Several papyrus workshops operate near the Giza Plateau, offering demonstrations of the traditional craft of papyrus-making — the process of slicing and cross-layering strips of papyrus reed, soaking, pressing, and drying them into sheets — followed by the opportunity to buy finished works printed or painted with Egyptian hieroglyphic scenes. The best ones grow their own papyrus in tanks and show the whole process from plant to finished sheet.
The workshops are unambiguously commercial: the demonstration leads directly into a showroom. But the craft itself is genuinely ancient and watching skilled artisans work the material is interesting. The quality of the finished pieces varies enormously; be wary of "papyrus" made from banana leaf or other plant fibres, which are cheaper but fade quickly. Genuine papyrus is smooth, slightly translucent, and flexible; imitations are stiffer and rougher. A good piece of hand-illustrated papyrus makes a durable and culturally appropriate souvenir.