Valley of the Kings diorama: Luxor souvenirs and markets

What the stalls sell, going by the sources:

• At the Luxor Market: rugs, jewellery, spices, shoes, bags, souvenirs and carvings².
• In the markets: cotton galabeyas, though buying even one can take hours of bargaining⁶.
• At the souq: foul sodani (roasted peanuts)⁸, an Upper Egyptian snack Egypt’s official tourism site suggests you try.
• On the West Bank: souvenirs, alabaster and perfume⁹.

• Shop around, because many of the market shops sell the same items⁶.
• Carry change: Egypt has a constant shortage of small notes and coins, and even banks are reluctant to break many notes¹¹.
• If you use a card, pay only by contactless or chip-and-pin, as some shops are masters at fraud⁹.
• Dress modestly: the UK government advises it especially in rural areas, mosques and souqs¹².
• Expect pressure, as Wikivoyage calls Luxor’s merchants notoriously aggressive and manipulative⁶.

No source gives market days or fixed opening hours for the souqs. Egypt Today reported on 27 March 2026 that the Prime Minister exempted Luxor Governorate from the 9:00 p.m. closing hours¹³ for public shops and tourist establishments.

Temples to pair with a shopping trip

The shopping spots in the table sit close to some of the big sights, so you can combine them.

• At Luxor Temple, near the older souq and the duty-free shop: Ramesses II set a pair of 25-metre obelisks in front of the pylon, and only one is still in place¹⁷.
• At Karnak, near the Gift Shop: Seti I began the Hypostyle Hall and Ramses II finished it, and its roof rests on 134 columns⁴.
• On the West Bank: Ramses II built the Ramesseum as a funerary temple of sandstone¹⁸. See the Ramesseum statues before you go.
• Also on the West Bank: the decorated private tombs covered in the guide to visiting the Tombs of the Nobles.