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Wooden cages stacked one on top of another, each with a bird behind its bars.

Cairo · Sayeda Zeinab

The bird market of Sayeda Zeinab

A Friday morning market selling birds, pigeons and poultry, as it always has.

€ BudgetOff the beaten track

A popular, loud and colourful market where Cairenes buy racing pigeons, canaries and hens. It is not a comfortable visit — the cages are small and conditions harsh — but it is a piece of city life tourism has not touched.

The extra bit

Friday morning only, and early: by noon little is left.

Know before you go

The animals' conditions can be shocking: the guide says so rather than selling the picturesque without the reality.

Directions

Sayeda Zeinab, Cairo

Directions

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