Yet, a number of readers appear to be rethinking their plans and turning their attention to Al-Azbakeya, Cairo’s historic wall book market.
For decades, the book fair has been the main event on Egypt’s cultural calendar. It is a place where publishers, writers, and readers gather, where new titles are launched, and where cultural conversations are sparked. At the same time, however, some readers are adjusting how they experience the book season, choosing alternative routes alongside the fair.
Among these alternatives is the Al-Azbakeya book market, which continues to attract visitors during the book fair period for reasons tied less to comparison and more to circumstance.
For some readers, the challenge begins with logistics. The book fair’s location, while spacious and well-organized, requires long travel times for many visitors, particularly those coming from central or southern parts of the city. Combined with heavy traffic and extended walking distances inside the fairgrounds, the experience can become physically demanding.
Al-Azbakeya book market, by contrast, offers a more accessible option for those seeking a shorter, less time-consuming visit. Located in Downtown Cairo, it allows readers to browse books within the rhythm of their daily routines, perhaps during a lunch break or a short afternoon visit.
One visitor to the Al-Azbakeya book market told Ahram Online that while she enjoys being surrounded by books and discovering new titles, attending the Cairo International Book Fair can be physically demanding due to its location away from central Cairo.
Held at the Egypt International Exhibitions and Conferences Centre in New Cairo’s Fifth Settlement, the fair often requires long travel times and extended walking across the fairgrounds, which becomes particularly challenging in cold weather. “I find it hard to walk around the fairgrounds in such cold temperatures,” she said.
She added that she prefers spending time at the Al-Azbakeya book market, where she can still find the books she needs and the titles she wishes to read. “The best thing about shopping for books at Al-Azbakeya is that you can find what you’re looking for more easily and much faster,” she said.
Crowds are another factor shaping readers’ decisions. The book fair is known for its vibrant atmosphere, but the density of visitors, especially on weekends, can limit the ability to explore freely.
Visitors to the fair also face practical challenges related to mobility and convenience. Purchasing books often means carrying heavy bags while moving between the fair’s large exhibition halls, with no designated spaces to temporarily store books and continue browsing comfortably.
Moreover, moving books beyond the fairgrounds can be challenging, whether visitors are heading to a taxi, public transportation, or a private vehicle, especially given the long distances between parking areas and the exhibition halls.
One reader told Ahram Online that managing book bags inside the crowded fair can be overwhelming. “You buy books early and then you’re stuck carrying them the whole day,” she said. “There’s no place to leave them safely, and with the crowds, it becomes exhausting.”
She added that during a previous visit, she lost one of her purchases amid the congestion, explaining that the inability to keep all her bags together while navigating the crowds made the experience stressful rather than enjoyable.
Some readers say they prefer the calmer pace of the Al-Azbakeya book market, where browsing is unhurried and conversations with booksellers remain part of the experience. This preference does not reflect dissatisfaction with the fair itself, but rather a desire for quieter moments with books.
Nora Mohamed, an enthusiastic reader and frequent book shopper, said she prefers the book market to the CIBF. She explained that while she enjoys visiting the fair, the crowds often make it difficult to move freely and truly enjoy the experience. “For me, the turnout is higher at Al-Azbakeya book market,” she said. “When I go to the fair, I barely get the chance to wander around. It becomes so crowded that you can’t move — you can’t even take pictures. You browse, but you can’t enjoy it.”
She also said that Al-Azbakeya book market now offers a calmer and more relaxed atmosphere, especially after its recent renovation, encouraging readers to visit during the book fair period. “At the book market, you can take your time, choose what you want, and even order books to be delivered to your home. Honestly, I feel more comfortable here, and that’s why I don’t go to the fair every year,” she said.
Economic realities also play a role. While the book fair provides access to newly published titles and official editions, prices can be challenging for students and frequent readers. As a result, some visitors choose to reserve their fair visits for exploration, while turning to the Al-Azbakeya book market for actual purchases.
Mohamed said that Al-Azbakeya book market not only provides a calm and cosy atmosphere, but also helps readers find the books they want at budget-friendly prices and good quality. The experience is easier, she added, because the market is available all year round, unlike the CIBF, which is held only once a year. This makes her prefer Al-Azbakeya, as “the book is always available,” she noted. “Even if I delay buying it, I won’t have to wait a whole year.”
Al-Azbakeya book market’s long-standing reputation for affordable books—including used copies, older editions, and out-of-print titles—makes it a practical complement to the book fair experience.
In a small shop within the Al-Azbakeya book market, Haj Ramadan, a bookseller specializing in educational and children’s books, describes his mission as supporting readers’ learning journeys. He said his priority is helping people find the right titles, whether school books, parenting guides, or children’s literature, and ensuring knowledge remains accessible to everyone. He added that he often adjusts his prices to suit readers, believing books should be within reach for all.
“My goal is to help readers,” he said. “When someone comes looking for educational or children’s books, I guide them to what they need and try to make the book accessible. I want people to leave the shop with what they came for. If the reader is satisfied, then I feel like I’ve done my job.”
Mahmoud Qassem, a bookseller specialising in English and foreign-language classics, described Al-Azbakeya book market as a “safe haven” for readers, especially during the CIBF period. He said that while many visitors come looking for Arabic novels, the market also attracts readers searching for classic literature—both Arabic and foreign—often in older or original editions.
“The market has been here for a long time, and we always try to offer books that readers truly want. We want them to leave happy, with what they were searching for. That’s why we keep prices affordable and the selection diverse, from children’s books to books for adults and seniors,” Qassem said.
Rather than replacing the book fair, Al-Azbakeya book market exists alongside it, serving different reading needs. The fair represents Egypt’s contemporary publishing movement, while Al-Azbakeya maintains a long-standing culture of browsing, second-hand editions, and budget-friendly books.
For many readers, the book season is no longer confined to a single destination. It unfolds across multiple spaces—formal and informal, modern and historic—reflecting the diverse ways readers continue to engage with books.
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