Aswan Souq

Aswan's souq runs for well over a kilometre along Sharia al-Souq, parallel to the corniche and a block inland, and it is the main market for the town and for a wide area upriver. It is more southern in character than the markets further north: sacks of dried hibiscus for karkade, cones of Sudanese spices, dried fruit and dates, henna, woven palm baskets, Nubian skullcaps and scarves in bright colour, and a good deal of Sudanese trade goods, alongside the ordinary business of vegetables, clothing, hardware and household things for local shoppers. The northern end is more tourist-facing and pushier; the southern stretch is the working market. It is at its best in the evening when the heat drops and it fills with people.

What you actually see

• Sacks of dried hibiscus - the karkade the region is known for.
• Sudanese spice cones - blends traded up from the south.
• Woven palm baskets - Nubian craft sold along the street.
• The working southern end - the market as the town actually uses it.

When to go

October to April. Evenings, when the temperature drops and the street fills; mornings are quieter but many stalls open late. Two hours to walk the length with stops. Fridays are slower.

Honest expectations

The northern end is aggressive with touts and hard selling, and quoted prices for foreigners start very high. Some goods sold as Nubian are imported. Bargaining is expected and unavoidable. The street is crowded and pickpocketing happens.

Nearby

The corniche and the ferry landings are a block west; the train station is at the northern end.