The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Book lovers, frugal shoppers, and those looking to buy books, or save a couple of pounds, this is the perfect place for all of you. Sour Al-Azbakeya is known as the cheapest place in Egypt to buy books, but the appeal doesn’t stop there, Azkbakeya is the place where you can find books that are seemingly impossible to find anywhere else.

Al-Azbakeya is located in Souk Al-Ataba, you can find it very close to the Metro Station, and in close vicinity to the Cairo Puppet Theatre. You can find over 100 kiosks spread all over the two sides of the small road, packed tightly together. Every kiosk has its own personality through the vendor himself, and while they have some books in common, you may find others that are unique to each vendor.

Novels and non-fiction books are all here, and at very low prices. But technical books are the real steal, you can find them at a tenth of the original price, which is why this place is a haven for doctors and engineers looking for a bargain on their academic books.

Online reading may have put a dent in the book industry, but you wouldn’t know it when touring the area. Some people visit this place regularly, not necessarily for their need of a certain book, but sometimes just for their wish to revisit the area, walk around its unique alleys, and perhaps find a book that calls out to them in the process.

Across the random arrangement of kiosks, you’ll find Arabic and English books, but also books in German, French, and even Greek.  But, due to the randomness, you have to really dive in to find the book you’re searching for, not all vendors will be 100% aware of what they have on offer. Once you do find your book, make sure you check out the book’s pages, because while some are original copies, others are low-quality copies that may contain misprints.

So, if you’re on the search for a new shopping experience, or looking to get a bargain on a certain book, this is the place to go. It’s open every day from 10 am to 10 pm except for Fridays. Happy shopping, Cairenes.