Hotels near Old Market (Sharm Old Market)

The Old Market (Sharm Old Market) sits in Sharm El Maya, the original fishing settlement that predates the Naama Bay tourism boom. The bazaar runs along Al Souk Al Qadeem street, with covered alleys lined by spice shops, leather and lantern stalls, papyrus sellers, and over 200 souvenir vendors. Compared to Naama Bay's polished resorts, the Old Market gives you a taste of bargaining-culture Egypt.

Standout finds include hand-blown glass pyramids, hand-rolled cigars at the El Masrien stalls, and Bedouin silver jewellery. The bazaar also hides some of the best fish restaurants in town - El Masrien Grill, Fares Seafood, and Shoufan Restaurant all serve fresh-caught Red Sea grouper, sea bass, and prawns at a fraction of resort prices.

Pro Tip: Bargain hard - vendors often start at 3-4x the real price for tourists. A polite walk-away usually halves the asking price within seconds. Aim for 50-60% of the opening offer for souvenirs, and never accept the first taxi quote back to your hotel.