taxi drop-off, head for the square with the Al Sahaba Mosque — the market lanes start there.
  5. Back: microbus north along Peace Road, or a taxi from the square. If a driver suggests stopping at a shop “on the way”, say no.

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Old Market vs Naama Bay vs Soho Square

Old Marketyou are hereBazaar around a mosqueSharm El Maya, south—FreeSouvenirs, spices, the mosque
Naama BayBay with beach and promenadeCentral Sharm≈ 7 km by roadFreeSea, a stroll, dinner
Soho SquareEntertainment complexSharks Bay, north≈ 20 km by roadFreeAn evening near the northern hotels

For souvenirs and a bit of local colour, it’s the Old Market. If you only have one evening and want the sea, choose Naama Bay. Soho Square suits you if you’re staying at Sharks Bay or Nabq.

An evening in Old Sharm and Naama Bay

The Al Sahaba Mosque at sunset, the market and dinner, then the Naama Bay promenade. Add it to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Al Sahaba Mosque30 min · Free
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopOld Market (Old Sharm)you are here1 h 30 min · Free entry
  3. 91 min walk from the previous stopNaama Bay2 h · Free (promenade)

3 places · about 5 h 34 min with walks · 94 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby and on your route

Al Sahaba Mosque

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

30 min · Free · 3 min walk

Heavenly Cathedral

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

30 min · Free; donations welcome · 43 min walk

How to do it right

  • Arrive an hour before sunset: daylight photos of the mosque, then the floodlights, dinner and shopping in the cool.
  • Check prices in a fixed-price shop first so you know where to start haggling.
  • Buy spices and oils in small amounts to start with — you can judge them properly at home.
  • Skip coral, shells and anything made from them — taking them out of Egypt is not allowed.
  • Ask before taking close-up photos of sellers or their stalls.
  • The square gets crowded at night — keep your phone and wallet in an inside pocket.

Questions

Where is the Old Market in Sharm El Sheikh?

At the southern end of town in Sharm El Maya (Old Sharm), around the Al Sahaba Mosque. It’s about 7 km by road from Naama Bay and about 18 km from the airport.

What are the Old Market opening hours?

There are no official hours. The market is open daily; many shops trade from around midday until midnight. Evenings after sunset are the best time.

How do I get to the Old Market from Naama Bay?

Take your hotel shuttle, a microbus south along Peace Road to the “Old Market” terminus (15–20 minutes) or a taxi (10–15 minutes, agree the fare first).

Is the Old Market in Sharm El Sheikh worth visiting?

Yes, for souvenirs and an evening of local colour around a striking mosque. It isn’t a historic site: the mosque is new and the market is built for visitors.

Is there an entry fee?

No. The market is a set of open pedestrian streets; you only pay for what you buy, eat and drink.

What should I buy at the Old Market?

Spices, hibiscus tea, perfume oils, papyrus, alabaster, shisha pipes, galabiyas and cotton textiles. Avoid coral and shells — they can’t be exported.

Do I have to haggle?

Yes. First prices run two to four times the real one: start at half, go up slowly and be ready to walk away. Price tags are negotiable too.

Can I pay by card at the Old Market?

Only in a few larger shops. Stalls, cafés, taxis and microbuses want cash in Egyptian pounds; dollars and euros are accepted at a poor rate.

How long do I need at the Old Market?

1–1.5 hours for a stroll and some shopping, about 2 hours with dinner and a look at the Al Sahaba Mosque.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • OpenStreetMap: coordinates of the Old Market (Qatar Street, Sharm El Maya), the Al Sahaba Mosque, Naama Bay and Soho Square
  • OSRM: road distances from the Old Market to Naama Bay, the airport and Soho Square
  • Al-Monitor, 2017 — on the opening of the Al Sahaba Mosque
  • Egypt Independent, 2017 — facts about the Al Sahaba Mosque
  • Egyptian Streets, 2022 — the Al Sahaba Mosque and the Old Market
  • Jet2holidays: “Old Market, Sharm El Sheikh”
  • mykingsgate.co.za: “Old Market, Sharm El Sheikh”
  • Visit Egypt: “Old Market in Sharm el Sheikh”
  • Tonkosti travel guide and nashaplaneta.net (Russian-language guides to Sharm El Sheikh)
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe market has no operator, official hours or prices, so hours, microbus fares and haggling advice are unofficial and marked “verifying”. Published hours differ (9:00–22:00, midday to midnight, “morning until late at night”), so we say “from morning until late at night”. Taxi fares differ several-fold between sources, so we don’t quote them. Distances are measured from OpenStreetMap coordinates with the OSRM router; some guides give 9 km to Naama Bay, but by road it is about 7 km. The mosque’s opening date and minaret height are confirmed by two publications. Only Egyptian Streets describes the market being refurbished during the mosque’s construction, and we could not confirm a 2019–2020 renovation, so neither is in the text. The English query core comes from search results and “People also ask”.

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