Souq Al Arabi is the central market of Khartoum, sprawling across several blocks south of the Republican Palace. It is the city's main commercial hub: stalls selling fabrics, gold, perfumes, household goods, electronics, and street food crowd narrow lanes that fill from early morning until after dark. Most long-distance buses leave from the chaotic adjacent terminus.
This is the place to come for a sense of how Khartoum actually works — the rhythm of haggling, the call of vendors, the smell of grilled meat and incense. Prices are not aimed at tourists, but you should still bargain. Pickpockets work the crowded sections, so keep your hands on your bag.