Travel writing based on first-hand experience
Let’s be honest: we do not come to Sharm El Sheikh only for snorkeling, beach clubs, and dramatic Red Sea sunsets. At some point, we also want souvenirs, spices, perfume, sandals, maybe a slightly unnecessary handbag, and at least one thing we absolutely did not plan to buy. Sharm is actually pretty good for that. The best shopping in Sharm El Sheikh scene ranges from glossy open-air lifestyle hubs to local markets where bargaining is part of the experience and the soundtrack is equal parts sales pitch, traffic hum, and holiday chaos.
Here are some of the best places to go shopping in Sharm El Sheikh.
More Sharm El Sheikh Guides
Planning your Red Sea escape? These guides cover where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and where to shop in Sharm El Sheikh.
Table of Contents
Top Spots For Best Shopping In Sharm El Sheikh
SOHO Square Mall
SOHO Square is one of the most polished shopping and entertainment areas in Sharm El Sheikh. Located around 20 minutes from Naama Bay and roughly 10 minutes from the Al Gharqana area, it feels more like a lifestyle district than a traditional mall. The atmosphere is lively and international, and it is easy to see why so many visitors end up here in the evening. We get a mix of shopping, cafes, restaurants, performances, and people strolling around as if everyone has collectively agreed to be on holiday properly.
One of the biggest draws is the dancing fountain in the center of the complex, which adds a bit of spectacle to the whole experience. It is the kind of place where you can browse a few shops, stop for coffee, watch the lights and water show, then somehow end up staying much longer than intended.
The shops include a mix of international and local brands, selling everything from clothing and shoes to watches, accessories, and perfumes. If you want a more modern, organized shopping experience without diving straight into souk mode, this is one of the easiest places to start.
What to buy: Fashion, shoes, perfume, accessories, gifts, and more polished last-minute souvenirs.
Sharm El Sheikh Duty Free Shops – Egypt Free Shops
If you like the idea of shopping with the comforting illusion of being financially clever, the duty free shops at Sharm El Sheikh Airport are worth knowing about. Located at the airport, around 10 minutes from Naama Bay, these shops are known for selling goods at lower prices than you often find in regular stores, mainly because the products are exempt from customs duties.
This is not where we go for atmospheric browsing or artisan treasures, obviously. But it is useful for practical buys, branded goods, and certain items that may be cheaper than elsewhere in town. It can also be a handy last stop before departure when we suddenly remember we promised someone a gift and have, in fact, bought nothing but fridge magnets for ourselves.
What to buy: Perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol where available, cigarettes, chocolates, and branded travel gifts.
The Old Market
The Old Market, also known as Sharm El Maya, is one of the most popular shopping areas in the city and one of the best places to go if you want something with more local character. This is where we come for the classic market experience: souvenir shops, spices, snacks, street life, and that wonderful sense that we might leave with five extra bags and no clear memory of how it happened.
It is especially popular with tourists looking for gifts and souvenirs because prices are often better than in more polished shopping areas. Alongside souvenir stalls, there are shops selling vegetables, fruit, spices, household goods, and other everyday items, which gives the whole place a more grounded, lived-in feel.
The market is not just about shopping either. There are plenty of restaurants, including spots serving oriental cuisine and seafood, plus takeaway options if you want something quick while you wander. There is also a theater with various entertainment programs, which adds another layer to the evening atmosphere.
This is one of the best places in Sharm if you want a more traditional, bustling, slightly chaotic shopping experience with a bit of everything thrown in.
What to buy: Souvenirs, spices, gifts, local snacks, traditional items, inexpensive accessories, and small household goods.
IL MERCATO Mall Sharm El Sheikh
IL MERCATO Mall, located in the Hadaba Umm El Sid area, offers a more stylish and structured shopping experience while still keeping some local flavor in the mix. The mall is home to around 400 shops, making it one of the city’s larger shopping hubs. It is designed as more than just a retail stop, with cafes, restaurants, and a pleasant layout that makes it easy to spend a few hours here without feeling trapped in fluorescent mall limbo.
The stores sell a broad range of goods, including gifts, locally known products, international fashion, perfumes, and accessories. That mix makes it a useful place for travelers who want the convenience of a modern shopping setting but are still hoping to pick up something a little more destination-specific than a generic logo T-shirt.
It is a particularly good choice if you are staying in Hadaba or nearby and want shopping that feels easy, clean, and reasonably varied.
What to buy: Gifts, perfumes, accessories, fashion, and local products in a more modern setting.
Genena City Mall Sharm El Sheikh
Genena City Mall is one of the best-known malls in Sharm El Sheikh and has the added advantage of overlooking Naama Bay, which already gives it a little more personality than the average shopping center. It spreads across five floors, so there is quite a lot packed into the complex.
One of its standout features is the Tutankhamun Museum on the ground floor, which makes this place feel more than just a mall. It also contains around 300 shops, along with restaurants, cafes, and entertainment facilities including bowling, billiards, and a dedicated children’s play area. In other words, this is one of those places that can rescue an evening when not everyone in the group wants the same thing. Some people can shop, some can eat, some can bowl, and the children can burn through their energy in the games area instead of under the restaurant table.
Because of its range of shops and entertainment options, Genena City Mall works especially well for families, mixed groups, or travelers who want shopping plus a few extra distractions.
What to buy: Clothing, accessories, gifts, family-friendly items, and general mall-style retail finds.
Final thoughts
Shopping in Sharm El Sheikh comes in very different moods, which is part of the charm. We can go glossy and modern at SOHO Square, practical and last-minute at Duty Free, lively and local in the Old Market, polished and easy at IL MERCATO, or full mall-and-entertainment mode at Genena City.
So whether you are hunting for spices, perfume, sandals, souvenirs, or simply a break from the beach, Sharm gives us enough options to make “just a quick browse” completely unrealistic.
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